Tim Adams offers a checklist for your equipment maintenance:

One of the oft forgotten realities of using technical equipment is that it will break, fail or otherwise develop issues and will need to be repaired.

The question is, what are your next steps?

Here’s what I recommend:

Check Your Warranty

First, you will want to find out if the equipment is still under any kind of warranty. These warranties can save you a lot of money, but it’s important to read through the warranty thoroughly so you understand what it covers and what it doesn’t.

Check the Manufacturer’s Website

If you are out of warranty, the next best thing is to log onto the manufacturer’s website and look for their process for servicing their equipment. Most manufacturers will have “service centers” located strategically around the country to help keep shipping costs down. A typical scenario is that you will be responsible for shipping the equipment to the service center where they will repair it or replace it and they will cover the costs of shipping it back to you.

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