Appliance Repair FAQ for Walnut Creek Homeowners
Twenty-five questions in five groups, taken from what people actually ask on the phone. If yours is not here, call (925) 592-3474 and ask it directly.
Pricing and payment
How much does appliance repair cost?
The service call is $99. Beyond that we do not publish price ranges, and the reason is worth stating: the same symptom can be a cheap sensor on one machine and a control board on another, so a figure quoted before anyone has seen the appliance would be a guess. Once the technician has diagnosed the fault you get one price for the whole job, parts and labor together, and nothing is opened up until you have agreed to it. If the repair is not worth the cost, we tell you that instead.
What does the $99 service call cover?
The trip out and the diagnosis on site — measuring, reading whatever the control has stored, and establishing what has actually failed rather than what the symptom looks like. You get the repair price at the end of it and decide from there. There is no separate call-out charge on top.
Do you give free estimates?
Over the phone, yes, in the sense that costs you nothing and we will tell you what the symptom usually points to and whether a visit is worth making at all. We will not quote a repair price over the phone. On site the diagnosis is the work the service call pays for: a fault cannot be identified without opening the appliance, and anyone promising a free on-site estimate is either charging for it elsewhere or guessing.
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit and debit cards, and check. Payment is due on completion, once the appliance has been tested.
Is there a charge if the appliance cannot be repaired?
You pay the $99 service call and nothing else. We will also tell you what a replacement should cost and what to look for, because that is usually the next question.
Scheduling and arrival
Can you come out the same day?
Often, yes. We work Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Call early in the day and we will tell you straight away whether a same-day slot is still open, since it depends on how far your address sits from the technician's route that day.
Do you work weekends?
No. We take calls and run visits Monday to Friday only. We would rather say that plainly than take a Saturday booking we cannot keep.
How late in the day can you come?
Appointments run until 8:00 PM on weekdays, which is roughly three hours later than the typical shop in this area. The last slot of the day is usually the easiest to reserve.
How long is the appointment window?
We quote a window when you book rather than a single time, because a job ahead of yours can run long. The technician calls before setting off.
How long does a repair take?
Most repairs finish in one visit, typically one to two hours on site. Sealed-system work, built-in units and tub bearing replacements take longer. If a part has to be ordered we complete the diagnosis, quote the job, and return when it arrives.
Warranty and parts
What warranty do you offer?
Parts we install are covered for three months. Labor is covered for 30 days. The two periods differ, so if the same fault returns within 30 days we redo the work at no charge, and within three months we replace the part at no charge for the part.
Do you use OEM parts?
We install manufacturer parts whenever they are available, and on built-in and premium equipment we treat that as a rule rather than a preference: aftermarket boards and sensors for that equipment have a poor service record.
What parts do you carry on the truck?
Drain pumps, door locks, evaporator and condenser fan motors, defrost heaters and thermostats, thermistors, start relays, water inlet valves, heating elements and door gaskets for widely used models. Control boards and brand-specific assemblies are ordered per model.
How long does a special-order part take?
It depends on the model and on whether the part is still in production, which is why we check availability while the technician is still at your home and give you the expected date with the quote. Nothing is ordered until you have agreed to the price.
Does your work affect the manufacturer's warranty?
If the appliance is still inside its factory warranty, warranty work should go through the manufacturer's own service channel; having an independent company open the unit can affect that coverage. Check with the manufacturer first — we will tell you when we think that is the right call.
Brands and equipment
Are you an authorized service provider for the brands you repair?
No. We are an independent appliance repair company and we are not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by any manufacturer. We service these brands and install manufacturer parts, but we do not hold factory authorization and we do not claim it.
Do you repair built-in and luxury appliances?
Yes, and it is a large share of our work. Built-in refrigerators, refrigeration columns, wine storage, professional ranges and integrated dishwashers need different diagnostics than freestanding appliances, and they have to be released from the cabinetry before a fault can be traced.
Do you work on commercial equipment?
Household appliances in residential settings are our core work. Domestic-type machines in a light commercial setting — an office kitchen, a small cafe running a residential dishwasher — are worth a call to describe. Genuine commercial equipment is a different trade with different parts, and we will say so rather than take the visit.
Can you work on gas appliances?
Gas ranges, cooktops and ovens are part of the regular week, and on professional ranges they are a large part of it: igniters, spark electrodes, safety valves, regulators and burner assemblies. Where the fault is in the gas supply itself rather than in the appliance — the line, the shut-off, the meter — that is a licensed plumber's or the utility's job, and we will tell you when that is what you are looking at.
Do you handle refrigerant?
Sealed-system work is regulated: EPA Section 608 certification is required to recover or charge refrigerant, and you are entitled to ask any technician to show it before work starts. It is also only worth doing once the leak has been found and repaired. Simply topping a system up means the same failure returns within months, and we will not sell that as a repair.
Service area
Which areas do you cover?
Six counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa and Marin. The service areas page lists the cities.
Do you have an office in my city?
We have one office, at 130 Sharene Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, and we say so rather than listing an address in every city we serve. Coverage means a technician is routed there, not that we hold premises there.
Is there a travel charge for outlying cities?
No separate travel charge inside the service area. Arrival windows are wider the further an address sits from the day's route, and Marin County windows are the widest.
Do you serve gated communities?
Yes. Gate access needs advance notice, so tell us the community and any entry procedure when you book.
Can you service an appliance in a condo or HOA building?
Yes. Building access, elevator use and, in some buildings, notice to the HOA need arranging first — give us the building name when you book and we will handle it.