Often times, we don’t realize how vital ordinary household appliances are until something goes on the blink.
That’s where Ed Dorrell of Dorrell’s Appliance Service comes into the picture.
Dorrell has been helping to keep modern life running smoothly since 1946, when he went to work with his brother at an appliance store in New York City. After a stint with the Air Force during the Korean War, he followed his brother to Jacksonville in 1958 and returned to the appliance repair business.
He worked for a couple of years at General Electric and then moved on to repairing appliances for a Frigidaire dealer on Arlington Road. In 1964 the owner decided it was time to move on and Dorrell found himself with an appliance repair business.
“And I’ve been doing it ever since,” Dorrell said.
Dorrell not only fixes refrigerators, but also dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers and dryers, as well as ranges and stoves. He said the most common calls he gets involve dryers taking too long to complete a cycle or strange noises and leaks coming from the refrigerator.
Occasionally he gets a call that is a bit more frantic.
“I’ve had people tell me they lost a diamond ring in the dryer,” Dorrell said. “Luckily we can take it apart and find it in the ductwork.”
While Dorrell takes care of the hands-on side of the business, his wife helps manage the business end.
“My wife, Mary, handles service calls with a personal touch,” Dorrell said. “Many customers are happy to talk to a caring person about their appliance problems.”
Dorrell made another addition to his one-man repair shop a few years ago when he hired a technician.
Trained in all major brands including Whirlpool and Maytag, Dorrell’s newest employee also brings a wealth of technical knowledge to the table.
“There are computer boards in everything these days,” Dorrell said. “It’s very technical and he’s up-to-date on all of it.”
Dorrell acknowledged that getting appliance parts is proving harder and harder to do these days, with so many models being produced overseas. Add to that the exclusive service deals that stores often have with manufacturers and you might think the independent appliance repairman, like Dorrell, is a dying breed. Not so, he continues to put his knowledge and skill to good use, helping clients and saving them money.
“Too many people would rather just replace something than repair a perfectly good machine,” Dorrell said. “If we can get the parts we’ll fix it right, no matter what the problem is.”
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https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2011/11/24/dorrells-appliance-service-your-independent-repair-expert/15883238007/
