Appliance Emergencies: What Needs Help Now and What Can Wait

Appliance emergency repair is rarely as urgent as it feels, and calling a problem an emergency does not make a technician appear faster. What matters is separating real danger from inconvenience, so you can protect your home first and then schedule the repair calmly. We offer the next available window when you book.

Appliance emergency repair: act first, repair second

These are safety situations. Deal with the danger before you think about repair.

You smell gas

This applies to gas ranges, ovens and dryers.

1. Leave the house, with everyone and any pets.
2. Do not turn lights or switches on or off, use a lighter, or unplug anything.
3. Call the gas utility, or 911, from outside.
4. Do not go back in until you are told it is safe.

Do not try to find the leak or tighten a gas fitting yourself. Appliance work on gas connections only starts after the utility has said it is safe.

You smell burning or see smoke or sparks

• Switch the appliance off at its breaker, or unplug it if you can do so safely and the cord is not hot or wet.
• If there is visible fire, get out and call 911. Do not use water on an electrical fire.
• Do not run the appliance again until a technician has found the cause. A burning smell from a dryer may be lint at the heater. A melted smell from an oven or microwave may mean damaged wiring.

Water is leaking near electrics

• Close the water supply valve to the appliance, if it is dry and safe to reach.
• If water is near outlets, a breaker panel or the appliance wiring, and you cannot reach the breaker without stepping into water, do not enter the area. Call an electrician or the utility.
• Otherwise switch off the breaker for the appliance, and mop up.

Other stop-now signs

• A breaker that trips every time the appliance runs. Do not keep resetting it.
• A shock when you touch the appliance.
• A microwave with a damaged door or one that sparks. Unplug it. Do not open the case, because the capacitor is dangerous.

The U.S. Fire Administration has more on appliance and electrical fire safety.

After the danger is controlled, we can look at the appliance. Book at /book/ and tell us what you saw and smelled so the technician comes prepared.

Urgent but not dangerous

These cost you money or food if left, but they are not safety events and do not need appliance emergency repair. Book promptly.

Refrigerator or freezer not cooling

Keep the doors closed. A warm fridge feels like an appliance emergency repair, but the first steps are about protecting the food. According to USDA guidance, a refrigerator keeps food safe for about four hours without power, a full freezer for about 48 hours and a half-full freezer for about 24. Move perishables to a cooler with ice if the fault will last longer. Check that the unit is plugged in, the breaker is on and the temperature control has not been moved. If that does not fix it, see refrigerator repair.

Washer stuck full of water

Switch it off. Check the drain filter and the drain hose, and if you must open the door, bail the water into a bucket. Do not run another cycle.

Continuous slow leak

Turn off the supply valve and put down towels. A small drip into a pan is manageable for a few days. A leak into a wall or under flooring is not.

Can wait for a regular booking

These rarely count as appliance emergency repair, so book them in the normal way.

• An oven that heats unevenly.
• A dishwasher that leaves spots or a film.
• An ice maker that stopped.
• A dryer that takes longer. Check the vent and lint screen first. If it also smells of burning, treat it as above.
• A noisy fan or a rattle with no other symptoms. See strange noises.
• A control panel that is unresponsive after you have tried a reset.

What you can do while you wait

A little preparation makes the visit smoother, whether it follows an appliance emergency repair call or a routine booking.

• Note the make, model and serial number from the label.
• Write down the symptom, when it started, and what you already tried. Photos of error codes help.
• Clear space around the appliance for the technician.
• Do not remove panels or bypass thermostats, fuses or safety switches.

What to expect when you call us

We are open Monday to Friday 8 to 6 and Saturday 8 to 4. When you call about an appliance emergency repair we ask what the appliance is, what it is doing, and whether there are any safety signs. We offer the next available window. We cannot promise a specific time of arrival in advance. The service call is $80, paid at your home or with PayPal or a credit card. If it has become a question of whether the fix is worthwhile, our repair or replace guide helps.

Outside our hours

Appliance emergency repair always begins with safety. If something dangerous happens outside our hours, use the steps above and contact the gas utility or emergency services. You can book with us once the situation is safe.

Book at /book/ or call (916) 582-7791.

Common questions

Do you offer same-day appliance repair?

Some customers get same-day service and others a next-day visit. Live availability shows while you book, or call us at (916) 582-7791.

What should I do if I smell gas from my stove or dryer?

Leave the house, avoid switches and flames, and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not try to fix the connection yourself.

My refrigerator stopped cooling. Is that an emergency?

Not a safety emergency, but it is urgent for your food. Keep the doors closed, and USDA guidance says food stays safe about four hours in a fridge without power.

Can I reset the breaker if an appliance keeps tripping it?

Do not keep resetting it. A breaker that trips repeatedly is warning you of a fault. Leave the appliance off and call for service.