DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you pick up the phone to call an appliance repair for assistance, you can keep your appliances in good condition with the help of the tips below.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

A bad odor in a washer can defeat the purpose of the appliance! If you’re attempting to get your clothes so that they’re fresh and clean, but the unit won’t cooperate, run an empty cycle in hot water and pour in 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to eliminate the unpleasant smell. This problem frequently occurs in front-loading machines. To eliminate future odors, crack the door open following cycles so it will dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A lukewarm refrigerator in the kitchen is never a welcome sign. A warm refrigerator will not keep drinks cool, and the food inside of it might also be on the verge of becoming spoiled! In a lot of cases, your refrigerator won’t be in need of repair; interior could just need a cleaning. Or the coils on the back panel of the appliance need cleaning.

Unplug the refrigerator and move it away from the kitchen wall before wiping down the coils. If you do not notice cooling improvement, it’s a good idea to hire a professional appliance repair technician for a diagnosis.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas stove clicks and clicks and the burner doesn’t light, check to be sure your burner lid is tightened and correctly aligned. You might experience this problem if you’ve had a recent boil over or liquid spill on the top of the stove.

Otherwise, the cause is probably a clogged igniter. To clean , take off the burner cap and dust off any loose particles. You can use a pin to scrape dirt from the grooves. If that does not repair the issue, it’s smart to not take a lighter apart for anyone without the right training; call a professional appliance repair company to determine the issue.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal comes with self-protection in the form of an overload trip switch. If it gets filled up, overheats, grinds for too long, or has some other problem, your garbage disposal could just need to be reset rather than repaired. First, make sure the power switch is OFF. Next, locate the button on the disposal unit under the kitchen sink and then press the switch. If the switch doesn’t stay pushed in, just wait 10 minutes and press it again. Turn on the water and turn the button on.

If the disposal is filled with food and you only hear a humming sound and not the grinding of waste, you may need to turn the disposal blades with a hex key tool to clear the jam. Then, press the reset switch to get the disposal working again. If these tips are unable to get things working like normal, please don’t give in to the urge to put your arms down into the disposal to figure things out. Be safe and arrange service with a professional appliance company.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a bathroom or kitchen, your electrical outlets need to be equipped with GFCI switches to protect people from harm in wet environments. If a GFCI outlet is not generating power, push the red reset switch to see if it will restore power.

If it does not, or if you are trying on a typical electrical outlet, be certain that a breaker has not been tripped in your home’s breaker panel. If you’re unsure if a breaker has been tripped, switch it to the OFF position and back into the ON position. Please remember, safety around electricity is critical. Should you have doubts, call a professional.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washer can create quite a startling racket and isn’t a productive way to clean clothes. If your washing machine is abruptly knocking around, the appliance may be in trouble. In order to fix this issue, turn the legs on the washing machine to lift or lower each corner until it’s straightened out. One other likely situation is that the appliance is off balance. Lift open the top and arrange the shirts and pants so that they’re more dispersed within the drum of the washer.

Doing this will help your washer not need to work as hard. If you do try to arrange the laundry a couple of times without luck, don’t ignore the problem. You might have a loose motor or drum mount to fix, which can be easy for a professional repairman to fix. But if you continue to operate the washer with this problem could destroy some of the other pieces and result in a more costly repair down the road.

Call for Help

If none of these quick fixes solve your broken appliance, you will want to schedule service from Hawk Appliance Repair!

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