Charles Schuler wrote:
"Jack" wrote in message
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I need to install a $25.00 maintenance kit on a gas dryer. Just a
couple of questions please.
.
1. Any idea what an appliance repair place would charge in your area
for this install?

Call and ask.

2. More importantly, but related to #1. How do you personally decide
whether to fix something yourself, or have somebody else do it. I
personally call it the 'Aggravation Factor'. If it's too much of a
pain in the arse for not a huge amount of money, then I would hire
someone. Otherwise, I do it myself...sometimes just to learn
something. I am just curious how you make your own determination.

One needs to understand one's limits. If you are competent, then do
it yourself. If you are behind the curve, then decide if learning
how to do it right is a good decision.

If I understand what needs to be done, have the tools required, and feel
competent to make any needed adjustments, I go ahead and do it myself. e.g.
my dishwasher stopped draining this week. A meter on the valve showed power
TO the solenoid, but the solenoid did nothing, not even hum. Continuity
showed the solenoid to be open ckt when it should have been a low reading.
Now: $160 for the serviceman to drive out here and drive back,
regardless of what he did/does. Plus parts. Plus labor. Probably a couple
hundred bucks if he's honest about it.
$24 for the part, do it myself and I'm done. NOT a hard decision to make
in this case. However, if there hadn't been power to the solenoid at the
right times, then it leads into the electronics for the fault - much harder
to troubleshoot for me, and more false starts, if I did manage to get to a
guess as to what I needed; then I'd call for service. I miss the old
mechanicals of all this stuff; it was so much simpler!

Pop`