A few weeks ago I posted here concerning a problem with the cold control
thermostat fitted by a repair firm to my fridge freezer unit. In trying
to resolve the issue I came across http://www.fridgedoctor.com/ . The
Fridge Doctor himself, Mr Yuzik, offers a free advice service, which helped
sort my problem out but more importantly, he's produced a book The Fridge
Doctor Book, some of which you can read on his site. I sent off for it;
it cost £18 including postage, and comes with a cd containing 2 hours of
explanitory video. I've spent the weekend looking at it and consider the
purchase to be money very well spent. Whilst it's written for the
North American market - it comes from Canada - other than the reference to
120V, it's perfectly relevant to UK fridges and freezers, covering every
type of fridge/freezer. The book's a real handy size - between A5 and A4
size - with a spiral binder so it always lays flat.

The book has 198 pages and an excellent index. There's lots of
cross-referencing to the various chapters and diagrams. It's written in
plain English - it's clear and assumes no prior knowledge but goes into
great detail where necessary, which the videos on the cd make even easier to
understand. The text is laid out in a logical manner; for example, for
each component found in a fridge, there is an overview, then its purpose is
stated, how it works is then explained, where it can be found in the cabinet
and the modes of failure are given. There are plenty of diagrams, again
presented in a way that even someone without electrical or engineering
knowledge would be able to make sense of. There's plenty on repair and
test procedures and troubleshooting charts. There's even a chapter on
optimising your fridge and one on repairs to the hermetic system. It's
packed with good advice not only on things like the hazards of transporting
a fridge but also on food cold storage. The video cd isn't just a
repeat of what's in the book; for example, there's a demonstration of the
benefits of installing a hard start pack. It's entertaining and
interesting and would be worth £18 on its own. It's clear that he's put
a great deal of care into compiling both the video cd and the book - a
labour of love rather than an exercise to generate income. I've seen
nothing even remotely like it on the market.

One of the best things that's happened to me is having had the problem with
the fridge and the expensive visit from the dodgy repairman, otherwise I
would never have come across this brilliant book which I cannot recommend
too highly. It should go without saying - but I'll say it anyway - I
have no connection whatsoever with Mr Yuzik or his site other than being one
extremely satisfied customer.

Martin