Appliance Repair
Refrigerator Problems
Broken ice maker. Often, the issue is not the ice maker but a faulty water valve, and you can actually create more damage by attempting to repair or replace an ice maker yourself.
Water beading around the freezer. Many refrigerators use a small electric heater to stop condensation from forming. However, the electric heater is often attached to a power saver switch that allows you to turn the heater off. If the power saver switch is in the “on” position, the heater is off, and condensation will form.
Dishwasher Problems
Dishes are not getting clean. First, try washing your dishes in a more powerful cycle, or select a high-temperature wash or a scrub option along with your cycle. Low water temperature is another possible cause of poorly cleaned dishes.
Leaks. Inspect the door gasket for any fissures that might be allowing water to pass through. Even if the gasket appears to be intact, the rubber may have hardened over time.
Clogged drain screen or filter. An indicator of a clog is standing water in the dishwasher after the cycle is complete. Depending on your dishwasher, you may be able to clean the screen or filter yourself.
Garbage Disposal Problems
Disposal is dead. The internal circuit breaker for the disposal may have tripped. Check the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. If it has popped out, then simply pressing the button will probably fix the problem. If pressing the button didn’t work, the home’s main circuit breaker for the unit may have tripped. Check the circuit breaker, and reset it if need be.
Disposal is draining very slowly. You probably have a clog in the drain line. Remove the bolts holding the discharge pipe to the unit, disconnect the drain trap, and check for obstructions. If you can’t find anything, then there might be a clog in the pipe going into the wall, which you can clear out with a sink auger.
Washer and Dryer Problems
Leaks. Washing machine leaks usually get worse over time and, if ignored, can damage other parts of the machine as well as your floor.
Thumping. A thumping noise when your washer is running is commonly caused by clothes that have shifted during the cycle. Open the lid and evenly redistribute the clothing.
Clogged vent. If clothes are taking a very long time to dry, see if the vent is clogged. Dryers should have a four-inch, unobstructed vent line. Corrugated pipes in the dryer’s exhaust system tend to clog more easily. Check the pipe regularly because clogged dryer pipes are a fire hazard.
Clogged lint trap. Empty the dryer’s lint trap after every load. Do not start the dryer if the lint screen is not in place, because items like socks may get trapped in the exhaust vent.