Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.
Is it worth it to hire an appliance repair technician?
There are several reasons why it’s worth it to hire an appliance repair technician instead of replacing the unit or doing the repair yourself. The first is to keep your warranty valid — doing a DIY repair on a home appliance may void some warranties.
Another reason is having the proper tools. While you may need to go buy extra tools to perform a repair, a technician will have the tools ready.
Hiring a pro can also help ensure a long-term fix instead of a band-aid solution, as an experienced pro will be able to assess the equipment for function.
If you have a broken appliance, get free estimates from the best appliance repair pros near you to figure out if it's worth hiring a pro to fix it for you.
How much does it cost for appliance repair?
While the average cost of appliance repair is $65, the price can range from $45 to $120. A technician may set a flat rate or charge by the hour. The average hourly cost is $65, although this can range from $40 to $95.
Appliance repair technicians typically set their prices depending on the type of appliance, level of difficulty and other factors. Some pros may also charge a service fee or a consultation fee, and they might also offer discounts for new customers.
While some appliance repairs like cleaning the inlet filter on your washing machine or cleaning a smelly dishwasher are perfect DIY projects, others are better left to the pros.
Certain jobs can be dangerous and risk extensive damage, such as repairing gas lines or leaks. Others require experience and know-how, such as balancing a clothes washer, replacing electric wires, rewiring appliances and more. If you’re not sure how to get it done safely, contact the best appliance repair technicians near you.
Reviews for La Mesa appliance service specialists
Lara S.
ECH appliancerepair was amazing! They quickly diagnosed the problem and were fast and efficient with getting the job done!
ECH Appliance Repair
Rachel c.
Denis was responsive when we messaged for assistance with our dishwasher. He figured out the problem within minutes and ordered the parts and installed a week later. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a solid appliancerepair assistance.
TrueCare Appliance Solutions
Matt G.
My dishwasher stopped working suddenly right before I was going to host a Christmas eve party. APS was able to get out and diagnose the problem the next day. Parts were ordered and the full cost was quoted upfront with a guarantee that no labor costs would be charged if their solutions didn't fix the issue. Not only that but they were able to diagnose and repair a serious electric problem that left unsolved would have probably caused a kitchen fire! Would definitely use them again for appliancerepair and would recommend them to anyone
APS REPAIR
Hollie A.
WARNING!! DO NOT USE FOLA APPLIANCEREPAIR!! THIS IS THE DETAILED STORY OF WHEN HE TRIED TO SCAM US AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!
This review was written by the husband who dealt with him when he came to "fix" our dryer.
We requested a dryer repair on Thumbtack and Dmitri came out promptly. After just listening to our dryer for a second he said that we needed a new drive motor. He said it would be $250 for the new part and $100 for labor. Needing our dryer fixed today, I agreed. I had already troubleshot the problem as a blocked blower wheel, but I trusted that this guy wouldn't lead me astray. But my intuition kicked in because the cost was excessive and I immediately was put on guard.
He left and came back about an hr later. He took our dryer apart and while it was apart, he had to run to his car. There was in fact a sock stuck in the blower wheel that he tried to move to another part of the dryer, thinking I wasn't looking. The box that the new drive motor was in was for a different brand (my dryer is Samsung and the box said Whirlpool on it) so I got even more suspicious. So when he went to his car I took photos of the part in the box (it was opened so I got a photo of the part number), and of the drive motor in our dryer. He comes back and pretends to put the new part in, then drops "the old drive motor" back in the box, almost to bring attention to him putting it in the box. I walked over and picked it up to look at it, saying "wow this is what one of these looks like", to which he said, "yea, it probably has a bad coil". He quickly started putting the dryer back together. After comparing the pictures in my phone against the "old drive motor" that he dropped in the box, low and behold IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT WAS IN THE BOX TO BEGIN WITH (he didn't know that I already had picture evidence). I told him to take the drum back out so I could clean around it, and he nervously said "I've already cleaned it."
I think he started to realize that I was on to him so he got a bit nervous. I repeatedly told him to take the drum out, so he did. I then stood there and pulled my phone out to show him the pictures I had. I showed him the photo of the drive motor that he brought with him in the box and pointed out that it was the exact same one that he brought with him. I pointed out the writing behind the label and the rust spot on it. I then showed him the photo of our original drive motor, which was still installed, still covered in lint. He was like "I was just doing a diagnostic." I told him that I knew he was trying to scam me and not to try to lie to cover it up. I said "you were trying to scam me, weren't you? Don't you lie to me" and said "yea" and mumbled under his breath. I said "why would you do this to us?" to which he kept responding "ok, ok" and mumbling under his breath.
After he left I looked up the part number (which you'll see in the photos), and it's a drive motor for a Whirlpool washer (remember we have a Samsung dryer)!!! The level of deception that this guy went through to make sure he wasn't caught is astounding and tells me that he does this stuff often.
He is a real-life scammer. He's nice so he's unassuming but he's not a good person. My wife called him to give him a piece of her mind and called him a P.O.S., to which he said "so what's your point?" Again, another admission of guilt, and an incredible amount of arrogance.
I literally never give anyone bad reviews because it's not worth my time, and I will let someone correct their mistake if there was one, but this one is different. He blatantly tried to scam us. He did it all while smiling and waving at our daughter who kept waving at him. It makes me sick that I let this guy into my house. We've opened up claims with Thumbtack, the appropriate licensing board, and the Department of Consumer Affairs for Household Goods and Services. I've also contacted the police department.
I sincerely hope you that are reading this heed the warning of not using this guy. He's incredibly dishonest for the sake of making an extra hundred bucks. And if you read any of his other bad reviews on Thumbtack, you'll see people reporting the same kind of thing. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to check his reviews as my wife booked him. Hard lesson learned.
I would never in a million years recommend FOLA to ANYONE!!!
CoolFix Pro
Ready to find a pro?
See more reviews, compare prices, and hire your favorite pros all with Thumbtack.
There are 18 five star Appliance Service Specialists in La Mesa, CA on Thumbtack.
Why hire professionals on Thumbtack?
Free to use
You never pay to use Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, contact pros, and even book the job—all for no cost.
Compare prices side-by-side
You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro.
Hire with confidence
With access to 1M+ customer reviews and the pros’ work history, you’ll have all the info you need to make a hire.
