Frequently asked questions about Repair Café Silicon Valley
What is Repair Café?
Repair Café Silicon Valley is a volunteer-driven organization patterned after the Repair Café movement that started in the Netherlands and now is flourishing worldwide. The aim of the Repair Café movement is to reduce the amount of “stuff” that ends up in the waste stream by helping you fix items that you might otherwise throw away.
Are there things you don’t work on?
Our volunteers have a wide variety of skills, and we will generally help you repair anything you can carry in, but for safety and legal reasons, we have a list of items that we ask you leave at home:
Safety-Critical Items
- Helmets (bike, motorcycle, climbing, sports)
- Car seats, boosters, stroller restraint systems
- Fire extinguishers, smoke/CO alarms
- Medical devices (CPAPs, insulin pumps, oxygen equipment, AEDs)
- Gas-fueled appliances (camping stoves, heaters, BBQ regulators)
- Pressurized systems (air compressors, pressure cookers, propane tanks)
- Safety equipment (climbing ropes, harnesses, fall-arrest gear)
High-Voltage / High-Energy Electronics
- CRT TVs/monitors
- Ebike or scooter batteries
Items Too Large, Dirty, or Hazardous for the Venue
- Large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- Fuel-contaminated tools
- Mold-infested or pest-infested items
- Items leaking oil, fuel, or unknown fluids
Miscellaneous
- Items that have been recalled or have a known hazard
- Firearms, tasers, or stun devices
- Other items may be rejected at the discretion of the organizers
How likely is it that my item will be fixed?
Every repair is different, but we typically fix over half of the items brought in.
Does Repair Café charge for this service?
No. Our events are free, and Repair Café doesn’t charge for repairs. If parts are required, and they are available, you will be asked to pay for them at cost. Of course, we encourage donations to help cover other expenses, like food for our volunteers, tools, and miscellaneous supplies (glue, fuses, etc.).
Can you tell me in advance if you can fix my item?
It’s hard to say before one of our volunteers takes a look at your broken item. If it’s large and hard to transport, feel free to come in with pictures and video of the item, and we’ll put our heads together and decide if it makes sense to bring it to the next event.
Where and when is the next Repair Café?
Check out our events page for details.
Do I have to live in the same city where an event is taking place?
No, Repair Café is open to everyone. However, it doesn’t make good ecological sense for you to drive a long way to repair your broken toaster. If you live on the Peninsula or in SF, check out Fixit Clinic.
What if you can’t help me fix my broken item?
We would love to fix every item that comes to Repair Café, but sometimes we don’t have the parts or the time to complete the repair. Volunteer fixers will often be able to give you advice on next steps, such as where to find parts, or when it makes sense to pursue professional services.
When an item has truly reached the end of its useful life, we will encourage you to recycle it properly. Check with your local community services department or Zero Waste Silicon Valley for options.
How can I help support Repair Café?
Volunteer – Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page to sign up for an event. Also, remember to sign up for our newsletter and volunteer list.
Donate – We operate on the energy of our volunteers, but some of what we do costs money. Contributions of any size would be greatly appreciated and will help us expand our efforts to fulfill our mission. Donations are accepted at events or through the PayPal link on our home page. Repair Café Silicon Valley is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, your donation is tax deductible.
Organize a Repair Café in your area – We would love to see more events and will gladly help you get started.
Can I bring my animals to a Repair Café event?
Our events are often hectic with lots of people and repairs involving power tools and electricity, so pets are best left at home. Trained service animals are always welcome.
What happened to Repair Café Mountain View?
Repair Café Mountain View merged with Repair Café Palo Alto to become Repair Café Silicon Valley in 2023. This name change better reflects our mission to hold community repair events across all of Santa Clara County.