To help you get started taking appliance repair jobs, we’ve put together a list of appliance repair tools that technicians should have on hand for every service call. Click on the links below and order what you need. (Note: these are affiliate links.)
Some of the items below won’t exactly match what we show in the Tools Module in the Core course. We review and update these links periodically with the best available option, since products get upgraded or discontinued. If you find that any of these links are no longer valid, please let us know.
Tool Backpack
You’ll want a tool backpack to carry your most frequently used tools hands-free. This one has a hard top carry handle and a stiff base so it doesn’t flop around. Carries my most used hand tools and basic test instruments like multimeter, amp clamp, IR gun, voltage sniffer, and outlet tester. Especially good when you have to hike up a snowy driveway from your service vehicle to the customer’s door.
Headlamp
Fenix HP25R V2.0 HEADLAMP – 1600 lumens
As techs, our job is all about paying attention to details. To do that, you need strong illumination in the area you’re examining or working in. Properly illuminating your work area is essential for catching details like cracks, burns, and even disassembly clues. I do most of my work while wearing a headlamp so the lighting is always where I need it. I’ll sometimes use a separate external light in addition to my headlamp. But my headlamp is always my primary illumination.
Disassembly Tools
JH Williams WRS-1 Magnetic Ratcheting Screwdriver
I use either my ratcheting screwdriver or my Bosch power driver (see the Power Tools section below) on almost every job. This one has fine ratcheting teeth for small, delicate movements, forward, reversing, and locked. Also accepts the same bits as my power driver.
Specialty Wrench Bit Set, 32-Piece
This bit box set has all the bits you’ll need for 95% of your service calls. Specialty bits, like Thermador surface burner venturis, are stored in a separate pouch that you’ll only use occasionally. Includes common torx, even a few safety torx, and square drive bits. Also has a ¼” socket adapter.
Milwaukee 49-66-4562 Shockwave 1-7/8-Inch Magnetic Nutdriver Set
Keep this handy with your ratchet driver and power driver because you’ll be using this set all the time, especially the ¼” and 5/16” bits. And they’re magnetic.
9 Piece Metric Quick Change Magnetic Nutsetter Set
More and more brands we work on are made with metric fittings so you’ll need a set of metric nut driver bits. You won’t use these as often as the SAE set above but you’ll still want them handy.
GRIP 6″ Stainless Steel Magnetic Parts Tray
With all those fasteners you’ll be removing, you need a reliable way of keeping them together so you don’t lose them and end up short on reassembly. As I disassemble, I like to group the fasteners into logical clusters on the mag tray to help me remember what fasteners go where when I’m putting it all back together.
Alltrade 940478 1/4″ Dr. Socket & Bit Driver Mini RATCHET
This is kind of a specialty tool, so it’s optional if you include it in your tool backpack. But sometimes you need to get to fasteners in tight spaces and this is a tool that can help. Can also accept bits on the back side. And it’s just so damn cute!
62 Pc Metrinch Combo Spanner Socket & Wrench Set
Definitely a specialty tool that stays in the vehicle and is deployed for those special, weird situations. This one combo kit covers both Metric and SAE fittings so you don’t need to carry a separate set up sockets and wrenches for each. They fit the fasteners securely and don’t slip and round out the corners.
Details, details, details. Many times, our job is to be a keen observer of details. You’ll use this inspection mirror with your headlamp to get eyeballs on rear fasteners or electrical connections that affect your troubleshooting or disassembly. This is especially true for leaks. In accordance with Samurai’s 12 Laws of Appliance Repair, “All leaks are visual.” How else are you gonna “visual” a hose or tube connection that’s behind a sump or other component?
IIT 21560 Pick & Hook Set with Rubber Grip – 6 Piece
The famous “pokey things” needed to deal with odd and unexpected situations we encounter frequently on service calls. One example is getting the holes to line up when reassembling a panel. Another is removing thermistor covers in refrigerators where you’ll need the “hooky thing.”
