When your water heater, a home appliance that heats water for showers, sinks, and laundry stops working, you might think you need a plumber. But here’s the catch: most water heater problems aren’t about pipes—they’re about broken heating elements, faulty thermostats, or tripped breakers. That’s not plumbing. That’s appliance repair, the fixing of household machines like ovens, fridges, washing machines, and cooktops. And if you call a plumber for that, you’ll pay more and wait longer—while the real fix stays untouched.
Same goes for your extractor fan, a small motorized device that pulls steam and smells out of kitchens and bathrooms. If it’s noisy or won’t turn on, it’s probably a bad capacitor, a clogged motor, or a failed switch. Not a leaky pipe. Not a blocked vent. Just a broken appliance. Calling an electrician might help if it’s wired wrong, but if the motor’s dead, you need someone who knows how to take apart a fan, not a pipe. Meanwhile, if your boiler’s leaking from a corroded pipe or your radiator’s dripping, now you’re in plumbing territory. That’s pipes, valves, pressure systems—things appliance techs don’t touch.
The line between plumbing and appliances isn’t always clear. A dishwasher that won’t drain? Could be a clogged drain line (plumbing) or a faulty pump (appliance). A washing machine leaking water? Could be a cracked hose (plumbing) or a worn drum seal (appliance). That’s why it matters who you call. Plumbers fix pipes, tanks, and water flow. Appliance technicians fix motors, control boards, heating elements, and circuitry. One handles water in motion. The other handles machines that use water—or electricity—to do a job.
You’ll find posts here that break down exactly what fails in common appliances—like when your oven’s control board dies, or why your boiler stops giving hot water even though the pipes are fine. You’ll see how to tell if your extractor fan needs a new motor or just a good clean. You’ll learn that replacing a water heater isn’t always a plumbing job—it’s often a full appliance swap. And you’ll find out why calling the wrong person means double the cost and double the wait.
These aren’t theory pages. These are real fixes from real homes in Warwick and beyond. People who’ve been there—staring at a broken oven, a silent fan, or a cold shower—and figured out who to call. Whether you’re trying to fix it yourself or just want to stop getting ripped off, this collection gives you the facts you need before you pick up the phone.
Is a toilet an appliance? The answer isn't obvious. Learn why standard toilets are plumbing fixtures, not appliances - and when smart toilets cross the line into appliance territory.
