You may have heard the saying that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Well, when it comes to repairing your household appliances, there’s definitely no such thing as a free repair. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save money by doing your own appliance repair—it just means you have to buy some tools first. The good news is that it probably won’t cost more than $200 to get all of the tools needed for simple appliance repairs, and these will be useful for many other projects around the house.
Here’s a list of nine tools every homeowner should have on hand in case they need them:
1. Screwdrivers
Screwdrivers are one of the most common tools used by appliance repair technicians. These tools are used to loosen and tighten screws in different types of materials. Screwdrivers come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and designs, so it is important to use the right ones for your project.
In addition to basic screwdrivers, you’ll also want a magnetic one as well as one that has an extended tip that allows you to reach into small spaces easily. You may also want a set of security bits with your screwdriver set so that you can remove tamper-proof screws in appliances like televisions and computers.
2. Voltage testers
Voltage testers are used to test the voltage on a circuit. They can be used on appliances and equipment to see if they are operating at the correct voltage. This is especially useful for testing for low or high voltage problems that could cause damage to your appliance.
3. Utility knife
A utility knife is one of the most versatile tools in your toolbox. It can be used for everything from cutting cardboard boxes to removing stickers from appliance doors, and it’s important to have a spare handy in case you break yours or lose it. A good tip is to always keep your utility knife sharp so that you don’t end up damaging wires or plastic parts when using it.
4. Flashlights
A flashlight is a great tool for appliance repair because it can help you see better in darker spaces. You can use the flashlight to check for loose wires, loose connections, corrosion and overheating. If you suspect an appliance is overheating because of a bad fan or motor, shine your light on it and see if there’s any damage to its casing or parts.
If you need to get inside an oven or refrigerator to do some repairs but are worried about how much space there will be once opened up (and whether you’ll be able to close it again), use the flashlight before opening up a door at all so that you can gauge how much room there actually is between the top shelf and bottom of where food items sit right now (so they won’t fall out when opening).
5. Pliers
Pliers are used to grip objects tightly while turning them with another tool such as a wrench or screwdriver. They come in many shapes and sizes ranging from needle nose pliers to lineman’s pliers which have very large jaws for gripping large objects like pipe or rods. You may not need all of these types of pliers for your repair job but having some on hand can come in handy when needed.
6. Cable Ties
Cable ties are used when connecting wires together, such as when they’re attached to a junction box or outlet. They’re also good for bundling up wires so that they don’t get tangled up together while working on an appliance.
7. Wire strippers
Wire strippers are another tool that is commonly used in appliance repair because they allow you to strip wires down so that they can be attached to other parts or circuits inside an appliance or electrical device. Instead of stripping wires by hand, which can be time consuming and difficult, you can use wire strippers that make the process much easier and faster for you.
It is very important to note that you should be careful when replacing appliance spares, so as not to cause even worse damage. Choose quality appliance spares and try to do everything according to the rules.
8. Wrench
A wrench is another useful tool needed for appliance repair. There are many types of wrenches available, including adjustable wrenches, crescent wrenches and pipe wrenches. Wrenches are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts throughout your home’s plumbing system as well as for turning off water valves in case there’s an emergency such as flooding or leaks.
9. Teflon tape
Teflon tape is a must-have for any appliance repair. It’s a thin, white plastic tape that can be used to seal hairline cracks in pipes or other appliances. Teflon tape is highly durable and acts as an effective watertight sealant. Teflon tape can also be used to prevent leaking faucets and piping joints from corroding over time.
To use Teflon tape, start by removing the old pipe joint compound or caulk from around your plumbing joints. Use a putty knife or utility knife (with fresh blades) to scrape away all of it before applying new compound or caulk with a putty knife or utility knife (with fresh blades). Next, wrap the area where you want to apply your new pipe joint compound or caulk with Teflon tape so that no leaks occur when using this product during installation of your new equipment.
We hope we’ve given you a good overview of the tools you’ll need to repair your appliances. These tools will help you with any appliance that needs fixing, whether it’s the ice maker in your refrigerator or a leaky faucet in your dishwasher.
