How To Tell If You Should Attempt a DIY Appliance Repair

Helpful information to guide you in the decision of whether to attempt an appliance repair yourself or call in the pros.

When you have an appliance problem, you want it repaired as quickly and inexpensively as possible. One common way to save time and money on appliance repairs is to attempt to handle them yourself. However, you need to be careful when choosing to attempt a DIY appliance repair, as a mistake could end up creating a bigger problem and increasing your costs when you do turn to the pros for help.

Here is some helpful information that should help you make a smart decision regarding your appliance repair.

Are You Confident You Know What’s Wrong?

First of all, you want to be sure you understand the nature of the problem with your appliance and how to correct it. Naturally your DIY repair will not be successful if you don’t have this information! Of course, taking some quick all-purpose troubleshooting steps like plugging and unplugging the appliance, resetting the circuit it’s attached to, or cleaning it can be helpful even if you aren’t exactly sure what’s wrong. You have nothing to lose by attempting these kinds of steps, but beware of buying any new parts if you’re not certain those parts actually need to be replaced. You could be wasting your money.

What Happens If You Make a Mistake?

Wasting money on unnecessary parts is by no means the only risk of a DIY appliance repair attempt. You may also put yourself at risk of electrocution or serious injury if you go about the repair incorrectly. Additionally, you might cause even more damage to your appliance in the process of taking it apart or by installing a new part improperly. Be sure to weigh the cost of fixing any possible mistakes against the cost of simply calling a professional right now before you attempt your repair.

What Does Your Warranty Say?

If your appliance is covered by a warranty, it is essential that you read it carefully before letting anyone perform any kind of repair. Some brands require all repairs to be completed by factory-authorized repair technicians, while others will be satisfied with any professional repair tech. While it may make sense to replace small parts not covered by your warranty yourself, you certainly don’t want to open up the guts of your appliance as any damage you accidentally do will most likely not be covered.