By Glenda Taylor | Published Dec 28, 2021 3:42 PM

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Appliances serve a range of household needs, including storing perishable foods, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, and washing dishes and clothes. When an appliance stops working, it’s more than just an inconvenience; it disrupts daily schedules and can even lead to an emergency, depending on the appliance.

Having a major appliance repaired can cost upward of a couple of hundred dollars. Unless the item is old and on its last leg, calling an appliance repair man is likely cheaper than buying a new appliance. A good repair service will send out a technician to assess the problem and make recommendations based on the issue the appliance is experiencing. They’ll also estimate how much the repairs will cost. Ahead, learn more about the appliance repair industry and why the following rank as the best appliance repair service companies.

Among the considerations when shopping for the best appliance repair company are the company’s location and their service area, the type of appliances they work on, and whether their technicians are certified. It’s also essential to determine if they charge a diagnostic fee up front and warranty their work.

Many appliance repair companies will service appliances in both commercial and residential settings. Commercial settings include break rooms of schools and office buildings as well as businesses such as laundromats. Commercial repairs are similar to residential repairs—the only difference is that the repairs are made for a company rather than a homeowner.

A few appliance repair services may focus on a single type of appliance, such as an HVAC repair company or a dishwasher repair service. Owners of commercial buildings will often contact the company that installed the appliances when repairs are necessary.

If an appliance is new or nearly new, it’s often better to have it repaired rather than footing the bill to replace it. This, of course, depends on what’s wrong with the appliance—if the cost to repair it comes close to or exceeds the cost of purchasing a new one, skip the repairs and buy a new appliance.

The appliance’s warranty is also a factor. Suppose a homeowner recently purchased a GE washing machine. In that case, it is likely under warranty, and the manufacturer will send out a GE washing machine repair technician to inspect the appliance and make repairs without any cost to the homeowner.

Most appliance repair companies offer services in a limited geographic area, such as within a 1-hour drive from their home office. Today, scheduling repair services can often be done online, as many offer interactive scheduling apps. These allow customers to select the type of appliance that needs repairs and pick from multiple time slots. When online scheduling isn’t available, calling the company directly is the next best way of getting an appliance repaired promptly.

Some appliance repair companies offer repair services for multiple appliances, ranging from window air conditioning units to refrigerators to dishwashers. If a specific appliance isn’t listed on a company’s website or ad, send an email or call and ask something like, “Do you offer dishwasher service near me?” If the company doesn’t, they will often point the customer toward a repair service that does.

In addition, some manufacturers allow only brand-certified technicians to service their appliances if they’re under warranty. For example, a service technician may be certified to work on LG appliances but not GE.

Most appliance repair companies will charge a diagnostic fee for coming out and inspecting the appliance. This is usually a flat fee. While it varies, it often ranges from $50 to $90, although it can run higher. In some cases, the company may waive the fee if the customer decides to hire them to do the repairs. Not all companies offer this benefit, however.

For more extensive, complex repairs, such as replacing a motor in a furnace, the company may charge by the hour rather than a flat fee. This is especially true if circumstances are likely to impede the repairs, such as a cramped space to work in that will result in the technician taking longer than usual to make the repairs. After inspecting the appliance, the technician should offer an estimated repair cost. Some companies provide flat fees for specific maintenance.

Hiring a licensed, certified, and insured technician is the best way to get reliable repair services. Some appliance repair companies list their certifications on their website, while others explain them over the phone.

Customers can also call their local building authority to determine whether an out-of-town repair service is licensed to work locally. If the appliance is under warranty, the manufacturer (rather than the customer) will often select a local technician that’s certified to work on their brand of appliances.

Special certifications are often required to work with specific materials, such as a Type 1 EPA certification, which is necessary for a technician to work with the liquid refrigerant used in air conditioners.

Some companies offer a standard 1-year warranty on parts and labor, while others provide a more extended warranty. Some states require an implied 1-year warranty to protect the consumer. For major appliances, if the consumer buys a dishwasher with a 3-year warranty, the manufacturer will repair it every time it breaks for 3 years. After the warranty expires, no more work will be done without a charge.

If the cost of the repairs exceeds the value of the appliance, the manufacturer may opt to replace the appliance or refund the consumer’s money rather than repair the appliance.

The best appliance repair services will also offer good customer support. This includes arriving promptly at the customer’s home (most companies have a 4- to 6-hour arrival window), providing an accurate assessment, and being transparent about their services and fees.

