Appliance Care

What to Do Before You Call an Appliance Repair Technician

A few minutes of prep before you pick up the phone can mean the difference between a technician fixing the problem on the first visit and having to come back a second time.

Find the Brand and Model Number

This is usually the single most useful thing you can do. The model number is typically on a sticker inside the door frame, or on the back or bottom of the unit. Having it ready lets the technician look up the likely part ahead of time and bring it on the first visit, instead of diagnosing on site and having to order it afterward.

Note When It Started and How Often It Happens

Think back to when you first noticed the problem, and whether it happens every time or only occasionally. "It's done this every load for a week" and "it happened once yesterday" point toward different causes, and passing that detail along saves time during the visit.

Check the Obvious Stuff

Before anything else, confirm the appliance is actually plugged in, check whether a breaker has tripped, and make sure any relevant water or gas valve is fully open. It sounds basic, but these are quick to rule out and occasionally turn out to be the whole problem.

Write Down Any Error Code Exactly

If there's a code on the display, write down exactly what it says rather than paraphrasing it from memory. A specific code narrows down the likely cause a lot faster than a general description of the symptom.

Clear a Path to the Appliance

Move anything stored in front of or on top of the unit before the technician arrives. It's a small thing, but it means the visit starts with diagnosing the problem instead of moving boxes.

None of this is required to book a repair, but doing even two or three of these usually means a faster, more accurate first visit.

Contact us to book a repair →