Midea, Hisense, Haier and TCL Appliances: Are They Worth Repairing?

Ten years ago, most appliances in Metro Vancouver homes were Whirlpool, GE, Samsung or LG. Today, more and more kitchens and laundry rooms have Midea, Hisense, Haier, TCL, Galanz or Comfee machines. They’re good value, and many homeowners don’t realize they can be repaired like any other brand.

Who makes what

• Haier bought GE Appliances in 2016. GE, GE Profile, Café, Monogram and Hotpoint appliances sold in North America now come from the same company as Haier-branded machines.
• Midea is one of the world’s largest appliance makers. Comfee is its value brand, and many Comfee and Midea models share parts.
• Hisense makes refrigerators, freezers and laundry, and also owns the European brand Gorenje.
• TCL, best known for TVs, now sells refrigerators and laundry at major Canadian retailers.

Are they worth repairing?

Often, yes. Most failures we see on these brands are the same as on any modern appliance: a drain pump, a fan, a sensor, a door lock or a control board. A few rules of thumb:

• If the appliance is under warranty, contact the manufacturer first.
• If it’s out of warranty and fairly new, a single-part repair is usually much cheaper than a replacement.
• If the repair costs more than about half the price of a comparable new appliance, or the unit is old and has had several repairs, replacing may make more sense. We’ll tell you honestly.

Parts availability

Parts for newer brands sometimes take longer to arrive than parts for Whirlpool or GE. That’s why we ask for the model and serial number when you book. It lets us check parts before the visit and avoid a wasted trip.

Common problems we see on these brands

• Washers: not draining (drain pump or blockage), not filling (inlet valve), door lock errors, bearing noise on spin.
• Refrigerators: fridge warm while the freezer is cold (defrost system or evaporator fan), ice makers that stop working, noisy fans.
• Dishwashers: not draining, not drying, leak detection errors.
• Dryers and combos: long drying times from lint build-up, heating faults, sensor errors.

What to have ready when you call

• Model and serial number. On washers and dryers the label is usually inside the door frame or on the back. On refrigerators it’s usually on an inside side wall of the fridge section.
• Any error code on the display, exactly as shown.
• What happened: when it started, any noises, leaks or smells.
• Purchase date and receipt, in case it’s still under warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Are these brands harder to repair than Whirlpool or GE?

Not really. The designs are similar and the common failures are the same. The main difference is that some parts take longer to order.

Is it worth repairing a cheap appliance?

If it’s fairly new and the fault is a single part, usually yes. If the repair is close to the price of a new unit, we’ll say so.

Do you service GE appliances too?

Yes. GE Appliances is owned by Haier, and we repair GE appliances across Metro Vancouver as well.

Brand pages and guides

• Midea and Comfee, see also Midea washer error codes
• Hisense, see also Hisense refrigerator not cooling
• Haier, see also Haier combo washer-dryer error codes
• TCL and Galanz

Call 604-729-0499 or leave a request online.