5 Things to Check Before Calling an Appliance Repair Company

This isn't condescending — it happens more often than you'd think. Fridges get bumped when you mop behind them. Washers jiggle loose from their outlets. GFCIs trip silently in kitchens and laundry rooms.

What to check: Verify the plug is firmly in the outlet. Check your circuit breaker panel for any tripped breakers (they sit in the middle position, not fully "on" or "off"). Check any GFCI outlets in the room — hit the "Reset" button.

Modern appliances display error codes when something goes wrong. These codes tell you (or a tech) exactly what the appliance thinks is wrong. Write down the code before resetting anything.

Where to find them: On the display panel (washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens). On refrigerators, check the temperature display or the diagnostic mode (often accessed by pressing specific button combinations — check your manual or search your model number online).

Dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and range hoods all have filters. Clogged filters cause poor performance that mimics a breakdown.

• Dishwasher: Pull out the bottom rack, twist out the cylindrical filter at the bottom. Clean it under running water. Do this monthly.
• Front-load washer: Check the coin trap filter on the front panel (usually behind a small door at the bottom). Unscrew it, catch the water, remove any debris.
• Dryer: Clean the lint trap before every load. But also check the exhaust vent — disconnect it from the back of the dryer and check for lint buildup inside the vent tube.
• Range hood: Remove and soak the grease filter in hot soapy water. A clogged filter makes it seem like the fan is weak.

If you do need to call someone, having the model number ready saves time and money. Without it, the tech can't look up parts, check for recalls, or prepare for the visit.

Where to find it:

• Refrigerator: Inside the fresh food section, usually on the left wall or ceiling
• Washer: Inside the door or lid frame
• Dryer: Inside the door frame
• Dishwasher: Inside the door, upper edge or left side
• Oven/Range: Behind the storage drawer or on the door frame

Take a photo of the entire label — it has the model number, serial number, and sometimes the manufacture date.

Electronics glitch. Appliance control boards are basically small computers, and they freeze up just like your laptop does.

How to reset: Unplug the appliance (or flip the circuit breaker) for 5 full minutes. Not 30 seconds — 5 minutes. This allows the capacitors to fully discharge and the control board to clear its memory. Plug it back in and see if the problem is gone.

This fixes a surprising number of "broken" appliances — especially after power outages, surges, or software glitches.