A guide to appliance repair in Raleigh
Known as the “City of Oaks” and the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh blends a beguiling Southern charm with a vibrant cultural scene and research industry. For the citizens of Raleigh, the quality of life can suffer a little if one of the home appliances they rely on breaks down, whether their cooktop, dishwasher, refrigerator, garbage disposal, ice maker or something else.
Fortunately, when it comes to home appliance repair in Raleigh, NC, people have a wide selection of companies to choose from. But how do they find an appliance repair shop that is reliable, has the required expertise to fix a particular malfunctioning appliance, and has competitive rates with no surprises on the final bill?
Read on to discover what you should look for in a Raleigh appliance repair business, the questions you should ask, and other factors you should consider in your search.
You can also consider joining the growing number of Raleigh residents who opt for the security of a home protection plan, ensuring the cost-effective and speedy repair or replacement of major appliances and built-in systems that break down. The reasonably priced plans from Cinch Home Services can cover all major appliance brands, including Maytag, Whirlpool, Viking, Sub-Zero, Samsung, Thermador, Frigidaire, Kenmore, Bosch and KitchenAid. A Cinch warranty plan makes it easy to get service from one of our experienced professionals living in the Raleigh area.
What to look for when choosing an appliance repair company in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh encompasses the counties of Wake and Durham, and includes satellite towns and suburbs in surrounding areas such as Cary, Morrisville, Garner, Youngsville, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale and Clayton. The area offers many different kinds of appliance repair businesses, ranging from small family-owned shops to larger commercial enterprises. To find the one that best suits your needs, here are some key factors to consider in making a decision.
Get advice from people you know
The best way to get the advice you trust is to go to someone you know. Ask family, friends and colleagues if they have a Raleigh appliance repair business they could recommend. Then dig deeper to find out if they required a similar repair, whether the price was reasonable, and if your home is in the company’s regular service area.
Check how long they’ve been in business
If an appliance repair business has been around for a number of years, chances are it provides services that people are happy with and could be worth your consideration.
At the same time, you should check out its other qualifications. For example, is the shop factory-certified for specific brands and models of appliances? Does its service technicians have a lot of experience in the field, or are they licensed in different specialty areas? Also, check if the repair business is accredited by the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
See how other consumers rate them
Increasingly, the internet has become a place to check out businesses. Not only can you go to the company’s website for information, but you can also visit some of the many consumer-review sites with star ratings and testimonials, giving you some indication of the businesses you can trust and others you should treat with caution.
Some of the most frequently used review sites include:
Find out about their payment policies
There are a number of things to consider when it comes to payment for services rendered. Does the appliance repair shop provide a free estimate for the job so you know what you will have to pay?
Find out how much you need to pay before the work begins. What is the minimum cost for the appliance repair technician visit? And which forms of payment are accepted, such as cash, debit, credit card, checks and online transactions?
Make sure they’re insured
Yes, most homeowners have home insurance, but you should still check that an appliance repair company has liability and personal injury insurance. While it is unlikely that repair professionals will damage your home during work or suffer an injury, it is better to be safe than sorry.
See what areas of Raleigh the repair company serves
Raleigh is a large, fast-growing city, covering nearly 150 square miles. It has many neighborhoods, ranging from Oakwood, Cameron Village and Boylan Heights to Stonehenge, Five Points and Historic South Park. You need to find out if you are in an appliance repair shop’s service area and that it won’t charge you extra to send an appliance service technician out.
Questions to ask your Raleigh appliance repair company
Dealing with an appliance malfunction can be stressful, requiring good help fast. A malfunctioning basement chest freezer could result in a considerable supply of food going bad. An ice maker that breaks down before a party can prove a real inconvenience. Or HVAC issues can make your living environment uncomfortable during a heat wave or cold snap.
So, when you require the right help from a Raleigh repair company, here are some questions you should ask.
Do they know your appliance’s brand and model?
There are many different brands and models of appliances. So, while an appliance service technician might have a lot of experience generally, it might not mean much if this doesn’t cover your particular appliance. You might find this information on the websites of the different Raleigh appliance repair companies. But even if they don’t have it online, it might be worth a phone call in case they do have the required expertise but haven’t added it to their web presence yet.
Do they have a workmanship guarantee?
