5 Situations When You Shouldn’t Repair Appliances Yourself
Fixing your own appliances can feel like a rewarding challenge—until it turns dangerous or leads to costly damage.
Knowing when to tackle appliance repairs on your own and when to call in the pros can save you from serious harm and expensive mistakes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Safety First: DIY repairs on appliances involving electricity, gas, or refrigerants pose significant risks and should be left to professionals.
- Warranty Protection: Attempting DIY repairs on appliances still under warranty can void coverage, leading to unexpected expenses.
- Specialized Tools Needed: Repairs requiring specialized tools, such as replacing bearings, often exceed the capabilities of typical homeowners, making professional repair the smarter choice.
Here are five specific situations when repairing appliances yourself just isn't worth the risk.
1. Microwave Repairs Involving Disassembly
Microwaves look simple, but behind their user-friendly exterior lie dangerous high-voltage components.
The capacitor inside a microwave can hold a lethal electric charge, even after you've unplugged the appliance.
Attempting to repair a microwave yourself, especially if it requires disassembly, puts you at risk of severe electric shock. Microwave repairs should always be left to professionals with specialized training and equipment.
2. Refrigeration and HVAC Sealed System Repairs
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heat pumps contain sealed refrigeration systems filled with refrigerants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). High-efficiency condensing water heaters and clothes dryers now include sealed systems used for heating.
Handling these chemicals without proper certification isn't just dangerous—it's also illegal.
Refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) must be properly captured, recycled, or disposed of by licensed HVAC technicians. If you suspect your refrigerator or HVAC system has a sealed system issue, skip the DIY and call a qualified technician instead.
3. Gas Appliance Repairs
Gas appliances such as dryers, stoves, water heaters, and furnaces rely on precise gas flow and safe combustion processes. One small mistake in handling gas lines, valves, or igniters can lead to gas leaks, fires, or even explosions.
You might detect gas by smell—but carbon monoxide can also accumulate undetected in your home due to a botched appliance repair, posing a deadly risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
To ensure safety, always hire a trained professional to perform repairs involving gas lines or components to make sure gas connections are sealed properly and gas flames are clean to avoid health risks.
4. Appliance Repairs Requiring Special Tools
Certain appliance repairs, like replacing bearings in washing machines or dryers, require specialized tools that most homeowners simply don't own.
Attempting these repairs without the correct equipment not only makes the job frustrating—it can also result in further damage or personal injury.
Before you dive into a DIY repair, evaluate if special equipment is necessary. If the repair calls for tools you don't have or aren't comfortable using, it's time to schedule professional appliance repair.
5. Repairs on Products Under Warranty
If your appliance is still under warranty, attempting to fix it yourself can quickly void the warranty and leave you footing the bill for future problems.
Manufacturers include warranty restrictions specifically to ensure their products receive professional attention.
To protect your warranty and avoid unexpected costs, always check your appliance's warranty conditions and let a professional technician handle any needed repairs.
How to Know if an Appliance Repair is Too Complicated
Before tackling an appliance repair, honestly assess your skill level and the complexity of the task. Ask yourself:
- Does this repair involve exposure to live electricity, gas, or refrigerants?
- Do I have all the necessary tools and safety equipment?
- Am I confident that I can safely and accurately complete the repair?
- Could an error lead to personal injury or further damage?
- Could this repair void my warranty?
If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, it's wise to call in a professional repair service.
Knowing your limits helps ensure your safety—and keeps your appliances running safely and efficiently for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Glossary Terms
Wattage is the measure of electrical power expressed in watts (W), indicating the rate at which a device consumes energy.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel used primarily for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It's a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting mainly of methane, but it also contains smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and sometimes sulfur compounds.
A washer screw is a fastening device that combines a screw and a washer, designed to distribute the load of a screwed fastening more evenly and to prevent the screw from loosening under vibration.
A voltage meter, commonly referred to as a voltmeter, is an instrument used for measuring the electrical potential difference, or voltage, between two points in an electrical or electronic circuit.
Common Appliance Symptoms
The most common reasons your Kenmore Elite refrigerator stopped working are a locked compressor, damaged evaporator or a defective electronic control board.
The most common reasons your Maytag refrigerator stopped working are a locked compressor, damaged evaporator or a defective electronic control board.
The most common reasons your Bosch dishwasher has no heat are a defective electronic control board, clogged water valve or a broken detergent dispenser.
The most common reasons your Kenmore Elite microwave has no power are a bad thermostat, malfunctioning electronic control board or a broken switch.
The most common reasons your Kenmore refrigerator is noisy are a faulty ice maker assembly, defective electronic control board or a locked compressor.
The most common reasons your LG freezer is leaking water are a clogged drain tube, cracked water tubing or a bad evaporator.