Top 3 Tips for Getting Your Refrigerator Repaired

Appliances are one of those things people take for granted. We go about our day, not realizing how they make our live so much easier. When you wake up in the morning you probably turn on the coffee maker and make yourself some breakfast on your stovetop, oven, or microwave. When you come home from work, you might do a load of laundry while you prepare dinner with food kept fresh in your refrigerator. Then after supper is done, you load up the dishwasher and forget about it. And these are just some of the basic home appliances we have that make our lives much easier and gives us more time to spend with loved ones.

While dishwashers, microwaves, even ovens are appliances some people can live without, the refrigerator is definitely one of those appliances that are a must for many people. This appliance allows us to keep food from spoiling, but if you think about it, what it really does is that it saves you time, money and effort. With a refrigerator at home, you don’t have to drive around and use up gas to buy food everyday. Like most people, you would take a once a week trip to the supermarket, get everything you needed and store perishables in your fridge. If you didn’t have a refrigerator, that meant you need to consume all your food as soon as you bought it. You would have to buy staples like bread and milk, consume it at once before it spoils, and then go back to the store the next day and buy more. Also, the fridge allows you to store leftovers, whether from a meal out or one you make yourself, and eat it another day, rather than spending more money and food.

Try living without a fridge – or maybe you already have if you’ve experienced having a power outage or your refrigerator breaking down. That’s why it’s important you always have a reliable appliance repair service to call on when this happens. Even one day without a fridge could put a crimp on your plans and your budget – imagine having to eat all your food in a few hours to prevent it from spoiling, when you meant to keep it for at least a week or two.

So, if your fridge does break down (or even if it doesn’t and you want to make sure you a have a good appliance repair tech’s phone number on-hand), and you need repairs right away, consider these 3 tips for getting your refrigerator repaired.

Tip# 1: Call Someone Local

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important you get someone local in your area, for many reasons. First, you want them to come right away! If you’re too far away, it will take your appliance repair person too long to come to you or they may find it too much trouble to drive over and end up cancelling. Next, you also want someone who understands your local area. For example, places like Daly City or San Francisco have high humidity almost year-round. A local repair person who has experience dealing with such conditions will be able to diagnose common problems right away. And finally, one of the reasons you should go local is to support your community. Many appliance repair technicians are independent business owners, not big corporations. These are mom-and-pop operations and you know that when you pay them, your money goes to their own pockets, to their families, and any taxes go to your city or township to pay for roads, education, and services.

Tip #2 Research the Appliance Repair Technician’s Reputation

The next tip is about doing the necessary legwork to vet your technician. You might actually want to start your search for a good technician by asking your friends and family members for recommendations. They might already know someone in your local area who does a good job and they can vouch for. If not, then use technology to your advantage. These days, there’s really no excuse not to arm yourselves with the right knowledge. Most, if not all of us, carry around smartphones in our pocket, which has 10 times the power of computers that first sent people to the moon! Use the Internet to find reviews of technicians you want to hire. Sites like Yelp! Google and now even Facebook has reviews of services in local areas. See if you can find your potential refrigerator repair technician online and see what people have to say.

Also, don’t forget traditional sources of business reputation information (which are also online), like the Better Business Bureau and local chapters of professional associations. They may also give you advice on who to hire.

Tip #3 Choose a Technician Who Will Explain the Problem and Repair Process

Obviously, if you’re calling an appliance repair technician, then you probably don’t know what’s wrong with your refrigerator or how to fix it. However, you don’t want to be kept in the dark about what’s wrong with your refrigerator. A good appliance repair person should be able to explain why your fridge broke down and how they plan to repair it, so you know you’re not being overcharged.

Aside from that, you may want to know so that you can prevent the problem in the future. Also, a good technician should be able to give you advice if it would make sense to fix the problem or buy a new fridge. There are many things to consider, after all – will the problem reoccur, will it cost more over the long run to keep fixing your refrigerator or would buying a new, more efficient model make more sense? All of these are questions you need to consider when making the decision to repair a faulty appliance and a good technician will be able to guide you properly.

Refrigerators are probably the one type of appliance that most people can’t live without. That’s why when your refrigerator conks out, you need to make sure you can get it repaired by a qualified technician. Even if you have yet to have your fridge break down, it’s always good to have the number of a good appliance repair person handy. That way, if and when that does happen, then you can be rest assured that your fridge can be fixed properly and quickly.

What Type of Training Do Appliance Repair Technicians Get?

You probably hardly ever think about your appliances unless they break down, much less about your appliance repair technician. However, when our appliances do conk out, these underrated technicians suddenly become our saviors. When the oven stops working and we need to whip up a healthy meal or if the washing machines suddenly decides to die when we’ve got piles of dirty laundry, the first call you make is to a repair technician.

However, have you ever thought about what it takes to become a certified appliance repair technician? What type of training do they get and how do they get experience? You might be thinking, “Why should I know this, when all I want is for someone to fix my dryer?” Well, you should definitely care. This information can help you when hiring a technician.

When you’re looking for an appliance repair technician in your area, you want to make sure that person has the right knowledge and enough experience to diagnose and fix your broken appliances. By learning about what it takes to become a technician, you can have a better idea of why they charge certain rates and figure out if your technician will be able to fix your appliances.

Appliance Repair Certification: Overview

People who want to learn appliance repair have two choices: they can obtain a certification or pursue an associate’s degree.

Like any type of training or certification, a program in appliance repair will teach students the basics of the trade, including (but not limited to): the necessary tools to perform repairs, maintenance of various appliances, troubleshooting, and of course, repair of a wide range of machines. Most schools and centers teach more or less the same content, but those pursuing an associate’s degree also need some general education classes.

