What Drives Appliance Repair Costs

We publish one price: $89 for the diagnostic, waived when you proceed with the repair. Everything else is quoted in writing after we have seen the machine. This page explains why the number varies and what moves it, so the quote makes sense when you read it.

The part

The largest swing. The same symptom can come from a part that costs very little or one that costs a large share of the appliance's value. A dryer that does not heat may need a thermal fuse or a heating element; a fridge that does not cool may need a start relay, a fan, a defrost component or a compressor. The finding names the part, and the quote lists its price separately from labour so you can see which is which. Brand matters here: parts pricing is set by the manufacturer and its distributors, and premium brands generally carry premium parts prices.

Labour and access

Labour follows the time the repair takes, and access is most of the time. A dishwasher pump under a granite counter with the unit screwed to the cabinet takes longer than the same pump in a free-standing unit. A stacked laundry pair in a closet, a built-in fridge with cabinet panels, or a wall oven that needs two people to lift all add time. [LABOUR RATE STRUCTURE TO BE CONFIRMED: e.g. flat-rate by job type, or hourly with a stated rate.] Whatever the structure, it is on the quote before work starts.

Appliance type

Sealed-system refrigeration work, gas appliances and built-in units sit at the higher end because they need certified technicians, more time or specialised equipment. Microwaves, small freezers and older basic top-load washers sit at the lower end and are also the ones where replacement most often makes more sense.

Age and history

Older machines can cost more to repair when parts are scarce, when fasteners and fittings have corroded, or when a previous repair has to be undone first. They can also cost less, because older designs are often simpler. The finding says which applies.

Second visits

If a part must be ordered, the repair finishes on a second visit. The $89 is still waived once the repair is completed. [SECOND-VISIT POLICY TO BE CONFIRMED: whether any additional labour applies to the return visit, and how deposits for ordered parts work.]

What does not change the price

Where you live within our standard service area, the day of the week within normal hours, and whether you found us online or by referral. Rules for outlying areas, after-hours and commercial calls are still being confirmed and are listed on the diagnostic fee page.

Why we do not quote repairs by phone

Because a symptom is not a diagnosis. Two washers that will not drain can need a $30 part or a $300 one, and a phone quote for the cheap one becomes an argument when the expensive one is found. We will give a range for common repairs on the phone and the real number in writing after the diagnostic.

Quebec customers

The Office de la protection du consommateur states that a merchant must provide a written estimate when a repair is expected to cost more than $50, that a fee for the estimate may be charged only if the customer was told the exact amount beforehand, and that the estimate binds both parties to the stated price. Our written finding is that estimate; the $89 is the amount and it is stated before you book.

Questions

Why is the labour more than the part?

Access and time. Getting to a part inside a built-in or stacked appliance takes longer than replacing it. The quote shows parts and labour separately so you can see the split.

Are premium-brand repairs more expensive?

Often, because the manufacturer sets parts pricing and premium brands generally price parts higher. The labour to fit them is usually similar.

Do you charge extra to come back and finish?

The $89 is waived once the repair is complete, whether it takes one visit or two. A return visit for the same fault costs nothing.

Can I supply my own part?

[CUSTOMER-SUPPLIED PARTS POLICY TO BE CONFIRMED, including whether the repair warranty applies to a part we did not supply.]

Is the quote fixed once I approve it?

Yes. If we find something else once inside, we stop and tell you before doing any additional work. In Quebec, the OPC states the written estimate binds both parties to the stated price.

What drives the cost of an appliance repair