Good customer support also includes addressing any issues speedily and reasonably. Some companies offer customer support services right on their website that allow customers to enter their specific problem and then have a technician contact them to address it.

When an appliance is still within its manufacturer-warranty period, the manufacturer will often only approve a technician who’s certified to work on their specific brand. When an older (or used appliance) needs repairs, a general repair service will usually handle the repairs.

Some higher-end or luxury brands might require technicians with special training. In addition, many of today’s new appliances that use digital codes to pinpoint problems need a technician who knows how to interpret the codes. An example would be some of LG’s high-end refrigerators that run their own diagnostic processes and emit an audible code that only an LG receiver can read.

Appliance failure can be a stressful experience, especially when it’s something a homeowner uses every day. Finding a reputable technician can add even more stress. This list of repair companies can service customers across the country, and they all deliver high-quality work on a range of appliances.

Why It Made the Cut: American Home Shield ProConnect offers online scheduling and up-front prices, and its technicians arrive quicker than most.

American Home Shield (AHS) offers its online service, ProConnect, to customers needing appliance repair services. ProConnect links them to repair specialists in their local area. AHS currently serves 35 metro areas and is growing all the time. The customer enters their ZIP code and then selects a day and time (morning, afternoon, or evening) when they would like the repair technician to come, and technicians arrive within a 2-hour window. AHS charges a flat $79 diagnostic fee for inspecting the appliance and recommending repairs. Customers can only schedule repairs for dishwashers, refrigerators, ice makers, and washing machines; other appliances require different services.

Customers can also call and schedule an appointment over the phone. The customer is advised of the cost of the repairs up front, and the price will not increase. Customers automatically receive paperless estimates and invoices, and they can view and pay their invoices online if desired.

Why It Made the Cut: Mr. Appliance has branches nationwide, and the company services all types of appliances.

With 300 locations across the nation, Mr. Appliance is likely to have a branch near most customers. The company focuses on repairing a wide range of appliances, including fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, window AC units, and even outdoor grills. In addition to repairs, the company offers a few maintenance services, such as dryer vent cleaning, to help reduce the risk of vent fires.

Mr. Appliance uses the Service On Your Schedule (SOS) app that allows customers to schedule repairs easily. Its diagnostic fee starts at $89, which is higher than the average, but if a simple part replacement is necessary, the company has been known to waive the diagnostic fee. With safety in mind, Mr. Appliance promises its customers that technicians will arrive at the correct time, have an ID badge, and be wearing a neat, clean uniform.

Why It Made the Cut: Nana has a seamless scheduling process and will waive its diagnostic fee if the customer hires the company to do the repair work.

Operating in numerous cities in eight states (Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas), Nana offers same-day repairs 7 days a week. While other appliance repair companies provide emergency repairs on weekends, Nana also offers regular repairs. It charges a $70 diagnostic fee and will waive the fee if the customer opts to go with a Nana technician for repairs.

The company repairs all major kitchen and laundry appliances, including a wide range of brand-name refrigerators, stoves, cooktops, ovens, and washing machines, to name a few. However, its warranty is limited to 1 year on parts. Customers can schedule repairs online and choose a time best suited to their daily schedule or send the company a quick message on its website to have a technician call them back.

Why It Made the Cut: With its 24-hour emergency services plus essential HVAC maintenance and repairs, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is the one to call in a pinch.

Few things are as miserable as a furnace that fails during bitterly cold temps or an AC that stops running in the sweltering heat. No matter what day or time, if customers need fast HVAC repairs, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to call. The company has a nationwide service area with more than 120 locations, and customers can request a repair technician with a phone call 7 days a week. However, the company’s website is less than user-friendly and may be difficult for customers to navigate.

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning can make the necessary repairs to heating and air conditioning units. The company’s technicians can replace old units with new ones, troubleshoot thermostats, and work on window AC units, mini-split units, and zoned systems. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is so confident customers will like its services that it offers a 2-year satisfaction guarantee. All technicians are trained and licensed, which is imperative for a system as specific as HVAC.

Why It Made the Cut: HomeAdvisor puts independent repair specialists in touch with local customers who need appliance repairs.

HomeAdvisor isn’t an appliance repair services company, but it can put customers in touch with a nearby repair specialist. HomeAdvisor is an aggregator that tracks all types of home remodeling and repair trends, gathers and calculates the costs of projects and repairs, and serves as a meeting point between the customer and the specialist.