Whether getting a certificate or degree, students must go through both classroom and laboratory work. They learn the theories through reading material and lectures, but they must also perform hands-on repairs so they can get real practice performing repairs. They must learn how to diagnose, service, and repair the most common household appliances, like dryers, washers, ovens, stovetops, etc. Of course, they might want to apply for special certifications, such as those covering commercial appliances.

Aside from taking general education courses, another thing that sets associate’s degree programs from certifications is the addition of HVAC courses. Most degrees also cover the business side or things, as well as more advanced subjects like thermodynamics, industrial math, troubleshooting central heating and cooling systems, and water heater repair.

Where They Get Training

There are many centers and schools that offer training. Associate’s degrees are offered at accredited colleges, and many have general repair courses or more specialized ones. Trade schools and centers also offer training, often specializing in just appliance repair or other technical courses. Students can then opt to take tests for certificates from certain trade associations to prove their competence.

Training and schooling takes anywhere between one to two years, though two years is minimum for associate’s degrees. Also, by completing additional course requirements, students may be able to get enough credit to turn their associate’s degrees into a bachelor’s degree. Why do this? Well, someone who wants to own his or her own business, get an engineering degree, or maybe move into a managerial position might want to get their bachelor’s degree and pursue further education.

Of course, there is one alternative to going to school – an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is when someone who wants to learn appliance repair works with someone who is already certified or has their degree, hoping to learn the trade. In fact, many home appliance repairers might have gotten their start or became interested in learning this trade by working under someone more knowledgeable and experienced. Some technicians offer informal and formal apprenticeship programs, and the trainee might be able to use this knowledge to take certification exams or pursue further education.

Licenses and Certifications

Technically, people don’t actually need a certification or degree that says they are allowed to perform repairs on appliances. However, an employer looking to hire technicians will probably require this. Also, if someone want to start their own repair firm, they will most likely need to show their certifications, licenses, and/or degrees to get a loan from the bank to start their business or get a business license. Plus, customers will want to know how a technician was able to obtain their knowledge and experience. Of course, there may be some people who just learned from apprenticeships or even from their parents and while experience can be the best teacher, those starting out should consider getting their licenses, even if it’s only voluntary.

However, there is one type of certification that is required by law, and this is the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification. This certification deals with refrigerant handling, and a technician could be violating the Clean Air Act of 1990 if they attempt to add refrigerant, connect gauges or repair any refrigeration appliance without first obtaining this certification.

Training and Certification: Deciding on an Appliance Repair Technician

As a potential customer, then, what do you need to know about hiring an appliance repair tech? Now that you know about what it takes to become a technician, you should carefully screen any repair person you want to hire. Ask them about their education, background, experience and certifications. Also, don’t forget to ask for references and call them up – ask previous clients what they thought of their repair tech or what they liked and didn’t liked. Do your own research – check out reviews on websites and social media channels.

Finding a technician doesn’t have to be like finding a needle in a haystack. If you know what to look for and what to ask, then you’ll never have to worry about hiring a reliable repair tech.

Top 5 Tips When Hiring an Appliance Repair Technician

Our home appliances certainly have made our lives easier. In fact, it’s hard to imagine what our lives would be like without these modern conveniences. For one thing, we all (especially homemakers) wouldn’t be able to do much else aside from cooking and cleaning. Making any meal would be a production, as you would have to chop wood for the stove and start a fire before you could even start to boil some water. Clothes wouldn’t get so clean quickly – it would take at least half a day to haul water to a tub, wash a large pile of dirty clothes, and then hang them up to dry one by one. Don’t even get us started on dishes – scrubbing and scouring pots doesn’t sound like something anyone would want to do in their free time.

Indeed, our appliances afford us a lot of luxury and time to pursue passions and hobbies, and spend quality time with loved ones. That’s why it can be really annoying and even frustrating when our appliances break down. Of course, it’s not very practical to just replace every single home appliance that breaks down (not to mention, not really environmentally-friendly). When this happens, you need to call an expert repair technician.

However, as the saying goes, “good help is hard to find” and appliance repair techs are no different. You’ve probably heard all about the bad ones, but don’t be alarmed – for every awful appliance repair story you’ve heard, there are dozens or even hundreds more that are positive. Still, how can you find a reliable appliance repair technician? Read this tips and follow them, so you can find a professional who can fix your broken appliances.

1) Review or Ask About Their Previous Experiences

While certifications and licenses are certainly necessary to run a repair business, that’s not the only thing that matters when searching for a repair tech. You’ll also want to know about the technician’s experience. You’ll have to research or ask them about how long they’ve been in business, what areas they have serviced in the past, and of course, about any references they can give you. A reliable repair person won’t hesitate to give you references, so make sure to follow up and actually call them.

Sure, everyone has to start somewhere, and if you really want to give someone a chance to gain some experience, go ahead (and you might be able to save a few bucks). But be warned, an inexperienced repair person might not have all the years of repair under their belt and when faced with something unusual, they might not be able to quickly diagnose and fix the problem.

2) Ask About Guarantees and Warrantees

A reliable appliance repair technician should be able to stand behind his or her work. Many of the better ones will even offer guarantee or warrantee periods – meaning that if after a short period of time their repair job doesn’t hold up, he or she will come back to fix it right away for free. In this day and age, it might be more difficult to find such a service, but mostly it’s because repair companies won’t offer it outright – you have to ask. So, when you do talk to your repair company, ask them if they offer such a service.

