Saving Money On Appliance Repair Services
When your washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator or other household appliance stops working correctly, your first thought will probably be, "How much will it cost me to fix it?" While there is no hard and fast answer to this question, since it will vary depending upon the cause of the problem, the type of appliance, and even where you live, there are ways to keep the cost under control:
Check The Warranty
If your appliance was purchased fairly recently, or if you bought a service contract with your appliance, repairs may be covered under the warranty. Look at the warranty paperwork you received when you bought the appliance. If you don't have it, call the manufacturer or go on their website.
Make sure you understand what the terms of your warranty are. In some cases, like a microwave oven or other small appliance, the manufacturer will require you to bring the item to them for repair. Even with larger units, they may take the appliance back to their repair depot for service. And they may have the option to repair or replace the appliance.
Find Local Repair Services
If you are paying for the repair yourself, you will probably get a better price from a local repair shop than you would if you called the manufacturer to send one of their repair technicians. The manufacturer or the big box store you bought it from may charge a fee just for the repair technician to come to your house, whether they do any work or not. A local repairman will usually give you a free estimate, so you will know if you are better off to repair the appliance or simply replace it.
Ask For Used Parts
If your appliance needs a replacement part, you may be able to get one that it used, rather than buying a new one. A used part will almost always save you money.
Repair Or Replace
When the appliance repair service comes to inspect your appliance, ask if it makes more sense to replace the entire unit. Depending on the age of your appliance and the problem, it may not make sense to repair it. A refrigerator compressor, for example, can cost upwards of $500 to replace, including labor. If your refrigerator is more than seven or eight years old, it may make more sense to buy a new one, which will also be more energy efficient.
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