In this age of do-it-yourself fans, the home appliance parts manufacturer often no longer sells only to appliance repair technicians. Several will also sell to the general public. Websites that sell appliance parts are also treasure troves of information on how to diagnose what's wrong with your appliance or how to find the right part, and they sometimes give maintenance tips to help keep appliances running.

You can classify appliance parts by the appliance for which manufacturers make the parts. You can also find home appliance parts types and styles categorized by function.

1. Valves, switches, fuses, and thermostats are devices that control the flow of water, gas, or electricity.

2. Hoses, wires, and belts are home appliance parts that can be replaced with ease.

3. Pumps and motors often turn important parts of the appliance.

4. Heating or cooling elements are the parts that actually heat or cool the appliance.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to replace a dryer part or a washer part

One commonly needed dryer replacement part is a belt. The belt causes the dryer's drum to turn, connecting the motor to the drum. A common washing machine part is a pump, and hoses are another common part for washers.

I recommend: Find information on various categories of parts for a clothes dryer at Point and Click Appliance Repair. Find out how a washing machine works and learn more about hoses and pumps at AppliancePartsOnline.com.

Find out about kitchen appliance parts for your refrigerator or dishwasher

Aside from a lightbulb, common refrigerator parts are a water filter and ice maker. The switch that turns on the light when the door is open is another common part. Parts in a dishwasher include the float assembly, float switch, drain valve, and solenoid.

I recommend: Choose from a list of parts for dishwashers and dryers at PartsStore.com. Click on your choice of part and read an article on it. Read an article on how to identify an appliance part at Appliance 411. Click on a list of types of refrigerator parts to narrow down the list of parts at Appliance Parts Pros.com or sort the list by popularity, part name, part number, or price.

Get information on an oven replacement part

Ranges, ovens, and stoves can run on gas or electricity, and each type works differently. Gas stoves and ovens have igniters that allow the flame to start, both for the oven and for the stove burners. Switches and heating elements in electric ovens, stoves, and ranges are also common parts.

I recommend: Get help researching parts for cooking appliances at Appliance Parts Depot. Click on one of several brands of range parts to get a list of parts for sale at A-1 Appliance Parts, an appliance parts warehouse.

Contrary to their name, home appliances and home appliance parts play a big role in small businesses. When these appliances break down, it can cost you time and money. So whether you run a catering company and need an oven replacement part or a bed and breakfast and need a new dryer part, chances are you need your part quickly.

To minimize your time searching for the right home appliance parts, start by asking yourself the following questions:

1. Do I know exactly what part I need?

2. Do I want to save money on home appliance parts?

3. Can I make the repair myself, or do I need to call for professional help?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy new home appliance parts

The best way to get exactly what you need is to buy new home appliance parts straight from a home appliance parts manufacturer or from an appliance parts warehouse. Whether it's a washer part, refrigerator part or a stove part, these super stores stock thousands of parts and can get you the right part in a short amount of time.

I recommend: RepairClinic.com stocks a wide selection of appliance parts and even offers free repair help. Service reps are available from 8:00 am to midnight, seven days a week, to answer any questions you might have. AppliancePartsPros.com stocks more than 1 million home appliance spare parts, including kitchen appliance parts. The company guarantees same-day shipping on most orders and lets you browse its catalog by appliance type, in case you don't have a model number.

Purchase used home appliance parts

If you have some time to hunt around for the correct part, you can save money by purchasing used home appliance parts. Used parts are available through a number of appliance parts specialists, and many come with a guarantee.

I recommend: Affordable Appliance Service stocks used parts for all major brands, makes and models of home appliances. The company even has home appliance accessories for sale. Just call its toll-free number for help finding the right part. Appliance Part Outlet Used Cheap Appliance Parts lives up to its lengthy name. The company offers great deals on dishwasher parts, dryer parts, microwave parts and other used home appliance parts.

Call in an expert on home appliance parts and repairs

If you're not sure exactly what part you need or you're not sure exactly how to replace it, it is best to call for professional help. Repair people are appliance parts specialists, and they'll make sure to order the right part and make the proper repair.

I recommend: Give a call to Mr. Appliance, one of the largest full-service appliance repair companies in the world. The company's team of experts promises to identify exactly the part you need and either ship it to you or have a tech come out and install it. Home Appliance Repair services all major home appliances in the Washington, D.C., area. The company charges flat-rate pricing so you know in advance exactly how much you will pay.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before ordering any home appliance parts, check the return policy in case you don't get exactly what you need.

When the dryer hose breaks, the dishwasher leaks, the stove knob falls off or the refrigerator light goes out, buying home appliance parts can save homeowners significant money when compared to appliance replacement costs. When customers call you for the quick fix, it's a good idea to have the part they're looking for in stock — or at least just a phone call away.

As a small-business person, it's critical to keep overhead and the cost of goods low in order to realize healthy, business-sustaining profits. One way to do that is to carry a wide variety of popular home appliance parts and ensure you get them at the lowest possible price. It's important to consider the following when looking to save money while building your stock of home appliance parts:

1. Knowing your market and your audience helps determine the parts you'll need most.

2. Buying home appliance spare parts in bulk is a great way to save money while building your inventory.

3. Forming a good relationship with your favorite home appliance parts manufacturer or supplier is key.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep popular kitchen appliance parts in stock

It's impossible to have every dryer part, washer part, oven part, stove part, refrigerator part and washing machine part in stock. However, you can save time and money by keeping the most popular parts on hand and having a ready resource for quick order of the lesser-used kitchen appliance parts.

I recommend: Appliance Parts Pros has a section on its site that lists the most popular appliance parts by appliance type and category. Appliance Parts Depot -- known for its excellent service and low prices -- offers Depot Direct for wholesale customers to purchase at reduced prices.

Buy in bulk to save money on home appliance parts

Like with most anything these days, it seems the more you buy, the more you save. It's a good idea to make bulk purchases to get bulk prices on the most popular appliance replacement parts.

I recommend: Take a look at the list of "fast moving appliance parts" at D&D Appliance Parts and see if you experience the same demand. Buying popular parts in bulk not only saves you money but also increases customer satisfaction because they don't have to wait for the part to be ordered. D&L Parts Company is another great resource for bulk wholesale prices and also offers same-day shipping.

Consider carrying and reselling used appliance parts

It's a good bet that many of your customers wouldn't mind paying less for a used appliance part, so long as it's in good working order. It might not be a bad idea to offer used parts in addition to new ones -- helping both you and your customers with saving money on home appliance parts.

I recommend: Check out the selection and deals at Appliance Parts Central, which claims to offer the best used appliance parts at the best prices. Used Appliance Parts is another resource for thousands of used/recycled appliance parts--all with a 90-day guarantee.

The home appliance parts business is an essential and far-reaching industry. Manufacturers will always need to produce parts for refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines. Appliances frequently break, wear out and need repairing or replacing. Clients depend upon industry experts to guide their purchase or repair. Professionals in the retail and repair business assist consumers in identifying and troubleshooting needed parts for home appliances. Review the key terms below for a look at a few of the many home appliance parts on the market.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Water filters

Water filters for refrigerators filter out impurities, metals, chemicals and odors through a filter in the dispensing unit. Refrigerator water filters are installed inside the refrigerator itself or simply placed in the apparatus. Water filters for the refrigerator purify the water used to make ice or the ice and water device built into the appliance.

I recommend: The Family Handyman tells you how to install a refrigerator water filter. An overview is provided as well as step by step instructions with photos. Envirotech Products gives you a visual of several water filters. Envirotech also provides information regarding the life and performance of the filter.

Agitator

An agitator causes the clothes in the washing machine to rotate from the top to the bottom of the wash tub while also providing a vibrating motion. Agitators are only found in top loaded washing machines.

I recommend: Washing Machine Advisor explains the function of an agitator, common problems and tips for maintenance and repair. Acme Parts.com tells you how to safely remove an agitator for fixing or testing.

Float assembly

A float assembly acts as a trigger for the float switch to shut off and cease the flow of water coming into the dishwasher when the water that fills the dishwasher reaches a certain level.

I recommend: PartSelect.com describes a float assembly and gives you links for checking and replacing the dishwasher float assembly. Part Select also covers the float switch and other integral parts of a dishwasher.

Clothes dryer drum

A drum used in a clothes dryer is also called a tumbler. Heated air is circulated in the rotating drum to evaporate moisture from the clothes. The drum rotates slowly and is driven by a belt and induction motor. Larger drums reduce the number of loads and are more economical.

I recommend: The ServiceMaster Company gives tips for troubleshooting an electric clothes dryer. Problems with dryer drums are addressed. Kitchen.com gives an overview of clothes dryer drums, their load capacity, size and drum materials.

Gas oven igniter

A gas oven igniter controls the flow of gas to the heating elements. Igniters come in two types, either flat or round. The most common igniter used is the glow bar igniter.

I recommend: Dave's Repair Service explains gas oven glowbar igniters, how they work as well as how to replace them. Appliance411 answers frequently asked questions about igniters and gas oven ignition systems.

Drip pans for electric ranges and gas burners

A basic drip pan is used for safety reasons and to catch cooking spills. Drip pans are made from chrome or porcelain. Reflector drip pans allow heat to be absorbed back into the pan. If drip pans are not kept clean they will be unable to efficiently perform this function.

I recommend: Mid-America Appliance Parts Center gives an overview of the purpose and function of a drip bowl and how to keep drip pans clean. Sears provides basic information on electric ranges including the drip pan.