The Times Australia
Fisher and Paykel Appliances
The Times House and garden

.

Tips before doing appliance repair by yourself


The breakdown of a stove, refrigerator, washer, or water heater forces the homeowner to look for quick ways to restore devices because modern people are very much attached to their devices. Depending on the skills and the availability of tools, you can use various methods of self-repair of equipment.

If you need to repair a vacuum cleaner, microwave, and other household appliances quickly, the useful advice of experienced experts will help you find the best solution:

The main idea of self-repair.

The main principle of high-quality appliance repair at home is to understand how it works. If you know the principle of operation of the device itself or its node, you can quickly find and eliminate the cause of the malfunction.

The user manual can greatly reduce the repair time.

If you have any problems with domestic appliances, you can read the list of typical malfunctions and how to fix them. This information is always available in the user manual.

You can now find instructions for any appliance, including old ones online today. If you do not have the documents for your appliance, do not worry – just visit the official website of the manufacturer and use the search form.

Determining the source of the problem.

First of all, you need to identify a specific assembly or zone where there are possible malfunctions. Perhaps the problem is not the case but the power cord.

Or the heating element burned in the kettle, while you are looking for a break in the plug. For an accurate diagnosis, you need a basic knowledge of general electrical engineering, patience, and a little ingenuity.

Fixing the breakdown.

When the root cause of the malfunction is known, you can start the repair of the appliance.

For example, if the washer does not want to work or one of the buttons flashes, first you need to check the outlet to which the machine is connected. Perhaps the fuse was knocked out or the socket itself broke. After that, make sure that the water supply tap is not turned off. There is a possibility that the washing machine was simply overloaded or the cover was closed incorrectly. Such malfunctions are corrected in a couple of minutes, without disassembling the device itself.

Required repair tools.

Often, manufacturers use branded, non-standard fasteners in the design, which require professional tools to work with. The cost of the tool kit may exceed the cost of buying new equipment.

A standard set of repair tools:

- multitester (electronic measuring tool);

- set of screwdrivers of different sizes;

- screwdriver;

- pliers;

- sharp knife;

- soldering tool;

- drill with attachments.

It is quite difficult to find original spare parts for old appliances.

However, there are compatibility sheets, they are searched for by the name or model of a broken refrigerator, washing machine, or other household appliances. By purchasing such parts, you can be sure that they will fit and work.

Think about using a warranty.

Do not rush to repair expensive equipment yourself, as this may affect the warranty service. In the event of a serious breakdown, you may be denied free repair or replacement of the broken unit.

It's necessary to correctly evaluate the complexity of the repair.

You should understand that without a measuring tool and a soldering iron, it makes no sense to even try to fix a serious breakdown, including a malfunction of the power or control boards. To do this, you often have to completely disassemble the appliance, use various twists and pullers. It is very easy to seriously damage the node, repeatedly increasing the cost of repair.

Therefore, it is better to entrust appliance repair to the experts from Wise Appliance Service (recommended) or any other well rated technicians company in one of the big cities like Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne.

Times Magazine

Can bigger-is-better ‘scaling laws’ keep AI improving forever? History says we can’t be too sure

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman – perhaps the most prominent face of the artificial intellig...

A backlash against AI imagery in ads may have begun as brands promote ‘human-made’

In a wave of new ads, brands like Heineken, Polaroid and Cadbury have started hating on artifici...

Home batteries now four times the size as new installers enter the market

Australians are investing in larger home battery set ups than ever before with data showing the ...

Q&A with Freya Alexander – the young artist transforming co-working spaces into creative galleries

As the current Artist in Residence at Hub Australia, Freya Alexander is bringing colour and creativi...

This Christmas, Give the Navman Gift That Never Stops Giving – Safety

Protect your loved one’s drives with a Navman Dash Cam.  This Christmas don’t just give – prote...

Yoto now available in Kmart and The Memo, bringing screen-free storytelling to Australian families

Yoto, the kids’ audio platform inspiring creativity and imagination around the world, has launched i...

The Times Features

Why the Mortgage Industry Needs More Women (And What We're Actually Doing About It)

I've been in fintech and the mortgage industry for about a year and a half now. My background is i...

Inflation jumps in October, adding to pressure on government to make budget savings

Annual inflation rose[1] to a 16-month high of 3.8% in October, adding to pressure on the govern...

Transforming Addiction Treatment Marketing Across Australasia & Southeast Asia

In a competitive and highly regulated space like addiction treatment, standing out online is no sm...

Aiper Scuba X1 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review: Powerful Cleaning, Smart Design

If you’re anything like me, the dream is a pool that always looks swimmable without you having to ha...

YepAI Emerges as AI Dark Horse, Launches V3 SuperAgent to Revolutionize E-commerce

November 24, 2025 – YepAI today announced the launch of its V3 SuperAgent, an enhanced AI platf...

What SMEs Should Look For When Choosing a Shared Office in 2026

Small and medium-sized enterprises remain the backbone of Australia’s economy. As of mid-2024, sma...

Anthony Albanese Probably Won’t Lead Labor Into the Next Federal Election — So Who Will?

As Australia edges closer to the next federal election, a quiet but unmistakable shift is rippli...

Top doctors tip into AI medtech capital raise a second time as Aussie start up expands globally

Medow Health AI, an Australian start up developing AI native tools for specialist doctors to  auto...

Record-breaking prize home draw offers Aussies a shot at luxury living

With home ownership slipping out of reach for many Australians, a growing number are snapping up...