Naturally, we all want to save money when we can. When it comes to a kitchen appliance breakdown, those who feel confident may try to look at the problem themselves and see if there is an easy fix they can do to get the appliance back in working order.

Whether or not you feel confident to begin looking into an issue yourself, here are some quick and easy DIY checks you can carry out to ensure you aren't calling an engineer out for something that turns out to be a very simple solution:-

Gas
Firstly, if the appliance is supplied with gas - we would always advise you call a qualified Gas Safe engineer - do not attempt any repair yourself.

Electrical
If the appliance appears to be dead (no lights on or not functioning), check it is properly plugged in and the switch is on. Try another electrical appliance such as a kettle in the socket to check it is working. If the appliance does not have a plug, then check the isolator is switched on. Also check your fuse box to ensure the circuit is not tripped out.

Water
If the appliance has a water supply (e.g. washing machines, dishwashers), then check all taps are turned on.

Drainage
If the appliance uses water it will also use the drainage. Blocked drainage pipes are a common cause of issues so check if possible if there are any blockages. Pouring some water down the standpipe if there is one may show if theres a blockage in the drain, or if the drain hose connects to a spigot on your sink drainage does the water drain easily down the sink? An engineer will be able to unblock the drainage hose from the appliance but if the drainage pipes leading away from the appliance are blocked you will then usually need to consult a plumber to rectify the issue.

What next?
After running through the above you might find everything in order, and if you feel confident you might be tempted to pop the cover off and look further to see if there's an obvious issue. Most appliances have an electrical connection so never remove any covers without ensuring the appliance is unplugged from the mains supply.

If an obvious fault presents itself you might then be able to obtain a new spare part and get the appliance working again. However, if in any doubt call an expert who can come and hopefully repair the issue for you.

If you are in the Southampton area, we can usually call next working day to attend to most makes of gas and electrical major kitchen appliances.