There are two options for dealing with a malfunctioning appliance—hiring an appliance repair technician or doing DIY repairs. On average, appliance repair technicians charge around $170. However, this cost can shoot up to $350 depending on the issue with your appliance. And, if you are dealing with multiple malfunctioning appliances, these costs can be very overwhelming.
That’s the reason why most people are tempted to try DIY appliance repair in a bid to save money. However, while DIY appliance repair might help you save money, it’s also a risky idea. Today, the internet had hundreds of DIY tutorials for appliance repairs. While it can be tempting to follow some of these tutorials, it’s not advisable because of the associated risks. Please note that DIY appliance repair requires someone with the right appliance repair skills and experience to avoid damaging your appliance further.
With that said, is DIY appliance repair worth it? The following are some things that you should consider to determine whether you should attempt DIY appliance repair.
Age of the appliance
source: tailbase.com
The first thing you should consider before attempting a DIY appliance repair is the age of your appliance. If your appliance is still relatively new, it might still be under warranty. This means that the warranty will not cover any damage caused by a DIY repair. Also, most new appliances are designed in such a way that they are very difficult to repair without specialized skills and tools.
If your appliance is old, it might not be worth repairing because you can get a new one for the same price or even less. In some cases, the repair cost might exceed the cost of buying a new appliance. Therefore, if your appliance is old and you are thinking about doing a DIY repair, it’s advisable to buy a new one.
Nature of the problem
The next thing you should consider before attempting a DIY appliance repair is the nature of the problem. Some problems are very easy to fix, while others are very difficult. If the problem is something you can easily fix, it’s worth trying a DIY repair. For example, if your washing machine is not draining properly, this is usually an easy fix that doesn’t require any special skills or tools.
On the other hand, if the problem is something more serious, hiring an appliance repair technician is advisable. For example, if your refrigerator is not cooling properly, this is usually a more serious issue that requires specialized skills and tools to fix.
Skills and experience
source: universalappliancerepair.com
Another important thing to consider before attempting a DIY appliance repair is your skills and experience. As mentioned earlier, some appliance repairs are very easy to do while others are very difficult. If you don’t have the right skill set and experience, you might end up doing more harm than good.
For example, if you’re trying to fix a washing machine, you could make one mistake is not properly securing the hose clamps. This could cause a leak in the hose, leading to water damage.
The experts from Lakeland appliance repair, Hartman say that it’s important to ensure that you have the right skill set and experience before attempting a DIY appliance repair. If you are thinking of DIY appliance repair, here are a few things to keep in mind. These will help you determine whether DIY appliance repair is worth the effort.
Safety risk
One of the risks associated with DIY appliance repair is the safety risk. Many appliances run on electricity, which means there is a risk of electrocution if you don’t know what you’re doing. In addition, some appliances use flammable liquids or gasses, which means that there is a risk of fire or electrocution if you don’t know what you’re doing.
You risk voiding your warranty
source: ownermanual.co
Another risk associated with DIY appliance repair is that you might void your warranty. Many appliances come with a warranty, and if you attempt to repair the appliance yourself, you might void the warranty.
If you void the warranty, you will have to pay for all repairs yourself. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you know what you’re doing before attempting a DIY appliance repair.
You might not be able to fix the problem
Another risk associated with DIY appliance repair is that you might not be able to fix the problem. This is especially true if you don’t have the right skill set and experience. Even if you follow a tutorial, there is no guarantee that you will be able to fix the problem. In some cases, you might even make the problem worse.
It might take longer than expected
Generally, DIY appliance repairs are that it might take longer than expected. This is especially true if you don’t have the right skill set and experience. Even if you follow a tutorial, it might take longer than expected to fix the problem.
DIY repairs deliver short-term results
source: residencestyle.com
Another thing to remember is that DIY repairs usually deliver short-term results. This is because the repair is not done by a professional and, as such, it’s not as durable. In most cases, a professional appliance repair technician will be able to deliver long-term results.
You might need to pay a technician if you fail
If you attempt a DIY appliance repair and you fail, you might need to pay a professional appliance repair technician to fix the problem. This is because you might have caused more damage to the appliance in your attempts to repair it.
Therefore, before attempting a DIY appliance repair, it’s important to make sure that you know what you’re doing. It’s also important to make sure that you are willing to accept the risks associated with DIY appliance repair.
Bottom Line
If you’re not willing to accept the risks associated with DIY appliance repair, then hiring a professional appliance repair technician is advisable. A professional appliance repair technician will be able to fix the problem quickly and efficiently. In addition, a professional appliance repair technician will be able to deliver long-term results.
Hiring a professional appliance repair technician might cost you more money upfront. However, it’s usually cheaper to hire a professional appliance repair technician than to attempt a DIY appliance repair in the long run.
