Domestic Appliance Service Engineer

Also known as:

Domestic Appliance Repairer
Electrical Appliance Repairer
Service Engineer, Domestic Appliance

Introduction

Domestic appliance service engineers service and repair household electrical goods such as washing machines, cookers, microwave ovens, fridge freezers, vacuum cleaners and dishwashers. They may be field service engineers, going out to repair appliances in customers' homes, or they may be based in a workshop.

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Work Activities

Domestic appliance service engineers service and repair household electrical items like washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, cookers, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners and small appliances.

Many domestic appliance service engineers specialise in a small range of appliances or work for a particular manufacturer. They may be field service engineers, going out to visit customers' homes, or they may carry out repairs in a workshop. Field service engineers usually travel by company van from job to job.

When a large domestic appliance like a washing machine goes wrong, field service engineers go out to the customer's house. They locate and diagnose the fault, and then explain what has gone wrong to the customer. They often use computerized equipment diagnose faults.

To repair the appliance, the service engineer may clean and oil mechanical parts, or remove and replace any damaged modules. They may also carry out routine maintenance and safety checks.

If the engineer cannot repair the appliance, he or she may take it back to a workshop for further tests. They may have to order a spare part and come back to fit it on another day.

Field domestic appliance service engineers are usually responsible for an area. They may keep in regular touch with the workshop or office. They may ask workshop staff to order a spare part or phone the office to see if there are any extra jobs.

Customers may bring small domestic appliances to a workshop for repair. The engineer's work can be complex and time-consuming. For example, they may have to send the appliance back to its manufacturer.

Engineers may also recycle or dispose of older appliances safely.

The work can involve heavy lifting and a lot of kneeling and bending. Repair work can be dirty so engineers may wear overalls or a uniform. They usually carry an identification badge.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Domestic appliance service engineers must be able to work on their own safely with electricity.

To be a domestic appliance service engineer, you must also enjoy solving problems. You need to be able to develop strong practical skills - and you must be able to handle appliances safely. You need to be patient when diagnosing faults. You need to be able to understand technical drawings, service manuals and circuit diagrams.

Many domestic appliance service engineers visit customers in their homes, so you must be polite, friendly and helpful. Customer care skills are a must.

You will be working on your own, so you must be able to take responsibility for diagnosing repairs and ordering parts. You may often have to work quickly, sometimes under pressure.

You need to be physically fit and aware of health and safety to lift and move heavy appliances.

Your colour vision may be tested.

You need business skills if you are self-employed.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Domestic appliance service engineers earn in the range of £17,000 - £20,000 a year, rising to around £23,000 - £26,000 a year.

They usually work a basic 39-hour week, which may include Saturdays and working on-call.

Employers throughout the UK are repair firms ranging from small enterprises to large manufacturers.

Service engineers can work for electrical shops, servicing companies and in large manufacturers' specialist workshops. Most domestic appliance service engineers carry out repairs in people's homes.

There is a steady demand in towns and cities for qualified staff but fewer opportunities in rural areas.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant practical or engineering skills and abilities are an advantage, including work as a fitter or assembler, or in maintenance work in the engineering industries, especially electrical and gas.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available in some areas.

• 2% of people in occupations such as domestic appliance service engineer work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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