HomeAdvisor’s online scheduling app is comprehensive in its scope, narrowing down a customer’s location and then asking a variety of additional questions, including whether the repair is a required part of the sale (or purchase) of a home, whether it’s an emergency, and when the customer wants to schedule an appointment. The types of repairs vary by the professional assigned to the project, as does any applicable diagnostic fee, repair charge, and warranty. Customers will have to input their personal information to see a list of technicians and get a quote, but HomeAdvisor is a straightforward way to find a local professional.

Why It Made the Cut: The Home Depot also offers repairs on appliances purchased through the retailer.

It’s one of America’s favorite places to shop for all things DIY, such as flooring, wallpaper, and construction materials. Still, customers might not know that The Home Depot also offers repair services on major appliances, such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators purchased from The Home Depot.

At the time of purchase, customers have the option of buying an extended warranty that exceeds the term of the manufacturer’s warranty. For example, suppose the manufacturer offers a 2-year warranty on a dishwasher, and the customer purchases an additional 2-year warranty. In that case, The Home Depot will handle repairs for the dishwasher for 2 years after its first warranty expires. The Home Depot will also provide up to $300 in reimbursement for food spoilage (if the refrigerator happens to be the appliance that needs repair). If this plan isn’t purchased with the appliance, though, the customer will have to seek another repair service. But this is a reliable service for customers who choose to go with it, and The Home Depot’s many locations make this an accessible option for many homeowners. Plus, The Home Depot’s repository of online resources makes it easy for homeowners to DIY simple repairs.

While any of the appliance repair services in this lineup are well respected and a good option for customers, American Home Shield ProConnect (AHS) ticks off all the boxes. It charges a flat diagnostic fee and tells customers what repair costs will run before repairs are made. Mr. Appliance is also an optimal choice, and it has more than 300 locations nationwide.

We extensively researched companies that provide appliance repair across the nation to formulate this lineup of the best appliance repair services. We looked at how many branches each company operates and where, how easy it is for customers to schedule repairs, what type of appliances it services, and whether the company offers guarantees or warranties.

We awarded points for quick response time, the ability to provide up-front fee schedules, quality of repairs, and the types of appliances serviced. We recognize that not everyone lives near one of these repair companies, so we also created this guide to help customers learn what to look for when hiring repair services.

Not everyone will benefit from contacting one of the appliance repair companies on this list. Before calling a repair service, determine whether the appliance is still under manufacturer warranty. If it is, contact the manufacturer rather than an appliance repair technician. If the customer hires a technician to repair an under-warranty appliance, the manufacturer may not cover the cost of repairs.

In addition, some appliances come with extended warranties the customer purchased when they bought the item. If the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, but an extended warranty still covers the appliance, contact the store where the appliance was purchased to find out how to schedule repairs.

In addition to a company’s diagnostic fee, most customers can expect to pay between $105 to $241 for professional appliance repair services, including parts and labor. The actual cost will depend on several factors, such as the going cost of labor in a community, the brand of appliance, and travel time. The following ranges are estimates, so be sure to get a firm quote before hiring a repair service.

Most customers can expect to pay:

Having an appliance repaired saves money by extending the appliance’s useful life and postponing the purchase of a new model. While many homeowners won’t know why an appliance isn’t working, a professional technician can usually pinpoint the problem quickly and make recommendations. Plus, there are other advantages.

No one likes finding out an appliance isn’t working correctly, but unfortunately, appliances sometimes need professional repairs. For those looking to hire a repair company, some questions are expected.

Probably not, since a bathtub is considered a fixture and not an appliance. The best option is to contact a plumber or bathtub repair specialist.

It varies by appliance type, brand, and problem, but on average, customers will pay between $105 to $241 for appliance repair, excluding diagnostic fees.

Many repair services charge a flat rate for the type of appliance, but if a technician has to travel outside their service area or anticipates the repairs will take longer than usual, they may charge a per-hour fee. Find out if a company repairs a specific appliance by asking something like, “Do you offer oven repair service near me?”

The average arrival time for national repair service companies is between 4 to 6 hours, but it could be sooner or later depending on how busy the technicians are.

Yes, in many cases. Many of today’s appliance repair companies offer online scheduling, live chats, and interactive consultations.

Many do. It’s called a diagnostic fee, and it covers the cost of sending a technician out to inspect the appliance. However, some will waive the fee if a customer hires the company to make the repairs.

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