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

Reno appliance technicians are generally skilled at troubleshooting, servicing, and repairing a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, AC units, ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines. However, many of these technicians often specialize in particular types of appliance repair, such as the following:

• Product-based Repairs: This specialization focuses on troubleshooting and repairing appliances from specific manufacturers, like Frigidaire, Jenn-Air, Maytag, LG, Bosch, Kenmore, and KitchenAid.
• Appliance-based Repairs: This specialization focuses on troubleshooting and repairing specific appliances, like refrigerators, garbage disposers, and microwave ovens, irrespective of their product brand.
• Energy/Power Source-based Repairs: This category focuses on appliances with a particular energy/power source, usually electric, gas, solar, or hybrid/dual-fuel.
• Commercial Appliance Repairs: focused on troubleshooting and repairing appliances used in commercial and industrial settings.

Appliances have varying lifespans, depending on their brand, model, frequency of use, and maintenance. Nonetheless, it is possible to present approximate life expectancies of home appliances commonly used in Reno (in years):

• Refrigerators: 10 – 13
• Freezers: 10 -15
• Washing Machines: 9 - 10
• Dryers: 10 – 13
• Dishwashers: 8 – 10
• Microwave Ovens: 8 – 10
• Ranges/Oven Hoods: 10 – 16
• Garbage Disposers: 10 – 12
• Compactors: 6 – 7

Call a professional appliance technician to troubleshoot your appliance if you notice any of the following issues:

• Burning smells
• Electric sparks
• Unusual sounds
• Significantly increased energy consumption
• Unexplainable moisture in or around the appliance
• General malfunctions

Consider that even though Reno has no occupational licensing requirements for appliance technicians, these individuals typically must obtain a state-issued license to work on heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation appliances.

Are You Licensed as an Appliance Repair Technician in Reno?

Appliance repair technicians must obtain a locally-issued business license from the Reno Business License Division to legally do business in the city. Technicians who wish to obtain this license typically have to meet certain requirements like the following:

• Registering with the Nevada Department of Taxation
• Registering their business name with the Washoe County Clerk's Office

Reno appliance repair technicians who wish to provide services involving heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation appliances like AC units, refrigerators, and freezers must also obtain a Classification C-1 or Classification C-21 contractor license from the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB). In addition, technicians who intend to work on refrigerant-containing appliances must complete Section 608 certification with an EPA-approved organization (this is mandated by federal law).

Always confirm that your prospective appliance repair technician has complied with all relevant licensing and certification requirements before finalizing hiring agreements. You can direct questions concerning locally-issued business licenses and check if your technician has been licensed to conduct business in the city by contacting the Reno Business License Division at (775) 334-2090. If your required services involve heating, cooling, refrigeration, or ventilation appliances, check that your technician is licensed to provide such services through the NSCB's License Search tool.

What Rates Do You Charge for Appliance Repairs in Reno?

Appliance repairs in Reno can cost between $50 and $450, including the technician's labor rates, which typically range from $50 to $100 per hour. The overall cost of repairing your appliance will be determined by the following factors:

• The type of appliance
• The nature of the problem
• The appliance's make and model
• The cost of necessary replacement components

Cost estimates for repairing some common appliances in Reno are listed below:

You should get and compare cost estimates for your appliance repair services from several technicians before choosing one to hire. Doing this helps you get a good idea of the expected cost for these services and protects you from being conned by fraudulent technicians. Your hiring decision should never be based solely on technician rates; besides their fees, confirm that your prospective technician is aptly licensed, experienced, and insured to handle your repair satisfactorily.

Are You Certified by the Manufacturer to Repair This Appliance?

Factory-certified technicians are professionals specially recognized and authorized by appliance manufacturers to provide advanced diagnostic, servicing, maintenance, and repair services for their products. You should always prioritize these technicians when searching for appliance repair services in Reno, as they offer several advantages over their non-certified counterparts. Below are some of these advantages:

• Direct Manufacturer Support: factory-certified technicians enjoy direct access to technical and administrative support provided by appliance manufacturers (this comes in handy when dealing with complex or unique appliance problems).
• Expertise and Up-to-date Knowledge: factory-certified technicians possess extensive knowledge and experience in repairing specific appliance brands and stay up-to-date on the latest diagnostic and repair techniques.
• Warranty Protection: by hiring a factory-certified technician, you can rest assured that your appliance's warranty will remain valid.

Professional and experienced Reno appliance technicians may hold other certifications besides manufacturer-conferred factory certification. A common example is the NASTeC certification issued by the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET). Whatever the case, always verify any credentials your prospective technicians claim to hold before finalizing hiring arrangements.

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

You should always confirm that your technician will replace faulty components and accessories in your appliance with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These are parts produced by the appliance's original manufacturer, and they provide superior quality, durability, and compatibility with appliances when compared to generic parts (parts made by third-party companies). In addition, using OEM parts helps any existing warranties on your appliance to remain valid. So, although OEM parts typically have higher price tags than generic ones, using them for repairs is more cost-effective.

Even though OEM parts are the preferred choice for appliance repairs, you may have no choice but to use generic parts if the required OEM parts for your appliance cannot be sourced directly from the manufacturer, local supply shops, or online marketplaces. In general, it is always a good idea to confirm that your technician will offer you a warranty covering their work and the parts used, whether OEM or generic. This serves as an assurance that the job will be done professionally.

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

Home warranties are service agreements designed to cover the cost of fixing or replacing home appliances damaged due to normal wear and tear. These warranties are usually valid for one year (many warranties include an annual renewal option), and they typically cover a range of appliances, such as built-in microwaves, washing machines, stoves, and cooktops. However, home warranties should not be mistaken for home insurance; home warranties are generally limited to specific appliances, while home insurance covers the entire home.

Also, even though home warranties usually focus on damages caused by normal wear and tear, some providers may offer coverage for damages resulting from improper maintenance or repairs. However, standard home warranties typically do not cover damages caused by the following reasons:

• Pre-existing appliance faults
• Improper appliance installation
• Appliance misuse

Therefore, ensure that you thoroughly review the terms and conditions of the home warranty you wish to purchase before signing.

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Reno Appliance Technician?

Adequate insurance coverage is a crucial qualification to consider when searching for appliance repair services in Reno. Hiring a fully insured appliance technician ensures that you won't be held responsible if any injuries, property damage, or other similar adverse, unforeseen events occur during or as a direct result of your requested repair services.

As such, always confirm that your prospective appliance technician carries general liability insurance (and workers' compensation insurance if they have any employees) by requesting a copy of their insurance certificate and validating it with the appropriate issuer.

Note that Reno appliance technicians with state-issued licenses authorizing work on heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation appliances must post and maintain surety bonds of $1,000 to $500,000 (the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) determines the specific amount for each licensee). Contact the NSCB at (702) 486-1100 or via email for further information on these mandatory bond requirements for state-licensed appliance technicians in Reno.