The frustration of a home appliance breaking can make you want to get it fixed as soon as possible. Instead of sending it in for professional repair, which could cost you a good amount of money, you might consider fixing it yourself. This can save you a lot of time and dollars, but there are a few things you should be aware of before performing any work. Does this Spark an idea?
User Manual
The first thing you should do if you decide to repair your home appliance is to get the user's manual for the appliance. The manual can provide you good guidelines and pertinent information such as part numbers and serial numbers. Many manuals also come with a basic troubleshooting guide that may point you in the direction of what parts need replacing. If you can't find your manual, go online and look it up. Chances are that new appliances from brand name companies will have an online version for you.
Warranty
Your warranty information may also be in the manual. This is very important because some warranties are rendered invalid if you do certain repairs. If the appliance repair is too risky or involves a major part, you may not get your money back or a free company repair if your work fails to fix the appliance.
Tools and Parts
The right tools are one of the most important aspects of do-it-yourself repair. Many home appliances have small screws and nuts that require special-sized tools to remove and replace. These can be easily stripped or damaged. Before removing, see if you can get like-sized replacements in the event one or all are damaged. You might also want to purchase a mini magnetic retrieval tool that can help you get any dropped objects.
Electricity
Another risky part about do-it-yourself repair is electric shock. Even the smallest electrical parts of a home appliance can give you a little jolt. There's also a risk of discharging electricity into the appliance which can possibly further damage it. You can avoid these dangers by making sure the appliance is completely powered down, unplugged, or has the batteries removed. If you are using metal tools, touch them on another metal part not connected to the appliance before doing any work. This can discharge any possible electrostatic build up.
Housekeeping
Repair should be done in a clear area free of other tools and other parts. Your work area should also be well-lit and flat so that any small parts that are dropped can be easily found. Consider getting small bags to contain the small parts you remove or intend to replace. A special tray to hold all your smaller tools could also assist you in the repair.
Tags: home appliance, do-it-yourself repair, repair your, small parts
