One of your major appliances broke down, be it the refrigerator, or the washer, or maybe the dishwasher. Do you fix it? Do you trash it and get another one? Or do you call the repairman and pay $65 to find out what is wrong? For those of you thinking about this at home, appliance repair can be simple or hard depending on how well you do your research.

You Are Not the First with This Problem

Whatever problem you have with whatever appliance you own, someone else has had the same problem before you. Home appliance repair always starts with a general search on the internet. Type your question into a search box, and various resources become available to you.
Forums – there are many forums out there dealing with people who have the same trouble, and others who already had that problem and can offer some assistance.
How-to articles – the ‘how-to’ sites such as acmehowto.com and home.howstuffworks.com offer a variety of general repair guides and information
Repairmen offering free advice – some repair guys have their own website and are willing to answer questions from people who write in. They can tell you if the problem may be too complex to handle.
General reference from the manufacturers – this is one area overlooked mostly. Many manufacturers have online assistance today. You can also find parts that you might need here.

Simple Fix, or Maybe Not

After you have found articles and other assistance on the internet, you can decide about this while sitting at home. Appliance repair for the most part is relatively simple, but consideration must be given to the following:
Can you handle the job? Some home appliance repair will involve wiring, or minor work around the motor.
Do you have the tools and the proper instructions to do the repair? Wrenches and Duct Tape can not fix everything.
Are you comfortable with your hands in tight spaces? Most appliances will have very tight corners or small spaces where you will need to work once you are inside the appliance.
After diagnosing the problem, do you feel you can still solve the problem? While most repairs are simple, there are the occasional major problems that may need more than you have.

Repairman or New Machine

Home appliance repair can be something you decide is just not for you; or maybe you think you would rather have a repairman handle the job after all. Or, after reading about what might be the problem, you realize that you should probably just go shopping for a new appliance. At least now you have the information to know what everyone is talking about. You can ask knowledgeable questions and know if the answers sound reasonable. You can pick up on any potential problems that may appear later. And if nothing else, you know that you can find answers to the next problem that arrives in the future.