In many cases, if the problem was misdiagnosed or the repair simple wasn’t done properly, many good technicians will come back and re-do the repair. After all, their reputations are at stake and they want to make sure you’ll be a happy (and returning) customer.

3) Know When Choose a Specialist

Some repair techs have a more generic knowledge of appliances, while others may specialize in certain types of brands of repair. Both types of repair techs or companies can offer benefits. For example, a general repair technician may have a more broader knowledge and might be able to offer a better price. However, if you have a particularly expensive piece of equipment or perhaps you’ve exhausted all DIY repair options, then it’s time to call a specialist. Also, check the brand of your appliance – some brands may require that you call a licensed or specialized repair technician or else you might risk voiding your warranty. Also, if you run a business, like a restaurant or Laundromat, then you should definitely call a specialist.

4) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for a Discount – for Next Time

It really doesn’t hurt to ask for a discount, even from your appliance repair technician. Sure, they might get asked that a lot, but you never know. Of course, you’ll have to think of a reason why they should give you a discount. So, why not ask for a discount for the next repair? If you like them enough that you thinking you’ll call them back, ask them for a discount. Since you’re giving them repeat business, many repair techs will be happy to give you a discount or even an extra service for their next trip.

5) Learn About Their Background

As long as your appliances get fixed, you shouldn’t really care about the company or the technician, right? While some people may feel this way, learning about a company or a person can help you find out more about them and reveal a few things. For example, you might find out if an appliance repair company is stable or not. Or, maybe you want to see if the business is locally owned or if your repair tech lives in the area, that way, you know you’re also helping your community by supporting the businesses around you.

Finding an Appliance Repair Technician in Your Area

The appliance repair business is thriving and if you live in a large metro area or even a medium-sized community, you may be able to find a lot of options when it comes to appliance repair. Finding the one or two technicians or companies who can meet your needs may seem like trying to locate a needle in a haystack, but it’s worth it. It’s nice to know that when your washing machine conks out or your refrigerator suddenly stops working, you’ll have a reliable appliance repair technician on speed dial.

More Signs Your Appliances Need Repair

In last week’s blog post, we talked about general signs your appliances need repair. Increased electricity bills, strange noises, extended working time, and just plain inefficiency are some of the things might mean that it’s time to call an appliance repair technician.

Now, these aren’t the only manifestations of broken appliances. There are many ways that your appliances may be telling you that it’s having a hard time getting the job done. In this post, we’ll look at specific signs from specific appliances that you may or may not notice.

Is it Time for Repair? Signs to Look Out For

There are many obvious warning signs that an appliance needs repair –if it stops working, for example. While most appliances have similarities, they are more different than they are the same. So, let’s look at specific appliances and the signs and symptoms you should look out for.

Washer and Dryer

Most people use washer and dryers together, so you can observe them at the same time and see if you can find anything wrong. One common problem you may encounter is if the washer or dryer shakes a lot while its running. Washers and dryers have drums that spin – that’s how they work and you can expect movement and some shaking. However, if it’s shaking more than usual, especially to the point that the unit is actually moving on its own, then there many be a problem. There might be a piece of clothing (probably that lost sock you’ve been searching for) stuck somewhere in the machine. It could also be that the shock absorbers have become worn out or damaged. There are also a number of parts that are supposed to keep the drum steady, such as springs, damper pads, and dampening straps. Any of these parts could be damaged or simply worn out and need replacement.

Of course it could be a matter of an uneven leveling leg, which is a simple fix you can do without an appliance repair technician. Whatever the case, you should investigate why the drum is shaking before it gets worse and your washer and dryer won’t be fixable anymore.

Refrigerator

A good refrigerator should lasts you over a decade, as long as you take care of it. Usually, this just means keeping it at an optimal temperature, not overloading it with food, and sweeping away dust and dirt from coils. However, you may still run into some problems after a few years. First, listen – is your fridge motor running more often or more loudly than it did? That may mean the motor is having a hard time. Perhaps it needs a tune up or even require replacement.

Water leaking out, warm spots, or fluctuating temperatures are other signs you should look for. If you experience any of this, then you may have to call a professional.

Stove

Any problems with the ignition or the stove itself not lighting up is an obvious sign that your gas stove has a problem. However, there may be other signs that you might be ignoring. For example, your stove may light up, but once you turn it down to low, it just goes out. Not only is this annoying, but it might also be dangerous if the gas keeps flowing. If you have an electric stove, you might notice that the coils aren’t getting as hot as they used to. These may be problems that you’re ignoring, but may lead to more major breakdowns down the road.

Don’t forget your oven as well. If you use the oven to bake bread and pastries, you probably will notice minor problems. Your oven might have cool spots that cause uneven cooking. Or it might not be maintaining an even temperature while you’re baking. Also, you may experience problems with the controls or the temperature on the dial and the actual temperature inside don’t match. These problems can cause a lot of headaches and you should call an appliance repair technicians to diagnose the problem.

Dishwasher

If your dishwasher won’t turn on or drain out, then you know that’s a major problem. However, you should also observe how your dishes come out after you run it. Are they sparking clean or are there bits and pieces or a film over the dishes? Or, do your dishes come out with a bad smell? If so, then there may be something else wrong with your dishwasher.

Also, you should observe the noise your dishwasher is making while it’s running. It’s normal that it should make some sounds, but if you’re hearing loud noises that are out of the ordinary, then there may be something wrong with your appliance and you should call a professional appliance repair company to have it checked out before the problem becomes too unmanageable.

Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal really only has one function, so most people think that the only thing they have to worry about is whether it turns on or not. However, garbage disposals may also experience other problems that may not seem like a major headache. For example, you might notice some leaks. While probably a little smelly and disgusting, your first instinct might be to just wipe away leaks. But, it might be worth it to investigate the cause of the leaks – is it just a clogged disposal? A part that needs tightening? Or is one of the parts inside worn out or broken? There could also be a problem with the way your disposal was installed, or worse, a problem with your pipes and you should definitely call a pro to find out the cause and get it repaired before it’s too late.

Calling a Professional Appliance Repair Company

We’ve talked about when to call DIY and when to call a professional – and for many minor adjustments and repairs, you should be able to do it yourself, which not only saves you money, but saves your technician time so he or she is able to focus on more major repairs. But of course, a good technician will always come to you when you need help and if you’re simply not comfortable doing it on your own or you would rather spend your free time pursuing your hobbies or with your family. In such cases, you should definitely call a pro whenever you need appliance repair.

Top 4 Signs Your Appliance Needs Repair

It’s difficult to think what our lives would be like without home appliances. We wouldn’t have as much free time to spend with our families or work on hobbies or things we truly enjoy. If you think you’re busy now, imagine if you didn’t have a dishwasher to clean your pots and pans, a refrigerator to store you food for the week or even month, or even a washing machine to keep clothes clean.

That’s why, should any of these appliances break down, it can be a big inconvenience for homeowners. It can disrupt routines even the most tightly-run homes. Instead of spending more time helping kids with homework or reading them bedtime stories, you’d have to use up your precious hours washing dishes or bringing clothes to the Laundromat (or worse, washing things by hand). Indeed, we’d be lost without our appliances.

Of course, you can’t help it if the refrigerator or stove decides to stop working all of a sudden. After all, appliances don’t know when it’s a convenient time to kick the bucket. However, as someone who owns appliances, you can manage them. Despite the fact that appliances have different brands and functions, they more or less work in the same way. There are many signs that show you when your appliances are ready to break down. If you can spot these signs, you can call an appliance repair company who fix them right away. Although there are numerous signs, here are the top 4 signs you appliance needs repair.

1) Your Electricity Bills Are Skyrocketing

Most homeowners can predict how much they will pay for electricity every month, and even every season. However, if you’ve been checking your bills lately and you’ve seen a creep, or a straight up increase, then it might be your appliances. Many appliances, like refrigerators, suck up more power when they’re having problems. In order to compensate, appliances may increase power consumption. So, take a look at your electricity bills – have there been any small, but growing increases? Check your appliances or call your appliance repair technician and ask their advice.

2) Your Appliance is Taking Longer to do Its Job

If you’ve had your appliances for a few months, you can probably predict how long everyday tasks take. However, if your washing machine seems to be taking a long time to clean your clothes or perhaps your ice maker has been working overnight and still hasn’t produced ice, then there’s probably an underlying problem.

3) Your Appliance is Making Strange Noises

Some appliances naturally make noise; after all, many of them have moving parts. However, if the noises they are making aren’t the usual ones, then that might be a problem. For example, if your refrigerator is running for too long or your washing machine makes loud, banging sounds, then you should probably investigate. At best, it may be a matter of cleaning and maintenance. In the case of the fridge, you should check the coils and clean them out regularly. However, if you still can’t figure out the source of the noise, then it’s time to call a pro.

4) Your Appliance Isn’t Working as Well

Some homeowners tend to ignore small problems as long as their appliances are still working. For example, maybe your clothes don’t come out as warm or dry from the dryer as they used to. Or maybe the garbage disposal isn’t grinding up larger pieces of debris. The thing is, small problems like this can lead to bigger ones. If you ignore them, then by the time you call an appliance repair technician, what would have been a routine maintenance check or small repair may turn into a bigger problem. You might have to actually pay more for repair, or worse, have to totally replace your machine.

What To Do When You Spot These Signs

Once you see any of these signs or perhaps other things that are out of the ordinary, you may be able to perform some routine maintenance tasks to abate any major problems:

Dryers

Make sure you clean out your dryer lint trap regularly. You actually can’t over clean the lint trap, so try to do it after every load, or as often as you can remember.

Refrigerators

Refrigerator coils then to gather dust, which can affect the way your appliance runs. Most of the time, however, it’s just a matter of taking a broom or feather duster and cleaning out dirt from behind or under the fridge (depending on where the coils are located). If your fridge has a water dispenser, don’t forget to change the filter regularly.

Stove and Oven

Oil and dirt tend to get trapped in the downdraft vent filters and range hoods. Metal mesh filters should be washed by hand – just take them out and clean them in soapy water. Paper and charcoal filters, on the other hand, should be replaced and never reused.

The great thing about ovens is that most of them have self-cleaning modes. But, don’t forget to clean up any immediate messes so they don’t build up and crust inside the oven.

Dishwasher

Aside from cleaning debris left inside the fridge, check the racks for damage or misalignment. If you find rust, then you should replace the racks or use a repair kit to seal them.

Washing Machine

Rubber hoses tend to degrade the fastest on washing machines, so make sure you routinely check the hoses for cracks or breaks. These hoses should also be replaced every five years.

When to Call a Professional

Of course, there are many times when you simply can’t fix or prevent a problem by yourself. Unless you’re a professional yourself, you should definitely call a pro to fix your appliance. An appliance repair professional can help diagnose your problem and fix it. They will come to your home and repair your broken appliances. That way, you can get back to your home routine and enjoy the conveniences of modern appliances. Finding a good technician doesn’t have to be hard – in fact, we’ve discussed this on a previous blog post. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse. Call a reliable repair company as soon as you experience any problems.

