PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — At the top of the frustration gauge is when you press “start” on a device and it doesn’t work.
The obvious question immediately is: repair or replace?
According to one expert, most of us make the wrong choice.
Two factors play a role here: the cost of the exchange and avoiding rip-offs.
You depend on your appliances to work, and when they don’t, homeowners fear the worst.
“A natural tendency for many homeowners is that when an appliance breaks down, they’re like, ‘Well, I’ll just have to replace it,'” says Kevin Brasler of Consumers’ Checkbook.
Brasler says don’t underestimate the power of repair.
“It’s usually worth seeking a repair before giving up and buying something new. One reason is that new devices are now quite expensive,” added Brasler.
It can cost anywhere from $700 to $2,000 to buy new, depending on what you’ve missed.
“Most repairs cost less than $200 if it’s a simple fix, and they can cost even less if you can do the repairs yourself.”
Exactly, do it yourself.
“There are many videos on YouTube that can help you with these repairs. It’s also how-to guides on sites like iFixit.com designed to help homeowners and others make their own repairs,” Brasler said.
But first you need to properly diagnose the problem.
“So you usually have to spend some money to get that diagnosis. Most device repair services will charge at least $100 to $150 just to show up and give you a diagnosis,” Brasler said.
And sometimes that’s enough for even the simplest repair.
“Before you let someone come, ask what their minimum service is and what that covers.”
Brasler says once they take a look, they should be able to give you a written estimate, down to the dime, of how much the repair will cost.
An inaccurate estimate leaves the door open to unexpected expenses. Make sure you are not still under warranty as any work on the product may void the warranty.
But how do you know which companies are reputable?
Word of mouth from friends is effective, but other than that, read any reviews you can find.
Check out the Better Business Bureau’s comments section, and Brasler says if he sees more than two complaints, he goes the other way.
As temperatures rise, air conditioners will be put to the test and some will fail.
So how do you know what the problem is and if it’s beyond your ability to fix it?
If it still works, do yourself a favor and make sure you use a new filter. A dirty filter makes work difficult and, together with the heat, can lead to a breakdown.
A broken air conditioner is the last thing you want this week. Therefore, before it happens, clean the area around the outdoor unit to allow it to breathe. And if it breaks, especially if it’s an older device, think about replacing it.
“Especially if it’s a really old piece of equipment, it can be difficult to get someone to service it, especially if there’s a coolant leak,” Brasler said.
Brasler says to look for evidence of leaking coolant.
“Then it’s usually better to replace the device.”
While this is costly, it has tax and operational benefits.
“The new air conditioning systems are significantly more efficient than the old ones.”
But before you agree to anything, you should know everything.
“Find out the total cost of doing this, including delivery and installation work, up front,” says Brasler.
While unrelated to air conditioning, gas appliances pose a critical problem in appliance failures.
“If it’s a gas appliance, I think it’s probably worth hiring a professional to do it,” added Brasler.
With gas appliances, there is no room for error.
And like hiring other appliance repairs, when it comes to air conditioning or a plumber, look at consumer complaints. According to Brasler, more than two complaints are a red flag.
However, nowadays people can change the filter and clean the condenser for their air conditioner outdoors.
Both of these will cause the device to work harder and if it’s vulnerable in this heat it’ll show up.
John Shumway
www.cbsnews.com
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/what-to-do-if-you-have-a-broken-appliance/
