Get Quotes from Top Appliance Repair Services in Long Beach, CA

What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Appliance Technician in Long Beach?

Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, ovens, trash compactors, and room air conditioners are just a few home appliances that professional appliance technicians troubleshoot and fix. These technicians are required to undergo a state-mandated registration process before conducting business in Long Beach. Professional appliance technicians also typically have different areas of specialization, which you should determine before hiring:

• Brand/Product-Specific Repair: these technicians specialize in fixing brands or products from specific appliance manufacturers, like Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, Electrolux, KitchenAid, Bosch, and Kenmore.
• Appliance-Specific Repair: these technicians specialize in fixing a particular type of appliance (like refrigerators, room air conditioners, or microwave ovens), usually across a wide range of product manufacturers.
• Energy Source-based Repair: these technicians specialize in fixing appliances powered by specific energy sources, usually electric or gas-powered appliances. Professionals in this category may also sub-specialize in solar-powered and hybrid/dual-fuel appliances.
• Commercial Appliance Repair: these technicians specialize in fixing commercial ovens, refrigerators, freezers, and other large-sized appliances commonly used in commercial and industrial settings.

Below is a list of common Long Beach home appliances and their average life expectancy (in years). The appliance's use, make, and model will impact its actual lifespan and durability:

• Refrigerators: 10 – 13
• Freezers: 10 -15
• Washing Machines: 9 - 10
• Dryers: 10 – 13
• Dishwashers: 8 – 10
• Microwave Ovens: 8 – 10
• Ranges/Oven Hoods: 10 – 16
• Garbage Disposers: 10 – 12
• Trash Compactors: 6 – 7
• Room AC Units: 9 - 11
• Dehumidifiers: 7 - 8

Call a professional appliance technician if you observe any of the following issues with your appliance:

• Burning smells
• Weird noises
• Unexplainable moisture in or around the appliance
• Noticeable increase in your energy bills
• General malfunctions

Are You Licensed as an Appliance Repair Technician in Long Beach?

Appliance repair technicians must register with the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) before offering their services in Long Beach. These technicians have the option of registering under one of three categories:

• Electronic Service Dealer: this category authorizes the repair, servicing, and maintenance of microwave ovens and other electronic equipment like televisions and computer systems sold or used for personal, family, household, or home office purposes.
• Major Home Appliance Service Dealer: this category authorizes the repair, servicing, and maintenance of refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, trash compactors, dishwashers, microwave ovens, ranges, washers, and dryers that are sold or used for personal, family, household, or home office purposes.
• Combination Service Dealer: technicians in this category can offer services covered by the electronic and major home appliance service dealer options.

Technicians with multiple business or appliance drop-off sites must complete a separate registration process for each location, regardless of whether the repair is performed on-site. Likewise, technicians who work on appliances that contain refrigerants must also obtain Section 608 Certification from an EPA-approved organization.

Failure to register with the BHGS before providing appliance repair services in Long Beach is a misdemeanor offense that carries penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, up to six months of imprisonment, or both. However, exemptions are granted to technicians licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) as electrical or low-voltage communications systems contractors, provided that their services fall within the scope of their respective contractor licenses.

You can confirm if your intended appliance repair technician has registered with the BHGS by using its license/registry search tool. Suppose the technician claims to be exempt from registration because of possessing a CSLB-issued electrical or low-voltage communications systems contractor license. You can verify this claim through the board's Check a License platform.

What Rates Do You Charge for Appliance Repairs in Long Beach?

Appliance repairs in Long Beach normally cost between $55 and $600, with labor costs for local repair technicians averaging between $50 and $130 per hour. However, the following variables will affect how much your required services will ultimately cost:

• The nature of the problem
• The type, make, and model of the appliance
• The urgency of the repair
• The appliance's energy source
• The cost of necessary replacement parts
• Accessibility to the appliance

Cost estimates for repairing some common household appliances in Long Beach are listed below:

Comparing cost estimates from several technicians is a great strategy to avoid getting duped for appliance repairs. However, you should have these technicians examine the malfunctioning appliance before providing their quotes (some technicians charge extra for this). Request a written estimate for the work from your chosen technician, and be sure to authorize the repair before they begin.

Are You Certified by the Manufacturer to Repair This Appliance?

The phrase "factory-certified technician" is used to describe vetted, trained, and authorized technicians by an appliance manufacturer to offer advanced or specialist repair and maintenance services on their brands and products. Hiring these technicians for your appliance repairs enhances the chances of a positive outcome, as they generally have extensive expertise and experience with troubleshooting and fixing appliance malfunctions. Be aware that factory-certified technicians charge more than their non-certified counterparts; however, these extra costs are offset by benefits like:

• Professional service delivery
• Access to genuine components and manufacturer support
• Warranty protection

If you cannot find a factory-certified technician for appliance repair, hire technicians trained and certified by reputable regional trade schools and appliance repair-related associations, like the United Appliance Servicers Association and the International Society of Electronics Technicians.

Do You Replace Parts with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Parts?

Confirming Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts will be used for your appliance repair is crucial when hiring appliance technicians in Long Beach. OEM parts are components made by the appliance's original manufacturer. They are better quality, more durable, and appliance-compatible than generic parts (components by parties other than the appliance's original manufacturer). Using OEM parts also ensures that existing warranties on your appliance aren't voided. However, you may use generic parts for your repair if the required OEM parts cannot be sourced directly from the appliance manufacturer or available alternatives like local retail stores and online marketplaces.

Also, ensure that your appliance repair technician provides warranties for their services and that this warranty covers all replacement parts, whether OEM or generic.

Will My Home Warranty Cover the Cost of Repairing the Appliance?

Home warranties are service agreements covering the cost of servicing, fixing, and replacing household appliances that malfunction due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties differ from home insurance, as they typically only cover specified home appliances like washers, dryers, stoves, and ranges. In contrast, home insurance covers losses and damages to your home and belongings.

Home warranties typically cover about a year and usually come with an annual renewal option. While some of these warranties may cover damages resulting from poor maintenance and improper repair, many typically don't cover damages caused by:

• Pre-existing faults
• Improper installation
• Appliance misuse

Carefully review the terms and conditions of any home warranty you purchase before signing the dotted line.

Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Long Beach Appliance Technician?

Even though Long Beach appliance technicians are not required to carry general liability insurance, ensure that any technician you hire does. This insurance covers potential bodily harm and property damage during the repair job. Note that technicians with a California Contractors State License Board contractor license for electrical or low-voltage communications systems must post and maintain a $25,000 surety bond.

Before concluding hiring agreements with Long Beach appliance technicians, request proof of their liability insurance (and bonding, where applicable) coverage. If you are in talks with an appliance repair firm, request proof of workers' compensation coverage for its employees.