For repair & diagnostics apps

Error codes and fix steps,
structured as data

Appliance error codes are buried in PDFs and forum posts. Covala structures them as API data — error code, what it means, what causes it, and how to fix it.

Error code lookup

Structured error codes by product type with descriptions, causes, and severity levels. No more parsing manufacturer PDFs.

Failure mode analysis

Common failure modes per product type with symptoms, causes, and frequency data. Power diagnostic workflows.

DIY fix steps

Step-by-step repair instructions with difficulty ratings, estimated time, and tools needed. Build guided repair experiences.

API example

One endpoint, structured diagnostic data

knowledge endpoint
GET /v2/knowledge?product_type=dishwashers&types=error_codes,failure_modes
{
  "product_type": "Dishwashers",
  "knowledge": [
    {
      "type": "error_codes",
      "items": [
        {
          "code": "E1 / HE",
          "meaning": "Water heating error",
          "causes": [
            "Faulty heating element",
            "Thermistor failure"
          ],
          "severity": "moderate"
        },
        {
          "code": "E4 / OE",
          "meaning": "Drain error",
          "causes": [
            "Clogged drain hose",
            "Faulty drain pump"
          ],
          "severity": "moderate"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "failure_modes",
      "items": [
        {
          "symptom": "Not cleaning dishes properly",
          "causes": [
            "Clogged spray arms",
            "Low water pressure",
            "Worn wash pump"
          ],
          "frequency": "common"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

What you don't have to build

Repair data is scattered across manufacturer PDFs, support forums, and technician notes. Covala structures it so you don't have to.

Scraping manufacturer support sites for error code documentation
Parsing PDF manuals for troubleshooting steps
Crowdsourcing repair knowledge from forums
Building a diagnostic decision tree from scratch
Maintaining error code databases per brand and model
With Covala, that's one API call.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_cvl_live_..." api.covala.com/v2/knowledge?product_type=dishwashers&types=error_codes
Beyond the basics

Beyond error codes

Error code lookup gets users to your app. The rest of the data keeps them there.

Maintenance schedules

Preventive maintenance data per product type — recommended intervals, tasks, and seasonal tips. Reduce failures before they happen.

Lifespan intelligence

Average lifespan, reliability ratings, and repair-vs-replace recommendations based on product age and repair cost.

Cross-retailer pricing

When repair isn't worth it, show replacement costs from 20 retailers. Cross-retailer matching means one product, every price.

AI-optimized format

Feed diagnostic data directly to AI troubleshooting assistants. Request format=ai for condensed summaries optimized for LLM context windows.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an API for appliance error codes?

Yes. Covala provides structured error codes per product type through a REST API. Each error code includes a human-readable meaning, a list of probable causes, and a severity level. You query by product type (e.g., dishwashers, washing machines) and get back clean JSON — no scraping, no PDF parsing.

How do I build a troubleshooting app without scraping?

Use Covala’s knowledge API. Request error codes, failure modes, and fix steps for any product type and get structured JSON you can render directly. Error codes include causes and severity. Failure modes include symptoms and frequency. Fix steps include difficulty ratings and estimated time.

What repair data does Covala provide?

Covala provides three types of repair data through its knowledge API: error codes with descriptions, causes, and severity levels; failure modes with symptoms, causes, and frequency data; and DIY fix steps with difficulty ratings, estimated time, and tools needed. Additional layers include maintenance schedules, lifespan data, and repair-vs-replace guidance.

Can I use Covala for appliance diagnostic workflows?

Yes. Failure mode data includes symptoms, probable causes, and frequency ratings — the building blocks of a diagnostic decision tree. Combine that with error code lookups and fix steps to build a complete troubleshooting flow from symptom identification through resolution.

Does Covala cover error codes across different brands?

Error codes are organized by product type, not by individual brand. This means a query for dishwasher error codes returns patterns that apply across manufacturers — E1/HE for heating errors, E4/OE for drain errors, and so on. This is more useful for diagnostic apps because the same symptom often maps to the same root cause regardless of brand.

Build repair tools, not error code databases

Error codes, failure modes, and fix steps — structured as API data for 620+ product types across 20 retailers.