Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide free estimates?
In order to provide an accurate estimate, our technician must travel to your home to investigate and diagnose your appliance problem to find the root cause of your appliance problem(s) and determine the cost and next steps to repair it. It may require parts to get your appliance back to working order, or it may just need labor to get it working again. The estimate will include a flat rate for labor, for parts (if needed), and shipping (if needed). We will discuss timing for returning with the parts if they are not available locally. This is called a service call and service calls are $85. This amount goes toward the labor for the repair if you decide to repair the appliance. The service call fee / trip charge is the minimum amount of labor for getting an estimate for repair of your appliance.
What is your service area?
To find out if your house is in our service area, see our coverage area map.
Is there a mileage fee for living far away?
The trip charge / diagnosis fee is a flat rate for everyone in my coverage area. There is no extra charges for living far from our company.
How do you charge for labor?
We charge flat rate pricing for each type of job. This means it is not charged by the hour. The flat rate labor charge is estimated up front and if the job takes longer than it should, you don't pay more for additional hours or additional trips to your house. You also don't get charged extra for living far away as long as you are in our service area / coverage area.
Will you have all the parts with you for every repair?
There are over 20,000 appliance parts for every brand, type and model of appliance in homes today. It is not possible to have every necessary part for every repair because there isn't a vehicle large enough to carry them all. The cost of buying all these parts would be completely impractical ($100s of thousands of dollars). However, there are local parts wholesalers that stock the most common parts for most common repairs. This allows for same day repairs of your appliance in most cases. Some parts have to be ordered from another wholesaler location or the manufacturer directly for the least common repairs.
How can I find my model number sticker on my appliance?
On a range (a freestanding appliance that has a cooktop and an oven), you can usually find the model number behind the bottom drawer on the frame. Sometimes it is in the door frame or just under the control panel. Sometimes it is on the top rear of the range control panel in the center on a metal plate that swivels up if you pull on it. You should not have to move your appliance to access it, just reach behind the unit and pull the plate up.
On an oven, you can usually find the model number sticker in the door frame, or sometimes just below the control panel (it could be facing down).
Dishwashers usually have their model number stickers in the door frame (you have to open the door to see it). Some manufacturers put their model number stickers on the side or top of the actual door.
Cooktops usually have their model number stickers on the bottom of the cooktop facing down.
Washers most often have the model number sticker in the door frame, or just under the lid. Some manufacturers put their model number stickers on the top rear of the appliance.
Driers most often have their model number stickers in the door frame.
Some manufacturers put their model number stickers on the top rear of the appliance.
Built-in Microwaves most often put the model number sticker in the door frame (you have to open the door to see it). Counter top microwaves often put the model number sticker behind the unit.
Garbage disposals either have the model number sticker on the bottom or the side of the unit.
Grilles / smokers could put the model number sticker inside the bottom cabinet, on the back of the unit, underneath or inside the wood pellet hopper.
Manufacturer guides to finding the model number sticker on your appliances are more specific.
Whirlpool
https://www.whirlpool.com/services/contact-us/find-your-model---serial-number.html
General Electric
https://www.geappliances.com/ge/find-model-serial-number
LG
https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/find-my-lg-model-and-serial-number--20152254906058
Samsung
Electrolux / Frigidaire
Fischer Paykel
https://support.fisherpaykel.com/s/north-america/searchresult?txt=serial%20number%20location%5E
Bosch
https://www.bosch-home.com/us/owner-support/serial-number-finder
How do I know the repair will be high quality?
We follow manufacturers' instructions for solving known and unknown issues, for diagnosing and troubleshooting appliance problems, and for completing each repair. We use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts whenever possible as recommended by the manufacturers to ensure lasting quality repairs are done the way your appliance manufacturer intended, resulting in the best quality repairs for your appliance.
Is the appliance repair quote I got over the phone / from the internet accurate?
It is very unlikely that any quote you got for your appliance repair over the internet / over the phone is accurate. Without a service technician diagnosing your appliance problem in person, in front of your appliance, the best that can be provided is a wide ballpark estimate and a series of possible guesses. A technician needs to see the model and serial number sticker, and usually needs to uninstall, then disassemble your appliance to troubleshoot the problem and pinpoint the source of the appliance failure, eliminating multiple possible causes each symptom could indicate your appliance is experiencing. Most internet price ranges I have seen were wrong and often much higher than I typically quote.
What is a trip charge and why is there one?
A trip charge is the cost to come to your home, diagnose your appliance, and provide an estimate for the labor, parts cost, and timing to repair your appliance. This fee only comes into effect if no repair is done, but is included in the labor for your repair if you complete the repair. The diagnosis is the most important part of the labor for an appliance repair and it can only be done in person with your appliance. For instance, you decide to replace your appliance instead of repairing it, or the parts are no longer available from your appliance manufacturer because your appliance is too old, then the diagnosis fee and trip charge would apply. If you instead want to repair your appliance, you just pay the amount specified in the repair estimate, a flat fee for labor, plus parts, possibly shipping and sales tax on the parts.
What is a normal lifetime for an appliance?
The lifetime of your appliance is based on various factors, mostly hinging on part availability from the manufacturer. Depending on the age of your appliance and the brand and model of appliance, parts may be discontinued by the manufacturer on average after 10-20 years. As long as the necessary parts are available, your appliance can be repaired. Most appliances last 15-30 years depending on the brand and model of appliance.
How can I troubleshoot common problems on my appliance?
The users manual from almost every appliance is usually available on the internet by searching for your model number and the words "user manual." This will bring you to your appliance manufacturer's website or an appliance parts website that has the official user manual for your appliance in a PDF file, available for download for free. In some cases you may even be able to buy a paper copy of your manual from a parts retailer. Users manuals commonly have instructions for using the controls, how the cycles work, preventive maintenance that should be completed regularly to keep your appliance working well, and a troubleshooting section for common problems and how you can solve these problems yourself without calling for service.
I think I know which part is needed to repair it. Why can't you give me an estimate over the phone?
Just because a YouTube video / website forum / website explained a possible solution for your appliance problem does not mean that is the only possible cause of the symptoms your appliance has. Each symptom frequently has multiple possible causes, many of them requiring new parts. Multiple technical steps may be needed to identify the root cause of the appliance problem. Each model of appliance has different part numbers for each part it is assembled with. Every unique part has a different price. It takes time to drive to your home. It takes time to diagnose your appliance, often requiring uninstalling, disassembling, troubleshooting and then reinstalling the appliance. For all of these reasons, there are no free estimates over the phone based on your description of the symptoms. Much more work usually needs to be done to determine the actual cause of the appliance problem you are experiencing.
