Best Appliance Repair
Based on In-Depth Reviews

Out of all the repair services we found, Home Depot undoubtedly has the most locations nationwide, even crossing international borders. That probably makes it the most accessible option depending on your location, and it can save you some research time in case of an emergency. 

The large retailer serves as an end-all be-all spot for your needs, from buying parts for DIY repairs, to hiring technicians, to buying a completely new appliance if all else fails. However, Home Depot’s true convenience comes in the shape of their preventive Protection Plan for Major Appliances through the insurance company Asurion. 

As with any extended warranty, this plan begins as soon as your manufacturer’s warranty ends, adding three or five years of protection to your appliance. The price will vary depending on the cost of the product, ranging from $50 to $195 for the three-year plan, and from $75 to $295 for the five-year plan, depending on the price of the appliance. An appliance that costs from $700-$1000 will have a $160 five-year plan, for example.  It covers all repairs, aesthetic and functional, for that period. Some of the repairs will mimic those covered in the original warranty. For example, if the original manufacturer covered in-home repairs, so will Home Depot; if the original warranty consisted of sending it to the manufacturer, Home Depot will cover shipping costs to do so. The plan also includes:

• Up to $300 of coverage for food spoilage caused by the damage.

• Up to $500 total in discounts for maintenance parts bought at the store.

• 30% refund at the end of the Plan if you never used the service. 

What really catches consumers’ eyes, though, is the replacement and “no-lemon” policies included. The replacement clause says that if Home Depot can’t fix your appliance, they’ll replace it or may give you a store gift card. The “no-lemon” clause, on the other hand, comes into effect when the store tries to fix the same issue a fourth time and the appliance fails again. When that happens, they replace it or give you a gift card for the amount you paid.

Best Aggregator for Appliance Repair

Outside of manufacturers themselves or big retail stores, you’ll find that most appliance repair companies are small, local businesses. There are many advantages to this, but finding the best one will depend greatly on where you live and what type of service you’re specifically looking for.

To help, there are services like Home Advisor Powered by Angi, which connect you to licensed contractors or technicians near you. This is what is known as an aggregator, which filters companies according to your location and needs, and gives you a list of recommended and certified services. If this is your first home project or you’re new to an area, this type of tool will come in handy.

Home Advisor Powered by Angi has one of the largest reaches in the home improvement arena, reaching over to Canada and even Puerto Rico (where we’re based), so it gives consumers a higher chance of finding nearby businesses. They also have their own screening and certification process to ensure the companies that show up on your list already comply with a first set of standards. 

Contrary to more limited competitors, Home Advisor provides access to a wide array of appliance repair companies that cover every major appliance, both residential and commercial. You can also look for these companies through lists of categories and locations. With aggregators, you’ll always be subject to giving address information, but with this browsing capability you’ll be able to know if the type of work you need is available in the first place. These categories include “Fixed Priced Services” too, to save you some of the stress of guessing. 

Just like with most aggregators, remember that although Home Advisor certifies companies and screens the owners, there’s a lot left to check out, and it’s up to you. 

Alternative:
Home Advisor has many ways to find local technicians, but if you prefer using the phone, try Repower Appliance Repair, a similar service with a simpler approach.

The Lakers and the Celtics, the Yankees and the Red Sox, Lowe’s and Home Depot… The rivalry remains vibrant in any area of home improvement, and extended warranties are no exception. Lowe’s has over 2,000 locations all over the United States and Canada, sells and services all major brands and can serve as a hub for all your home project needs.

When it comes to their Protection Plan, it’s not far off from Home Depot’s. Just like the orange titan, Lowe’s offers 3- and 5-year plans. They include reimbursements of up to $300 for food spoilage, 50% discounts on maintenance parts, no-lemon and replacement policies if they fail to successfully fix your appliance, and a 30% reimbursement for never using the service. 

Prices range from $29.97 to $179.97 for the three-year plan and from $49.97 to $294.97 for the five-year plan. The cost window seems similar to Home Depot’s, but Lowe’s plan is cheaper relative to what you pay for the appliance—hence the lower starting points. There are some minor caveats that come with this lower price. In the terms and conditions, it’s established that the parts discount has a maximum of $100 each year, versus Home Depot’s $500 all-around: same quantity, but less convenience. Also, there’s a $50 reimbursement if the appliance is not fixed in the agreed amount of time, which is 14 days in Lowe’s and 7 days in Home Depot. However, when finding older terms and conditions we did see that Lowe’s continuously improves these terms.

