Get Quotes from Top Appliance Repair Services in San Jose, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as an Appliance Repair Service in San Jose?

Anyone in San Jose who wishes to repair or service electronic equipment or household appliances must first register with the state's Bureau of Household Goods and Services as stipulated in the Electronic and Appliance Repair Dealer Registration Law and Regulations. Operating as an electronic service or home appliance service dealer without first obtaining the appropriate certificate of registration is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both.

The California Bureau of Household Goods and Services is in charge of issuing successful applicants with various categories of registration certificates, which include electronic service dealer certificate, appliance service dealer certificate, and electronic/appliance service dealer certificate.

To obtain any of the aforementioned certificate, applicants are required to fill out an application for registration form, attach their original signature, along with the right registration fee fee in the form of a personal check, business check, certified cashier's check or money order, and mail it to:

Note that each application must include details of business address and location, the applicant's Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) if the business is a sole proprietorship, and a Federal Identification Number (FIN) if it is a partnership.

As soon as the application is received by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services, it will go through a review process, and if there is no ground for denial, a registration certificate will be issued to the applicant. This usually takes three to four weeks after the application was filed with the Bureau of Household Goods and Services.

If an applicant is denied registration, the individual has the right to appeal the denial by requesting a hearing within 60 days of receiving the denial letter. Applicants should contact the Bureau of Household Goods and Services at (916) 921-727 for information on the procedures for acquiring an electronic equipment and home appliance service dealer registration certificate to avoid this problem. This is crucial for individuals seeking to work as electronic and home appliance service dealers in both residential and commercial settings in the city.

Regardless of whether your potential electronic or home appliance service dealer will be working in your apartment or at your office, it is important to note that they need to have obtained their certificate of registration from the Bureau of Household Goods and Services. Residents of San Jose can verify if the individual they are considering for home appliance repair is registered by utilizing the licensee search portal provided by the state's Department of Consumer Affairs.

Furthemore, if your appliance service dealers will be working on refrigerant-containing equipment, such a person must have an EPA-administered certification in addition to acquiring a locally granted Electronic and Home Appliance Service Dealer certificate. If your technician also holds voluntary certificates from organizations such as the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET), it is in your best interest to verify these credentials by contacting the organization that issued the certificate.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Appliance Repair Services in San Jose?

The cost of hiring a home appliance repair man in San Jose is typically influenced by factors like type of appliance to be repaired, the severity of the damage, and the amount of labor required to do the job. However, it is always in your best interest to obtain estimates from at least three different home appliance repair men in the city, as this will ensure that you do not pay more than what is required for your repair.

In addition, a home appliance repair man in San Jose is prohibited from starting work or charging a customer for repairs prior to submitting a written estimate and getting an approval to commence repair from the homeowner. Homeowners should be aware that getting a written estimate protects them from any misunderstandings that may result from disagreements in the cost of the service later.

Furthermore, it is important to note that charging a diagnosis fee to determine what is wrong with your appliance before preparing a written estimate is a standard practice in the city. As such, it is generally a good idea to ask if your potential appliance repairer charges a diagnostic fee. If they do, make sure it is documented so there are no misunderstandings in the future, and compare the fee with what other appliance repairers charge for diagnosis.

Appliance repair men in San Jose earn an average annual wage of $55,440. Provided below is a comparison of the hourly average wage for appliance repair men in San Jose with those of these technicians in other areas of California and several other locations across the United States:

Are You Certified by the Manufacturer to Repair the Appliance in the City San Jose?

Finding a factory-authorized home appliance technician to fix your faulty appliances can be difficult, but it is typically worth the effort once you find one. A factory-authorized home appliance technician is any person or company that is deemed qualified by a manufacturer to provide advanced service on their brand of products. Factory-authorized home appliance technicians are not only legitimate businesses, they have storefronts, carry insurance and licenses, and they are usually familiar with the common repair issues that the manufacturer's brand of products develop.

Furthermore, hiring a factory-authorized home appliance technician also means that you will get the best possible support for your product, while making sure that you do not pay for parts or services that may be covered by the manufacturer. Other reasons why you should consider hiring a factory-authorized include:

• They have up to date knowledge on the latest technologies and diagnostic, repair, and maintenance techniques
• They offer competitive rates for quality service
• They can easily access original parts compared to other technicians
• They have extensive knowledge about product recalls and product trends
• They help you comply with the terms of your warranty

While there are many benefits to using a factory-authorized home appliance technician, this does not mean that non-factory-authorized repairers are unqualified to service your equipment. Some qualified home appliance repairers are not factory-authorized for a variety of reasons, namely:

• The opportunity to become factory-authorized is only open to a specific number of repairers in one area
• The home appliance repairer do not want to charge the manufacturer's repair rate

Many non-certified repairers have substantial training and on-the-job experience in appliance repair. As a result, if your appliance is no longer covered by a warranty, you can hire a non-factory-certified repair expert to fix it, as long as the person is properly licensed, has the necessary tools, and can provide quality service.

