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eppur_se_muova

(41,060 posts)

17. Any device that is held together with screws can be opened. :)

Tue Jan 13, 2026, 05:58 PM

Tuesday

Plastic cases often have locking tabs that can be pried loose, if you know how to find them. "Electronically" (actually ultrasonically) "welded" cases are another thing; you can't pry them open without breaking some plastic. I've managed to open a few, but they were usually little things like keychain fobs, and often had such disposable, non-standard innards that I couldn't find replacement parts.

Anything that's not under warranty, I open it.

If you have the brand and model no. for the device, look up repair instructions at iFixit.com. I've gotten most of my computer and TV repair info from there, and even corrected one procedure for swapping hard drives in an iMac. If you sign up as a member, you will get occasional (ca. weekly) emails about "Right to Repair" stories and links. You might very well find your heater in the database at their Web site, or a model sufficiently similar you can see what needs to be done. If you can loosen the switch, it might be fairly trivial to glue it back together -- or use something like heat-shrinkable tubing to hold the probe in place.

Disclaimer: I'm not extensively involved with iFixit, I just find them useful. I don't get a salary or click credits or anything. Just sharing a resource; I'm sure there are others, and they may even be better -- if you find them, please share those too !

ETA: Forgot the link ! Someone mentioned John Deere above; you can read more about them and the Right to Repair here: https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair

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Wednesdays canetoad

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Highlight:

Asking for DUers opinion on "Right to Repair" Do you think it is an important issue? [View all] Coventina Tuesday OP

It started with farmers spending $$$$$$ on tractors/combines with no ability to repair hlthe2b Tuesday #1

Speaking of Amazon, I recently needed a skin graph after my MOHs surgery. Dr. ordered it from Amazon. Who knew! SheilaAnn Tuesday #3

Well, they want to sell everything... hlthe2b Tuesday #8

I thought she was kidding at first but voila. $8,000 worth. She said they do have an extensive medical dept. n/t SheilaAnn Tuesday #12

Amazon has its own online pharmacy. ananda Tuesday #24

What's preventing repair of this item? bucolic_frolic Tuesday #2

There is no way for me to disassemble the heater to access the area Coventina Tuesday #7

Oh, now I see where you're coming from bucolic_frolic Tuesday #14

I think that's called a "tip switch", because it triggers when the device tips over. surrealAmerican Tuesday #4

Point taken. But I also feel that "planned obsolescence" is a major problem as well. Coventina Tuesday #10

Absolutely! SheltieLover Tuesday #5

Having the legal right to repair is not the same as having stuff that is possible to repair. Intractable Tuesday #6

I understand and agree. I guess I was envisioning a return to a time (haha!) Coventina Tuesday #11

Automation and cheap Asian labor has made it cheaper to replace than to repair. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #20

Repair shops and repair people remain common in low-income areas Prairie Gates Yesterday #42

I think it's an extremely important issue canetoad Tuesday #9

Pollution and waste is corporate design. Blue Full Moon Tuesday #13

Ask any farmer that owns a large piece of equipment made by John Deere A HERETIC I AM Tuesday #15

Right to ForgedCrank Tuesday #16

"The goal is that you will own nothing and like it." Jedi Guy Tuesday #35

Any device that is held together with screws can be opened. :) eppur_se_muova Tuesday #17

As "A HERETIC I AM" posted earlier, John Deere is the poster child for walkingman Tuesday #18

Have you heard of the black market for John Deere software? A HERETIC I AM Tuesday #30

Frequently screws are hidden under decals. Prairie_Seagull Tuesday #19

"Removing sticker violates warranty" is old hat on hard drives and other computer components. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #22

BMW has applied for a patent on a proprietary screw, so only their dealers and servicemen can repair your car. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #21

YES, I think it's important Raine Tuesday #23

"Right to Repair" doesn't mean it has to be easy to repair or that all parts have to be made available MichMan Tuesday #25

The issue here is DRM as well Oneironaut Yesterday #44

If you own a John Deere product it sure is. It needs to be stopped now before more of us with other products get stuck. marble falls Tuesday #26

yes. i need to be able to fix it myself rampartd Tuesday #27

"Right to repair" is extremely important, but your issue is not one of right to repair. NT. mahatmakanejeeves Tuesday #28

While it's not a burning priority for most of us right now. . . DinahMoeHum Tuesday #29

Trinket rich but equity poor. CrispyQ Tuesday #31

Don't get me started about cars Wednesdays Tuesday #32

Yes! Tasmanian Devil Tuesday #33

See if you can find a exact model cheap, that doesn't work, but you can pull parts off of it. n/t aggiesal Tuesday #34

I believe in a right to repair kbowman Tuesday #36

This is bigger than repairs MadameButterfly Tuesday #37

Not me. ForgedCrank Tuesday #39

Everything shouldn't be computerized and high tech MadameButterfly Yesterday #41

products made and not quality maliaSmith Tuesday #38

We have an appliance repair guy who keeps telling us MadameButterfly Yesterday #43

He is 100% correct. Newer models are for energy efficiency, not durability or even serviceability dalton99a Yesterday #45

i wonder if they are even saving energy if you consider MadameButterfly Yesterday #47

What really annoys me... CaptainTruth Tuesday #40

YES rictofen Yesterday #48

That ship sailed a long time ago with American businesses. GoodRaisin Yesterday #46