Snap a photo of a broken appliance's label to figure out the fix
Writing for Sixty and Me, Olivia Parr-Rud describes photographing the model label on her washer, which had stopped working, and asking ChatGPT what was going on. She says it identified the model, listed the likely culprits, and gave the part number she'd need.
What they did
She uploaded the label photo with a description of the problem. Later she photographed a dead lamp, and ChatGPT identified the maker and explained that its bulb was built in and couldn't be replaced.
How it went
She got a short list of likely causes and part numbers without a service call. For the lamp, she learned to stop troubleshooting and replace it.
Worth knowing
Unplug appliances before checking anything, and leave gas, electrical, and sealed parts to a professional. Buy parts from the manufacturer or well-known retailers and pay by credit card, never by wire or gift card.
Try it yourself
Copy this into ChatGPT (or any AI assistant). Replace the parts in [brackets] with your own details.
Here's a photo of the model label on my [appliance]. The problem is: [what it does or doesn't do, any sounds or error codes]. Identify the model if you can, list the most likely causes from simplest to most serious, and tell me which ones are safe for me to check myself and which I should leave to a repair professional. Include part numbers to confirm on the manufacturer's site. I've left out names, ID numbers, and account details, and I'll review your answer before I use or share it.
Source: Olivia Parr-Rud, Sixty and Me, Sep 27, 2026. Read the original →
First-hand account by the person who did it. Summarized in our own words. Spotted a mistake or want this removed? Tell us.