Whatever happened to real handymen?

[1shott]

This, things are simply not designed to be repaired, and the cost of repair often approaches the cost of replacement.

Years ago I had a LG fridge, bought it in 2008. A few years later I opened the door to it one morning and there were no lights on in the fridge. I noticed it also was not running.
Checked the breaker, it was on.
I thought great now what.

I pulled the fridge out and checked for power at the outlet yup got power.

Now I know its the fridge.

Pulled off that back cover that says do not remove, theres the circuit board and a automotive type glass fuse. Fuse is blown. Only thing is the fuse is soldered to the board, none removable.

I look online and a new board is $300.

So I get to looking at the board and came up with a idea.

How about I cut the fuse off, solder on fuse brackets and install a new fuse. If it works I saved $300 and have a removeable fuse, if it fails well I spend $300 or more if I want a new fridge.

Off I head to HD, pick up some fuses and fuse brackets, head home.

Cut off the fuse, leaving 2 small studs sticking up from the circuit board. Solder on the brackets, pop in a fuse, plug in fuse and Hey what do you know fridge is running.

A couple $$$ in parts, a little know how and a idea and $300 or more saved.


Fridge ran until December 2021 when the compressor finally crashed, bought a cheap GE top freezer for $600 at HD and its still up and running.

 

[montesa]

Years ago I had a LG fridge, bought it in 2008. A few years later I opened the door to it one morning and there were no lights on in the fridge. I noticed it also was not running.
Checked the breaker, it was on.
I thought great now what.

I pulled the fridge out and checked for power at the outlet yup got power.

Now I know its the fridge.

Pulled off that back cover that says do not remove, theres the circuit board and a automotive type glass fuse. Fuse is blown. Only thing is the fuse is soldered to the board, none removable.

I look online and a new board is $300.

So I get to looking at the board and came up with a idea.

How about I cut the fuse off, solder on fuse brackets and install a new fuse. If it works I saved $300 and have a removeable fuse, if it fails well I spend $300 or more if I want a new fridge.

Off I head to HD, pick up some fuses and fuse brackets, head home.

Cut off the fuse, leaving 2 small studs sticking up from the circuit board. Solder on the brackets, pop in a fuse, plug in fuse and Hey what do you know fridge is running.

A couple $$$ in parts, a little know how and a idea and $300 or more saved.


Fridge ran until December 2021 when the compressor finally crashed, bought a cheap GE top freezer for $600 at HD and its still up and running.

How much do you think you would need to charge to figure that out and make the repair in the same way and also guarantee the work? What do you think would be reasonable? I'm thinking a few guys on here would expect that for 75 bucks.

 

[1shott]

How much do you think you would need to charge to figure that out and make the repair in the same way and also guarantee the work? What do you think would be reasonable? I'm thinking a few guys on here would expect that for 75 bucks.

No idea.

One would have to figure in a minimum labor charge, probably $25 for that, then what ever the fuse and clips costs, plus solder.
dont know about a warranty figured in.

This was something I did to my own appliance knowing if it did not work I was still out a minimum $300, with the mind set I really had nothing to lose to try it. To my surprise it worked.

 

[1Mudman]

I understand your rant! Im so tired of people overcharging for services and still not fixing the issue. I have literally filled my garage with tools and parts for things like the Septic System ect.. I had one water well guy brag about buying to other one close to Edmond out and now he's charging double. This Water Well company charge me $350 to fix leak in water line. Previous company charged $100! Earthquakes in the area parted the line twice. I found out the little air pumps on the septic are only $200-$250 after paying $700 several times. It takes less than 5 mins to replace. I stopped and asked a guy working on my neighbors sprinklers last spring and asked him what a tune up would cost. Answer was $135/hr + $100 per sprinkler head!!!. Another project I ended up doing. I had a dryer stop working and went over it with a meter checking thermostats ect. I ended up calling home warranty. They couldnt fix it! said to get a new one. I figured out the exhaust was letting cold air set the exit thermometer to shut off. I simply put a bag deer corn in front of it and now its worked fine for another 4 yrs

 

[Firemedic71201]

Nope. Just got a quote recently for installing a tankless water heater. Gotta pull a permit, and the estimate was a minimum of $8000. Bought from Amazon, total about $600. Reused everything I could. Had to buy some new fittings. Lowes had an import 1/2" MPT to 1/2" copper pipe for a couple $$ each, or US-made, for $11 something, an Home Depot wanted nearly $13 for it. They were identical. I'd really rather not buy Import stuff, but I'm too broke (and cheap) unless there's a noticeable difference. And the import fittings were from on of our real allies, not someone who insists on pointing nuke-tipped missiles at us.

Boy I was way wrong, you’re exactly right. I just got to looking and $4k is the average install price for hot water heaters! That’s ridiculous! Thank goodness I got it done myself