Top 4 Myths About Professional Dishwasher Repair Companies

The dishwasher is perhaps the most underrated appliance in many homes. How underrated, you might ask? Well, aside from making your plates, bowls, cups, forks, and spoons clean, a dishwasher can even help your marriage and reduce fights about whose turn it is to wash those dishes soaking in the sink for days.

Of course, whether a dishwasher is better than marriage counseling is still up for debate, it’s no secret that these machines can save you a lot time and effort. You may not realize it, but you probably save hundreds of hours a week thanks to your dishwasher.

However, since dishwashers have moving parts and tend to work hard, eventually, they will require some tune up or even a major repair. It’s only natural that after years of use, any appliance will eventually break down. When that does happen, you may be reluctant to call an appliance repair professional. After all, we here stories from neighbors, friends, blogs, and even reputable news outlets about crooks who promise to repair your broken dishwasher, fridge, stove, etc. and then do a shoddy job, overcharge, or worse, simply take your money without doing anything. While there are some bad apples (as in any industry), there are many good and reliable appliance repair technicians out there. Most of the time, the myth of the bad repairman still persists because most people will vent about things going wrong, rather than leave praise when things go right.

That said, let’s examine some of the more pervasive professional dishwasher repair myths and see how true (or false) they may be.

Myth #1: Professional Dishwasher Repair is Expensive

One of the things that turn people off from hiring a professional to do repairs on their appliances is the cost. Of course, there may be some repairs you can do yourself or you may have the knowledge to make to fix your appliances, then good for you. In fact, many repair technicians may even appreciate it if you don’t call them for every little thing, However, a good repair technician is certainly worth the money he or she charges. After all, they went through all the necessary training and work to learn how to repair dishwashers.

Plus, if you don’t want to hire a repair technician, then your only other choice is to replace your dishwasher, which will probably expensive in the long run. If you attempt to do any major repair, you might even cause more damage to your machine, or even to your home. A good technician though, can save you the costs of buying a new appliance, but will also tell you if your dishwasher is beyond repair.

Myth #2: Professional Dishwasher Repair is Inconvenient

Having any type of repair done in your home is inconvenient. So, yes, while this “myth” is true, think of the alternative: washing dishes by hand for the foreseeable future. You can’t avoid having your routine disrupted by having a repair tech come in, but there are a few ways you can make it a little better.

For example, try and have the technician come in at an odd hour. Most repair people are busy on weekends and night, since that’s when people have time to get repairs done. If you have a flexible schedule, or perhaps you can ask a trusted relative, neighbor, or friend, you can have them come on a weekday morning or afternoon. Also, make sure you call someone in your neighborhood. That way, your technician won’t experience any delays, and you can the repair done sooner. But, in the end, a few hours of inconvenience can save you more time.

Myth #3: You Can’t Find Honest, Reliable Technicians

Yes, there are some bad people out there, but that’s true for any industry. Go online and look at reviews, and you’ll find that even people with four star ratings on Yelp will have one or two bad reviews. While online reviews are a great source for finding anything from restaurants to repair people, you have to take them with a grain of salt.

Make sure you read through the complaints and see if the reviewer is being reasonable or not. Oftentimes, if you find a technician or company who has one or two complaints out of dozens of good ones, it might just be a misunderstanding. Actually, you should probably be more suspicious if a company has all 5-star reviews. A company with lots of good reviews and maybe one or two bad ones seem more believable. Also, make sure you ask references or the opinion of people you know, like friends and family. If you know someone who has already used the services of a good repair tech, then you can save yourself the time of having to find one. Of course, don’t be afraid to ask for references either.

Myth #4: You Have No Recourse if the Repair Goes Wrong

Repair jobs can sometimes go wrong. Neither you nor the repair technician can control all the variables, and sometimes, people just make honest mistakes. However, that doesn’t mean you can just count a botched repair as a loss. A good repair technician or company will have the proper business insurance to cover any mishaps if the fault is theirs. For example, if they choose the wrong part or if their actions cause flooding and damage to your home, their insurance can pay for repairs. Hopefully, you also have your own homeowners or renters insurance if you inadvertently cause any damage during the repair process.

While it’s not as crucial as a fridge or stove, a dishwasher can still be a lifesaver especially during those busy times when we feel overwhelmed by all the things we need to do. After a long day at work, and cooking and cleaning, it’s nice to have to worry about the dirty dishes piling in the sink – we can simply place them in the dishwasher and forget about them. That said, a broken dishwasher can disrupt your family’s routine. Finding a good repair technician need not be difficult, however. Despite the many myths, you can still find a reliable repair company who can fix your broken appliances.

Top 5 Tips for Hiring a Refrigerator Technician

Refrigerators are an important appliance in many homes. In fact, many people find it difficult to live without one. Most might think of the refrigerator as a place where they can get cold water and ice, and maybe take out a snack or even a meal. But, this appliance does so much more for us, more than we might even realize. For starters, with a refrigerator, you can keep food fresh for longer periods of time. That means you don’t have to eat at restaurants, get takeout, or order for delivery all the time. You can go to the supermarket and store foods for an entire week or even month or store leftovers to eat at a later date. This appliance prevents food from spoiling, saving your money and time, but also prevents you from getting sick.

Indeed, the refrigerator saves homeowners money and time, which is why when it breaks down, things tend to go awry. Try living without a refrigerator even for a few days and you can see how inconvenient it can be. When your fridge does break down, then you need to call an appliance repair technician. Of course, if you’ve never had to hire a technician, then you might need some help. So, here are the top 5 tips for hiring a refrigerator technician.

