Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances

I've been a science and math educator for years after college, and I'm also a technical writer and editor. I am completely blown away by this book.. I'm looking to become a service technician, and I have some other good resources in plumbing and HVAC.. however, this book is 100 stars!! Very well written with probably several thousand very clear and precise diagrams that conform to electrician, plumbing, and HVAC standards. If there is such a thing, this book exceeds ideals and expectations.. and it is an amazing value for the money! I only paid about $30 for my copy. Just beware that it is heavy.. it's more or less eight and a half by 11 and nearly four inches thick

Just What I Was Looking For: A Masterpiece I ordered this book for when I need it not because I do. This is an appliance repair tome of almost 1200 pages! I have just received the book so this review will be based only on first impressions and thumbing through different sections such as, the Table of Contents, the body of the book, diagrams, charts and the index. Initial impression: Good quality print, fairly robust pages, in general, good sized print (some of charts have small but high quality print). Line art is crisp and clear. The Review: From what I can see, this is a very comprehensive book that can serve as a text book for appliance repair. Each category or appliance has a checklist with questions regarding things like capacity, location, direction of door swing, room needed for door swing, types of clothes to be washed, number of people, options price range, colors, electric or gas…These checklists are good to review and answer because it will remind you of factors that you may not have thought of that could be important regarding the placement and or selection of the appliance. Some topics covered in the TOC: • Selecting, Purchasing and Installing Major Home Appliances and Air Conditioners ⁃ Electric and Gas Ranges, Cooktops and Ovens, Cooktops, Microwaves… ⁃ checklist for this category of appliance ⁃ Refrigerators and Freezers (goes into the different types and configurations) ⁃ checklist ⁃ Dishwashers ⁃ Built-ins, portables, undersink, dishwasher-sink combinations and a checklist ⁃ Laundry Eq: ⁃ Washers: Top/Front loaders, compact ⁃ Dryers ⁃ checklist ⁃ Air Conditioners ⁃ Sizing room air conditioners ⁃ How to purchase the best AC by using the Energy Guide Label ⁃ How to make purchasing decisions • Warranties: Full vs Limited • Appliance installation instructions • Where to get help • Product Recalls • Safety precautions • Grounding and voltage • Tools needed for installation and repair • What it takes to become a professional technician ⁃ Verbal, non-verbal, paraverbal communication ⁃ Customer Empathy ⁃ Listening to the Customer ⁃ Reflective Listening Skills ⁃ Paraphrasing ⁃ Asking Questions • Prepping for the service call • Basic Techniques ⁃ Techinician Diagnostic Guide Part 2: • Electricity, Electronics and Gas ⁃ Electricity and wiring ⁃ What is a circuit ⁃ Circuit components ⁃ The 3 types of circuits Those are only the first two parts and the first 85 pages! The book goes into troubleshooting, diagnosing with flowcharts and timing charts (when applicable), function, fault/error codes for many different manufacturers. How to locate part and serial numbers. Common washability problems one faces with dishwashers and their possible causes, including but not limited to: discoloration of Copper, Cracking of China, Metal Marks on Dishes and Glassware, staining, tarnishing, corrosion… I cannot do the book justice by trying list what is important because different things will be important to different people. The Bottom Line: If you have a good selection of tools, a fairly good grasp of technical concepts (mechanical, electronic, electrical or) the willingness and ability (or necessity) to learn, this book can help you repair almost any appliance as long as it is not a machine that is completely run by a microprocessor. Even if it is an appliance with a touchscreen or non-user serviceable parts, chances are, that as long as what is wrong has to do with the basics of heating, cooling, cooking, washing, drying, baking or dehumidifying, this book may help you fix it! This is a must have addition to your library.

I had an earlier edition that I used for years. For the average person, this volume is almost worth its wt. in gold. (It is a heavy think book by the way).I loaned it to a fellow repairman and never got it back. I got this newest edition and it is even better. One service call will pay for this book many times over. You will not be disappointed with this manual. It tells you about the different appliases, not just how to troubleshoot and repair them. GREAT BOOK!

I do appliance repair as a side job. This book is great for simple repairs and as a supplement to repairing appliances but if your starting out and don't know a lot about electronics i would recommend a bit more detailed training, but this book is a good read and supplement to repairing appliances.

Exactly as I expected

I’m currently taking an appliance repair course, and Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances has been a fantastic resource alongside my training. The book is well-organized and easy to follow, breaking down complex systems into clear, manageable sections. What I really appreciate is how it explains not just what to do, but why — helping me build a deeper understanding of how different appliances work. The troubleshooting charts and diagrams have been especially helpful when I’m working through real repairs. Whether you’re just starting out in appliance repair or want a reliable reference for your shop, this book is a solid investment. I find myself reaching for it often, and it’s definitely boosted my confidence on the job. Highly recommended!

Excelente

Great book with great tips for beginners and professionals alike. Great resource and aid for references.

xpensive but plenty information about appliances

Not much information about troubleshooting

Very useful and complete. Instructions are very easy to follow.

Ok

Love this book, covers everything you need to know