Are you a recent graduate of Fred’s Appliance Academy? If you are, then the following information will seem a bit redundant, but at the very least may provide a worthy review. If you are a novice do-it-yourselfer, please note that it is important to know what tool to use when attempting an appliance repair. It is mainly to those who are not professional appliance repair folks that this article targets.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on appliance repair tools. Most consumers already have most of the tools in the following list.

Screwdriver Kit

• At the very minimum you need a Philips style and a slot screwdriver. Depending on the type of appliance you need to repair, you may need a Torx screwdriver also. It is recommended that you invest in an inexpensive cordless drill and a comprehensive screwdriver bit set.

Pro Tip: It is of vital importance that you use the correct bit for whatever size or type of screw you need to remove. Use the wrong bit or tool and you risk stripping the head of the screw. And then you will be back online searching for a method to remove a stripped screw.

Nut Driver Kit

• The screwdriver bit set that you own should include several sizes of nut drivers. The most commonly used for appliance repair work are the 3/8, 5/16, and ¼ inch nut drivers.

Wrench Kit

• An adjustable wrench may prove to be adequate but a set of metric and standard sized box wrenches are sure handy items to add to your toolkit.

Multimeter

• The multimeter may be the most important tool in your toolkit. With even the most basic knowledge of how a multimeter works, you will be able to test and diagnose nearly every electrical component in any appliance. Most of tests performed on a multimeter let you know if there is a continual electrical path present to and from the part you’re testing. If it tests negative, in most cases, you will not need to do any further testing as you will have discovered the reason your appliance is not working. This is extremely important because it will prevent you from going out and buying the part that you think is broken and after the install, you are left with the same problem as before. So testing is a vital part of appliance repair. It’s easy to replace a part most of the time. The most difficult of any appliance repair is diagnosing the trouble. Click here for an excellent tutorial on how to correctly use as multimeter.

Pliers

• For now, the only pliers you will need are a couple different sizes of needle nose pliers and channel locks. Needle nose pliers help to remove certain types of wire connectors from their terminals. Needle nose are great for grabbing screws that have fallen in places too small for your hand to reach in and grab. Channel locks are great for removing hose clamps and any other number of appliance repair operations that require a stronger grip.

Putty Knife

• Putty knives are great to use to pry components that fit tab to slot. A putty knife is great to have in your tool kit to scrape up any debris you may find as you move through your repair. And for any accidental messes you might make along the way. 

Worker Safety Items

• Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t include a section on personal safety. Before working on any electrical appliance, remember to disconnect, disable, disengage, detach or merely unplug the appliance from its power source. Forget to do this and you will be in for a shocking surprise and bets are that you won’t forget to separate the appliance from its power source the next time.
• When handling appliances with sharp edges, unless your hands are made of leather, you might consider investing in a pair of gloves.
• Eye goggles are advised when working with exceptionally dusty or chemically oriented appliances.
• On this list, last but not least, is the flashlight.

Check out this video on YouTube for a visual representation of a basic appliance tool kit. Contact us if you want to know more about appliance repair, appliance repair toolkits, or if you’re thinking about taking up the appliance repair service as a career.