1) Find One Close to Home

This tip might be more of a common sense tip – of course you should hire someone close to you (or as close as you can get). After all, you want someone who can come to your home right away. Hiring someone in the next city or county doesn’t make sense, unless the technician you want isn’t available and you need to get your fridge repaired right away. However, know that some of these technicians might charge you extra for travel time or mileage.

With today’s technology and the Internet, however, you can easily find refrigerator repair technicians in your geographical area. Another benefit is, if your technician needs to come back for a follow-up or to install a new part, then they can easily come to your location. Of course, there’s also the added bonus of helping a small business or entrepreneur in your own community.

2) Check Their References and Reputation

Not all repairmen are bad, but not all are good either. That’s why you need to check reviews and references. Before you pick up the phone to call any appliance repair technician, make sure you check their online reputation. Go to Google and type in their name and see if anyone has left them reviews on Yelp or even the Better Business Bureau. You might also want to ask them for references – a good technician won’t hesitate to give you references from satisfied customers.

Alternately, you could also ask around and find recommendations. Go to friends and family and see if they can recommend someone they have worked with before or if they have heard of the technician you want to hire.

3) Ask About Legal Compliance

Anyone who has a business or practices a trade has to follow laws and regulations pertaining to their profession. Appliance repair technicians should have the right licenses, certifications and also have their own insurance. Make sure you ask any potential refrigerator technician you want to hire about their business license, certifications, and of course, proof of insurance.

Aside from knowing if he or she can repair your refrigerator, there are other reasons why you want to make sure you hire someone who has all their paperwork in order. As a customer, you want to know if they are protected, should anything happen to them while on your property. While your homeowners insurance may cover things if you are the negligent party, their business insurance will cover any mishaps for mistakes made on their part which might cause damage to your property or even injury to you. Plus, it’s always good to know that whoever you’re doing business with has to proper licenses to run their company.

4) Ask For Quotes and Jobs in Writing

When you call a repair technician, make sure you have everything in writing before they start work. That may mean having them come over to your home to check out your appliance first, but in any case, a good technician will also want to see what they have to deal with before they begin any type of work.

The technician you hire should have a job order form (or something equivalent), that states the type of repair they will make, the estimated amount of time for the work to be completed, and all costs that are included for that job. If you or they make changes to the job, then the form should be revised or a new one added, and both of you should sign off before any more work is done.

5) Ask Them To Explain The Repair (and Problem) to You

While many homeowners may shy away from the “technicals” of appliance repair, it’s still important to know them. A good appliance repair technician should be able to break down the problem and repair process to you in a way you can understand.

Why should you know this? Well, not only should you know and understand what’s happening to your (probably very expensive) appliance, but this may give you an insight to the problem that caused it in the first place, and how you can prevent this from happening in the future.

Finding the Right Refrigerator Repair Service

Your refrigerator is an important appliance in your household. It keeps food fresh and edible for long periods of times, allowing you and your family to stay nourished without having to go to a restaurant or supermarket several times a day. When your fridge is on the fritz, your normal routine goes out the window and you may lose hundreds of dollars from spoiled food. That’s why it’s important you find an appliance repair company or technician whom you can rely on to fix your fridge and ensure you can keep your family fed and happy.

What’s the Difference Between Commercial and Home Appliance Repair?

Appliances are something that almost every home has these days. Indeed, you’ll find it very hard to find an occupied house or apartment that doesn’t have even the most basic appliances like a stove or a refrigerator. However, aside from just homes, appliances can also be found in many businesses, such as restaurants, laundromats, and even offices. At first glance, it may not seem like home appliances and commercial appliances have big differences, except maybe for capacity. However, when you look below the surface, these two types of appliances are quite different.

Many appliance repair technicians specialize in either, or they may do both, but when they get a call, they will ask if the machines in question are commercial or residential. Why would such a question matter? That’s because commercial and home appliances may require different styles of repair or even different tools. Not to say that a home technician couldn’t fix a commercial appliance, but when they arrive at a job site, technicians want to be prepared. So, let’s look at way that home and commercial appliance repair can differ.

Qualifications and Experience

Many commercial repair technicians have special licenses to fix certain types or brands of professional appliances. While at the very basic level, most appliances function the same way, the stakes can be much higher in a commercial setting. For example, take a stove or oven. Commercial and home stovetops have the same function – heating food. However, a commercial stovetop will have many more features because that type of kitchen might require different types of cooking. In addition, if a home stove breaks down, the owner can just head to the nearest drive-thru for a quick dinner. However, if a commercial stove in a restaurant breaks down, that could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars lost in revenue. Aside from that, their reputation could also suffer. If, on a busy night, they should stop serving, customers already waiting to be served will certainly get angry, and they might retaliate by posting negative reviews on the Internet and on social media. In the worst case scenario, if food that has not been kept at the right temperature might make a diner sick, this could result in legal action.

A business owner cannot simply afford to have their appliances conk out for long periods. Aside from lost profit, they also have to think of their reputation in the long run. In addition, they also can’t risk having an unqualified repair person tinkering around their expensive machines. If anything, bringing in an unlicensed contractor might void their warranty or insurance might not cover them.

Specializations

Most home appliance repair technician will know to fix several types of machines. After all, this can help them find more jobs. After all, for most homeowners, their fridge, washer, or stove might break down once every years, if they take care of it properly. Homeowners also have a more predictable schedule – laundry once or twice a week, meals three times a day, so it’s easy to predict what could have gone wrong.

