DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you call for appliance repair in Wichita, KS for assistance, you might be able to keep your household appliances in good condition with the troubleshooting tips below.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

A foul odor in a washer can defeat the reason for owning the appliance! If you are in the process of trying to wash your clothing items so that they are clean and fresh, but the machine will not cooperate, run an empty cycle in warm water and pour in 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to get rid of the unpleasant smell. This issue often occurs in front-loading washers. To eliminate future smells, prop the door open between cycles to let it dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A warm refrigerator is not a good sign. A warm refrigerator won’t keep beverages cool or refreshing, and the food on the inside could also be close to spoiling! In a lot of cases, your refrigerator will not be in need of professional repair; the inside could just need a cleaning. Or the coils on the rear of the refrigerator need cleaning.

Unplug it and pull it out from the kitchen wall prior to vacuuming the refrigerator coils. If you don’t notice immediate cooling improvement, it is a good idea to contact a professional appliance repair company.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas-powered oven clicks nonstop and the burner does not light, check to be sure your burner top is on tight and correctly aligned. You may experience this problem if you have had a recent boil over or liquid spill on the top of your stove.

If that’s not the case, the source is probably a dirty igniter. To clean the igniter on a gas-powered stove, remove the burner cap and wipe off any particles. You can use a pin to scrape debris from the grooves. If that does not repair the issue, it’s safest not to take a lighter apart without the right training; in this case call a professional appliance repair service to investigate the problem.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

A kitchen sink’s garbage disposal includes self-protection with its own overload trip. If it is clogged, overheats, runs for too long, or has another problem, your garbage disposal might just have to be reset instead of fixed. You should be sure the switch is turned OFF. Next, find the reset switch on the disposal unit under the sink and then press the switch. If the button doesn’t stay pushed in, just wait a few minutes and then attempt it again. Next, turn on the water and then turn the button on.

If the garbage disposal is clogged with waste and you hear nothing but a humming noise rather than food grinding, you may need to twist the blades with a hex key tool to clear the clog. Then, press the reset switch to get the garbage disposal grinding again. If these tips do not get the appliance working like normal, don’t give in to the temptation to push one of your arms down in the blades to investigate. Be safe and schedule service with a professional appliance repairman.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a kitchen or bathroom, your electrical outlets should be equipped with GFCI switches in order to protect people against harm in wet rooms. If a GFCI electrical outlet is not providing power, push in the red switch to see if it restores juice.

If it doesn’t, or if you’re trying a typical outlet, be certain that a breaker has not tripped in your home’s circuit breaker panel. If you are unsure if a circuit breaker has been tripped, switch it to the OFF position and then flip it back into the ON position. Remember, safety around wiring is critical. Should you have any doubts, call a professional repairman.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A shaking washing machine can create a obnoxious racket and is not a good process to get clean laundry. If your washing machine is suddenly shaking around, the unit might be in trouble. In order to fix this issue, turn the legs of the washing machine to lift or lower each corner until it’s level. Another possible situation is the washing machine is not leveled. Lift open the top and arrange the clothes so that they’re dispersed in the drum of the appliance.

Doing this can help your washer to not need to work as hard. If you try to move around the laundry a few times without luck, do not ignore the problem. You might have a loosened drum or motor mount to repair, which can be easy for a professional to fix. But continuing to run your washer with this issue could ruin other components and lead to a bigger repair down the road.

Call for Help

If these suggestions fix your broken appliance, you can schedule an appointment from Astra Appliance Repair!

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