If one of the appliances in your home is on the fritz, the best and most reliable way to fix it is by outsourcing the job to an experienced professional. Once you’ve called and secured your appointment, what can you do to make the technician’s job easier?
In order to explain how to prepare for your home appliance repair service call, Capitan Appliance has drawn on years of experience with in-home appointments. As you anticipate your technician’s arrival, gather all the information they’ll need to perform a top-tier repair job.
Take the Day Off
Many homeowners, while understanding the importance of professional appliance repair, still dread those service calls. The technician gives a time window of a few hours so you generally know when to expect their arrival, but the lack of specificity can cause some anxiety.
Once you’ve scheduled your service call, clear your personal calendar for the day in question. Plan to be home and available all day so you don’t miss the technician’s arrival. Depending on the nature of the repair, the appointment could last a few minutes or a few hours; leave your day wide open in case the repair takes extra time.
Be Prepared To Explain the Issue
Perhaps the most obvious question your appliance repair technician will ask is, “What problems are you having with this appliance?” Be prepared to answer that question with as much detail as possible.
Does the appliance turn on and run, but fail to get the job done? Does it turn off unexpectedly or emit any unusual smells or sounds? Paint a picture for your technician of the exact issues your appliance is having, and be able to describe anything out of the ordinary.
Top Tip:
“Strange” and “funny” are not adequate descriptors for smells and sounds coming from your appliance. What’s so unusual about the smell? Is it musty? Burning? Rancid? The same goes for sounds; use detailed and accurate language like “grinding,” “scraping,” or “thumping.”
Gather the Necessary Paperwork
Have you had work done on this appliance recently? Collect any receipts, invoices, and other necessary paperwork before the technician arrives to give them an accurate history of the appliance in question. Knowing if a component has been replaced recently and understanding any previous issues the appliance has experienced can provide the repair expert with valuable information about the source of the problem.
Top Tip:
If you’re able, try to locate your appliance’s model number and serial number and write them down in advance. This information can help the technician order the right replacement parts if they’re needed.
Prepare Your Payment
When you call an appliance repair company to schedule your service call, ask the technician or customer service representative how the company expects to be paid. Is payment due in full at the time of services rendered, or are there payment plan options available? Which forms of payment will the technician or company accept?
Know in advance how and when you’ll be paying for your appliance repair. Have your checkbook, cash, or credit card handy, so that once the technician finishes the repair, you’re ready to hand over the agreed-upon amount.
Clear a Path
Appliance repair technicians are not in the business of judging you or the way your home looks. You don’t have to clean the house from top to bottom in anticipation of your service call, but you should ensure that the appliance is easy to access.
For example, if you need a dryer repair service for a faulty clothes dryer, clear any extra clothes, laundry baskets, and cleaning supplies out of the way. Eliminate tripping hazards and provide clear and adequate space around the appliance so the technician can work on your dryer.
Top Tip:
Do you have any pets that roam freely around your home? Before your repair technician arrives, put your pets in another area of the house to keep them from interfering with the service call. Your dog or cat may be cute and friendly, but their curiosity can slow the technician’s progress.
Trust the Technician’s Expertise
When the repair tech arrives at your home, go over the nature of the problem with them the same way you described it over the phone. Provide detailed descriptions of the issue you’re having with the appliance, but avoid diagnosing the problem yourself. A professional appliance repair technician has the necessary expertise to diagnose the problem accurately and provide a quality and lasting solution.
If you state your suspicions as facts, such as suggesting there’s a problem with your dryer’s motor, you may get the repair you want but not the one you need. Thoroughly explain your observations, like when the problem began, how often it occurs or how long it lasts, and any unusual sounds or smells you notice, but let the technician make the ultimate diagnosis.
Get the Most Out of Your Call
Use your appliance repair service call as a learning opportunity. While the technician makes the necessary repairs, feel free to ask questions about what went wrong and how you can avoid requiring the same repair in the future. Having a detailed conversation with your repair expert can give you the knowledge you need to perform preventive maintenance and increase the longevity of your appliance.
In addition, feel free to ask the technician for tips and recommendations. Capitan Appliance’s repair team draws on years of hands-on experience with a variety of appliances every time we make a service call. Our experts can give you insider info on how to get the most possible use out of the appliance in question.
If you need to schedule a home appliance repair service call, use these tips from Capitan Appliance to prepare for the technician’s arrival. Remember to give a detailed description of the problem, both over the phone and in person, and provide the repair tech with adequate space to work on your appliance. By following the steps outlined above, the technician will be able to perform appliance repairs more easily and efficiently.