Commercial appliance technicians on the other hand, might have one or two specializations. Certifications to repair certain types or brands of commercial appliances take a lot of resources. Although a commercial stove and home stove might function the same way, they are also different. After all, commercial stoves will prepare hundred of meals per day, which means that these machines are much more heavy duty. They might also have complicated systems, many of which are connected to the kitchen’s central gas and electrical hookups, so repair technicians also need to know how a particular kitchen is wired and connected. And, because there’s so much going on at any time, problems may stem from a number of areas. A commercial repair technician will be able to narrow it down, because he or she might have encountered the problem before or through proper training.

Availability

Another difference between commercial and home appliance repairs is the availability of the technicians. When a person’s dishwasher at home breaks down, he or she can simply wait until the technician is available. In the meantime, they have to option of hand washing dishes or going out to eat. On the other hand, commercial appliance repair technicians have to be ready to come to a site at any given time. Some technicians might have a contract that states this. After all, appliances don’t always break down when it’s convenient. For businesses, a broken appliance will require repair right away, preferably before the next business day starts or even sooner. Imagine a restaurant kitchen with a broken fridge. If the owners wait too long for a technician, food that’s being kept fresh inside the fridge can go spoiled, which can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars down the drain.

Resources

Lastly, many commercial appliance repair techs have access to certain resources that home appliance repair people simply don’t have. For one thing, many commercial grade appliances don’t have a home version. A company like Vulcan, for example, manufactures only commercial kitchen and retail outlet equipment. A home appliance tech might even have never worked with or heard of this company, and they wouldn’t know what their stoves look like under the hood. They also won’t know where to get repair manuals or parts for such types of equipment. Someone certified to repair this type of equipment, of course, will know where to order parts or already have their hands on the machine’s manuals. They might even know someone in the company who can help them obtain the right parts and also have proprietary tools to fix the malfunctioning equipment.

Finding the Right Appliance Repair Service

Commercial and home appliance repair services are quite different, but neither is better than the other. The point here is that when searching for appliance repair services, you need to know which one you should call and why. While you may think that you can save money by calling a home appliance repair technician to come to your business, it’s not worth it. Or if you think a commercial dishwasher or refrigerator repair technician is better than your regular handyman, you may end up wasting his time and your money. When searching for a technician, make sure you call the right type of repair person, so you can get your appliances repaired right away and for the right price.

How to Find a Good Home Appliance Repair Service Company

You might not realize it, but home appliances certainly make our lives much easier and carefree. In fact, these machines have become so ingrained in our lives that we hardly notice them – unless they break down. Indeed, home appliances can help us save a lot of time and even money, so when they malfunction, our routines go in a tizzy. If your washing machine breaks, for example, imagine doing laundry by hand or bringing your dirty clothes to the Laundromat and wasting hours of your days off just to get clean items to wear.

Of course, since these machines have lots of moving parts, it’s inevitable your home appliances will break down at some point. Hopefully, you’ve been doing the necessary steps to maintain your dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, and other home appliances. But still, no matter how you maintain your appliances, age and wear and tear will catch up and you’ll experience a breakdown. While you can replace older, malfunctioning appliances with new ones, you should first see if you can get it fixed. Repairing broken appliances is not only more cost-effective, but also reduces waste in landfills and scrapyards.

However, finding a reliable appliance repair company is not always easy. If you live in a well-populated area, you’ll probably have a lot of choices when it comes to appliance repair companies. How can you find a good appliance repair company that will provide you the services that you need at a fair price? Choosing the right repair professionals can be easy, if you consider a few factors. Continue reading and find out how you can find a reliable appliance repair company today.

Experience and Training

The very first thing you want to know about with appliance repair technician or company is the experience and training they have. Obviously, you want someone who knows what they’re doing. Before you hire an appliance repair company, make sure you do the proper research about them. Find out about that company or person’s certifications and education, plus how many years they’ve been in business. Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews or references, as a good company will always have satisfied customers.

Insurance

Another thing to look for when searching for a good appliance repair company is if they have the proper business insurance for themselves and for their workers. A good repair technician won’t, of course, destroy your appliances or your property on purpose, but sometimes accidents can’t be avoided. A good appliance company will have the right type of insurance that not only protects the business and their customers, but also their workers if they are injured. You might think twice if a company has too much insurance, that they have something to hide. However, having insurance in place for any eventuality shows that a company cares about their workers, the jobs they get, and of course, their customers.

Service Offerings

Another thing to consider when looking for a repair service company is the type and range of service they offer. Now, there are two different ways to think about this: first, a specialist will have more detailed knowledge of a particular system, brand or appliance. He or she will have more experience dealing with that type of appliance, and so you may get faster or better service. On the flip side, however, if you find an appliance repair company or technician who has a broader range of experience or knowledge, you can always go back to them for other problems. Let’s say, your refrigerator breaks today and you found a technician you really like that can do multiples types of repairs. Next time, if your washing machine breaks or your oven malfunctions, you can call that same technician and save yourself the trouble and time of having to scout out a new repair person. It’s really up to you, but of course, having a good technician or company on call for any type of repair can help reduce the work on your end.

Speed

One of the first questions you should ask any potential repair company is how fast they can service your appliances. Of course, it would be difficult to predict exactly how long each individual repair will take without actually looking at the appliance, but they should already have a good idea if your malfunction is a common problem. A good appliance repair company, after all, should have enough experience that they can give you a rough estimate of how long it takes them to complete a job.

Location

You don’t want to wait hours or days before you can get an appliance repair technician to your home, so location is an important factor to consider. How far away is their office or home base? This will help you determine how fast they can get to your house. Choosing a local repair company not only ensures they can come right away, but it’s also a great way to support your local economy.

