How Much Does Appliance Repair Cost?

Learn the typical price for hiring professional appliance repair from Cardinal Appliance Repair:

Kitchens are filled with large electrical appliances. An electrical oven, dishwasher or refrigerator needs up-to-code wires. In the event an appliance is incorrectly installed, it creates a real risk of fire in a home. To be sure your electrical appliances are in good shape, it’s important to call a trained service for appliance repair.

DIY electrical repair for appliances is rarely a recommended plan of action. There are a handful minor repairs where DIY is be an option. In those times, just be sure to use the proper tools and to always shut off the power.

Troubleshooting large appliances, however, is more complicated. Don’t plan on DIY repair. Your range, for example, might require either a 250- or 125-volt circuit dependent on if it’s completely gas-powered or electrical, and you will need to have at least two 20-amp, 125-volt circuits to operate smaller kitchen appliances. These circuits will be able to carry numerous electrical outlets, but don’t overload them — which will mean, a third outlet is a smart idea.

The chance of a short (which might cause major injury or even death) during any type of bigger project most of the time will not be worth it. Just call a professional service.

You should complete a search for appliance repair services on social media. Find repairmen with good reviews. Or find a a recommendation from a family member if you’re running into issues with a stove, microwave or refrigerator.

Hiring appliance repair technicians starts with finding a service with experience in repair of kitchen appliances. Some repairmen are appliance-specific, and do not offer repair for all kinds of household appliances.

The primary reason some local appliance repairmen aren’t safe to service a kitchen appliance is due to the number of electrical appliances in a kitchen that use water to run. Refrigerators need water to make ice cubes and dishwashers always require water to run. Water is potentially dangerous during electrical repairs.

If electrical repairs are not done correctly and a waterline ruptures, just one example, there’s a strong possibility of electrocution. Water and electricity don’t go together.

That’s why you need an appliance repair company who knows how to deal with both elements.

Experienced appliance repairmen can cost anywhere from $40 to $75 per hour for their work, and independent contractors might cost between $70 and $110 an hour. This could seem like too much, that’s because it’s much better to pay a more expensive price for quality work. If a repair service is cheaper than $25 per hour, be skeptical.

Be sure the service is pulling a permit for any type of electrical repairs. Some questionable services will argue they do not require a permit, but do not trust it. Always check with local officials.

Most local services charge a minimum cost for their trip, from $50 to $60. You will have to pay the complete price regardless of if the repair is completed, so have a small list on-hand of appliances for them to inspect.

The average is $150 for oven repairs – local services will typically charge $65 to $150 an hour. You should expect a $60 to $75 trip fee too for the repairman to come and troubleshoot the problem.

The prices for new appliances range between $350 and $7,750. The wide range is dependent on the model of kitchen appliance, such as a high-price refrigerator compared to a standard oven.

Troubleshooting or installing an electrical appliance is one of the most difficult repair projects you can require in a kitchen.

One way to limit these types of electrical issues is listening very closely to a contractor when he or she completes an estimate for service. Exact wiring types should be used dependent on the type of kitchen appliance, and the wiring colors (for ground or neutral) could differ when local regulations and requirements are altered.

Additionally, a lot of jurisdictions demand arc fault protection for all kitchen circuits along with ground fault circuit interruption (GFCI) protection. If the contractor doesn’t mention this, or implies that you do not really “need” them, it is time to hire a different repairman.

In addition, it’s important to monitor a contractor closely when he or she completes the review of the refrigerator. If it is a brand new appliance the repairman is going to install, ask if it is able to use the same circuit or needs an upgrade because there are noticeable size and power usage differences in the latest models. The same can be applied to dishwashers and ovens.

A professional have to be willing to articulate what it is they will repair, why they need to do it and justify each part of the final cost, which likely includes materials, labor and miscellaneous. There are some appliance repair services willing to wave the service fee if repair is done.

OTHER RESOURCES:

Appliance Repair Tips
Appliance Safety
Repair or Replace Appliances
Refrigerator Parts