Does the service appliance company back up its work with a warranty covering labor and parts? Cinch Home Services, for example, offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures no additional cost to you if a problem persists after its repair. Through Cinch, you can get a home warranty that covers everything from dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers to plumbing and HVAC.
Cinch’s home warranty plans can provide protection for your major appliances, built-in home systems or the complete home (both appliances and built-in systems).
What will the appliance repair cost?
A reputable appliance repair shop in Raleigh will do a detailed estimate for you before any actual work starts. After determining the nature of your problem, it will provide an estimate that covers all labor and parts. It will also provide terms of payment and the kinds of payment accepted.
While it’s good to find a low price for a job, you shouldn’t be governed by cost alone. If an appliance repair shop doesn’t do a good job, then the money you save can disappear if the repair has to be redone by another shop.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Appliance service repair technicians are trained to do their work efficiently and safely. But if something goes wrong — such as your house is damaged or someone sustains an injury — then it is important that the company has liability and personal injury insurance for your protection and peace of mind.
Is it better to repair or replace an appliance?
While most of us only hope to get a broken appliance fixed, it’s worth having a conversation with the repair shop technician about whether or not replacement is a better option. If the cost of repair is sizable enough, or if the appliance is likely to have more breakdowns in the future, then a replacement might make more sense. With a Cinch home protection plan, you can get discounts on major brand-name appliances, which can help you make that decision.
Another consideration here is energy efficiency. If replacing an old refrigerator with an energy-efficient one will save you money on your utility bills, that could justify the cost of a new model.
Is the appliance big enough?
If you need to replace an old or broken appliance or built-in system, it’s also an opportunity to see if you should get a different-size model. For example, if your HVAC is too small for the size of your house, it will work harder than a larger model, costing you more in energy bills and wearing out parts faster.
Also, to reduce the cost of a new appliance, it helps if you are open to different colors and brands. You will have a greater variety of options and more chances to save money.
Are you available to make a repair call?
Most people don’t want to be left waiting a long time if a major appliance breaks down. It’s good to know if appliance repair companies in Raleigh offer same-day or next-day service. In some cases, you can book appointments for particular slots for on-time repair, so you don’t have to take off a full day from work to wait for the repair technician.
What to do when you have an appliance emergency in Raleigh
A broken appliance can be an inconvenience and create a real emergency. A leaking pipe in a dishwasher can drip destruction slowly over time or create a flood all at once. An overflowing toilet can cause an overflowing panic. A malfunctioning refrigerator can spoil your food supply. A defective clothes dryer might catch on fire, and the list goes on.
In these cases, next-day or even same-day service from an appliance repair company might not be fast enough. So, check sites and ads for companies that offer 24/7 emergency services. You’ll likely pay a premium for these, but the nature of the sitwwwion means you have no choice.
One way to prevent such emergencies is to do the maintenance recommended for the appliances in their manuals, putting them on a regular schedule. You attend to this yourself or hire an appliance repair company to take care of it for you. You should also be aware of the average life span of different appliances so you can replace them before they become defective or even dangerous.
What’s the best appliance repair service in Raleigh, NC?
The most outstanding appliance repair companies in Raleigh, NC, are the ones that embrace best industry practices and are known for:
- Doing quality work at a competitive price
- Providing superior customer service
- Having experienced, certified service technicians
- Servicing the area where you live
- Providing accurate estimates in writing
- Being available when you need them
- Having many years of experience in the field
- Getting good online ratings and recommendations
- Having experience repairing your appliance brand and model
- Being able to get official parts from the manufacturer of your unit
- Having liability and personal injury insurance
- Providing warranties or guarantees for work done
Let Cinch handle the process of finding a professional repair person for you
One of the best ways to achieve peace of mind when it comes to repairing or replacing your appliances is to get one of the Cinch Home Services protection plans. These can cover major appliances, including built-in food centers, washing machines, oven ranges, microwaves, exhaust hoods, garbage disposals and much more. They can also cover built-in systems, such as central vacuums, water heaters, whirlpool or jetted tubs, toilets, heating systems and much more.
For the best value and protection, you can get complete home protection, covering your home appliances and built-in systems.
The Cinch appliances warranty makes it easy to get a service call from our national network of vetted professionals working in the Raleigh area. We’ll match you with a local service pro and back your repair work with Cinch’s 180-day workmanship guarantee. Get your instant quote today!