These are the questions we hear most from Bay Area owners of DCS equipment, including households with outdoor kitchens, owners of professional-style indoor kitchens and property managers. For a symptom-based route, try the common problems index.
Frequently asked questions
We repair the DCS by Fisher & Paykel line: outdoor grills, side burners and griddles, outdoor refrigerators and drawers, beverage chillers, ice makers, ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, warming drawers, DishDrawers, hoods and built-in microwaves. The services page lists each one.
We cover San Francisco and the Bay Area, including San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties. The locations page shows each area. If you are near an edge of the region, mention your address in the request.
The technician diagnoses the fault first, explains what was found in plain language, and gives you a written estimate. Nothing is repaired until you approve it. If you decide not to go ahead, the visit ends with a clear explanation of the problem so you can decide what to do next, whether that means a later repair or another route, and the written estimate stays with you.
Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. A request sent outside those hours is answered when we reopen. Including the appliance, the model number and a description of the symptom in your first message helps us respond with useful questions instead of general ones, and it speeds up scheduling for everyone involved, including neighbors who share a building entrance.
DCS built several generations of each product, and procedures differ between them. A Series 7 grill, for example, is not serviced like a Series 9. The model number guide shows where the label usually is, and the model directory lists models we see often.
It depends on the appliance. On refrigeration it is usually on the inside wall or behind the kickplate, on a DishDrawer near the drawer front edge, on a wall oven on the frame, on a hood inside near the filters, and on a grill under the control panel or in the firebox and drip-tray area.
Check from outside only. Confirm the propane tank valve or natural gas valve is open, the lid is open, and the igniter clicks. After a damp morning, a wet igniter is common. If you smell gas, close the tank valve, step away and do not light it. See why a grill will not ignite.
Leave the area at once, avoid switches and flames, and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. For a propane appliance, close the tank valve first if you can do so safely. Do not return until you are told it is safe, and do not try to find the leak yourself. Never light a grill with the lid closed or after a gas smell.
Yes. Moist, salty air speeds corrosion on terminals and fittings, dampens igniters and clogs burner ports with residue. Regular wiping and covering help, and a technician checks these points during a visit. The maintenance checklist suggests routine habits.
Not always. Check that the door or drawer closes fully, the gasket is clean, and vents are clear of leaves and dust. If it stays warm, a technician should look at it. The article on outdoor fridges that run warm lists likely causes.
Write the code down exactly as shown, then look it up in the error code library, which gives the meaning for each listed DCS code. A code points toward a system, not always a single part, so a diagnosis is still needed.
It depends on the fault, the installation and how the unit has performed. Built-in appliances in custom cabinetry take real effort to swap, since the cut-out, gas line and utilities must all match the new unit. The article on repair versus replace sets out the factors.
Yes. You receive a written estimate after the diagnosis. It explains what was found and what the repair involves, and the work begins only after you approve it. If the technician finds something additional during the repair, you are asked again before that work is done.
Yes. Landlords and property managers can request a visit for DCS equipment in a unit. Share access notes such as building entry rules, stairs and parking in the request on the contact page.
Stay with outside checks: power, breaker, GFCI outlet, gas valve position, door or drawer closing, the gasket, filters, vents and drain screens, and the water supply valve. Write down any code and try one controlled power reset. Do not open panels, touch gas fittings or bypass switches.
Yes, both. See DCS dishwasher repair for drawers that leak, will not drain or show a code, and DCS microwave repair for built-in microwaves that stop heating.