Stanley 28-140 1-1/4-Inch Nylon Handle Stiff Blade Putty Knife
You’ll use your putty knife all the time to release hidden clips, pry out LED light fixtures, remove dispenser housings, and many other such tasks. For external show surfaces, like a stainless steel front, cover the end of the putty knife with electrical tape.
Telescoping Magnetic Pick-Up Tool
The magnetic claw pick-up tool and the telescoping magnet below are used for those “oopsie” moments when we drop a critical fastener behind or underneath something. This one will allow you to retrieve non-magnetic fasteners, tubing, clamps, etc.
Knipex 002006S1 3-Piece Cobra Pliers Set (7-Inch, 10-Inch, & 12-Inch)
I call these my “nippy pliers,” superior to conventional Channel Lock-style pliers because they articulate the fitting much better and with less slippage.
Amazon Basics Pliers Set, Hand Tools for Precision, Set of 4, Black and Silver
Ye olde basic plier set you need to have in your backpack.
Klein Tools 600-8 Flathead Screwdriver with 3/8-Inch Keystone Tip
Ironically, you won’t use this straight-slot screwdriver to remove straight-slot screws very often. Instead, you’ll use this for all kinds of weird and unexpected things, like removing stuck wire terminals. Handy to have in your backpack.
Victorinox Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker, Red
What’s a master craftsman without his trusty MacGyver tool?
Victorinox Cordura Belt Pouch Swiss Army Knife Pouches Black 33214
And a case so you can proudly wear it on your belt, showing the customer that you are a spawn of MacGyver. Nothing says “he must know what he’s doing” like “spawn of MacGyver.”
Bondhus 20399 Ball End L-Wrench Double Pack with BriteGuard and GoldGuard Finish
You’ll encounter Allen head set screws all over the place. The ball end on these lets you turn the Allen screw at an angle, which is handy in tight spaces.
WORKPRO 2-piece Adjustable Wrench Set, 6-Inch & 10-Inch Wrenches
Yep, more wrenches. These will stay in your tool backpack. The situations where you’ll need these include working with gas or water connections.
Irwin Tools 36- 2 Piece Original Locking Pliers Set Contains: 1 Each 7WR and 6LN
These are handy for weird situations. Won’t need ‘em often but when you do, it can be the difference between finishing the service call then or coming back later with the needed tool. Definitely a specialty tool and does not need to be in your backpack.
Best Choice 8-oz. Stubby Claw Hammer with Magnetic Nail Starter
The mighty stubby! And another tool that’s just too cute for words. Very useful in tight spaces when you don’t need (or want) nuclear striking force but instead need a surgical tap tap tap. Another specialty tool that doesn’t need to ride along in your backpack.
Electrician Tools
Klein 11055 Klein-Kurve Wire Stripper/Cutter, Blue with Yellow Stripe, 10 – 20 ga.
After we tear the beast apart, we’re usually working with wire in some capacity, and many times, we need to strip wire in prep for splicing, terminating, and crimping. Klein is my favorite brand for hand electrical tools.
Klein Tools 1005 9-3/4-Inch Crimping and Cutting Tool for Insulated and Non-Insulated Terminals
Crimping bell connector splices and terminating wire are the two most common tasks you’ll need this tool for. It’s an electrical specialty tool, so it doesn’t need to stay in your backpack. I have a special bag just for electrical wiring work that includes this tool, wire strippers, a box of sorted terminals and bell connectors, and various gauges of wire.
You need zip ties of various sizes handy for reattaching wire harnesses that you need to free up to replace a component. Stash these all over the place, so there’s always a zip tie handy when you need one.
Electrical Instruments
Fluke 116/323 Electricians Multimeter and Clamp Meter Combo Kit
When working with electricity, we fly by our instruments. The last thing I want to do is question my instrument. So I always get the best, which is Fluke. What I like about this set, besides being Fluke and therefore the best, is that the multimeter and the amp clamp are two separate instruments. This is useful when you want to monitor both voltage and amperage at the same time– useful for diagnosing some AC loads, like motors, including compressor motors. But this set is expensive. So a less optimal but less expensive good choice would be the Klein meter below.
