A guide to appliance repair in Chicago
Struggling to find the best appliance repair company in Chicago or the Chicagoland area? The city has a variety of options that vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. What’s more, a great company on the northside of the city might not cover your area. Needless to say, finding the right place to trust with your home appliances can be overwhelming.
There are several factors to consider when searching for a repair shop. Does it have great reviews? Is it qualified to work on your luxury brand appliances? Does it have a warranty on their work? What are its policies for emergency home services?
Here is a guide to help you navigate your search for an appliance repair company in Chicago. These insights and questions will help you find the perfect match.
What to look for when choosing an appliance repair company in Chicago
Choosing the best appliance repair services in Chicago might seem a bit daunting. However, there are a few important factors to consider before you hire a repair company. Let’s review a few steps you can take before hiring a repair company for your major appliance repair.
Online business reviews and ratings
Reviews are a great indicator of what you can expect from a repair company regarding its work and customer service. If previous customers didn’t receive excellent service, they’d likely leave a poor review. They’d also mention if the company’s work wasn’t good. So, if a company has a lot of negative reviews, it isn’t worth the investment.
How a company responds to negative reviews can say a lot. Everyone has bad days, so negative reviews are inevitable. But if a company responds in a way that shows it cares about fixing its mistake and apologizes, it demonstrates it is willing to work with clients. Rude responses to clients indicate that the company cares more about being correct than taking care of customers.
How long they’ve been in business
How long a company has been in business shows experience and can keep clients coming back. Years of experience are important when it comes to home appliance repair. With all the new technology coming out, repair companies need to be able to work on old and new models. Experienced technicians have worked on a wide variety of problems and know what to expect.
Generally, repair companies that have been in business for many years are adaptable and keep up with the latest appliance information. Moreover, a long-standing repair business is likely able to provide services for all your appliance repair needs.
Repair business qualifications
While experience is important, qualifications are vital. Before hiring an appliance repair company to work in your home, make sure it has the correct qualifications. Qualifications can include a wide variety of certifications, licensing and accreditations. For example, is the repair company accredited by the Better Business Bureau? Is it certified with sites such as Angi or Yelp?
What’s more, some appliance brands require that appliances under a warranty must be serviced by certified technicians. So, the best repair company in Chicago might depend on the brand of appliances you own. Sometimes the type of appliance in need of repair will require certain certifications. For example, due to the liquid refrigerant in HVAC systems, technicians must have a Type 1 EPA certification for repairs.
Areas of Chicago the repair company serves
Chicago is a big, sprawling city. This means you need to double-check the repair company’s service area. When researching companies, make sure to search by your address or Zip code. This should narrow down your search to companies that service your Chicagoland area.
However, be aware of companies that purchase ads on sites such as Yelp and Angi. While these companies might be great companies to work with because they pay for ads, their listing will appear at the top of your search. This can happen even if they don’t service your area. The last thing you need is to find a great repair company in Skokie that doesn’t service homes in the surrounding suburbs.
Questions to ask your Chicago appliance repair company
Before you hire an appliance repair company, there are a few questions you want to ask. These questions will help you determine if the company is the right fit for you and your repair needs. Some companies might be unable to service certain brands or repair certain appliances. What’s more, if you are on a budget, you’ll want to make sure you can afford their service fees.
Do you have a service warranty?
A service warranty is a guarantee on the parts and labor. This means that if your appliance breaks again within a set number of days, the company will repair the issue without additional charges. This helps give you peace of mind after repairs and protects your budget from having to pay for more repairs.
Many companies offer a standard one-year warranty on repairs. However, some companies provide an extended warranty. This type of service warranty is different from a manufacturer’s warranty, which usually comes with new appliances. Service warranties are there when manufacturer warranties have already expired.
Do you have experience with this brand of appliances?
Depending on the appliance you need to be repaired, you may have to hire only certified technicians. Brands require specific certifications to cover repairs on their machines. If your appliances are still under manufacturer warranty, you need to ask the company and technicians about certifications to work on your specific brands.
If you have older, used appliances that are no longer under manufacturer warranty, a general repair technician can make repairs. Some high-end and luxury brands, such as Miele and Dacor, might also require specialized technicians and tools for repairs. So, even if you have a used appliance, ask your repair company if it has experience or certifications to work with your brand.
What are your pricing, fees, estimates and forms of payment?
Protect your budget when searching for a repair company by always asking upfront about any fees, standard or flat pricing, and all forms of payment accepted. Most companies charge a diagnostic fee to come out and inspect the broken appliance. While the fees can vary from company to company, it should be a flat fee.
