Get Quotes from Top Appliance Repair Services in Atlanta, GA

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Appliance Repair Service in Atlanta

Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate characterized by cool, wet winters and hot summers. During summer, the average temperature can rise to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, causing dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke in extreme situations. Atlanta residents rely on household appliances such as refrigerators, heaters, freezers, and air conditioning units to deal with such harsh weather conditions.

Occasionally, home appliances may develop issues because of poor maintenance or regular usage. Attempting to repair your faulty appliances may worsen the problem, void your warranty, or compromise your safety. Therefore, it is wise to contact an experienced appliance repair technician in your city to fix the faulty appliance properly. In the Atlanta metro area, over 350 qualified appliance repairers are available to handle your repairs expertly.

Before hiring an appliance repair service in Atlanta, make sure to ask the following questions to ensure that you select a reliable technician:

What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Appliance Technician in Atlanta?

Atlanta appliance technicians service and install household and commercial appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers, room air conditions, garbage disposals, ovens, trash compactors, and hot water dispensers. These technicians do not require any occupation-specific license to operate locally; however, they must obtain a state-issued license before providing certain services, such as repairing plumbing appliances like water heaters.

While most appliance technicians in Atlanta possess a diverse range of skills, some technicians specialize in a specific area of expertise, allowing them to tackle challenges more efficiently. Some common areas of specialization for appliance technicians include:

  • Product: These technicians focus more on one or two products from a particular manufacturer.
  • Appliance: These appliance technicians repair and maintain a specific category of appliances, irrespective of the brand or manufacturer.
  • Energy source: These appliance technicians repair electric or gas-fuelled appliances. Some technicians in this category also service hybrid or dual-fuel appliances.
  • Size: Many technicians focus more on household appliances, while others may focus on larger-size appliances used for commercial purposes. These appliances may be found in commercial kitchens, restaurants, and other commercial settings.

Listed below is the average life expectancy of most major household appliances (in years):

  • Refrigerators: 9 – 10
  • Freezers: 10 - 15
  • Dishwashers: 8 - 10
  • Microwave/ovens: 8 - 10
  • Ranges/oven hoods: 10 - 16
  • Garbage dispensers: 10 - 12
  • Compactors: 6 - 7

The lifespan and durability of your appliances are influenced by various factors, including their make, model, maintenance level, and usage. We recommend you hire an experienced appliance technician if you observe any of the following issues:

  • You smell burning
  • You noticed a significant rise in your energy cost
  • You noticed unusual or abnormal sounds coming from the appliance.
  • You noticed moisture in or around the appliance.
  • You observed general malfunctions that are not easily explained.

Are You Licensed as an Appliance Repair Technician in Atlanta?

Atlanta appliance repair technicians do not need any occupation-specific license to operate locally. However, depending on the nature and scope of the service, appliance technicians in Atlanta may have to obtain at least one of the state and federal-level licenses and certifications:

  • A Masters plumbing contractor license from the Georgia Division of Masters and Journeyman Plumbers: This is required to maintain, alter, and repair plumbing appliances connected to sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, venting systems, medical gas piping systems, natural gas piping systems on the outlet side of gas meters, or public or private water supply systems
  • A Section 608 Certification From an EPA-approved organization - Technicians who repair, service, or maintain refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances that contain refrigerants and may release them into the atmosphere are required to have this certification.

Always confirm the license status of the technician you wish to hire before finalizing any agreement. You can contact the agency responsible for licensing or certifying the technician. For instance, queries concerning a licensed master plumber can be submitted to the Georgia Board of Plumbers online.

What Rates Do You Charge for Appliance Repairs in AtlantaAtlanta?

Professional appliance repair technicians in Atlanta charge between $234 and $100 per hour. Other factors may also affect the total cost of hiring an appliance repair technician in this city, including the following:

  • The type of appliance
  • The type of problem
  • The cost of necessary replacement parts
  • The appliance's energy source
  • The urgency of the repair
  • Accessibility to the appliance

Listed below are estimates for repairing some common household appliances in Atlanta:

Refrigerators:
$40 - $300
Freezers:
$80 - $400
Washers:
$50 - $400
Dryers:
$80 - $400
Room AC Units:
$80 - $800
Stoves/Ovens:
$80 - $400
Cooktops:
$70 - $360
Microwaves:
$60 - $370
Dishwashers:
$120 - $300
Garbage Disposals:
$50 - $200
Trash Compactors:
$50 - $220
Water Dispensers:
$55 - $355
Ice Makers:
$125 - $250

An effective way to find the average cost for your service and make an informed decision is to compare estimates from multiple appliance repair technicians in the city.

Are You Certified by the Manufacturer to Repair This Appliance?

When hiring an appliance repair service in Atlanta, ensure the technician is factory-certified. A factory-certified appliance technician is anyone an appliance manufacturer trains to understand all the warranty details and provide advanced service on their brand of products. Although you may have to pay more when you hire factory-certified repair technicians, this cost is offset by several benefits, such as:

  • Assurance that experienced professionals will handle your repairs
  • Warranty protection
  • Access to authentic replacement parts and direct technical support from your appliance's manufacturer

Besides getting a factory certification from product manufacturers, professional appliance technicians in Atlanta can also obtain voluntary training and certifications from local trade schools and globally renowned organizations like the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET). However, it is best to verify any credentials your preferred appliance technician claims to have before signing hiring agreements with them.

Do You Replace Parts with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts?

Atlanta Atlanta appliance repair technicians will offer you the option to choose between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and generic parts. OEM parts are those that the appliance's manufacturer specifically produces to facilitate repairs of a particular appliance. Since they are made specifically to fit the make and model of your appliance, these parts protect any existing warranties on your appliance. In contrast, generic parts are made by a third party that may or may not be affiliated with the original appliance manufacturer.

While it is best to use OEM parts whenever possible, the manufacturer may have discontinued the production of a particular OEM part. In this case, your appliance technicians can use generic parts as a substitute. Regardless of whether your technician uses OEM or generic parts, we recommend asking your appliance technician for a warranty that covers their repair work and all replacement parts used. This will guarantee that you receive quality service from the technician.

Will My Home Warranty Cover the Cost of Repairing the Appliance?

Home warranties are service contracts that cover repairing, maintaining, and replacing household appliances such as washers, dryers, and kitchen appliances. These contracts remain valid for a specific period, usually one year. Unlike home insurance, which covers damages to your home and personal belongings from unexpected events, home warranties only cover specific household appliances. However, most home warranties do not cover issues resulting from:

  • Pre-existing faults
  • Damages caused by appliance misuse
  • Damages caused by improper appliance installation

We recommend reading your home warranty contracts before signing to know their terms and conditions.

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Atlanta Atlanta Appliance Technician?

In Atlanta, appliance repairers do not have any specific local insurance requirements. However, reputable appliance repair technicians in the city maintain relevant insurance policies to protect potential clients from property damage and bodily injury coverage that may occur during their work. Therefore, before choosing the appliance technician to work with, ask for proof of insurance and take further steps by contacting the relevant insurance company to verify the information provided.

How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Appliance Repair Services in Atlanta?

You can contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Georgia Attorney General's Office to resolve issues with your appliance repair technician. You can file a complaint online or mail in the printed online complaint form to:

Consumer Protection Division
2 Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Suite 356
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 651-8600
Toll-Free: (800) 869-1123