A service center built on honesty, technical expertise, and a genuine commitment to helping homeowners get more life from their appliances.
Appliance Repair Handbook started in 2009 when founder James Hartwell noticed a troubling pattern: homeowners were being told their appliances were "beyond repair" when, in fact, they needed a $30 part and 45 minutes of skilled labor. The goal from day one was simple — honest diagnosis, transparent pricing, and repairs that last.
What began as a one-truck operation in a single metro area has grown into a team of 14 certified technicians serving residential and light commercial clients. We've documented over 38,000 repairs across every major appliance category and brand, and we've distilled that knowledge into the free guides on this site.
Our editorial team — working technicians with an average of 12 years of field experience — writes and maintains every guide on this site. We don't publish anything we haven't tested in the field. When we recommend replacing a thermal fuse before a heating element, it's because we've diagnosed hundreds of dryers and know that's the right sequence. This is real-world experience, not content farm output.
All technicians are background-checked, insured, and carry applicable certifications for the appliances they service.
Founder & Master Technician
22 years of experience. CATO certified. Specializes in refrigeration systems, sealed systems, and complex control board diagnostics. Founded the company after a decade in OEM factory service.
Senior Technician, Training Lead
18 years of experience. CATO certified. Leads technician training program. Contributes DIY content to this site. Specializes in laundry appliances and front-loader systems.
Lead Refrigeration Technician
12 years of experience. EPA 608 universal certification. Handles all refrigerant-related work. Specializes in French door and built-in refrigerators, wine coolers, and ice makers.
Laundry Appliance Specialist
14 years of experience. Factory-trained by Whirlpool and LG. Has repaired over 3,000 washers and dryers. Specialist in front-loader motor systems and high-efficiency models.
Cooking Appliance Specialist
10 years of experience. Gas safety certified. Handles all gas and electric range, oven, and cooktop repairs. Certified for Wolf, Thermador, and Viking professional ranges.
Electronics & Control Systems
9 years of experience. Electronics degree with 6 years of appliance control board diagnostics and repair. Specialist in Samsung and LG smart appliances and WiFi-connected systems.
We never recommend a repair that isn't justified. If your appliance is genuinely not worth repairing, we'll tell you. We'd rather lose a repair job than put $300 of labor into a machine that will fail again in six months.
You receive a written estimate before any work begins. The final invoice will match the estimate unless additional faults are discovered mid-repair — and we'll always call you before proceeding with any unanticipated work.
We strongly support homeowners' right to repair their own appliances. Our free guides are written to genuinely help, not to funnel you into paid service. If a repair is within your capability, we'll tell you that too.
Repairing an appliance instead of replacing it typically saves 200–800 lbs of CO₂ emissions from new manufacturing. We partner with certified recyclers for all components we replace, including proper refrigerant recovery and disposal.
Ready to schedule a repair, ask a question, or get a quote? We're here Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–2pm.
Service Scheduling:
1-800-555-0199
Email:
service@appliancerepairhandbook.com
Hours:
Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
We serve residential clients in the greater metro area and surrounding communities within a 40-mile radius of our main service center. For exact availability in your zip code, please call or email with your address.
For areas outside our service zone, our free online guides and phone consultation service are available to all customers nationwide.
Call to Schedule