DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you pick up the phone to hire an appliance repair in Old Bridge for help, you can keep your appliances running like new with the troubleshooting tips in this post.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

A foul smell in a washer defeats the reason for the appliance! If you’re trying to wash your laundry items so they’re clean and fresh, but the machine won’t cooperate, run an empty cycle in warm water and pour in two cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to remove the odor. This problem commonly happens in front-loading washers. To prevent odors in the future, prop the door open between washes so it will dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A lukewarm fridge in the kitchen is not a good sign. A warm refrigerator won’t keep beverages cool or refreshing, and the food on the inside might also be close to going rotten! In many cases, your refrigerator will not be in need of professional repair; the inside could just need a cleaning. Or the coils on the back panel of the refrigerator are overdue for cleaning.

Unplug it and move it far from the wall prior to cleaning the coils. If you don’t see instant cooling improvement, it is time to call an appliance repair service.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on a gas stove clicks and clicks and the burner will not light, inspect to make sure the burner lid is in place and properly aligned. You might possibly experience this problem if you have recently had a boil over or spill on the top of the stove.

Otherwise, the cause is probably a dirty igniter. To clean the igniter on a gas stove, first take off the burner lid and wipe off any debris. You can also use a clothes pin to scrape dirt from the grooves. If that does not repair the issue, it’s smart to not take a lighter apart for someone without the training; in this case enlist a professional appliance repair company to determine the issue.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

A kitchen sink’s garbage disposal has self-protection in the form of an overload trip switch. If it becomes filled up, overheats, grinds for too long, or has another issue, your disposal might simply need to be reset rather than fixed. First, make sure the power switch is OFF. Next, locate the button on the disposal under the sink and then press the button. If the button will not stay in, just wait a few minutes and try again. Next, turn on the water from the faucet and then turn the switch on.

If the disposal in the kitchen sink is clogged with debris and you hear nothing but a humming sound and not the grinding of food, you may need to turn the disposal blades with a hex key to eliminate the clog. Now, press the reset switch to get the disposal grinding again. If the previous tips don’t get it working like it should, don’t succumb to the urge to stick one of your hands down in the disposal to solve the problem. Be safe and set up service with a professional appliance service in Old Bridge.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a bathroom or kitchen, the outlets must be installed with GFCI switches in order to protect people from harm in wet environments. If a GFCI electrical outlet isn’t generating power, press the red “reset” button to see if that restores juice.

If not, or if you are trying on a basic outlet, be sure that a breaker hasn’t been tripped in your breaker box. If you’re not sure if a circuit breaker was tripped, flip it so it is in the OFF position and then flip it back to the ON position. Remember, safety near wiring is critical. Should you have concerns, call a professional service.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washer will often produce quite a loud racket and is not a productive method to get wash clothes. If your washer is abruptly knocking, the washing machine could be in trouble. To repair this problem, rotate the legs of the washing machine to lower or lift each corner until it’s balanced. One other likely scenario is the appliance is not leveled. Crack open the top and rearrange the clothing items so that they are evenly dispersed inside of the drum of the appliance.

Trying this will help the washer to not need to work quite as hard. If you attempt to move around the clothes once or twice to no avail, don’t ignore the issue. You could have a loosened drum or motor mount to repair, which is easy enough for a professional repairman to repair. But if you continue to operate the washing machine when it has this issue might damage some of the other parts and lead to a worse repair in the future.

Call for Help

If none of these tips fix your broken appliance, you can schedule service from Patriot Appliance Repair!

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