A company might find it difficult to tell you the exact repair cost, even after diagnosing the problem. But a technician should give you an estimate before beginning repairs. Always ask what factors could raise the overall cost of the repair, such as extra work time or parts. Keep your estimate in mind when it’s time to pay for the repairs. If the overall cost is significantly higher than the estimate, discuss your concerns with the company.
Before you decide to hire a repair company in Chicago, check the forms of payment it takes. Does it take credit cards? Checks? Cash? Does it have a payment plan?
Do you have insurance?
If the service technician gets hurt while repairing your appliance, you need to understand your liability. Always make sure that the repair company you hire has insurance. You need to understand what the insurance policy covers. Does it cover injury to yourself and the technician? Does it cover damages to the appliances or personal belongings? Does the insurance coverage extend to your service area?
What is your appointment availability
If you’ve found a company you’d like to hire, the next step is to schedule an appointment. Many companies allow customers to schedule appointments online. You can choose the date and time for your appointment through its website.
However, if time is a concern, calling the company is a great way to get the next available appointment. This is important if you need next-day service. Calling the company allows you to give the technician any important information about your repair and ask further questions.
Other important questions to ask
When contacting repair shops in Chicago and asking the questions above, what if you still aren’t sure they are the right fit? Here are a few follow-up questions you can ask to give you peace of mind before making an appointment with a technician.
- What is the average cost to repair your appliance?
- Do you offer any type of extended home or appliance warranty?
- Do you offer same-day appointments or service?
- What are your policies about a pre-existing condition?
- Do you offer any service plans, and what is offered in those plans?
- How can I manage my service once I become a customer?
- How do I contact customer service before, during and after my repairs?
- What are your service hours?
- Will there be an extra charge if repairs take longer than estimated or go beyond your service hours?
- Do you offer any discounts on appliance replacements?
- Can you work with my homeowners insurance for repairs and replacements?
What to do when you have an appliance emergency in Chicago
When you first start searching for an appliance repair company, it might be because your garbage disposal or cooktop isn’t working. But those aren’t usually emergency sitwwwions. So, when looking for a repair company, make sure it offers after-hours and emergency service calls. While sometimes necessary, after-hours repairs usually cost considerably more, especially labor costs.
While researching different companies, consider their hours of operation. Some companies might offer services 24/7. It’s always good to have a backup in case your repair company is unable to help you in an emergency.
What’s the best appliance repair service in Chicago?
Whether you choose a company such as the Appliance Repair Doctor out in the suburbs, Fix It Guy Appliance Repair in the city, or one of the many other repair service companies in Chicagoland, it’s always important to know what to look for when searching for a reliable repair service.
- Good customer service and reviews
- Experience and certifications with your appliance brands
- Experience with major brands, including Kenmore, Maytag and Samsung
- Reliable service in your area
- Appropriate prices
- A workmanship guarantee
Let Cinch handle the process of finding a professional repair person for you
Finding a qualified repair shop can be stressful. Let Cinch Home Services help make unexpected breakdowns more manageable. Whether you need washing machine or dryer repair, dishwasher repair, oven repair or more, Cinch has the right professional appliance technician for you.
Cinch offers warranties for both home appliances and built-in systems. Each of its three plans offers reduced repair costs, discounts on brand-name appliances, and customizable plans to cover all aspects of your home. Moreover, every plan comes with an air-conditioner or water filter credit to help keep your family happy and healthy.
- Cinch Appliances plan. This plan covers repairs on all major home appliances, including washers and dryers, stovetops, built-in microwaves and more. It includes repairs on brands such as Whirlpool, Amana, Kitchenaid and Viking.
- Cinch Built-in Systems plan. The built-in systems warranty is just what you need to protect your home from major repair costs related to HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing and more. This warranty also includes repairs to garbage disposals, garage door openers, toilets and smoke detectors.
- Cinch Complete Home plan. This plan combines the appliances warranty and the built-in systems warranty. However, it also includes a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. So, this comprehensive plan will help you keep repair costs down across your home.
When an appliance breaks or a home system shuts down, filing a warranty claim is a smooth and easy process. Cinch sets up an appointment with a verified technician at your convenience to address the problem.
Cinch technicians are equipped to handle your repair needs. If a part needs ordering, they’ve got you covered. If you own specific brands, they have experience with them. Each technician is carefully vetted and reliable.
With a 180-day workmanship guarantee on covered repairs and 40-plus years of experience, Cinch home warranties are the perfect addition to your home. Get a quote today!