What usually goes wrong
Side-by-sides have a single evaporator on the freezer side. Cold air is blown from there into the fridge through a duct at the top. Anything that blocks that duct — frost, ice, a stuck damper — makes the fridge warm up while the freezer stays fine. That's the #1 call we get on side-by-sides.
- Fridge warm, freezer cold — frosted-up evaporator coil, failed defrost heater, or stuck damper
- Ice maker not making ice — fill tube freezing, inlet valve, or motor module
- Ice dispenser jamming — clumped ice from low use, or auger motor
- Water dispenser slow — clogged filter, frozen line in the door, or low household water pressure
- Loud humming or knocking — condenser fan or evaporator fan blade hitting ice
- Frozen items in the fridge section — damper stuck open, sensor failed, or temperature set too low
The defrost cycle is the heart of the problem
On a side-by-side, the freezer's evaporator coil should defrost every 8–12 hours for a few minutes. If the defrost heater, defrost thermostat, or defrost board fails, frost builds up on the coil. Eventually airflow drops and the fridge stops cooling. The freezer often still seems cold because the coil itself is freezing — but it can't move air anymore.
The fix is straightforward once we diagnose which defrost component failed: heater, thermostat, sensor, or control board. We test each one rather than guessing.
Built-in side-by-sides
Sub-Zero, Thermador, Monogram, and Viking all make built-in side-by-side models that fit flush with cabinetry. These have their own quirks — see our built-in refrigerator repair page for the details on those.
Brands
Common Santa Monica side-by-sides: KitchenAid, GE Profile, Café, LG, Samsung, Bosch, Whirlpool-family units, and Sub-Zero/Thermador on the high end. The brands page has the full list.
Tip: If your fridge is warm but the freezer feels cold and you hear a fan running constantly inside, the coil is probably iced over. Don't unplug the unit unless food is at risk — let us diagnose it first so we know what failed.
Repair pricing
Diagnostic, then a quote before any work. Side-by-side repairs are usually completed the same visit. Defrost components, fan motors, ice maker modules, and water valves are the parts we keep on the truck most of the time.