When your household appliances start malfunctioning or breaking down altogether, it can be a frustrating experience. You have to decide whether to attempt to repair them yourself or call in a professional technician to take care of the problem. Sometimes it can be tempting to try your hand at appliance repair and feel like an accomplished appliance doctor when you fix the problem. Even so, is dissecting your home appliance and trying to complete the operation on your own the best choice?
Let us look at some pros and cons of DIY versus calling a professional technician for help. Hence you can make an informed decision.
DIY appliance repair
Nowadays, attempting to fix a broken appliance without the assistance of a professional technician can often become the first choice. With the help of the almighty Youtube and Google, nothing seems impossible. Everyone can become a technician. Hold your horses!
Before deciding on becoming a skilful repairman, review the pros and cons of DIY appliance repairs.
Pros of fixing the home appliance yourself
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Cost Savings
One of the advantages of DIY appliance repairs is that they can be less expensive than hiring a professional technician. You only have to pay for the parts needed to fix the appliance and not the labour costs associated with hiring a professional. Nevertheless, this can be more the case for a quick fix than complicated work.
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Convenience
If the problem with the appliance is minor, you may be able to fix it quickly and easily without having to wait for a technician to come out to your home.
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Learning Experience
DIY appliance repairs can be a great way to learn more about how your appliances work and how to fix common issues. It is very satisfying to fix your fridge or washing machine and see it functioning after being touched by your magic hands. The pandemic largely increased DIY projectsbecause people had more time.
Nonetheless, some DIY projects are suitable to try without much experience, and some are better to leave for professionals. Why ? Here are the reasons.
Cons of repairing home appliances yourself at home
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Safety Risks
If you’re unfamiliar with how to fix household appliances, attempting to repair them yourself can be dangerous. You could accidentally electrocute yourself or damage the home appliance further. Household appliance repairs involving electrical or gas components, like gas stoves or ovens, should only be attempted by a licensed professional due to the potential safety risks involved.
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Lack of Experience
If you’re inexperienced in fixing household appliances, you may end up causing more harm than good. It could lead to more expensive repairs down the line or even having to replace the home appliance altogether.
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Time-Consuming
If the issue with your appliance is complex, attempting to repair it yourself could end up taking a lot of time and effort.
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Warranty
If you still have a warranty on your home appliance, trying to repair it yourself can void the manufacturer’s warranty and leave you responsible for any future repairs, spare parts and replacement costs.
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Tools for repair
Many appliance repairs require specialised tools and equipment unavailable to most homeowners.
Professional home appliance repair
Would you trust a self-proclaimed doctor who watched some Youtube tutorials to examine you or give you medical advice? We would not. While in the case of your home appliances, your health is not at risk, your household appliance condition is. Hiring a trained and experienced professional to come out to your home can diagnose and safely repair the issue with your appliance.
Here are some benefits of hiring a professional house appliance repairman or repairwoman.
Pros of calling a professional to repair your home appliance
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Expertise
Professional technicians have the experience and expertise needed to diagnose and repair even complex issues with your appliances. Experienced technicians have spent years learning and doing additional on-the-job training to acquire all the knowledge and skills necessary. That is why this job is not just for anyone.
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Safety
Professional specialists are trained to work with appliances safely, so you don’t have to worry about injuring yourself or damaging the household appliance. Technicians also have the necessary equipment to ensure safety during repair and maintenance. At Fix-It we have all the necessary certifications.
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Time-Saving
Sometimes a minor problem can be quickly solved at home. In most cases, hiring a professional technician saves you more time and effort, as they can quickly diagnose and repair the issue with your home appliance For a novice, it is hard to locate the problem in the first place, and then it will take additional time to figure out how to mend the household appliance.
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Quality repairs
Experienced technicians can perform high-quality repairs on your household appliance that make your appliance last longer. They provide the correct replacement parts and maintenance for your home appliance to prevent it from breaking again. At Fix-it, we check your appliances every year and ensure the maximum quality of our interventions to avoid potential future breakdowns.
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Saving costs in the long term
While DIY may seem a less expensive option, there is a hidden cost. Without proper repair and maintenance, your household appliance will keep breaking down and adding extra costs. Quality repair assures that your home appliance stays operational for as long as possible and will save you money in the long run.
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Expert advice and maintenance
When a professional is coming to mend your household appliance, they can also provide advice and maintenance service to prolong the life cycle of your household appliance. Regular checks and maintenance by experts are the best way to avoid your home appliance ever breaking. Fix-it experts will not only repair, but also give you tips on how to make your appliances last and avoid breakdowns.
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Peace of mind
Repairing yourself can be stressful. If you have never done this before, every step you take brings doubt. With a professional, you can rest assured that the repair will be done correctly and that your appliance will be safe and functional.
Limitations of hiring a professional technician
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Scheduling
If your household appliance breaks down at an inconvenient time, like during your busy schedule week or pre-vacation, scheduling an appointment with a technician can become challenging. Because of this, regular expert maintenance is important to avoid any trouble. At Fix-it we do it for you every year !
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Speed
Unfortunately, teleporting has not been invented yet, and the technician cannot be at your door within seconds. If the problem is big, this might be a bit worrying. Nevertheless, at Fix’It,we aim for fast service and will be at your home within 48 hours. We offer local service in Brussels, Brabant Wallon and Brabant Flamand to be near you when a problem occurs. Don’t hesitate to explain the seriousness of your problem when you call us. We will hear you out and get to you as quickly as possible.
When to fix the household appliance and when to call a professional technician?
At the end of the day, it is better to leave your broken home appliance in the care of a professional technician. Professional appliance repair is better and more beneficial than DIY. Only if you have the necessary skills required for repair or the problem is minor can you attempt to solve it on your own. Even if fixing it yourself might seem like a less expensive option, without proper skills and knowledge, you may end up damaging your house appliance even more and adding costs on top of that.
Most importantly, some repairs may be hazardous and trying to repair yourself can put you, your family and your house in danger. We have heard some horror stories of things going awfully wrong with DIY projects, but we rather not put those scary images in your heads.
While it can be tempting to repair the home appliance yourself, it’s important to weigh the risks and potential drawbacks first. If you are ever having a problem with your household appliance at home, do not hesitate to call us for advice.
Here is some further reading to help you figure out when to call a professional before it is too late:
