They carry their tools and a number of commonly used parts with them in a truck or van and may spend several hours a day driving. They may work in clean comfortable rooms such as kitchens, or an area of the home that is damp, dirty, or dusty. Repairer jobs generally are not hazardous, but they must exercise care and follow safety precautions to avoid electrical shocks and injuries when lifting and moving large appliances. When repairing gas appliances and microwave ovens, they must be aware of the dangers of gas and radiation leaks. Many home appliance and power tool repairers work a standard 40-hour week.
Some repairers work early morning, evening, and weekend shifts.
Many repairers remain on-call in case of emergency. Many repairers work overtime and weekend hours in the summer months, when repairers are in high demand to fix air-conditioners and refrigerators. Repairers of power tools such as saws and drills may also have to work overtime during spring and summer months when use of such tools increases and breakdowns are more frequent. Home appliance and power tool repairers usually work with little or no direct supervision, a feature of the job that appeals to many people. Employment Home appliance and power tool repairers held nearly 71,000 jobs in 1996.