OT: the home warranty company found an appliance repair company to
> come out to try to repair my refrigerator which was zapped by a power
> surge due to the lightning strike behind my house on 7/26. The
> technician will be here tomorrow morning. The refrigerator/freezer
> in my kitchen is only 6 years old so I do hope he'll be able to
> repair it. Wish me luck! I cannot afford to buy a new refrigerator.
It will likely be the compressor (and/or) the circuit board.
AI Overview The average repair cost for a refrigerator damaged by a power surge ranges from $200 to $900, depending heavily on which electrical components burned out.
Power surges typically fry sensitive electronic parts like the main control board, start relay, or inverter board rather than mechanical parts.
Common Surge Repair Costs
Start Relay: $50 to $150 (the small electrical switch next to the compressor) Fan Motors: $100 to $300 (evaporator or condenser fan motors)Main Control Board /
User Interface: $200 to $900 (the electronic "brain" of modern fridges)Compressor /
Inverter Board: $400 to $1,200+ (if the heavy-duty pump or its specific electronic drive board is shorted)
Diagnostic / Service Fee: $60 to $150 (standard fee charged by a technician just to visit and test the unit)
Top Budget Options
Insignia 18 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator: Priced around $480 at Best Buy, offering basic white finish and energy star certification.
Insignia 14.2 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator: Priced around $450 at Best Buy, a slightly smaller full-depth choice.
Vissani 18.1 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator: Priced around $579 (frequently on sale lower) at The Home Depot, featuring a garage-ready design.