Appliance repair

[JPNinPA]

Well a week ago my refrigerator defrosted overnight. Luckily we have another one in the garage. So I pulled the refrigerator out and pull the panels and check the easy stuff. Fans and fins are clean and running. Nothing frozen. Thermo ohmed out. Compressor is trying to start but doesn't. No computer control or high/low pressure switches.
There are no points to check pressure.

So I call a highly rated business... Well that was the fastest $$$ I spent. The guy plugged it in and said yep the compressor is seized. Didn't measure a resistance, pressure or current... Says the repair starts at 650 plus parts....
Then leaves in 15 min from entering.


Weighing my choices I decide to YouTube research a bit more. So there is three inexpensive parts that commonly go bad. Overload relay, Start relay and capacitor.

So I buy a replacement start relay for $20 bucks. Three days later it arrives and the refrigerator is working...

I kind of wanted to call the repairman that came out and give it to him. But the power of the pen is better. Someone's list and kelp plus ogle will have my honest review.


Regards,
JPNinPA

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up. -Jesse Jackson

 

[aggreX]

Good deal for you to fix it yourself! A few winters ago a big local company in my area condemned my heating system when the electronic control board became non-functional and said it would cost $1300 to replace (parts+labor) and more cost-effective to replace the entire unit. I politely escorted them to the door and found a new $100 control board off Amazon. The replacement control board did not have the same layout as it superceded my old control board part#. My daughter assisted to make sure each multi-colored wire (20) went into the proper location. We said a prayer before powering up the furnace as the temps were dipping below freezing again that week. It was a wonderful feeling to hear the system power up and the home was warm again.

 

[Gennybro]

Just like auto mechanics, if there is a way into your pocket, lieing is part of the game.

 

[Jeepergeo]

Just like auto mechanics, if there is a way into your pocket, lieing is part of the game.

Well, it is not part of the game for all mechanics.

My dad was a mechanic for 40 years and never told a lie in his career, or his life for that matter. He had clients lie to him, but that's another story.

I know many mechanics, all work really hard, none are rich, and most drive vehicles much older than the vehicles they repair.

Maybe you need to look at how you find mechanics to work on your vehicles.

 

[JPNinPA]

There are good, not so good to down right crooked mechanics and repairmen, carpenters....
Before social media you had word of mouth and BBB ratings. Today there are all these rating systems where in some cases companies pay for people to give high ratings...
On top of this we as a society accepted paying for estimates. Some are costly and non refundable.
Trying one out can be a big risk or put a lot pf your $$$ at risk.



Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up - Jesse Jackson