Home appliances aren’t cheap and if one suddenly breaks down then you’re looking at several hundred pounds to buy a replacement. Fortunately, there is an alternative that could see you pocket the difference.

We rely on our home appliances on a daily basis and it doesn’t take long to get frustrated if a key one like the washing machine or cooker isn’t working. After all, nobody wants their dirty laundry piling up or to be on first-name terms with the local takeaway delivery guy – so getting it sorted is usually a top priority.

Buying a replacement might seem like the obvious thing to do, but it is also likely to be the most expensive option. Plus, you will need to dispose of the old appliance. This will only add to amount of electrical waste thrown away in UK each year – which is already enough to fill Wembley Stadium more than 5 times!

In most cases forking out for a replacement isn’t inevitable. Many appliance faults can be easily fixed by a professional appliance engineer for a fraction of the cost and for those of us with a bit more get-up and go there’s the DIY option, which is often cheaper still.

You’ll be surprised how easy some common appliance faults are to fix and how easy it is to obtain the spare parts required. There is also a wide range of helpful resources available on the web to help you diagnose the fault with your appliance and to show you how to fix it – check out websites like the BuySpares advice centre and the BuySpares YouTube channel as a start.

There are a couple things to remember when buying appliance spares that can ensure you buy the right part and help you get the best deal.

Firstly, appliance manufacturers offer hundreds of different appliance models and these can require different variations of similar parts, so always make a note of your appliance’s model number before you start searching for spare parts – here’s a handy guide for locating your model number.

Secondly, in some cases there may be a pattern alternative to the manufacturers part which is often cheaper. A pattern spare is a part made by a third party that has been designed to fit a specific brand or model of appliance. The quality of pattern parts is often comparable to that of the manufacturers and larger spares retailers such as BuySpares will usually stock both genuine and pattern parts.

Above all, as with any DIY activity, make safety a priority and contact a professional if in any doubt.

If you have tried any DIY appliance repairs yourself or you have any top tips, feel free to use the comments below to share your experiences.

Tags: Appliance Spares, Washing Machine Spare Parts