Frequently asked questions

Small household jobs: dripping taps, running toilets, slow drains, sticking doors, loose hinges and handles, tripped GFCI outlets, replacing a light switch with the power off, wobbly furniture, basic appliance troubleshooting and more.

Anything that's dangerous or needs a licensed professional: gas appliances and lines, main electrical panels, new circuits, structural or load-bearing work, roof work, garage door torsion springs, refrigerant, and suspected asbestos or lead. In those cases we explain why and recommend a professional.

First, an automatic screen looks for emergency signs like gas smell, sparks or smoke. Then an automated assessment reviews your description and photos and rates the job. For DIY-safe jobs you get a checklist of precautions to confirm before the voice session starts.

They're optional but strongly recommended. They make the safety assessment more accurate and let the assistant give specific guidance. During a session you can also share live camera snapshots when the assistant asks to see something.

Your voice is streamed securely in real time so the assistant can respond. We store a text transcript of the conversation, not the audio. See our privacy policy.

Each problem has a $10 start fee, which covers the safety check and setting up your guided repair. Live repair guidance is then charged per minute based on actual usage (the current rate is shown before your first call), with a $1 minimum per call. You see the running cost during the call and the total at the end, and you can pause a call any time without being charged. Right now Fixwise is free during early access: we're collecting feedback and reviews and not charging anyone yet. We'll tell you well before any charges begin.

Usually, for small jobs. A plumber, electrician or appliance technician typically charges $100 to $350 for a small repair once the call-out fee is included, and a handyman $75 to $200 (typical 2026 US prices; they vary by area). With Fixwise you pay the $10 start fee plus a few dollars of live guidance, so a 30-minute fix typically comes to about $24 to $30. Parts cost the same either way. See the comparison on the home page or on any repair guide. And if the safety check says a job needs a pro, we'll tell you: that's always the right call for dangerous work.

Yes. Tap Pause during a call when you need to talk to someone in the room, fetch a tool, or take a break. Your microphone switches off, the assistant stops listening, and nothing is sent or charged while paused. Tap Resume to carry on. A call that stays paused for 15 minutes ends automatically, and you can start a new one on the same problem.

Any modern browser with a microphone: Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox on a phone, tablet or computer. A phone is ideal because you can bring it to the problem and use the camera.

The assistant can make mistakes. If something doesn't match what you see, say so and the assistant will re-check (often by asking for a camera snapshot). If you're ever unsure, stop. Leaving things safe and calling a pro is a good outcome.

Yes. Delete any issue (with its photos and transcripts) from the issue page, or delete your entire account from Settings.