You depend on a variety of home appliances on an everyday basis, such as your refrigerator, dryer and washer. Even if you properly maintain them and take all the necessary precautions, it is inevitable that you will still have to handle broken appliances every so often. In terms of financial costs, it is definitely more expensive to replace your broken appliance compared to repairing it. Thankfully, you can start saving money on appliance repairs just by keeping in mind a couple of simple tips. Let’s get started!
KEEP YOUR WARRANTY INFORMATION
When you buy your home appliances, they will come along with a warranty. Make sure that the warranty information is kept in a safe place. When your appliances are no longer working, they may still be covered under warranty. In some cases, your appliance warranty might be able to cover the specific parts that need to be repaired. Hence, it is important to be familiar with what is covered under the warranty so that you do not have to waste money on unnecessary labor costs or appliance parts.
MAINTAIN YOUR APPLIANCES
One of the best and most simple ways to save money on appliance repairs is to keep it functioning well and avoid them breaking down. There are several tips and tricks on how to maintain home appliances to extend their lifespan. Whether it is your refrigerator, washing machine, or dryer, you can be sure that they will continue running smoothly for a long time if you follow the tips.
SEARCH FOR A REASONABLY-PRICED REPAIR SERVICE
There are some appliance repair companies that provide lower fees or flat rates, but there may be additional costs on miscellaneous stuff. When you are evaluating repair companies, it is important to first do your research and ask if they will be charging you extra on top of the actual repair work needed.
PREPARE FOR THE TECHNICIAN
Different repair companies have different prices and charges for labor. Some firms may charge by the hour depending on how long the technician takes to repair your appliance. Hence, it is recommended to prepare beforehand so as to ensure that you are not wasting any time on clearing the area when the technician arrives. For instance, if your washer needs repair, ensure that there are no clothes inside and the water is drained off first. Clear the space around your broken appliance and take away any distractions before the technician arrives.
DO SOME DIY
There may be some DIY repair know-how that will help save you a significant sum of money if you fix it yourself. With the wide variety of tutorials and videos on YouTube, you can definitely find some tips and tricks to repair an appliance by yourself, if the repair is minor and cost-effective.
REPAIR SMALL ISSUES TIMELY
Many people ignore seemingly small and minor problems with their appliances. Service calls tend to cost a large sum of money and many of us may only be willing to part with our hard-earned money when the appliance is obviously broken or not functioning. While this way of thinking is understandable, it can also result in much bigger repair costs later on. The longer a small issue goes unnoticed, the more time it takes to grow into a serious problem. Hence, taking care of small issues swiftly will help you to save a significant amount of money in the long term.