DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you decide to call an appliance repair for help, you might be able to keep your appliances in good shape with the tips in this post.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

The presence of a foul smell in your washing machine defeats the entire reason for owning the appliance! If you’re attempting to wash your laundry items so that they are fresh and clean, but the washer won’t cooperate, run an cycle without clothes/laundry in warm water and pour in 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to eliminate the smell. This issue often happens in front-loading machines. To eliminate smells in the future, crack the door open following cycles to let it dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A room-temperature fridge in the kitchen is not a good sign. A warm refrigerator won’t keep beverages cool or refreshing, and the food inside of it might also be in danger of spoiling! In several cases, your refrigerator might not be in need of professional repair; interior might just need to be cleaned out. Or the coils on the back of the unit require cleaning.

Unplug the appliance and move it out from the wall prior to vacuuming the refrigerator coils. If you can’t see cooling improvement, it’s a good idea to contact a professional appliance repair service.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on a gas-powered stove continues to click and the burner does not light, check to be certain your burner lid is on tight and properly aligned. You could experience this issue if you’ve recently had a boil over or spill on the stovetop.

Otherwise, the reason is probably a dirty igniter. To clean the igniter, take off the burner top and dust off any dirt. You can also use a metal pin to pick dirt from the grooves of the igniter. If that doesn’t repair the issue, it’s smart to not disassemble a lighter for anyone without the training; in this case hire a professional appliance repairman to diagnose the problem.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal has self-protection with its own overload trip. If it becomes filled up, overheats, grinds for too long, or has a different issue, the disposal might simply have to be reset rather than replaced. You should be sure the switch is OFF. Then, find the reset button on the disposal unit beneath the kitchen sink and then press the switch. If the switch doesn’t stay in, just wait ten minutes and press it again. Now, turn on the water and then turn the button on.

If the garbage disposal in the sink is filled with debris and you only hear a humming sound instead of waste grinding, you may need to turn the blades using a hex key tool to clear the jam. Then, press the reset button to get the garbage disposal grinding again. If these tips fail to get it working like it is supposed to, do not allow the urge to shove your hands down in the disposal to solve the problem. Be smart and arrange service with a professional appliance company.

5. No Power from Outlet

In the kitchen or bathroom, your electrical outlets need to be equipped with GFCI switches to protect people against harm in wet environments. If a GFCI electrical outlet is not generating power, push in the red button to see if it restores juice.

If not, or if you’re trying on a standard outlet, make sure that a breaker has not tripped in your breaker box. If you’re unsure if a breaker has been tripped, switch it so it is in the OFF position and back onto the ON position. But remember, safety around electricity is a must. If you have any concerns, call a professional repairman.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washing machine can often produce quite a loud banging and isn’t a good process to get clean clothing. If yours is abruptly shaking, the unit could be broken down. In order to repair this problem, turn the legs on the unit to lift or lower all corners until it’s straightened out. One other possible case is the appliance is off balance. Open the top and move around the shirts and pants so that they are evenly dispersed in the drum of the washer.

Trying this will help the washer to not have to work quite as hard. If you do try to move around the clothing a couple of times to no avail, don’t ignore the problem. You might have a loose drum or motor mount to deal with, which can be easy for a professional repairman to repair. But continuing to use the washer when it has this problem could break some of the other components and cause a more costly repair later.

Call for Help

If these tips solve your issues, you can schedule service from Midwest Appliance Repair!

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