The 7 Dos and Don’ts of Do it Yourself Appliance Repairs

Repairing an appliance averages $170 to pay a repairman. Depending on the issue, the repair can cost up to $350 though. These costs can add up through the year if you’re not careful.

This cost can lead you to consider do it yourself appliance repairs when it comes time to fix the issues that come up. It might seem simpler and more cost effective to handle the situation yourself.

Before you make this decision though, make sure you understand the dos and don’ts of DIY repairs. Knowing what to expect will help you make an informed decision whether to repair yourself, call a professional, or go ahead and replace the appliance.

Do It Yourself Appliance Repairs Do and Don’t

Before you dig into a DIY repair job, you want to make sure the effort proves worth your time and money. You should take the time to determine if the DIY option comes out better than a service call or replacement.

1. Maintenance to Avoid DIY Appliance Repairs

Do keep up with appliance maintenance. Making sure your appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washers, and dryers are clean and running smoothly goes a long way to avoid costly repairs. This also keeps you from wasting time repairing avoidable problems.

Don’t ignore the simple steps you can take to keep up with this maintenance. Regular checks prove necessary to maintain the proper lifespan of your appliances. This includes maintaining a proper cleaning schedule for your appliances.

Your appliances will come with instructions to take care of this regular maintenance. Make sure you keep this on hand to ensure proper care.

2. Keep It Simple

Do make sure there’s not a simple issue to your problem. Check for simple issues such as out of place temperature controls or blockages that you can handle without other moves.

Don’t take everything apart before you take this step. Often, you can avoid a lot of time and effort by checking these simple issues. Even if the problem requires more, it’s still worth your time to check the simple first.

3. Determining Costs

Do make sure the repair proves worth the cost. You want to determine if it’s worth fixing at all, then if it’s cost effective to attempt the repair on your own. For instance, if the dryer is smoking or the refrigerator compressor goes out, it’s not worth the cost to do a repair on your own.

Don’t bother fixing the appliance if the cost of a repair comes out at 50% or more of the cost of a new appliance. You should also consider the cost of your time and the tools necessary to complete the repair.

4. Warranty Considerations

Do check your warranty before tackling the repair. Determine if your appliance still has coverage under the warranty provided.

Don’t do the repair yourself if the appliance still has a warranty. It’s important to follow all warranty requirements to ensure you don’t void the warranty provided. This includes turning the appliance over for repair as specified.

5. Know the Age of Your Appliances

Do keep up with the lifespan of your appliances. The lifespan will depend on the brand and how well you take care of your appliances. Still, most appliances have a general life expectancy.

Don’t bother repairing old appliances. To determine whether or not to repair consider the general lifespans.

• Nine years – dishwashers
• 10 years – washers
• 13 years – refrigerator, stove, and dryer

If your appliance comes close to the end of its lifespan, it’s not worth your time or money to repair.

6. Consider Professional Help

Do make sure the repair can get completed without professional help. If it’s a simpler repair, you’re probably okay handling it on your own.

Don’t attempt a repair that needs professional help. Some repairs require professionals to determine the best method of repair. Attempting to do this yourself could make the repair more costly.

7. Consider Your Abilities

Do make sure you know what you’re doing. If you’re not sure how to take care of the appliance repair, you can make things worth and cost yourself more money in the long run.

Don’t attempt a repair outside of your skills. While it’s tempting to take care of the repair yourself, don’t do it unless you’re sure of your abilities.

Other Considerations for Appliance Repairs

Before you plan to repair your appliances by yourself, make sure you know what you’re up against. It’s important to consider all your options before making a decision. It’s also a good idea to maintain a savings account to prepare for repairs, even if you plan to do-it-yourself.

Whether you plan to do a repair yourself or seek professional help, you need to know what to expect. Don’t get help from a professional until you know what to expect from their service agreements. Check all policies and fees involved with the repair.

Repair Costs Broken Down

If you plan to repair your appliances yourself, you’ll need to consider the tools necessary for the job. If you need specialized tools, you’ll want to consider the cost of these tools in your overall cost breakdown. You should also consider the potential cost if you make things worse with a DIY approach.

Make sure you understand the costs involved with a service call as well. You want to choose a professional that follows blue book pricing when completing repairs. The cost will still depend on the brand and age of the appliance in question.

You will also need to consider the professional fee for the service call. This includes all parts and tools necessary to complete the repair.

Get Help From Professionals

While do it yourself appliance repairs are tempting, you should always consider calling in professionals. A professional can save you a lot of time and effort and avoid costly mistakes.

Would you rather start with a professional than taking the chance of making the situation worse? If you’re in the Portland area, you can schedule a service call today to get the situation under control.