Should I Repair My Refrigerator Myself?

Introduction

A refrigerator is an essential appliance that has a lot of complicated parts and components. That’s why you shouldn’t DIY your way through the repair process if it gets damaged or doesn’t work properly. While you can fix minor problems by simple troubleshooting, complicated repairs should be left to the professionals. It brings you a lot of benefits and saves you from future underlying problems and losses. Moreover, you can hire them easily by searching for “refrigerator repair near me”. Let’s check out if you should repair your refrigerator yourself:

The Details

1. Training and Skills – You may be a very skilled DIYer and may have repaired some appliances back in the day. However, you don’t have the training and years of experience possessed by a professional refrigerator repairman. Without proper training, you would be stuck for hours and go through many trials and errors just to figure out the problem. On the other hand, a reputable repair company having worked on thousands of refrigerators would be able to do quick diagnostics and figure out the underlying issues very quickly. Moreover, they have the tools and know-how to repair modern refrigerators with complex electronic components. You may damage functioning parts, you may damage your appliance, and even leave certain vulnerabilities unchecked that may become a big issue in the future. That’s why it’s best to hire a professional to fix your refrigerator.

2. Save time – As mentioned above, you may waste a lot of time just figuring out the problem while a professional can do quick diagnostics. You may have expertise in other fields. However, if it’s not useful for repairing your fridge, it’s wasted effort and time. For instance, you may be an expert on fixing and modifying motorcycles. However, the knowledge and expertise on engines, air filters, and fuel injection systems won’t do you any good when you want to repair a broken compressor. Similarly, refrigerator repair professionals can’t make use of their knowledge to fix things that are beyond their area of expertise.

That’s why you should leave experts in their field. It allows you to save time that would have been wasted if you tried your hands on it. Even if you made some progress on refrigerator repair, it may be short-lived if the underlying issues aren’t fixed. Moreover, you have a short window of a few hours before the food inside the refrigerator goes bad. Instead of wasting time and risking food spoilage, it’s best to hire an expert. You don’t want your refrigerator to be filled with a foul odor.

3. High-quality repair – Professional repair doesn’t just save you time, but also solves the root of the problem so that you don’t face similar issues in the future. If you have a brand-new refrigerator, it won’t break down easily. However, as your refrigerator ages, faults and problems keep popping up and become more frequent. Moreover, with the addition of more mechanisms and moving parts like ice makers, the rate of failure increases. Research shows that icemaker refrigerators can break down within just 3 years of purchase. If you do shoddy repair work to fix the problem at the moment, you may have to get your hands dirty again after a few months. When a professional does it, your refrigerator is less likely to break down due to the high quality of work. Moreover, a trainer service provider won’t fix your refrigerator in a way that can backfire and inflict more damage to the refrigerator in the future.

4. Warranty Protection – A refrigerator is a very expensive appliance. The latest model with all the bells and whistles can put you back several thousand dollars. That’s why you often get the extended warranty protection provided by the manufacturer and want it to last throughout the availed period. While the warranty may cover certain parts, it doesn’t cover all the components and, in those cases, you need the help of an authorized professional repairman. Doing it yourself may void the warranty. Good quality refrigerators have a life expectancy of two decades and that’s why you want to make the most out of the first few years covered by the warranty. That’s why you don’t want to try repairing your new refrigerator. In most cases, homeowners who try to repair their refrigerator by themselves may cause more harm than good and that’s why most manufacturers want their appliances to be fixed by authorized service professionals.

5. Safety – Safety is also a major reason for not repairing your refrigerator by yourself. Refrigerators are complicated machines that have electronic components that can be dangerous if not handled properly. Moreover, they are also connected to the plumbing and electrical line of your home. Severe problems with the refrigerator expose your home to fire hazards. For instance, refrigerators use thick layers of foam insulation to maximize cooling efficiency and save power. However, the insulation is also extremely flammable and often just has a plastic layer for protection. If you attempt to fix your broken refrigerator and break into the insulation layer, you’re a spark away from the disaster. It can cause severe loss of life and property. Professionals know their way around a refrigerator and take all the necessary precautions to avoid those situations. 

6. Environment friendliness – If you have an old refrigerator and it breaks down, you may give up after trying to repair it. It’s convenient since it gives you the perfect excuse to upgrade the refrigerator. However, refrigerators are very costly and apart from gimmicky new features, may not provide you any real advantage over the old model. Repair technicians can fix your refrigerator, save you thousands of dollars that may have been spent on an unnecessary upgrade and also prevent the refrigerator from going to the landfill. It’s a win-win situation for both you and the environment.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the advantages of hiring a professional for repairing your refrigerator and the risks of repairing it yourself, the next step should be evident. If you want to hire pros for fixing your refrigerator, search for “refrigerator repair near me”.