There are two categories of appliance repair professionals: the small-job solo practitioner and the all-purpose generalist repair company. Narrowing down the list is primarily based on the type of appliance and its brand. For example, if you attempt to defrost your old GE fridge and stab the freezer cooling pipe with an ice-pick—releasing some freon in the process (bad for the ozone layer)—you have several options. One obvious choice is calling a repair professional who has “refrigeration” in his name. If this professional is certified to service GE appliances, he will be an appropriate choice. Another option is to contact an all-around repair company that has a refrigeration department.

The greatest advantage to hiring a small shop repair professional is the level of personalized service he will deliver. However, most small shops do not offer 24-hour emergency service calls like the larger repair firms, nor are they always as accessible. Obviously, those that offer these services do so at a premium, which is why larger operations tend to charge more.

Accessibility and cost are valid considerations, but one factor in your choice must not be overlooked: make sure the professional you choose has been certified by the manufacturer of your appliance. If you get your Viking range repaired by a professional down the block who is not Viking certified, your Viking warranty will automatically become void. Since not all service professionals guarantee their own work, you may be left with a fairly new and expensive range that no longer has any kind of warranty attached to it.

Be prepared to pay approximately $100 to $200 for an hour’s worth of appliance diagnosis and repair. If the service person has to order a part and return, you may be billed an additional “trip charge” for the second visit. The cost of replacement parts will also be added to your bill. Policies and rates vary from company to company, of course, but a repair technician should be able to give you a general estimate when you call and describe your problem. Pay your appliance bill by credit card, if possible, as it is easier to modify credit card payments in the event of a dispute over the services provided.

To get some helpful feedback about a repair professional, call the company and ask for references, preferably customers who required the same service as you. You can also screen an appliance repair company by checking its history with the local Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.com). Satisfied customers will probably have one good experience to discuss, if the job was done properly. A dependable, honest and skilled repairman (particularly a highly specialized one) rarely maintains an ongoing relationship with his clients because, in his field, return business means he didn’t do the job right the first time.