Buying appliance spares 5 things you need to know first
Buying the right spare part for an appliance repair is often more complicated than it first appears. Even trade repairers with access to repair manuals and parts breakdowns can find certain parts difficult to source. These five points explain what to know before ordering.
The model number alone is rarely sufficient – most manufacturers also need a serial number, production number, or date code to identify the correct part. Get all numbers from the rating plate before ordering. Numbers printed on the part itself are almost always useless for finding a replacement.
5 Things to Know Before Buying Appliance Spare Parts
1 – Model numbers often are not enough
Manufacturers sometimes modify parts or change designs during the production run of a model without changing the model number. As a result, two appliances with identical model numbers can have different versions of the same component.
For example, one Indesit washing machine model has been fitted with three different possible motors across its production run. Hotpoint washing machines of the same model have been supplied with three different control knobs with different markings. The model number alone cannot identify which variant is fitted – a date code, serial number, or production number from the rating plate is also needed. Which number is required varies by manufacturer.
2 – The model number on the front panel is often not the full model number
Many appliances display an abbreviated or simplified model reference on the control panel. This is not the full model number and is often insufficient for identifying spare parts. The complete model number – along with all other reference codes – is only found on the rating plate. See: how to find the model and product numbers on an appliance.
3 – Some parts are copies made by third-party manufacturers
Many spare parts sold online are not made by the original appliance manufacturer. Third-party copies of popular parts are common and manufacturers appear to have limited ability to prevent this. Copy parts may be of inferior quality – they may fit and function initially but not last as long or perform as well as the original. For detailed advice on this, see: genuine spare parts advice.
4 – Numbers printed on the part itself are almost always useless
In the vast majority of cases, a reference number printed directly on a component cannot be used to find a replacement. Numbers on parts are typically factory codes used by the component supplier – not the appliance manufacturer’s own part numbers. Appliance manufacturers use their own part number systems, and these are very rarely printed on the parts themselves. Always use the appliance’s rating plate numbers when searching for spares, not any number found on the component being replaced.
5 – Consumer rights on spare parts are more complex than on complete appliances
Spare parts are covered by the Consumer Rights Act – they must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and last a reasonable time. However, the situation is more complicated than buying a complete appliance. A part may be returned if it is not as described, or if it is undamaged and unopened and returned within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
The difficulty arises when a part has been fitted. Proving a part is faulty rather than incorrectly fitted, or was the wrong diagnosis, is challenging. If an expensive part fails before a reasonable time has elapsed – even outside the supplier’s own stated guarantee period – a claim may still be possible under the Consumer Rights Act, but this would likely require persistence to enforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the model number not enough to order a spare part?
Manufacturers sometimes change components during a production run without updating the model number. Two machines with identical model numbers can have different versions of the same part fitted. A date code, serial number, or production number from the rating plate is usually needed to identify which version is fitted. Which number is required varies by brand.
Can I use the number printed on the broken part to find a replacement?
Almost never. Numbers printed on components are typically factory codes used by the component supplier, not the appliance manufacturer’s part numbers. Appliance manufacturers use their own part number systems, and these are very rarely printed on the parts themselves. Use the rating plate numbers from the appliance instead.
What are my rights if a spare part fails quickly?
Spare parts are covered by the Consumer Rights Act and must be of satisfactory quality and last a reasonable time. If a part fails before a reasonable period has elapsed – even outside the supplier’s stated guarantee – a claim may be possible. However, proving the fault lies with the part rather than the fitting is the main difficulty. If a part is undamaged and unopened, it can be returned within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.