The questions Fairfax County homeowners ask us most often, answered honestly. If yours isn’t here, call or text — we’d rather answer directly than have you guess.
Scheduling and Service Calls
How fast can you get to my house?
Most Fairfax County weekday calls placed before 11 AM get same-day service. After 11 AM, we’ll usually schedule for the next business day. Emergency calls (flooding washer, smoking oven, leaking refrigerator causing floor damage) get priority slotting.
Do you give arrival windows or just “sometime today”?
Two-hour arrival windows, not all-day blocks. When our technician leaves the previous call, dispatch texts you an ETA so you know when to expect the knock.
Can I just describe the problem and get a quote?
Sometimes, for obvious cases. If you text a photo, the brand, model number, and a description of the symptom, we can often give a likely price range. But honest diagnosis requires the technician to be at the appliance — guessing from a description is how customers end up paying for the wrong repair.
Do you charge for diagnostic visits?
Yes, a flat diagnostic fee — but it’s fully applied to the repair if you decide to proceed. We don’t do “free estimates” because free estimates create pressure to sell you a repair to avoid the appearance of having come out for nothing. Paying for the diagnosis gives you an honest opinion.
What if you can’t fix it in one visit?
About 85% of our calls complete in one visit because we stock common parts on the van. If a special-order part is required, we order it directly to your address, and return as soon as it arrives (usually 2-4 business days). No additional service call fee on the return trip.
Pricing and Payment
Why is a quote from one company so different from another?
Three reasons: parts markup (some companies mark parts up 3-4x retail; we stick to industry-standard 1.5-2x), labor structure (flat-rate per job vs. hourly — we prefer flat-rate so you know total cost up front), and upsell pressure. If a quote feels unusually high, ask for the part number and check it on AppliancePartsPros or Repair Clinic — if the marked-up price is 3x retail, you’re being overcharged.
Do you accept credit cards?
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay through a mobile terminal the technician carries. Checks accepted. No invoicing or net-30 for residential service.
Will insurance cover the repair?
Homeowner’s insurance generally covers water damage caused by appliance failures (a dishwasher that leaked, a washer that overflowed) but not the appliance repair itself. Home warranty companies (American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, etc.) sometimes dispatch us for covered repairs, though their diagnostic flow is slower than a direct service call. If you have a specific warranty, call them first to open a claim — we can then work under their authorization.
Brands and Technical Questions
Do you work on Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking, Thermador, and Miele?
Yes — these are a specialty. Our senior technicians are factory-trained on Sub-Zero/Wolf, Viking, Thermador, and Miele, including sealed-system certification required for refrigeration repair on built-in columns.
My appliance is still under manufacturer warranty. Should I call you or the manufacturer?
Call the manufacturer first. In-warranty repairs are typically free through their authorized service network, and we don’t want you paying us for something the manufacturer owes you. If their service network is backed up by weeks, some customers pay us for immediate repair and submit the receipt to the manufacturer for reimbursement — worth confirming with the manufacturer whether they’ll accept that before proceeding.
How long should I expect my appliances to last?
Rough guide: refrigerators 13-15 years, washers 10-12 years, dryers 10-13 years, dishwashers 8-10 years, ranges 15-18 years, microwaves 8-10 years, disposals 10-12 years. Built-in and premium-brand units (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking, Thermador, Miele, Speed Queen) typically run 50-100% longer than those averages.
Is it ever worth fixing an appliance that’s over 10 years old?
Depends on the appliance, the repair, and the quality of the unit. Premium built-in brands (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking, Miele) are almost always worth repairing at any age because replacement is prohibitively expensive and the mechanical designs are serviceable long-term. Mid-range consumer brands past 10 years with a major repair (compressor, motor, control board over $400) often make more financial sense to replace. We’ll give you honest numbers on both options.
Warranty and Guarantees
What warranty comes with your repairs?
90 days on both parts and labor for every completed repair. If the same failure returns within 90 days, we come back at no charge and resolve it — even if the root cause turns out to be different from our original diagnosis.
What if a different appliance problem develops after your visit?
A new, unrelated issue is a separate service call. We won’t pretend a different failure is covered under warranty, but we also won’t upcharge you — a follow-up call with our standard diagnostic and repair pricing.
Do you guarantee you can fix it?
No honest technician can. Sometimes an appliance is beyond economical repair, and part of our job is telling you that instead of quoting work that won’t hold. If we diagnose and conclude repair isn’t worthwhile, you pay only the diagnostic fee — not a full repair quote — and you walk away with honest advice on what to do next.
Still have a question?
Call, text, or use the contact form. We answer fast.