We use our home appliances on a daily basis and depend on them more than we realise; in fact we often don’t consider how important they are until something goes wrong. Frustration can quickly set in when the washing machine breaks down and dirty laundry starts piling up, or a faulty cooker leaves us reaching for the takeaway menu night after night.

In recent years, if an essential home appliance stopped working then many of us would have probably just thrown it out and bought a replacement. However, given the current financial climate and greater environmental awareness it is often preferable to look for an alternative. Most appliance faults can be easily fixed and some are even so simple you can put them right yourself, which makes a repair an attractive option in the majority of cases.

A replacement freestanding cooker can easily cost upwards of £200 while a new washing machine will usually set you back more than £300-plus. Booking a repair will only cost a fraction of this amount, but you need to find a repair service you can trust.
If your appliance is still covered under the manufacturer’s warranty then you should contact them directly to arrange a repair. The problems start when your appliance is no longer covered; how do you decide which repair service to go for? And how do you know if they offer value for money?

Cost is obviously an important factor, but you need to bear in mind that many repair services will often quote a call-out fee and charge extra for any parts or labour required, which can make comparing services difficult. It is also important to check that your chosen repair service covers your area and that they offer a guarantee on any work carried out.

Repaircare is a new service launched in 2009 with the aim to simplify out-of-warranty appliance repairs. They offer fixed price repairs which include call-out, fault diagnosis, labour and any parts required – ensuring that you know the total price from the outset, so you’ll avoid any nasty surprises.