Repair guides
Pick a type, an appliance or a brand. Every guide lists the tools, the safety call-outs, the steps and the reading you should expect.
Diagnostic · 374
Symptom → most likely cause, step by step
Component tests · 69
How to test a specific part, with expected readings
Installation · 33
Install, replace and hook up appliances correctly
Fundamentals · 24
Core skills every appliance tech uses
Appliance
Brand-specific guides
24 guides
Tech Fundamentals · 24
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Fundamentals · FundamentalsAppliance lifespan expectations (sourced estimates)
Published estimates are averages that assume normal use and maintenance. InterNACHI's chart lists dishwashers around 9 years, refrigerators 9-13 years and clothes dryers around 13 years; Consumer Reports-based figures cited by NerdWallet run higher for some types (e.g. dishwasher 12, top-freezer fridge 14, front-load washer about 9). Use ranges, not promises.
Fundamentals · FundamentalsBasic tool list for an appliance tech's truck
A starter kit that covers most residential appliance calls: test equipment first, then drivers and sockets, then specialty and safety gear. Rated test equipment and PPE are not where to save money.
Fundamentals · FundamentalsDiagnosing intermittent faults
Intermittent problems are usually heat, vibration, moisture or a loose connection. Gather the history, read stored fault codes, reproduce the conditions and stress-test connections while monitoring. Don't replace a board on a guess.
Fundamentals · FundamentalsEPA Section 608: what appliance techs can and cannot do
Without EPA 608 certification you can diagnose around the sealed system (fans, defrost, controls, start components, airflow) but you cannot open it, recover, recharge or dispose of refrigerant-containing equipment in a way that releases refrigerant. Type I covers small appliances (≤ 5 lb factory charge); Type II covers high-pressure systems; certification doesn't expire.
Fundamentals · FundamentalsESD-safe handling of appliance control boards
Static from your body can damage board components at voltages you can't feel. Ground yourself, keep the new board in its bag until the moment of install, handle it by the edges and put the old board in the same bag for return.
Fundamentals · FundamentalsFinding water leaks with paper towels and food dye
Water travels along frames and wires before it drips, so the puddle is rarely under the leak. Dry everything, lay paper towels at suspect points, and use a few drops of food coloring in the tub or tank to tell appliance water from supply or drain water.