There are six things to consider when buying used appliance parts: quality, fit, useful life, cost, repair and service history. All these items affect the long-term use of the part and the true value of purchasing used appliance parts. Many people assume that there are cost savings available when purchasing used parts, but it is important to actually analyze the cost savings to ensure they are realized.
The quality of the used appliance part is central to the decision process. A high quality mechanical part can save money and meets your needs. Take the time to inspect the part closely, checking all the moving parts for signs of wear, corrosion, or hairline fractures. Look at the housing of the part for structural weakness or damage. Paint chips are unimportant, but damage beneath the paint chips should be inspected closely.
Details are critical when purchasing used appliance parts. Differences in model numbers can result in a variance in the size, shape, and tolerance of the equipment. Review the specifications with care and make sure that the used part is an exact replacement of the original part.
All mechanical parts have a predetermine useful life. This life can be extended with quality, skilled maintenance or decreased with poor maintenance and careless use. Evaluate the estimated useful life for all the moving parts and determine if there is sufficient life remaining in the part to meet your needs.
The cost of used appliance parts is very important. Used parts are always less expensive than new parts, but the actual price difference is important. Value for money is a financial concept, focused on ensuring the price paid correlates to the value provided by the item. The item should be priced based on the value it provides.
Identify which sections of the appliance part have been repaired in the past. Inspect the quality of the repair to determine if it will add or detract from the useful life of the item. Find out if the repair used new components. These items have an impact on the useful life and value of the item.
The service history is also very important. For example, the dryer belt from an industrial dryer in a large hospital has a different level of wear than the same equipment from a summer camp. The amount of use influences the value of the equipment, as does the environmental factors. A location that is closed for a portion of the year has different environmental factors.