The FTC is considering new regulations that would require any appliances advertising the familiar EnergyGuide yellow label to also include “information about how consumers can repair their products.”
Referring to its own “Repair Opt Out “, the FTC states that repair information will “strengthen consumers’ right to have damaged products repaired without having to contact the manufacturer.”This could save customers money, allow unlicensed dealers and repairers to compete better, and protect the environment, the FTC claims.
Proponents of the right to repair are encouraged by the proposed rulemaking, the publication of which was unanimously approved. “It’s a big deal,” Kyle Vince, CEO of pro-repair store iFixit, tweeted on Monday. “It’s hard to think of a more effective move by the FTC, focused on consumer and repair policy, or a surer way to communicate repair instructions to more consumers who need them.”Vince noted that instrument manuals, whether provided by the company or written by iFixit members on the company’s wiki, are harder to find than those for small electronics. Most people don’t want to take apart devices that weigh hundreds of pounds and use a lot of power or combustible gas to find out more about them.
Nathan Proctor, head of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said in a press release that “incorporating repair requirements into the Energy Guide program is right for the planet and important for consumers.”
What will be critical to any proposed repair information requirement is access to the device’s firmware and software: diagnostics, resetting warnings, and the ability to repair beyond the basics. If a consumer repair manual instructs you to use a software tool to complete a new belt or filter installation, but that program is not available or costs hundreds of dollars, the FTC manual does not enforce anyone’s right to repair.
$900 to see a $20 fuse needs replacing
GE Appliances, a division of home appliance giant Haier, is providing SmartHQ service to licensed technicians. SmartHQ allows repairers to “communicate directly with technicians for real-time diagnostics”. The service also provides device maintenance manuals. By registering with the service, you get a mobile application, training videos, technical support and a portable Bluetooth module that connects to devices. Registration without GE Appliances Authorized Service Center status costs $919 if you pay upfront for a full year. $720 of this fee is access to the mobile and web versions of SmartHQ.
Nearly every major appliance brand has a similar “authorized”or licensed repair program. They vary in range and scope, from a “good to have”diagnostic tool to essential devices that unlock and re-enable devices that have failed. Appliance manufacturers are unlikely to easily provide customers with the same services they sell to repair shops for hundreds of dollars a year.
Availability of spare parts is another potential drawback or loophole in the requirements of the repair manual. If the manufacturer does not provide the parts required for common fixes, or requires software to authorize and pair those parts with the device, the repair manual is more of a dream journal than a learning tool.
The company is unable to open part of its licensed repair network – matching parts, exclusive software and all – under the pressure of repair work. Apple, long resisting any self-repair, launched a self-service program in April. Customers can buy parts, rent special tools, and use detailed repair manuals for their phones, and then authorize the parts on their devices through the web service. The process includes providing Apple with all relevant serial numbers; most people, though, will be a little less wary of LG knowing they have a new belt in their dryer.
I had an experience trying to fix my mother’s stove which worked fine until one day it broke. The circuit board inside the console had a visibly damaged capacitor, causing the oven to precariously restart itself during operation. The actual heating/circulation aspects of the oven worked fine but could not be controlled. I spent days looking for a PCB replacement on high markup parts sites, eBay and official dealers, but ended up having to help my mom buy a new model. The hardware store took out the old oven, and I doubt it was adapted for the new home.
Right to Repair Legislation stalled
These kinds of repair pitfalls are fueling right-to-repair legislation, with bills in place in more than half of the US states and at the federal level. In June, the New York legislature passed the first such bill, which would require electronics manufacturers to provide individuals with the same diagnostic and repair tools and parts that it provides to its repairers. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has yet to sign the bill into law.
The FTC’s proposed rulemaking process, which was approved unanimously, also includes potential label changes and expansions for a range of products, including air purifiers, humidifiers and cooktops, as well as making EnergyGuide labels more accessible to people buying appliances online.