House Rules for all appliance and textile bookings
Please see our House Rules page here
Please note – if you make a booking we ask you to confirm you accept these rules, otherwise we will not be able to help you. So please make sure you read them and are happy with them before you make a booking – thank you.
Electrical repairs
Below is a list of electrical items we regularly see. Please check to see if there is an easy fix you can do yourself to save having to bring it in.
Microwaves, printers and TVs are more challenging for us to fix – have a look at the list below for what we might be able to do before booking them in. We are currently seeing a lot of Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners where the issue is the battery needs to be replaced. If your Dyson is over five years old, and is losing charge fast or no longer has good suction this is likely to be the problem. We are happy to help you fit a new battery, but you will need to bring this in to your appointment.
We are, however, always happy to look at items or provide advice on these items, but please bear in mind that we are unlikely to fix them.
If you do decide to drop in on the off chance of a repair we may be able to help you if the volunteers are free, but people who have booked appointments will get priority.
Please note our repair service only runs until 2pm.
We are no longer offering laptop/computer/tablet repairs. We also cannot fix mobile phones (including cracked and broken screens).
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What electrical items can and can’t be fixed?
| Item | What does it not do? | Most probable causes | Chances of a successful repair |
| Appliances powered with rechargeable batteries | Does not run for very long, if at all | Batteries unable to hold their charge | HIGH with replacement batteries (but consider their cost) |
| CD/DVD Player | Doesn’t detect a disc | Dirty lens
Failed laser |
HIGH if the lens can be cleaned
NONE if the laser has failed |
| Christmas lights | Some don’t light up | Broken lamps
Broken wires |
HIGH with replacement lamps – but very time consuming to find the offending lamps
HIGH with broken wires |
| Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner | Loses charge, not sucking up as well | Component parts are clogged up (hoover head for example)
Battery needs replacing |
HIGH if the issue is with clogged up parts – we can clean them out
LOW if it’s a battery problem – most likely cause if Dyson is over five years old. You will need to buy a new battery – we can’t fix it |
| Hairdryer | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
| Lawnmower | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
| Food mixer | Won’t run | Broken plastic interlock | HIGH with a replacement part |
| Lawnmower | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
| Microwaves | The chances of repairing microwaves are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. But we’re happy to provide advice – please put as much information as possible on the booking form and we can advise whether or not we think it’s worth bringing in. |
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| Mobile devices | Don’t charge | Broken cable or broken charger | HIGH with replacement cable or charger |
| Mobile devices | Cracked/broken screens | We are unable to repair/replace mobile phone screens at the Repair Cafe. We do not have replacement screens as there are so many phones and screen types. There are plenty of High Street shops who can do this. | |
| Paper shredder | Fails to run | Cutters jammed with paper | HIGH when jammed paper is removed |
| Printer | The chances of repairing printers are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. There are a couple of exceptions as outlined below. If in doubt, complete the booking form with as much information as possible and we can get back to you with whether we think it’s worth bringing in |
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| Printer | Nothing printed | Dried up print head | HIGH with replacement cartridge
LOW with replacement ink tank |
| Printer | Powers up, but just shows an error code. Nothing printed. | Mechanism jammed
Waste ink tank full |
HIGH if the mechanism can be unjammed
LOW if the waste ink tank is full. |
| Table lamp | No light | Broken switch
Broken cable Broken lampholder |
HIGH with replacement parts |
| Toaster | Won’t stay down | Dirty electrical contacts, broken element | HIGH if dirty contacts
NONE if broken element |
| TVs | The chances of repairing TVs are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. But we’re happy to provide advice – please put as much information as possible on the booking form and we can advise whether or not we think it’s worth bringing in. |
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| Vacuum cleaner | Doesn’t suck very well | Blocked filters | HIGH with replacement filters |
| Vacuum cleaner | Won’t run after producing a burning smell | Motor has failed | NONE motor is 90% of the cost of a new cleaner |
| Vacuum cleaner | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |