If one of your home appliances isn’t working as it should, it can be tempting to try to fix the problem yourself. Sometimes that’s a great idea, but in other situations you should definitely put down the spanner and call in a professional.
But how can you tell if a domestic appliance repair is a do-it-yourself opportunity or something best left to the experts? Here are the factors to consider.
DIY versus professional appliance repairs
Cost
Cost is an important consideration. For simple repairs, it may work out cheaper to do the job yourself. This could involve dismantling and cleaning a simple component, or ordering and fitting an easy part that’s readily available.
Don’t forget to think about the tools you might need to use, and anything you’ll need to buy. Consider, too, your confidence in the diagnosis and any replacement parts you need. Without professional knowledge, it’s easy to buy something that isn’t quite right, or doesn’t actually fix the issue, which could make costs mount up.
Time
Time is another crucial factor in deciding whether to DIY a domestic appliance repair. Think about how long it might take to determine the problem and solution, when you can make the repair, and the time the actual job might take you.
Consider what your time is worth. Is it better spent on other things, and leaving appliance repairs to the professionals? Don’t forget, too, the sheer inconvenience of a key appliance, such as a washing machine or oven, being out of action for longer than necessary.
Reoccurrence
Imagine your frustration when a problem you thought you’d resolved comes back a few weeks or months later. When deciding whether to go down the DIY route, consider the nature of the repair, and how likely the issue might be to reoccur without professional help.
If it’s a simple part replacement, your work might last the rest of the machine’s lifespan. But for a more mechanical issue, falling to call on the experts could leave you with regret down the line.
When to call in the professionals
For certain types of repair, professional help is essential and attempting to DIY it could be dangerous. These include electrical repairs, or anything involving plumbing or structural work.
You could easily end up making a problem far worse, or even putting yourself in harm’s way, by trying to carry out these jobs yourself without the necessary training.
Repair or replace?
For certain issues, it might work out more cost-effective and time-efficient to forget about repairs altogether, and replace the machine instead.
Think about the cost of repairs, and the time it could take, factoring in the age of your machine and its condition. No home appliance is designed to last forever. You can expect a good quality dishwasher to last around nine years, a washing machine about 11 years, and a fridge approximately 13 years, assuming they are well looked after.
So, if yours is starting to let you down, it might be time to browse new appliances and treat yourself to a shiny new machine.
Remember, if you’re unsure or dealing with complex issues, it’s best to leave appliance repairs to the professionals. Contact us today to book a qualified engineer.