And Lowe’s has an advantage on top of the lower price. If your covered refrigerator or freezer takes over 72 hours to get fixed, the company will refund the cost of a rental appliance up to 25% of the cost of your original one. This can be particularly important for people with big families or small businesses that depend on refrigeration. 

At the end of the day, the main deciding factor will probably be preference, accessibility, or a subjective sense of loyalty to one of the stores. Still, make sure you read the terms and conditions yourself and ask an employee every question you need to. 

Alternative:

Best Buy’s Protection Plan is similar to both Home Depot and Lowe’s, and their “No-Lemon Benefit” actually requires only two fixes instead of four. shorter. If you’re more inclined to Best Buy or already have a certain track record there, be sure to check theirs out.

Best for Heating and Air Conditioning

One Hour has been in business for 112 years, so they might know a thing or two about fixing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). They only do precisely that and don’t work with other appliances, but the company is a top choice for these. And although their name isn’t in every corner, they have a nationwide presence with a franchise business model that lends itself for constant growth. 

This mixture of being a big company with locally owned shops has advantages for customer service too. You can get to know your local technicians and contact them directly, just like you can contact One Hour’s 24/7 phone number and get the necessary information at any given moment. Per our own calls, they answer fast and give payment and schedule information without any trouble.

Another benefit to this franchise model is accountability. For starters, One Hour has an on-time guarantee: you select a time window for the repair people to show up, and if they’re late or they never arrive, you won’t have to pay for the service. In addition, the company has the UWIN guarantee, shared by all the members of parent company Authority Brands. The One Hour website reads:  “In return for displaying the UWIN® seal, contractors agree to 100% satisfaction guarantee.” Now, the word “satisfaction” sounds subjective, but what we can guarantee is that no one will be satisfied with a faulty heater in the middle of winter; the company has to answer to that.

One Hour technicians attend regular training, seminars and courses, also facilitated by the collaborative network of Authority Brands, LLC and the One Hour name. Their expertise also includes duct work, thermostat repair and air quality control, a very comprehensive approach to everything related with your HVAC system.

Alternative:
One Hour’s franchises are spread throughout the country, but they’re not in every  corner. If you want a local business to take care of your HVAC issues, try searching through Modernize, an aggregator tool with a section dedicated to these two important appliances.

Neli

Best Telemaintenance Option

Despite this very recent rise in remote repairs and guided installations (see our section on Telemaintenance for more info), Neli has actually been in business for over four years and, according to owner Mary Nelson, they’re the first to ever do it. Their information-packed website, their ample range of services, and all their certifications back up this claim to experience. 

Before you’re ready to contact a technician, you can browse through their blog to find DIY tips on different sorts of repairs. You can also read their convenient “Tools and Prep” section to know what you’ll need or what they recommend before you tackle a project. For a service of this kind, these guides are essential in making users comfortable and preparing them for jobs they might otherwise have no clue about.

It works on an appointment basis. You choose between a diagnosis or an installation process for $35 and $40, respectively. Select one of the 17 brands they work with, then select the technician you wish to talk to—a neat feature for recurring customers. If you chose “Part Installation Walkthrough”, the website also provides help finding legit, certified components for your appliance through their partnership with Sears Parts Direct. 

Finally, the company’s customer service reflects their experience in this sector. They’re certified by Angie’s List and by our top aggregator choice, Home Advisor. They also have Spanish-speaking technicians and a non-obtrusive live chat for easy inquiries. Last, but definitely not least, they have a clearcut warranty in place: if the technician is not able to diagnose your problem, you’ll get a full refund. 

Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that this company is exactly what it says it is. Neli is a virtual service to help diagnose issues and guide you through DIY repairs that you deem both necessary and doable. If you need a home visit, check out our other choices. 

Alternative:

If you prefer a subscription-based service, check out Dwelling. Also worth mentioning is Hippo Home Care’s, which is providing free diagnostic services during the pandemic (as of September 2020).