Smaller package than the Fluke above because it’s really two meters in one. I have both because I’m a meter freak and I like both brands. Hard not to like this meter, especially for the price. Either this one or the Fluke, whichever you get, stays in your tool backpack.
I use this voltage sniffer all the frikkin time. But I use it as a screening tool, not a measurement tool. And it has saved my skinny ass from certain hellfire and damnation on numerous occasions. See, as you get older, you forget whether or not you killed power before reaching in and touching bare wire terminals. It has also saved my bee-hind when a reverse polarized outlet made wires live that were not supposed to be live. I always move my voltage sniffer over wires before I touch them. Period. That’s SOP for me. I got bit enough times by 120 or 240 VAC that I finally got a clue. So heed this well! This little guy is part of my pocket compliment that I load my britches within the morning, along with my wallet, pocket knife, pocket flashlight, and nicotine pouches. As a bonus, you have a little IR temperature sensor built into it.
Amprobe VP-440 Non-Contact Volt Detector
These non-contact voltage sniffers are so useful for quick screenings and safety that I carry a backup.
Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer with Laser Targeting
You could use the Klein IR sensor described above but because IR guns can be notoriously inaccurate, I like to use a second IR meter to double check diagnostically-critical temperature readings.
Sperry Instruments GFI6302 GFCI Outlet Tester
This is a quick and convenient way of testing outlets for open Neutrals and reverse polarity– the banes of our existence.
Power Tools
BOSCH PS21-2A 12V Max 2-Speed Pocket Driver Kit with (2) 2.0Ah Batteries
This little powerhouse will be your new best buddy. Small enough to fit in most places you need it, plenty of adjustable torque and battery run time, it’s not only your screw/nut driver but is more than adequate for most drilling tasks.
Ryobi P882 One+ 18v Lithium-Ion Drill and Impact Driver Kit
Not used nearly as much as your Bosch buddy above but sometimes you need an impact driver or a beefier drill. This is a good value set. This is a specialty tool so it stays in the vehicle as a special weapon for special tactics.
McCulloch MC1230 Handheld Steam Cleaner Kit
Another specialty tool but a must-have for refrigerators with frost or ice problems. Never use a hot air gun inside refrigerators because you’ll burn or warp the cheap plastic lining. Steamer is the way to go. And much faster. Great from frosted in evaporators and ice up defrost drains.
ArmorAll AA255 Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum
Anytime you’re working on a wet appliance, you may need a wet vac. Washing machines full of water with socks stuck in the drain pump, dishwashers full of water… you get the idea. You want a wet vac that sucks the water up fast and yet is small and easy to carry from your service vehicle to to inside the customer’s house. This is the best wet vac I’ve found for what we need as appliance techs.
Personal Protection
NoCry Non-Slip Work Knee Pads for Men and Women
A lot of our repair work is done on our knees. I’ve known techs who wouldn’t wear kneepads because they thought they were goofy looking. Well, those dumbasses are hobbling around today because they borked up their knees. Don’t be that guy. Also protects the knee area of your pants so you’re not prematurely getting faded spots and holes in the knees while the rest of the pant is like new. These will also fit in your tool backpack.
Grease Monkey Gorilla Grip Gloves
These gloves are thin enough to easily pick up screws, even coins. Protects your hands from the sharp edges often found on paneling, especially dryers, which are famous hand shredders. These go on my hands for most disassembly work so they stay in my tool backpack.
Custom Leathercraft 125M Handyman Flex Grip Work Gloves, Medium
Sometimes you need heavier duty protection for your hands, like removing a stuck blower wheel on a dryer motor. These will save most of your skin and the worst of the bruising if your wrench slips while giving it the OOO-RAHH.