Will You Get the Appliance Parts and Accessories Required by the Manufacturer?

Most home appliance repair shops in San Jose offer a variety of services, including the replacement of broken or faulty parts. While it is the responsibility of your home appliance repair man to determine whether your appliance requires part replacement, you should always find out the type of parts the repairer will use for the job.

Home appliance repair shops in the city typically keep two types of appliance and equipment parts, namely Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, and generic parts. OEM parts are parts that were designed and manufactured by the appliance's manufacturer. Generic parts, on the other hand, are manufactured by a third party who may or may not be linked with the original appliance maker.

Although both OEM and generic parts can be used to repair your appliance, it is recommended that homeowners insist on OEM parts if they are available. This is because OEM parts are usually more durable and of higher quality than generic parts. In addition, using OEM parts also means that your repairer will have access to a wide variety of technical and engineering support from the team that produced the parts, and the homeowner will be getting a part that comes with the manufacturer's warranty.

A warranty is a legally binding assurance that the parts you purchased are of excellent quality and that the repair was completed in the most professional and efficient manner feasible. However, it is always in your best interest to carefully read and understand the warranty being offered to you before signing an agreement.

OEM parts are available in most appliance repair shops in San Jose. They are only scarce when the appliance's manufacturer has discontinued the production of a particular part. If your appliance's manufacturer has stopped the production of the parts that you need for the repair job, and your technician is unable to get OEM parts in the market, online, or from another repair shop, you can consider using a generic part for the job.

What Kind of Appliance Repair Services Do You Offer?

San Jose appliance repair men offer a variety of repair and installation services. These include repair and installation of refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, trash compactors, microwave ovens, and air conditioners. However, it is always necessary to find out if the appliance repairer you are considering hiring specializes in the type of repair or installation you need.

Before you sign any agreement with an appliance repair man in the city, it is always good to ask the professional if they specialize in repairing and installing the particular brand of appliance that needs to be fixed, as well as their years of experience working on that brand of appliance. In addition, you should also ask the technician how much the repair or installation will cost, and always ensure that you get a clear response to these questions from the appliance repair men before they commence work on your equipment.

The cost estimates of some commonly requested appliance repair services in San Jose are listed below:

How Do You Handle Issues of Product Repairs Going Wrong?

As a homeowner in San Jose, you should be mindful of the fact that whether you engage a factory-authorized repairer or a non-factory-authorized appliance repair man, and whether the repair is done on your premises or in a workshop, the outcome of attempting to fix or install an appliance may not always be beneficial.

Appliance repair is not beneficial when the equipment is worse than how it was before the repair or when the equipment did not work after the repair. When any of the aforementioned happens, it is in your best interest to inform the technician about your discontent and how you are not satisfied with the repair.

In this situation, most experienced appliance repair technicians in the city will look for amiable and fair solutions to resolve the issues you raised. Most reputable technicians will refer you to a different technician and refund some or all of your money for the job. Similarly, some technicians may attempt to fix the problem without charging a fee for the work.

Nonetheless, if your technician refuses to provide a satisfactory solution to the concerns you raised, or if you suspect that the technician is deliberately trying to take advantage of the situation, you should consider getting help from reputable third-party consumer-oriented organizations like the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau San Jose area office is located at:

Homeowners should also consider filing a complaint against the technician with the state's Bureau of Household Goods and Services. Complaints can be filed online or by downloading, completing, and submitting a printable complaint form at:

If you want to discontinue with the technician, and you want full monetary compensation, you can bring a small claim action to Santa Clara County Superior Court against the retailer for lost wages, expenses actually incurred, or other damages up to $500. Note that the company must employ at least 25 employees to be liable for damages, which exempts a lot of service dealers. If in the end you still want to file a lawsuit against the company, you should always consult an attorney.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Appliance Repair Services in San Jose?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home appliance repair men across the United States recorded a total of 1,000 nonfatal occupational injuries in 2020 alone. While there is no certainty that occupational injuries may occur anytime during appliance repair, homeowners must understand that it is in their best interest to plan for them.

The easiest way for homeowners to plan for a potential occupational injury during their work is to hire an insured professional. Even though there are no specific insurance requirements for home appliance repair men in San Jose, it is crucial to hire a repairer that is insured to avoid being held liable for work related injuries and property damage.

Reputable appliance repair men in the city should carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance if they have apprentices, assistants, or other employees. Nonetheless, it is your responsibility as a homeowner to ask for proof of insurance coverage and call the appropriate insurance carrier to verify any certificate provided by the repairman.