The Pros and Cons of DIY Appliance Repair

Obviously, DIY appliance repair can save you money on repair bills – when you do it right. It’s also not hard to hear about DIY repairs that have gone bad – costing homeowners much more than the original professional repair would have cost.

The same can be true with appliance maintenance. There are many routine tasks where the DIY approach is well suited, and many of these cleaning tasks keep the need for any repair at bay. But, yearly professional appliance maintenance services are the best way to prevent expensive breakdowns.

When you’re facing an appliance failure, weigh these pros and cons when deciding whether to complete the repair yourself or call in a professional.

Pros of DIY appliance repair include:

• Cost savings -- no appliance technician repair bill.
• Flexibility -- freedom to choose a lower-priced replacement part.
• Convenience -- not having to wait for a service visit.
• Self-esteem – sense of accomplishment in completing the repair.
• Quality control – the job is done according to your personal satisfaction.

Conversely, here are the drawbacks of completing appliance repairs yourself:

• Safety risks – you can injure yourself during a DIY repair.
• Lack of tools – some appliance repairs require special tools.
• Wasted expense – you may install unnecessary parts.
• Lack of experience – you’ll likely face repairs that you haven’t completed before.
• Warranty coverage risk – completing DIY repairs can void some warranties.

Read on to get more details about the pros and cons of DIY appliance repair.

Advantages of Repairing Appliance Failures Yourself

When you complete DIY appliance repair right, you’ll encounter these benefits.

Repair Cost Savings

Hiring a professional repair service can be expensive, and by doing the repairs yourself, you can avoid significant labor costs. You can also save money by using after-market replacement parts that cost significantly less than manufacturer-authorized parts.

Convenience

You can complete a DIY repair immediately without having to schedule service and wait for a service technician to complete the work. You also won’t have to stay home from work to meet a service technician at your home.

You can complete the repair work at the best time that fits your schedule.

Gain Confidence

As you successfully complete DIY repairs, you’ll gain self-confidence in your abilities to manage your home. Repairing basic appliance failures can lead you to having confidence to tackle more advanced DIY projects in the future.
Expanding your DIY horizons leads to higher self-esteem.

Quality Control

When you repair an appliance failure yourself, you know that the job was completed right.

You can also choose the quality of replacement parts used. While some service providers use after-market or refurbished appliance parts, you can choose to use the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) replacement parts to complete the repair. OEM parts are guaranteed to fit the appliance perfectly. They typically work better and last longer than after-market or refurbished appliance parts.

Of course, if you want to save money on replacement parts, you can use lower-priced after-market or refurbished parts for the repair. You get to decide when you’re completing the repair yourself.

Risks of DIY Appliance Repairs

Every DIY appliance repair comes with inherent risks to your safety and the performance of the appliance. Obstacles also exist that make it difficult to complete some repairs on your own.

Here are the drawbacks of DIY appliance repairs.

Safety is the # 1 Risk of DIY Repairs

Attempting to repair appliances without the necessary knowledge and expertise can pose safety risks. Neglecting a seemingly insignificant detail such as reconnecting a ground wire can result in severe electrocution. Failing to connect and seal gas lines properly can result in a fire or explosion.

Professional technicians are trained to handle various types of appliances safely and follow strict repair guidelines. By hiring professionals, you can ensure that appliance repairs are conducted with the highest safety standards, drastically reducing the risk of appliance accidents, property damage and personal injury.

Some Appliance Repairs Need Special Tools and Technology

Attempting some DIY appliance maintenance and repairs without the necessary tools and technology often leads to further appliance damage, resulting in more costly part and equipment replacements along with escalated labor costs later on.

Expensive damage to your home and other appliances can result from appliances not being repaired and reassembled properly using the proper tools and technical advice from the manufacturer. For example, DIY’ers sometimes wind up paying for water damage due to improperly connected hoses and leaking seals in water-carrying appliances.

Professional service technicians have all of the proper tools and the service manuals from manufacturers to diagnose and repair appliance repairs properly.

Lack of Technical Skills can lead to Wasted Expense

Some DIY’ers typically lack the diagnostic skills and equipment to determine the correct parts to replace – resulting in the purchase of expensive, unnecessary parts.

Professional technicians can identify and fix issues accurately and efficiently, preventing the expense of buying unnecessary parts and paying for damage due to botched DIY repairs. You can rely on professional appliance repairs to be done right.

One final thought to consider regarding potential costs of professional appliance repair is that DIY repairs can void the manufacturer’s warranty. You may eventually have to pay for repairs that would have been covered by the manufacturer when you perform repairs yourself. Consider having a professional service provider repair your appliance to keep appliance warranties valid.

In summary, the decision to complete appliance repairs yourself depends on your comfort level, skills, and the complexity of the repair needed. If in doubt, it's often best to have your appliance repaired by a professional technician.