Appliance repair engineers

What to put in your job description

• The appliance, the make and the model number (usually on a label inside the door or on the back).
• Roughly how old it is, and whether it is still under warranty.
• What is wrong: it won't start, leaks, doesn't heat or cool, makes a noise, or shows an error code.
• Whether it is built in or free standing.
• Whether it is a gas cooker or hob: gas work needs a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Don't put your name, phone number or address in the description: every trade who covers your area reads it. Your name, phone, email and address go only to the trades who take the job (3 at most).

Questions to ask before you hire

• Is there a call-out charge, and is it taken off the repair price?
• Do you carry parts for this make, or will you order them and come back?
• If the repair costs more than the machine is worth, will you tell me before you start?
• What cover do you give on the parts and the repair?
• For a gas cooker or hob: are you on the Gas Safe Register?

Registers and schemes to check

There is no legal register for appliance repairers. Work on a gas cooker, hob or other gas appliance must by law be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Before a repair, look the model up on the government's product recall list on GOV.UK: a recalled appliance is often repaired free by the maker. We don't check this for you yet.

What the job usually involves

• Finding the fault, often from the error code and a test of the parts.
• Changing parts such as pumps, belts, heating elements, seals, motors and control boards.
• Checking the machine is safe and works before they leave.
• Advice when a repair costs more than the machine is worth.

How quotes and visits work

Most repairers have a call-out or diagnosis charge, then a price for the part and the labour. Many can tell you the likely fault and price from the model number and the error code. Ask whether the call-out charge comes off the repair price.

Ask for a written quote (a fixed price) rather than an estimate (a guess that can change), and for what it includes. If you agree a job in your home, you usually have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations; if you want work to start sooner, you may have to pay for what has been done.

Safety

• Unplug the appliance, or switch it off at the wall, before you look at it.
• If a washing machine or dishwasher is leaking, turn off its water valve too.
• If a gas cooker or hob smells of gas, turn the gas off at the meter and call the gas emergency number.

Insurance

Ask for public liability insurance: it covers damage to your home, such as a leak after a repair. Ask what cover they give on the part and the work. If the appliance is still under the maker's warranty, call the maker first.

Guides for homeowners

• How to compare quotes from local trades

We take jobs from anywhere in the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Trades choose the postcode districts they cover.

Appliance repair engineers by town and city

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland