A Guide to: Repairing and Replacing Medical Fridges

Medical fridges are essential for storing medicines, drugs and vaccines correctly. Many medicines need to be stored at specific temperatures to ensure they can be used safely, otherwise their integrity can be affected. This can cost a large amount of money in lost medicines and they can become dangerous or ineffective.

Having a dedicated medical fridge is therefore essential (rather than using a standard household fridge). But no matter how good your fridge, you may need to get it repaired from time to time if something goes wrong, or you might even need to replace it. 

Here are the signs to look out for so you can ensure you are always looking after your medicines and vaccines properly.

When to Repair Your Fridge

Signs of condensation are an indication that all is not well with your fridge. If droplets of water are forming in the interior, this could indicate that something is wrong. Condensation often occurs because the fridge is not cooling down enough and it could be due to a whole range of problems that need to be investigated.

If water is collecting at the bottom of the fridge, this can present a safety risk. It could simply indicate that the vaccines are touching the back wall or that the drain is clogged, but it might indicate something more serious. It may also be due to problems with the sealing – perhaps it is wet or mould is forming. But if you cannot see precisely why it is forming, get it checked and repaired.

Also, look out for problems with the motor, which can sometimes overheat. All refrigerators have a motor and these are often warm. But if it gets too hot, this is a sign that it needs to be repaired.  It could be a problem with the motor itself that can lead to it becoming overheated, or it could be that your fridge has a problem elsewhere that is forcing the motor to work harder than it should. Make sure you get it checked out, because if the motor breaks, you will probably have to replace the whole system.

If your vaccines or medicines are spoiling before their “best before” date, this is a clear sign that something is wrong. Check other factors first. For example, has someone been leaving the door open? If you are using the fridge properly, it should not be experiencing problems. Get it checked to find out what is going on.

Strange noises are another sign that something is not right. If your fridge is making a loud buzzing, check its location. Is it touching anything to generate a noise? Is it on a level surface? If there is no obvious reason, it could indicate a problem with the compressor.

Finally, if your fridge is using more energy than it should, this can indicate a problem. There may be no outward sign of a problem, but your energy bill may reveal otherwise. If it is using too much energy, something could be wrong and the appliance might be in need of repair.

When to Replace Your Fridge

If any of the above problems cannot be fixed, your fridge may be beyond the point of repair and you might need to replace it. If your fridge stops working and you cannot repair it, or if you repair it and it keeps on breaking, it is usually time to get a new one. 

If the temperature is not consistent – and there is no easy fix – you will want to replace it. Or it might be the case that you are simply repairing it too frequently and spending a lot of money on repairs when it might make more financial sense to buy a new one.

Finally, if your fridge is getting old, consider buying a new one rather than waiting for something to go wrong. If you have had it for 10 years or more, now might be time to get a new medical fridge.

Warranty

Our medical fridges are covered by a 5-year parts and labour warranty. You can extend this by a further 2 years for just £99. We make it a priority is to promptly replace any faulty components within this period.

Consider Getting a New Fridge

Buying a new medical fridge can mean a large investment, but you have to consider the alternatives. Losing a large volume of expensive medicines and vaccines could be hugely expensive, especially if it happens more than once.

If your fridge is breaking down regularly and you are spending too much on repairs or you don’t want to risk your medications being affected, get a replacement fridge that will work properly for many years to come.

Speak to your local advisor