Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Appliance Repair Questions & Answers

Your local appliance repairman can save you money.


While we live in a throwaway culture where many people would rather replace items than repair them, your local neighborhood appliance repairman is still fighting the good fight. Whether you're looking to save money or decrease the amount of appliances sitting in landfills, you should look into your local appliance repair shop. But before you do, it is worth getting some basic information. Does this Spark an idea?


Should My Repairman be Licensed, Bonded and Insured?


Probably. Licensure means that the repairman enjoys official certification from the city or state to perform her trade. Bonding refers to the fact that the company has set aside money to handle claims against it. This money is not held by the company, but rather by the state or a private bonding agency. This makes it easier for you to recover money lost in damages. An insured company can handle claims that an employee was injured on your property in-house, without having to go through your homeowners insurance.


Is Repair Cost-effective?


Often, the more cost-effective solution is repair. If an appliance has given you good service in the past and is experiencing only minor problems, it makes sense to just fix what you already have. Your local repair technician can provide information about prevent the same problem from occurring multiple times. Many repair shops also provide warranties on repairs, meaning that you will not have to pay out of pocket several times for the same repair performed in a certain time span.


How Much Will Repairs Cost?


Repair costs cannot be easily estimated for appliances. There are many different causes for common problems with household appliances. Thus, it is difficult to know precisely what is wrong with your appliance without the repairman coming to your home and examining the appliance first hand.


Can I Diagnose the Problem Myself?


Sometimes. Many appliance repair shops are happy to make repairs based on your recommendation and can even tell you how much the parts and labor will cost in advance. However, some appliance repair shops are reluctant to provide warranties for repairs on the basis of an outside party's recommendation.


Can I Supply My Own Parts?


Often times not. Many brand new parts arrive defective. If the repair shop orders the part, they make a phone call and the part is replaced. If you order the part, you will be responsible for the cost of repairs even if the labor does not actually fix the problem.







Tags: appliance repair, repair shops, appliance repair shops, appliance repairman, handle claims, local appliance, provide warranties