An essential appliance suffering an unexpected breakdown has the power to throw your daily routine into disarray. For example, a broken dishwasher, refrigerator or washing machine stands to impact every member of your household. To add insult to injury, having a big-ticket appliance repaired can cost a small fortune. The larger the appliance and the more complex the problem, the bigger the hole you’ll leave in your bank account. However, this isn’t to say that you should accept exorbitantly expensive repairs as a fact of life. Unbeknownst to many homeowners, there are a number of easy ways to take the financial sting out of appliance repair.
Buy a Home Warranty
If you’re serious about making your appliances a last, a good home warranty is an absolute must. The right home warranty will provide comprehensive protection for your household’s most essential appliances. So, the next time a major appliance begins acting up, you won’t have to worry about shelling out a small fortune in repair costs. In addition to saving you money, home warranties can provide you with tremendous peace of mind and prevent you from feeling an intense sense of dread every time an essential appliance breaks down. If you’re currently without a protection plan for your appliances, there’s no time like the present to fire up your favorite search engine and start exploring home warranty prices.
Have Small Repairs Performed Posthaste
When a major appliance begins exhibiting problems, many of us adopt a “wait and see” approach. As long as the issue appears to be minor, we’re fine with allowing it to linger indefinitely. However, in addition to presenting a number of potential safety hazards, leaving these problems alone can result in them becoming far more serious issues. You may not be keen on spending money to fix seemingly small defects, but this type of thriftiness is likely to pave the way for larger-scale – and costlier – repairs down the line.
With this in mind, make a point of having any appliance issues you encounter addressed in a timely manner. Even if an issue isn’t indicative of something more serious, you’ll at least have peace of mind. Furthermore, if the appliance in question is covered under a good home warranty, the service visit may not even cost you anything.
Utilize Manufacturer Warranties
While retailers seldom hesitate to talk them up, extended warranties aren’t always a wise of your money. In fact, because they greatly overestimate the likelihood of certain appliances requiring major repairs, many consumers wind up paying too much for the peace of mind these warranties offer. This doesn’t mean that extended warranties are never a worthwhile investment, but they tend to be far less necessary than many retailers would have you believe.
The fact that most appliances come with manufacturer warranties should also be taken into account the next time you’re tempted to purchase an extended warranty. Just keep in mind that manufacturer warranties don’t provide coverage for as wide a range of issues as extended warranties, nor do they last as long, with many of them lasting between three months and one year. Still, if a relatively new appliance begins exhibiting problems, a manufacturer warranty is likely to prove useful.
Have Certain Appliances Serviced on an Annual Basis
In order to remain in peak condition, some appliances need to be inspected and/or serviced on an annual basis. In fact, depending on the model manufacturer and the amount of use an appliance receives, you may need to have it serviced multiple times a year. If you’re unclear on how often any of your major appliances need to be serviced, consult the appropriate owner’s manuals or manufacturer websites. As an added bonus, running at maximum efficiency helps prevent your appliances from using excessive amounts of power and driving up your energy costs.
Few things are more disheartening than dealing with unexpected appliance breakdowns. Whenever an essential appliance finds itself on the fritz, “How much is this going to cost me?” is generally the first thought on our minds. While there’s no denying that keeping appliances in peak condition requires one to spend money, it needn’t cost a small fortune. Putting the previously discussed tips to good use can help ensure that your big-ticket appliances remain in working order without putting a dent in your finances.
