Hayward and the East Bay
Appliance Repair Questions From Hayward Homes
Straight answers on booking, the visit, the price and whether an older machine is worth fixing. Ask anything else when you call.
Calling and booking
Where do I find the model number?
On a sticker. Fridges: inside the fresh-food side, on a wall or the ceiling. Washers and dryers: around the door opening or under the lid. Ranges: behind the storage drawer or on the oven door frame. Dishwashers: on the edge of the door or the tub opening. A phone photo of the sticker works.
Does someone have to be home for the visit?
An adult needs to let the tech in and show them the appliance. It doesn't have to be the person who called; give us their name and number when you book.
Can I send a request instead of calling?
Yes, through the contact page. We call back to set the visit. A phone call is still faster when food is warming or water is on the floor.
The visit and the price
What happens when the tech arrives?
The tech looks the appliance over, tests whatever the symptom points to, and tells you which part failed. The repair price is written down before anything starts. You only pay for work you agreed to.
What moves the price of a repair?
Mostly the part. A door switch or a fuse is a small job; a control board or a compressor is a big one. Access matters too: a built-in fridge, a stacked laundry pair in a closet or a wall oven takes more time to reach.
What if the part has to be ordered?
The tech tells you before leaving, along with the written price for the whole repair, and the return visit gets set once the part is in. Giving us the model number on the call makes it more likely the right part comes on the first trip.
Can I say no after the tech finds the problem?
Yes. The written price is there so you can decide. Nothing gets replaced unless you've agreed to it.
Repair or replace
How old is too old to fix?
There's no single age. NAHB's 2007 lifespan figures run from about 9 years for a dishwasher and 10 for a washer to 13 for fridges and dryers and 15 for gas ranges. Well short of those, fixing usually wins; close to them, set the written price beside the cost of a new one.
Will parts still be available for my appliance?
For newer appliances in California, more likely than before. The state's Right to Repair Act, in effect since July 1, 2024, requires makers to keep parts available for 7 years after a model's last production date when its wholesale price is $100 or more, and 3 years from $50 to $99.99. It applies to products made and sold in California on or after July 1, 2021.
Safety before the visit
Should I keep using an appliance that trips the breaker?
No. When a breaker won't stay on, it's cutting power to a fault somewhere in the appliance or its circuit. Leave it switched off and mention it first on the call.
What do I do if the oven smells like gas?
A strong or lasting smell means everyone out of the house before anyone calls, then 911 and PG&E from a safe distance. Our oven gas smell page walks through it, including the faint smell some ranges give off while lighting.
What should I do while I wait for the tech?
Depends on the appliance. The first-ten-minutes page covers fridges, washers, dryers, dishwashers and gas ranges one by one.
Area and language
Which cities do you cover?
Hayward and nearby Alameda County towns, much of Contra Costa County, and a few towns in Solano, San Mateo and Marin. The service area page lists every town and ZIP.
Is there information in Spanish?
Yes. Reparación de electrodomésticos en Hayward covers the most common problems in Spanish.
Next step
Got your answer? See if you're covered.
Type the ZIP where the appliance is. If it's on the list, the visit is one call away.
Check your ZIP
The first ten minutes
Want to ask the question that isn't here?
Ask it first thing; within ten minutes you'll have an answer and, if you want one, a repair visit booked.