Price

Of course, price is an important consideration when looking for any type of product or service. A good appliance repair company or technician is worth it, especially if you can get fast, efficient, and excellent service, but you shouldn’t have to break the bank to fund a repair. Aside from just the bottom line, a good company or technician should also be able to give you a fair estimate of charges, plus won’t overcharge you or use bait-and-switch tactics. That way, when you do see the estimates, you can decide for yourself if you should get your appliance repaired or if you should just buy a new one.

Finding Appliance Repair Service Companies in Your Area

When searching for appliance repair companies or technicians in your area, ask for recommendations from family or friends. If you still can’t find anyone, then you may have to cast a wider net. Use various resources, from business listings to search engines, and make a shortlist of candidates. Talk to the technicians before you ask them to come over, and go with someone you feel comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask about their backgrounds or for references, as you want to make sure you choose the right company or technician for the job.

Does Your Refrigerator Need Repair?

It’s easy to take many of our modern gadgets today for granted. Think about it – in the last few decades, we’ve been able to fly across the world in a few hours, communicate with people in a span of seconds wherever they may be, and access a wealth of information using small computers in our pockets. Airplanes, trains, laptops, and the Internet make us thankful for modern conveniences, but what about those other gadgets that make life easier for us? What about our home appliances? While hardly a day goes by you don’t think about or use your smartphone, pad, or computer, you probably never think about your stove, washing machine, or your refrigerator. Your fridge, in particular, is a modern invention that saves you a lot of time and money.

Common Fridge Problems and How to Spot Them

If you grew up with a fridge your whole life, then you might not realize it, but try living without it for a day or two. A refrigerator doesn’t just keep food and drink cool, but prevents it from rotting. That means you can keep staples like milk, bread, and eggs for days without having to replenish them each day. You can limit your trips to the supermarket to once a week or so, because you don’t have to worry about running out of food after a day or two. That’s why having a functional refrigerator is a must for all households and you must keep an eye out for any potential issues and call an appliance repair service technician when you first start noticing problems with your fridge or freezer.

How can you spot these problems? By learning the common refrigerator failures, you can reduce your risk of losing money on spoiled food and costly repairs or replacement work down the line. If you can address problems while they’re still small, you’ll be able to get your kitchen back in working order with minimum hassle, cost, and difficulty.

Refrigerator Problem #1: Temperature Issues

Fridges and freezers need to maintain a constant temperature – that means it should not be too warm or too cold. You don’t want it to be too warm or your food will spoil and make you sick, but you also don’t want it to be too cold (at least in the case of the fridge) or your food will freeze and become inedible. A normal refrigerator temperature range is between 35 and 40 degrees F. If you notice that the temperature in the fridge feels warmer or cooler than usual, then use an appliance thermometer to check. Of course, you might notice that your food is spoiling too quickly or if items are freezing inside the fridge. If you do notice these changes and you can’t make any adjustments, then it’s time to call a refrigerator repair expert. A qualified refrigerator technician can diagnose your appliance quickly and offer you options for refrigerator repair or if necessary, replacement.

Refrigerator Problem #2: Leaks

Aside from temperature problems, another fridge foible to keep an eye out for is water leaking around the fridge. The thing with leaks though, is that it can come from a number of source. First, it may be coming from the condensation tray underneath the fridge. This tray collects water that condenses inside the appliance on the condenser coils. Usually, the water should evaporate, but if there is a crack in the water line, it may cause it to leak. It could be that the condenser coils cannot work properly because of dust and dirt collecting on them. While this could be a minor problem, it could also be a precursor to a more serious cooling issue. In either case, you should get it sorted out as soon as you can. If you feel comfortable with doing some minor repair or diagnosis, you can remove the kickplate from the front bottom of the fridge and see what is causing the leak. However, unless you’re certified to repair refrigerators, you should call a professional right away to get it fixed. Professional appliance repair technicians will know what to do and diagnose the problem quickly, as well as propose a solution that will stop the leaking.

Refrigerator Problem #3: Makes Too Much Noise

It’s normal for refrigerators to make some noise – usually its just the condensers cycling. However, if it’s constantly running or doing it more often than usual, then there’s a problem. Refrigerators are already one of the most electricity-intensive appliances in your home, and you don’t want it to suck up more electricity needlessly.

If your fridge is cycling too often, there may be a few easy fixes. First, check if the condenser coils are clean. These coils can gather dust easily and should be cleaned at least every 6 months, more if you think your house is particularly dusty. Next, it could be that your fridge is just too full – so try not to overstuff it and remove leftovers and other items that don’t need refrigeration or already expired. Also, try not too open the doors to often or leave them open for too long. Finally, it could also be a temperature setting. Remember, a fridge should ideally be between 35 and 40 degrees F. So, don’t just rely on your temperature settings, but rather, use a thermometer and adjust accordingly.

Appliance Repair Pros or DIY for Your Refrigerator Problems

One of the best things you can do for your fridge is to maintain the proper temperature and don’t overload it. You should also consider doing a few maintenance tasks yourself to prevent these problems. First, you really should clean the condenser coils regularly, if you have access to them (usually via the bottom front or back). To do this, unplug the fridge, find the grill and remove them, and then using a vacuum to suck out most of the dirt and dust buildup. If there’s still some leftover dirt, then use a clean rag to mop up the remaining debris.

Refrigerators are complex appliances that have many parts and often require a professional to repair. If your fridge or freezer has a major malfunction– like it won’t open, won’t stay cold or other such similar problems, then you should feel free to call a professional.