Problems With Your Appliances?
Is your dishwasher leaking water all over the floor? Having trouble with your refrigerator’s water line? Who do you call? The plumber or the appliance repairman? In this article, we’ll try and help you determine whether you need to call us here at M5 Plumbing or if you should try to contact a repairman for appliance repair.
The Differences Between Appliance Repair and Plumbing Repair
It’s easy to conflate appliance repair and plumbing repair. After all, plenty of your appliances use water. If you see a leak, it’s likely your first thought will be to call a plumber. However, you can save yourself some time and confusion if you understand the difference between problems suitable for a plumber and problems suited for an appliance repair professional.
Appliance Repair Professional Job Description
An appliance repair professional focuses on the health and function of appliances in your home. Some appliance repair professionals may focus specifically on refrigerators, for instance, but they can handle anything from electrical problems to the replacement of parts. Additionally, appliance repair professionals can handle some plumbing problems associated with the appliance, but not all.
Plumbing Contractor Job Description
Plumbers, on the other hand, specialize in anything related to the water and drainage systems in a structure. For example, the plumbers here at M5 Plumbing in Vancouver, Washington, can handle pipe repair, plumbing fixture issues, and anything else related to your water supply for your home or business. If you need a water line run to your new refrigerator, we can handle that. However, if your freezer starts leaking, we may not be the people to call.
What to Do When Your Appliances Have Issues
Even with those job description differences in mind, it can still be confusing. If your freezer breaks, who do you call? Here are a few generic tips to help you decipher the best solution for your problem.
1. Determine Source of the Leak
Most often, if you’re not sure whether to call an appliance repair professional or a plumber, it’s because water is involved. If one of your appliances is leaking, try to determine the source of the leak. If the leak looks like it’s coming from the appliance itself, you may be better off with an appliance repair professional. However, if the leak seems to be coming from your property’s plumbing, whether it’s from a broken fixture or a busted pipe, you should call a plumber.
2. Determine the Scope of the Repair
In some cases, you may need to call both a plumber and an appliance repair technician. For example, if a leak from your plumbing causes electrical issues with your washing machine, you likely need to have both a plumber to fix the plumbing problem and then an appliance repair technician to fix the appliance’s electrical problem. However, a purely mechanical issue with a washing machine, even though the washing machine deals with water, may be most appropriate for an appliance repair technician.
3. Determine What is Covered Under Warranty
Most major appliances come with some sort of warranty from the manufacturer. If your appliance is still under warranty, it’s best to follow manufacturer guidelines when it comes to repair. It’s possible to void the warranty with an inappropriate repair or ignored maintenance, so make sure to pay close attention to the wording of the warranty!
Example: Who to Call When a Washing Machine Breaks
Is your washing machine’s drain hose clogged? Call M5 Plumbing for high-quality plumbing repairs and other plumbing services in Vancouver, Washington!
To illustrate the above, let’s consider a broken washing machine. Who should you call? Depending on the situation, you might consider calling an electrician, an appliance repair technician, or a plumbing contractor such as the experienced professionals here at M5 Plumbing in Vancouver, Washington.
Washing Machine Won’t Turn On
If your washing machine won’t turn on, there are a few steps to take and figure out what the problem is and who to call to fix it.
- First, check to see if the door is closed completely. Many washing machines include safety features that prevent them from operating unless the door is fully closed and engaged.
- Then, try various cycle settings on the washing machine. If the problem is with the appliance, certain cycles may work while others don’t. If the problem is electrical, none of the cycles will work. Call an electrician to have the washing machine’s plug and outlet checked for issues.
Washing Machine Won’t Drain
If your washing machine won’t drain, here are a few troubleshooting tips for you to help you determine whether you should call a local plumber or the appliance repairman.
- Check the drain hose. Is it clogged? The drain hose catches dirty water from the washing machine and carries it to a drain pipe in the wall. The drain pipe then carries the water to the sewer or septic system. A clogged drain hose needs a plumber’s expertise. Call us at M5 Plumbing!
- If there’s no clog in the drain hose, it’s probably the pump. In this case, you’ll need to contact an appliance repair technician or the manufacturer to have the pump repaired or replaced.
Obviously, every situation is different, but this is just one example of the troubleshooting you can go through to figure out whether to call a plumber here at M5 Plumbing or the manufacturer for your appliance when you’re having issues.
How Can M5 Plumbing Help You?
If you’re having issues with your plumbing or you need a water line installed to your new appliance, call us here at M5 Plumbing in Vancouver, Washington. Our team has decades of combined experience in the plumbing industry and we know just how stressful plumbing problems can be for home and business owners. That’s why we focus so much on our customer care and our excellent plumbing services we provide. We don’t want to add any more stress to an already stressful situation. Call us today to set up an appointment with one of our experienced plumbing contractors!