A guide to appliance repair in Baltimore
Baltimore is a diverse and vibrant metropolis. It’s celebrated for its rich history, craft breweries, amazing neighborhoods and stunning harbor — and not to forget the great museums. It houses some world-famous hospitals and Towson University, too. Also known as the “charm city,” Baltimore is truly a beautiful city.
If you are a homeowner in Baltimore, Maryland, looking for an appliance repair company, you came to the right place.
Critical and expensive household appliances need proper maintenance, and it's difficult to trust just anyone when it comes to unexpected repairs. Performing a background check assures you that your appliances are in responsible hands.
In this guide, we discuss what to consider when choosing the best Baltimore appliance repair company and questions to ask repair companies so that you can find the right fit for your needs.
What to look for when choosing an appliance repair company in Baltimore
In the sections below, we highlight key things to consider when choosing the best appliance repair company for you, such as:
- Online reviews, ratings and qualifications
- How long they have been in the business
- Areas they serve around and across Baltimore
Online business reviews and ratings
Before buying any product on Amazon, be it clothes or gadgets, we often look into the review section to understand others’ experiences with that product. Social proof precedes the decision-making process.
Similarly, you need to check and read reviews and ratings of various repair businesses and compare accordingly.
Online reviews and ratings validate a company’s expertise and prove it has effectively helped other homeowners with appliance repairs or maintenance.
Sites like Angi, Yellow Pages and Yelp are good places to start. Often, appliance repair companies have a dedicated page to showcase customer reviews. Be sure to check them out, too.
Reviews and ratings help you overcome any worries and hesitation you may have.
Pro tip: When searching for a reliable home maintenance company, people also reach out to family and friends for suggestions. If they had an excellent experience, you will likely, too. Homeowners can also perform a local internet search. However, because home maintenance can consist of an extensive range of disciplines, a thorough search may be required to find a handyman who can fulfill your repair needs.
How long they’ve been in business
Next, you need to check the company’s foothold in business or its experience in the industry in general.
Recently incorporated companies may not be the best choice, as there wouldn’t be much information to look into. Secondly, you need to be wary of scams. However, a company with many years of experience can indicate the reliability of their services.
Cinch Home Services, for example, comes with 40 years of experience in the appliance repair business, making Cinch one of the most reliable options to choose from.
Repair business qualifications
Be sure to do a background check regarding the company’s qualifications. Here are some things you can check out to get a better idea of the reliability of the business:
- BBB ratings (or Better Business Bureau ratings) help homeowners connect with reliable businesses. A BBB-accredited company undergoes a stringent accreditation process to prove that its services adhere to strict requirements. It’s advisable to always look for home appliance repair companies that have an excellent BBB rating.
- If needed, ask the company if it has specific manufacturer qualifications to repair certain brands or types of appliances.
Areas of Baltimore the repair company serves
Lastly, you must check whether the repair business serves your area or the surrounding areas of Baltimore.
No matter how good an appliance repair company is, if it doesn’t serve your area, then you cannot benefit from its services.
Particularly, if you live in Dundalk, Annapolis, Belair, Edison, Ellicott City, Pikesville, Harford County, Howard County, or any other counties of the Greater Baltimore Area, be sure to ask the company you plan to work with if your location is covered for non-urgent and emergency services.
Questions to ask your Baltimore appliance repair company
When looking for an appliance repair company, it’s important to ask the right questions to understand if it fits your appliance repair needs and budget. For example, ask about its service warranty, appointment availability, the repair company’s insurance, experience with your brand of appliances, pricing, fees, estimates, forms of payment and more.
Let’s look into the following questions you would want to ask an appliance repair expert or technician.
Ask about their service warranty
A service warranty is a must when choosing an appliance repair company. For instance,
- Do they cover all sorts of major appliances?
- What parts do they not cover (or exclusions)?
- For how many days do they provide coverage?
It’s important for a service warranty to enlist all the terms and conditions in a clear-cut manner. That way, both parties can be on the same page. Since different companies offer different ranges of services, a service warranty will help you confirm which company suits you best.
Ask about their experience with your brand of appliances
Ask the appliance repair service provider if it has experience with your specific appliance or brand of appliance. A good appliance repair company should cover major brands like Maytag, Kenmore, Samsung, Amana, KitchenAid, Bosch, Whirlpool and Frigidaire. You’ll want to ask questions like:
- Do they have vetted technicians for specific brands?
- What types of failures do they cover for each brand?
Ask about pricing, fees, estimates, forms of payment and more
Learning about the pricing, fees, estimates and forms of payment is equally important.
Every household appliance repair company has specific processes to calculate the cost of repairs. Beware of companies that offer a flat rate because it’s difficult to measure a standard rate for all types of repairs.
