A dishwasher that stops draining or leaves glasses cloudy is an easy thing to call about and an easy thing to overpay for. The technician arrives, looks inside, and then the decisions start coming fast. Slow down at the door. Most of what protects him is on paper, and it is easier to get right before the work begins.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Find the details before you call
Look for the model number and serial number. They are usually on a label along the inside edge of the door or on the rim of the tub. Write both down, along with the brand. Find the warranty card or the original receipt if it is in the drawer where Mom kept the papers. Check the owner's manual for the warranty length on parts and on labor, since those can differ.
Write the problem in plain words: it does not drain, it leaves water in the bottom, it makes a grinding noise, it stopped running. Technicians ask this first, and a clear description keeps the visit focused.
What the estimate should say
Ask for a written estimate before any work starts. Check that it lists the model and serial number, the specific part or repair being proposed, and whether the cost of the parts and the labor are shown separately. Ask whether the visit or diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair if he goes ahead. Ask whether the estimate is valid for a set number of days and what happens if the technician finds a second problem once the appliance is open.
Look at the warranty line. A part that is still under warranty should not be paid for again. Ask whether the work itself is guaranteed and for how long, and get that written beside the parts warranty.
What to compare
Get at least two written estimates for any repair that will cost more than a service visit. Compare the same things: the same part, the same warranty, the same visit fee treatment. A lower number with a shorter warranty or a fee charged up front is not a real saving. Ask each company whether it will tell him in writing if the repair is not worth doing, and what it charges if he declines after the diagnosis.
Ask whether the old part will be returned to him if he asks, and whether the company removes the parts it replaces. Those answers tell you how carefully the job will be done.
What to do tonight
Do not authorize a repair over the phone while the technician is still deciding. Tell the company you will confirm once the written estimate arrives. Put the estimate, the model number and the warranty card in one folder so the next call starts from the same facts.
When to stop and get help reading it
If the estimate uses terms you do not understand, or if the company pressures him to decide on the spot, ask a family member to read it with him before he signs or pays. Taking a day to read the paper is a reasonable answer to any repair company.