DIY Appliance Repair Part Deux...

So, you want to do it anyway? It can still be worth it. If you don't have a service plan and the appliance is less than 8 - 10 years old, or you have bonded with it in some way and really don't want to see it go, fixing it yourself might be worth it, as long as you can diagnose the problem properly. Generally, if you can repair it for less than half the cost of a replacement, and the unit is in otherwise good condition, go ahead. Have a big time, as they say. Since your labor is free (this is a hobby, right?) you only have to worry about the parts cost (see: Johnny Cash song in earlier blog post).

You need a couple of things:

1. A repair manual or other source of repair information, and,
2. A source of parts.

There is a reasonably good source of both called RepairClinic. There are others as well (See, I surf the net so you don't have to). A lot of newer appliances with electronic controls with LCD displays (if you don't know what these are, maybe you shouldn't try repairing them) have self diagnostic capabilities. Sometimes, these are even explained briefly in the installation manuals that accompany the unit. Usually, it involves holding down two or three buttons while powering the unit on with your foot or or your nose, at which point it will display a code of some sort which, with many years of study (or a cheat sheet) you can interpret. Kind of like cars, except that you don't have to buy a code reader.

Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can reset the offending condition and hope for the best. If this happens during the warranty period, don't do this! The next time you get the problem, it will probably be out of warranty, and you will be toast. At any rate, these diagnostic codes can be very useful. They must be - the service guys use 'em. Once you are sure of the diagnosis, you can price the cost of repair part(s). You want to be reasonably sure of yourself at this point. Trying one part after another is going to be really hard on your wallet. For you financial types, this is called a "Stupidity Tax." Unless, of course, you think of it as a hobby expense.

Although modern appliances are considerably more complicated than they were 20 years ago, they don't approach automobiles on the complexity scale. You can fix them without really expensive diagnostic equipment. Also, fixing them (or trying to) will make you a more educated consumer the next time you need to buy one, and that's what this blog is all about.