Check whether a noisy dishwasher is failing from a recording with Claude

Posted

Oct 12, 2026 by TeMPOraL (Hacker News)

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Last checked

Oct 16, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Context: A reply on the same thread questioned how the commenter could verify Claude's conclusion; the commenter answered that they have general expertise in adjacent fields to evaluate it and that being wrong was low-risk. Treat the verdict as a guide and keep watching the machine.

Outcome

A Hacker News commenter noticed a loud dishwasher at an old apartment and, unsure whether to call a technician, recorded the noise, screenshotted a spectrogram (a picture of the sound) from an app, took photos and gave them to Claude. The commenter says it matched frequencies to the machine's components and concluded it was operating normally, with the pump just louder from age and wear. A reply asked how they could know Claude was right without verifying.

Agent

Claude

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Work out whether a noise from my appliance means it's about to fail or is just normal wear, so I know whether to call a technician.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Appliance type, brand, model and age
- A short recording of the noise, and when in the cycle it happens
- Photos of the area (filter, spray arms, underside if visible)
- Any leaks, smells, error codes or performance changes

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- List the likely sources of the noise for this type of machine and what each sounds like.
- Tell me the safe checks I can do (cleaning the filter, checking for objects, spray arms) with the power off.
- Be honest about how sure you are; a recording isn't proof. Tell me which signs mean I should call a technician now.
- Don't suggest opening panels or touching wiring, water lines or gas connections.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: A short verdict (likely normal / check this / call a technician), the reasons, and the checks to do.

You'll know it worked when: I've done the safe checks and either the noise is explained or I've booked a technician.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Work out whether a noise from my appliance means it's about to fail or is just normal wear, so I know whether to call a technician.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Appliance type, brand, model and age
- A short recording of the noise, and when in the cycle it happens
- Photos of the area (filter, spray arms, underside if visible)
- Any leaks, smells, error codes or performance changes

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- List the likely sources of the noise for this type of machine and what each sounds like.
- Tell me the safe checks I can do (cleaning the filter, checking for objects, spray arms) with the power off.
- Be honest about how sure you are; a recording isn't proof. Tell me which signs mean I should call a technician now.
- Don't suggest opening panels or touching wiring, water lines or gas connections.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- Tell me what to watch for over the next few weeks that would change the verdict.

Output: A short verdict (likely normal / check this / call a technician), the reasons, and the checks to do.

You'll know it worked when: I've done the safe checks and either the noise is explained or I've booked a technician.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50057799