With the Coronavirus in full swing and lockdowns happening everywhere, it’s the perfect time to get repairs and renovations done on your home that you haven’t had time to get done before. However, with the lockdowns also come a decrease in paychecks and the money you have to spend on things like appliance repair.
Whether you’re having to handle refrigerator repair, troubleshooting on your own or trying to repair the washing machine, it’s important to save all the money you can in a time like this. In this blog, you’ll find a few tips for helping you save money on DIY appliance repair.
Start by Checking the Obvious
The first thing you want to do is check the obvious. When doing DIY appliance repair, it’s really easy to look for the bigger problems before you think to check the obvious things that might not cost you as much to fix. The first things to check include if the appliance is switched on, if it’s plugged in, the power settings, and if the appliance is getting power at all. In fact, there are some appliances that won’t work if they’re on an uneven surface or even if the filters are clogged. The point is to check the obvious before you borrow trouble and look for bigger issues.
Use the 50% Rule
The 50% rule is clear, if your appliance is more than halfway through its expected lifespan and you’re paying more than 50% to replace parts to keep the appliance running, then it might be time to replace that particular appliance. You can usually find the expected lifespan for your appliance in the owner’s manual that came with it at purchase. If you no longer have your manual, it’s easy to check the lifespan online as well.
Buy a Good Quality Multimeter
Worried that the problem is in your appliance’s wiring? That’s easy to test if you have a good quality multimeter on hand. You need a good quality multimeter to test the voltage and other signals to see if the appliance is getting what it needs to work. If you’re going to DIY your appliance repairs, then you need one at all times. It’s also important to follow proper safety precautions when messing with any type of electricity.
Figure Out Where Your Hoses Are
Your fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, and other appliances depend on certain hoses to move the water around. You need to know where the different hoses are and what they connect to on each of your appliances. This way if a leak or a kink happens, you’ll be able to trace it back to where it’s supposed to be and what it’s supposed to be doing. It’s important to note that hoses usually wear out before other components on your appliances, so keep a close eye on them.
Purchase a Full Tool Kit
If you’re going to DIY your appliance repairs, then you’re going to need more than a screwdriver to get the job done. You’re not going to be able to save money if you have to constantly run to the store to pick up a tool you need. Instead, purchase a full tool kit and keep it on hand. You can add to the kit as you go as well, but you do need the basics.
These are just a few of the best tips for saving money with DIY appliance repairs around your home. If you find that you can’t DIY any of your appliances, it’s best to call in the professionals to get the job done instead.