For example, the time frame to repair different parts and components of an appliance can vary. It’s advisable to ask the company how it calculates the fees and how much it charges for labor and parts or components that need to be replaced.
However, estimated quotes provide predictability. A quote lets you compare prices from different repair companies to pick the one that meets your requirements. Also, make sure to ask if you can change your mode of payment for future repairs.
Ask about the repair company’s insurance
Opt for an insured repair company. Before making your final decision, get in touch with the companies and enquire about their insurance policies to understand your liability in the event something goes wrong or something breaks.
Check the repair company’s appointment availability
When essential home appliances break down unexpectedly, you want to get a good repair service that is also prompt. Check the appointment availability of the repair company so you don’t end up waiting too long to have your appliance repaired. Furthermore, the steps to apply for service should be hassle-free, too. For example:
- Register on the website
- Place a claim (pay a small service fee if need be)
- Schedule a service request
A good appliance repair company will promptly assign a service pro to take care of your request. When you submit a service request online, you should be able to instantly select your desired appointment time, too. After which, a designated service professional will contact you to confirm the time. If that doesn’t happen, a company should be able to quickly assign a vetted local technician.
Do they have a resource center?
It may not be significant during the decision-making process. Still, a good appliance repair company that cares for its customers will always have a resource center on its website.
Resource centers are filled with informative and value-packed content, like how to repair certain appliances and parts at home or basic appliance maintenance tips.
Do they have flexible home maintenance plans?
Being a homeowner is fun but sometimes difficult, especially when it comes to appliance maintenance. Regular home maintenance or sudden breakdowns can be costly. For example, a water heater will not last forever. An HVAC system will eventually need a tuneup due to normal wear and tear. Choosing a home appliance repair company with flexible maintenance and repair plans can save you a lot of money annually.
Furthermore, you can allot your budget for other essential things, like home remodeling or home improvement. Often, appliance repair companies have comprehensive plans, like basic systems plans, combo plans or built-in system plans that cover your major appliances.
Here are a few appliances that should be covered:
- HVAC systems (including ductwork)
- Plumbing systems
- Smoke detectors
- Cooktop
- Ice makers
- Sump pump
- Water dispensers
- Washers
- Water heaters
- Whirlpool/jetted tubs (built in)
What to do when you have an appliance emergency in Baltimore
If you have an appliance breakdown that needs to be repaired urgently, you’ll need to find a repair company that can take an emergency service call, possibly during off-hours.
However, note that this may cost considerably more, and the additional cost can vary from company to company.
We all know home appliance breakdowns often happen in the worst possible scenarios. Moreover, the repairs could be due to a minor failure, like a clogged HVAC filter, or something more expensive, like damage to the HVAC system’s compressor.
A good appliance repair company will always cover standard and emergency repairs for all major appliances and systems used at home. If a repair company is not available 24/7, the delay may cost you even more.
If you are in a hurry, it's best to have a home warranty company you can contact, request services online, and get vetted service pros at your doorstep at a reasonable price range.
What’s the best appliance repair service in Baltimore?
Truth be told, the best appliance repair service for you depends on finding a company that fits your exact needs. Therefore, you must determine the maintenance needs of your appliances, which involves the range of repairs to the appliance you need help with or the brand of appliance.
Pro tip: Whether dealing with a broken dishwasher or an ineffective HVAC filter, it typically costs much less to conduct routine maintenance before minor inefficiencies turn into something big and expensive. Experts say that you should reserve at least 1% of your home’s purchase price for routine tasks related to home maintenance.
Finally, you need to pick an appliance repair company with good reviews and excellent customer service that serves your area and furnishes quality work at a price you find appropriate.
Let Cinch handle the process of finding a professional Baltimore repair person for you
We understand that finding a professional Baltimore repair person can be challenging. But now your search comes to an end. Let Cinch Home Services handle all your major and unexpected appliance repairs and maintenance. But why choose Cinch?
When you make a service request, Cinch handles the process of locating an extensively vetted, insured and professional appliance technician to come to your home at the earliest possible time.
Additionally, we offer multiple plans, like the Cinch Appliances plan, to ensure we have something that meets the needs of every homeowner. More perks of joining the Cinch family include:
- Extensive network of thousands of service professionals, all fully vetted
- 17 Stevie Awards for sales and customer service
- 180-day workmanship guarantee on all covered appliances
- 24/7 customer support, online as well as over the phone
- Ability to customize plans with additional coverage options for swimming pools, spas, well pumps and more
- Discounts on brand-name appliances when it’s time to upgrade
Don’t let surprise system or appliance breakdowns break your bank and cause you distress. With a home protection plan, you can be sure that your appliance-related problems are taken care of by service pros who undergo rigorous training. Learn about how Cinch can make your life easier.
Whether you are looking for HVAC repair, dryer repair or dishwasher repair, you are in safe hands with Cinch. Get a quote!