Home Appliance Repairers

What the job really is

Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.

At a glance

• Sector: Installation, Maintenance & Repair
• O*NET-SOC code: 49-9031
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Install gas pipes and water lines to connect appliances to existing gas lines or plumbing.
• Clean, lubricate, and touch up minor defects on newly installed or repaired appliances.
• Conserve, recover, and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems.
• Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment.
• Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid.
• Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions.
• Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems.
• Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds.
• Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring.
• Provide repair cost estimates, and recommend whether appliance repair or replacement is a better choice.
• Disassemble appliances so that problems can be diagnosed and repairs can be made.
• Respond to emergency calls for problems such as gas leaks.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Appliance dollies, Bearing removers, Carbon monoxide detectors, Charging hoses, Combustible gas detectors, Condenser brushes, Cordless drills

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
• Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
• Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
• Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Home Appliance Repairers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.