When appliances, lawn tools and other equipment breaks down, finding repair parts is sometimes so difficult that the items are simply junked.

If a part will solve the problem, try Sears Parts & Repair Services before trashing the device. This service, available at www.searspartsdirect.com, clams to have more than 7 million parts for all types of devices, no matter what the brand or where bought. The Web site can be searched by the model number of the device or by the part number. People who haven’t saved owner manuals or other documents listing model numbers can use the site’s search feature to find information on where to look on the product itself for the model number. The parts service can also be reached at (800) 252-1698.