Calling a "Pro" Should Not Be Your Default Response to A Problem
When an appliance acts up, most homeowners do the same thing: panic… then call a professional.
That reflex has probably cost people way more money than necessary.
Here are two real dishwasher stories with one simple takeaway:
Not every “professional” is an expert. Some are just expensive iDiots.
An expensive iDiot — certified, confident, expensive, and guarding their diagnosis like it is an Apple trade secret.
Click the links associated with the stories below to view the details. These cases happened within my close circle just 10 months apart. Don't fall into the same traps. One situation ended up fine; the other was a total waste of a good machine.
Story #1: The $900 Dishwasher That Was Not Broken
A dishwasher throws error codes like H2O and FTD. A repair tech shows up and confidently declares:
Control board is bad. About $900. Or just replace it.
H2O. As in water.
Not electronics. Not “everything is fried.” Just a water-related issue.
The dishwasher was not dead. It had a simple blockage — normal, boring, and easily fixable. Yet, it was nearly sent to the landfill because an expensive iDiot skipped the basic troubleshooting and jumped straight to the most expensive replacement possible.
Story #2: A Dirty Dishwasher That Got “Repaired” into Uselessness
This dishwasher did not clean well — especially the upper racks. The unit itself was super dirty, which was the entire problem.
A repair tech was called anyway. After the “repair”:
- Spray arms stopped rotating entirely
- Cleaning performance got even worse
- Final advice: “Buy a new dishwasher”
The real issue? A missing seal.
The expensive iDiot removed a gasket during the repair and never put it back. Without it, internal water pressure collapsed. A dirty-but-functional dishwasher became completely useless — entirely because of the professional repair.
The homeowner trusted the iDiot and bought a new machine, giving the old one to me. It took a deep dive to realize a single part was missing. I put the seal back, and the result? Works perfectly.
Why This Happens
It is important to realize why these stories are so common. It is not always an honest mistake. Even the best pros are ultimately there to make a living; they can hardly be as responsible or as thorough as you, the homeowner. After all, it is your money on the line—and sometimes your life.
- Simple problems are ignored: There is no profit in charging $100 to clean a filter; they want the big-ticket parts commission.
- Confidence replaces diagnosis: Many act like they know the answer before they even open the door.
- Replacement is the easy way out: It is faster for them to tell you to buy a new unit than to actually find a leak or a clog.
- Some pros are scammers: They intentionally misdiagnose small issues as catastrophic failures to pressure you into expensive services you do not need.
What a Normal Homeowner Should Do
You do not need to be a master mechanic. You just need to stay mentally present. Because you care about the outcome more than any technician ever will, you are actually the best person for the initial check.
Before calling anyone:
- Observe what actually changed: Did it stop mid-cycle? Is it making a new noise? Be ready to describe it.
- Be skeptical of absolute statements: If they say it is “totaled” without looking at the basics, they are likely lying or lazy.
- Assume boring before expensive: Most failures are just dirt, blockages, or human error.
The Real Lesson (Applies Everywhere)
Outsourcing the job does not outsource responsibility. The moment you stop paying attention, an expensive iDiot’s mistake (or a scammer's greed) becomes your bill.
| Action | Goal |
|---|---|
| Pause | Avoid the expensive panic-replace cycle. |
| Ask Why | Make them explain the diagnosis in plain English. |
| Check the Basics | Look for dirt, clogs, or missing parts first. |
Sometimes the fix is easy. Sometimes the “expert” is the problem. If you want more examples, check our dedicated category on car dealership iDiots.