Why Buy New When You Could Fix it Yourself?
The day had been trucking along smoothly until your favorite appliance broke. A few months ago it was the fridge, now it is the washing machine. Everything suddenly seems drab and grey. You feel like the world is out to get you, and you’re only holding onto your sanity by a thread. Even that feels like a miracle. After paying for the first busted appliance, getting a shiny newer model that is sure to last, your savings have run dry. There’s no money for a new washer. You don’t know what to do.
Fixing Instead of Replacing
What you may not know is, often times, fixing an appliance isn’t all that difficult. Sure, you could call up your appliance guy and have him fix it for you. That’d certainly be cheaper than buying an entirely new piece of equipment. Keep in mind, however, that what he charges for labor is sure to hit your pocketbook hard. It’s best to get some guidance from a professional at the beginning, but then split up and take matters into your own hands. Once you know what you’re doing, and what the problem is, fixing it is usually a matter of following simple instructions.
Huge Savings
The only cost that you will run into when going the fix it yourself method is the cost of parts. Once you are aware of what the problem is with your washer, dryer, or other appliance, you can search on the internet and find out which parts need to be replaced. Replacing appliance parts does still cost money, true, but it will be much cheaper than hiring someone to come and fix it themselves. By putting in some extra time to do your research, and more time and elbow grease later to get the job done, you will save yourself a ton of cash. In fact, the average cost to repair a washer or dryer ranges from $200 to $265 or more, while repairing something a bit more complex like a fridge, can run upwards of $300. Other estimates say that fixing a dryer can cost up to $400!
As you can see, it is more than worth it to do it yourself, if the break isn’t too complicated. Certain things will be better for an expert to handle, but most basic jobs, a homeowner is more than capable of doing themselves. Buying parts can be a pain, but if you take care to find a website that is well laid out and has a wide selection, the process will become much easier. Look for a website that carries more than one brand of parts. Try not to go with universal parts, though they can be cheaper. It is always best to buy the parts that your machine is specifically made for.
The world isn’t ending, and you aren’t cursed. Your appliance is broken, again, but you don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars to get it fixed if you do it yourself.
