The three parts of a repair bill
1. The diagnostic visit
Most repair services charge a fee for the visit where a technician finds the cause. At NordMan the diagnostic fee is $89 for residential properties and $129 for commercial properties. It covers the technician coming out, testing the appliance and explaining what failed and what the repair will involve. When you compare services, check what each one’s diagnostic fee includes.
2. Parts
Parts vary more than anything else. A door switch, a thermal fuse or a gasket is inexpensive. A control board, a compressor or a set of drum bearings is not. The same kind of part can also cost very different amounts from one brand and model to another, and some parts are only available from the manufacturer.
3. Labor
Some repairs take a few minutes once the cause is known. Others mean pulling the appliance out, taking it apart and putting it back together. Built-in appliances, stacked laundry units and anything in a tight space take longer to reach.
What makes a repair cost more
- The part that failed. Fans, switches, fuses, valves and gaskets are usually the least expensive repairs. Control boards, sealed-system work on refrigerators and major mechanical parts are the most expensive.
- Brand and model. Premium and built-in appliances usually have more expensive parts.
- Part availability. A part that has to be ordered can mean a second visit.
- Access. A refrigerator built into cabinetry or a washer in a closet takes longer to service.
- Damage from waiting. A leaking washer can ruin a floor, and a refrigerator that runs with a failing fan can take out other parts. Small problems fixed early usually stay small.
Repair or replace?
A widely used rule of thumb: if a repair costs more than about half the price of a comparable new appliance, and the appliance is past the middle of its expected life, replacing it is often the better value. Below that line, a repair is usually the better choice.
A few other things to weigh:
- The rest of the appliance. A solid appliance with one failed part is a good repair candidate. One with several problems at once may not be.
- The real cost of replacing. A new appliance can come with delivery, installation, haul-away and sometimes cabinet or plumbing changes.
- Built-ins and high-end models. These cost much more to replace, so repairs make sense for longer.
- Energy use. A very old refrigerator or freezer can use far more electricity than a new one, which counts in favor of replacing it.
How to keep the cost down
- Give good information when you book. The model number, the exact symptoms and any error code help your technician come prepared.
- Do the basic maintenance. Vacuum refrigerator and freezer condenser coils, clean the dryer lint screen every load, clean dishwasher and washer filters, and change water filters on schedule.
- Try the simple checks first. Breakers, settings, filters and kinked hoses cause more “broken” appliances than people expect. Our guides on a washer that won’t drain, a dryer that won’t heat and a refrigerator that won’t cool walk through them.
- Don’t wait on leaks, burning smells or sparking. Those get more expensive, and more dangerous, the longer they go.
If you’re in North County San Diego, you can book a diagnostic visit online. Your technician finds the cause and explains your options, so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.
