How to check an appliance repair company

Most states don't license appliance repair as a trade of its own. A few do, some license only part of the work, such as the wiring of a hard-wired appliance, and a few cities and counties have their own licenses. Where there's a license or registration, ask for its number and the name it's issued to, then look it up, and make sure the name matches the company on your estimate.

Each state's name links to its rules page on this site, which also covers estimates, service call fees and other consumer rules.

Some refrigerator and freezer repairs mean opening the sealed system that holds the refrigerant. That work has a federal rule of its own, the same in every state.

A technician who opens the sealed refrigerant system of a household refrigerator or freezer, for example by attaching hoses and gauges, adding or removing refrigerant, adding or removing components or cutting the refrigerant line, needs EPA Section 608 Type I (small appliances) or Universal certification when the fridge uses an ozone-depleting refrigerant or a non-exempt substitute such as an HFC. Fridges and freezers made with isobutane (R-600a), propane (R-290) or R-441A are exempt from these rules. Certification belongs to the technician and doesn't expire. Work that doesn't open the refrigerant circuit, such as rewiring an external electrical circuit, doesn't need it.^69-71

EPA doesn't issue the certification cards. The organization that gave the technician the test issues the card and keeps a record of it.^71-72 EPA lists the organizations approved to give the test.⁷³ If a repair means opening the sealed system, you can ask the technician to show you the card.

Refrigerator not cooling: repair costs and what the technician needs has the published repair ranges.

• Where your state or city has one, the license or registration number and the body that issued it.
• What the service call or diagnosis fee is, and whether it counts toward the repair.
• For a fridge or freezer repair that opens the sealed system, whether the technician holds Section 608 certification.
• If the repair touches a gas line, wiring or plumbing, who will do that part and which license they hold.
• A written estimate before the work starts. Some states require one, and Your right to a written estimate before an appliance repair lists them.

What appliance repair costs has published national ranges for the service call and each appliance.

Each company on this site is listed with its phone number where it has one, so you can call two or three and compare. You can also send a request through the request form.