It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to spend $1,500 for a refrigerator and $800-$1,000 on an electric range. And many are spending $600-$800 on a dishwasher, while front-load washers are pushing $1,000. Overall, these appliances are full of computer-assisted technology and more prone to problems. Over the past few years, as the average house call costs a minimum of $85 before parts, homeowners are going online and learning how to do the repairs themselves.

Fixing appliances by oneself offers a level of empowerment, an “I can do it myself” jolt of enthusiasm. So much so that spending on appliance repair services has dropped 25 percent in the past five years. A survey done by Consumer Reports indicated that one-third of homeowners who had appliances not covered by a warranty fixed the problem themselves.

Jumping online, ordering a $20 part and watching the installation video sounds easy, but you have to do your research first and find the root of the problem. A best-in-class website to visit first is repairclinic.com. The site’s how-to videos are seen 60,000 times per day!

The site offers guidance as to what the symptoms are and the most likely steps to fix the problem. Once you decide what parts you need, they ship quickly. Once you have the parts delivered, you can actually call them for install help, but many situations are addressed by their repair videos. Caution is advised all the time for any appliance repairs due to electric shock, and you should pay attention to all warnings posted on the appliance such as pulling the power plug before any work is done.

If you have ever done your own appliance repair work, kindly fill out the comment box below with your story … good or bad!