Dealing with broken appliances in your home can be a huge hassle. Before you decide to call in a professional, there are a few diagnostic tests and simple repairs you can try on your own. But, remember you are the best judge of whether you should tackle a job or call a professional.
Refrigerators
If the fridge doesn’t seem to be cooling or freezing normally, this could be an issue with the condenser coils. These are often found behind a plate at the bottom front or back of the appliance. Over time, the coils can become clogged with dust. To take care of the problem, softly brush off the dust.
If the problem persists, it may also be an issue with the gaskets that seal the doors to the fridge when it’s closed. When gaskets become loose, there won’t be an air-tight seal on the fridge doors. This lets cold air out. To take care of the problem, you can purchase and install new gaskets.
Is your fridge still not cool after trying these do-it-yourself repairs? There may be too much frost inside of your freezer. When this happens, you may need to contact a repairman to fix the problem.
Ovens
When cooking food, if you notice it’s taking longer than normal for things to heat up, it could be an issue with several different components.
On natural gas ovens, this may indicate an issue with the glow-bar ignitor. This is something that will need to be fixed by a professional.
On an electric oven, this may be an issue with the bake element. It’s the thick, rounded coil that normally turns red when the oven is on. To take care of the problem, a new bake element can be purchased and installed.
Dishwashers
Do your plates still look dirty even after the wash cycle is finished? This may be an issue with overloading. When too many plates, cups, bowls, pans, and utensils are in the unit, items will not be thoroughly washed. Next time, run a smaller load and see if it fixes the problem.
If this doesn’t take care of the issue, it may be a problem with a broken spray arm. New spray arms can be purchased and installed with ease.
If you do not feel comfortable attempting a DIY repair, your best bet is to leave it to the professionals.
Also, certain kitchen appliance repairs may be covered when you are enrolled in our Kitchen Essentials Repair Plan. To see if plans are available in your area, visit us online and enter your zip code in the search bar at the top of the page.