Book a Repair
COVID-19 notice:
Although the Horsham Repair Café will not be physically open for our repairs, refills and energy advice for a while, we have reviewed the situation and are now going to trial a weekly repair service. For the moment, we can offer repairs to small electrical household and I.T. items only. This drop off and collection service will be offered each Saturday between 10-12 noon (with suitable COVID-19 social distancing and product handling restrictions).
Please book in your item by completing our online booking form here, we will then email to confirm the procedure and location for drop off. Please note that we are not able to repair any textiles for the foreseeable future.
Costs:
Electrical repairs – our volunteer repairer will assess the item and inform you if there is a need to purchase any parts. If you agree to the costs on collection you will be asked to pay those costs. A voluntary donation to the Horsham Repair Café is optional.
Computer & I.T. repairs – these will be carried out by Cliff Jackson from Easyline Comms. If the problem can be resolved over the phone or within half an hour of looking at the item they are carried out on a voluntary basis. Often computer repairs involve parts and can be quite time consuming. If it can not be fixed in half an hour with no parts, prior to undertaking any work, Cliff will provide a quote to you, and on acceptance of the costs he will carry out the work. On returning the item repaired he will raise an invoice for any parts and his agreed time which you will need to pay direct to Easyline Comms. On collection of the item from the Quaker Meeting House on an agreed day and time, if you would like to give a donation to the Horsham Repair Café that is your choice.
Is it worth considering a repair?
Below is a list of common items we see. Please check to see if there is an easy fix you can do yourself on your item to save having to bring it in.
Please note some items are more challenging for us to fix, such as microwaves, so it may not be worth booking it in.
We are, however, always happy to look at items or provide advice on these items, but please bear in mind that we are unlikely to fix them.
Clothing repairs
Please ensure any clothing items are clean
| Item | Advice |
| Zip needs replacing | Please remove the old zip and bring the new zip you would like to have inserted |
| Leather handbags and other leather goods | We don’t have the sewing equipment to repair leather items which need sewing |
Equipment/appliances
| Item | What does it not do? | Most probable causes | Chances of a successful repair |
| Appliances powered with rechargeable batteries | Does not run for very long, if at all | Batteries unable to hold their charge | HIGH with replacement batteries (but consider their cost) |
| CD/DVD Player | Doesn’t detect a disc | Dirty lens
Failed laser |
HIGH if the lens can be cleaned
NONE if the laser has failed |
| Christmas lights | Some don’t light up | Broken lamps
Broken wires |
HIGH with replacement lamps – but very time consuming to find the offending lamps
HIGH with broken wires |
| Food mixer | Won’t run | Broken plastic interlock | HIGH with a replacement part |
| Hairdryer | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
| Lawnmower | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
| Microwaves | The chances of repairing microwaves are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. But we’re happy to provide advice – please put as much information as possible on the booking form and we can advise whether or not we think it’s worth bringing in. |
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| Mobile devices | Don’t charge | Broken cable or broken charger | HIGH with replacement cable or charger |
| Mobile devices | Cracked/broken screens | We are unable to repair/replace mobile phone screens at the Repair Cafe. We do not have replacement screens as there are so many phones and screen types. There are plenty of High Street shops who can do this. | |
| Paper shredder | Fails to run | Cutters jammed with paper | HIGH when jammed paper is removed |
| Printer | The chances of repairing printers are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. There are a couple of exceptions as outlined below. If in doubt, complete the booking form with as much information as possible and we can get back to you with whether we think it’s worth bringing in |
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| Printer | Nothing printed | Dried up print head | HIGH with replacement cartridge
LOW with replacement ink tank |
| Printer | Powers up, but just shows an error code. Nothing printed. | Mechanism jammed
Waste ink tank full |
HIGH if the mechanism can be unjammed
LOW if the waste ink tank is full. |
| Table lamp | No light | Broken switch
Broken cable Broken lampholder |
HIGH with replacement parts |
| Toaster | Won’t stay down | Dirty electrical contacts, broken element | HIGH if dirty contacts
NONE if broken element |
| TVs | The chances of repairing TVs are very slim. These usually exhibit electronic component failures. We do not carry a range of components or the more sophisticated tools required to make an accurate diagnosis. But we’re happy to provide advice – please put as much information as possible on the booking form and we can advise whether or not we think it’s worth bringing in. |
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| Vacuum cleaner | Doesn’t suck very well | Blocked filters | HIGH with replacement filters |
| Vacuum cleaner | Won’t run after producing a burning smell | Motor has failed | NONE motor is 90% of the cost of a new cleaner |
| Vacuum cleaner | Works intermittently | Broken mains cable | HIGH most cables can be repaired or replaced |
Please complete the booking form below if you have item(s) (maximum of 2 items per person) that you would like the Repair Cafe volunteers to look at. The most important aspect is what the problem is and what you have done to try and rectify it. An email confirming the next Repair Cafe date and your appointment will be sent to you. We look forward to seeing you at the Repair Cafe.
If you do not want to book an appointment but want to connect with us, you can find our contact details here.
