Appliance servicers and repairers
Career Overview
Appliance servicers and repairers maintain, service and repair home and commercial appliances and help prevent unwanted breakdowns. Some employees work specifically on small appliances, such as microwaves, vacuum cleaners and power tools. Others specialize in major appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers.
People in this occupation:
- Work for repair shops, appliance service companies and repair departments of retail and wholesale establishments
- May be self-employed
- Should have good diagnostic and problem-solving skills, and enjoy working with electronic and mechanical equipment
- Should be familiar with computers
- Have the ability to work independently
- Should be able to communicate clearly with clients
Job Titles
Duties
Small appliance servicers and repairers:
- Repair small appliances, such as electric lawn and garden equipment and power tools
- Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of an appliance malfunction
- Observe the operation of appliances and conduct voltage, resistance and other tests using electric test equipment
- Refer to schematic drawings or product manuals, and repair or replace parts or components using hand tools and soldering equipment
- Prepare estimates and written accounts of the work done
Major appliance repairers and technicians:
- Repair major appliances, such as domestic and commercial dishwashing equipment, stoves, laundry equipment and refrigerators in customer's home, in customer's place of business or in repair shop
- Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of an appliance malfunction
- Diagnose faults by checking controls, condensers, timer sequences, fans and other components using test equipment such as meters and gauges that measure resistance, current, voltage and pressure temperature, flue gases and flow rates
- Refer to schematic drawings or product manuals, and disassemble appliances using hand tools
- Use shop equipment and specialized diagnostic and programming apparatus to repair, adjust and reprogram appliances
- Replace components and subcomponents and reassemble appliances using hand tools and soldering and brazing equipment
- Prepare estimates and written accounts of the work done
- Plan service routes
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
805% Employed Full Time
50%Workers in this occupational group usually work a regular 35- to 40-hour week; however, overtime work may be required during emergencies or busy periods. Some evening and weekend work may also be necessary. Hours can vary considerably for those who are self-employed.
Electric appliance servicers and repairers may work either in shops, where smaller appliances (e.g., vacuum cleaners and microwaves) are brought in for servicing, or in customers' homes, repairing large items (e.g., refrigerators and washing machines). These workers generally work alone, with little supervision. Technicians who repair large appliances usually drive a truck with an inventory of parts and tools to site locations.
The physical demands of the work may vary depending on the task at hand. Installing and servicing large appliances requires moving appliances (which may weigh more than 20 kg) and a considerable amount of standing, stooping, kneeling and reaching.
There is some risk of electrical shocks, cuts, burns or muscle strain with this type of work; however, precautions are undertaken to reduce these risks.
Career Pathways
Experienced appliance service technicians may become factory service representatives who supervise manufacturers' authorized repair depots in a particular region.
Technicians employed in larger organizations may become specialists or advance to supervisory positions.
With experience and business knowledge, workers in this occupational group may start their own independent appliance service company or appliance sales and service outlet.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Small appliance repairers usually require some specialized high school or college courses or several months of on-the-job training.
Major appliance service/repair technicians usually require some secondary school education and completion of a college program or apprenticeship in appliance repair.
SkilledTradesBC offers a four-year apprenticeship program for appliance service technicians. Trade certification is not compulsory for these workers in B.C., but it can increase employment opportunities. For more information, please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca.
Electrical appliance servicers and repairers are currently eligible for Interprovincial Standard Endorsement (Red Seal) qualification through SkilledTradesBC. Once individuals pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive a Red Seal endorsement. This endorsement allows holders to work in any province or territory.
Workers with 10,800 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Appliance service technicians who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Trades training resources
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Appliance Installation and Repair
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Determining the kinds of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
805Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 15 | 1.9% |
| Kootenay | 25 | 3.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 575 | 71.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 10 | 1.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 7.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 120 | 14.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
390Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 10 | 0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 310 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 1.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 40 | 0.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 250 |
| Retail Trade | 80 |
| Construction | 30 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Wholesale Trade | 10 |
Insights from Industry
The majority of new opportunities that arise over the next few years will be a result of the need to replace those who retire and from new openings.
Consumer demand for electrical appliances has increased in recent years, which results in demand for follow-up maintenance and repair services. The increasingly complex technology built into modern appliances is making repairs by homeowners less common.
Electric appliance servicers and repairers who stay up to date on technological changes will be in greatest demand.
Resources
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Electro-Federation Canadawww.electrofed.com
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Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)hrai.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
