Appliance tip of the week...

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...

If you have a built-in ice/water filter, replace the filter approximately every six months.

If you don't have a water filter, and you find your ice tastes bad and/or smells funny, use a "taste and odor" water filter on the incoming water supply line. Try our universal replacement water filter (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1603265).

If you don't have an icemaker, consider installing one now. Many people don't realize that virtually all refrigerators are set up to easily accept an add-on icemaker. Many refrigerators have a tag inside the freezer at the back that gives a kit number indicating exactly what kind of icemaker will fit in that refrigerator. We carry add-on icemaker kits that fit virtually every refrigerator/freezer on the market.

Refrigerator filters are easy to get (http://www.repairclinic.com/Refrigerator-Filter-Parts)!

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...

This convenient tool enables you to easily clean dust and dust from your refrigerator's condenser coils located beneath the machine.

It also works great for removing residual lint in your dryer's lint trap.

It fits a standard 1.25-inch vacuum hose.

TIP: Why is cleaning off my refrigerator's condenser coils important?

Layers of dust and dirt prevent the coils from removing heat efficiently.

This results in significantly greater energy consumption and higher bills for you.

These coils are notably less vulnerable to problems if cleaned every 12 to 18 months.

If you have pets, you may need to increase cleaning frequency to every six months, as pet fur is known to form thick layers quickly.

50 Vacuum cleaner attachment for condenser and dryer cleaning (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=1544893)

51 Refrigerator and freezer condenser coil cleaning brush with instructions. Also works great for dryer lint (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=12859)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpHMFu6DLRA&feature=player_embedded

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...
There are many fault codes out there for ranges, dishwashers and much more.

There are some dipslayed digits that confuse people, that is because they are NOT fault codes!

Sab ( some have called this Sa5 ) This is a short form for Sabbath mode and is seen on ranges. Another is PF, this is normally a short form for Power Failure.

LO, Rinse aid level is low in the dispenser. HO, This is the notification that the unit is in a heat delay to allow the water to increase in temperature...these are rfom dishwashers.

Some real fault codes and information about them.

Fault codes and there meanings (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&P=176)

More fault codes and there meanings (http://www.applianceaid.com/range-stove-fault-codes.php)

Repair manuals can save $! (http://www.applianceaid.com/appliance-repair-manuals.php)

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...

The clothes dryer: Instant fire starter. Every year, dryers cause thousands of major house fires in the U.S. People are often surprised to learn of the primary culprit: Lint. Dryer venting can become clogged with lint, causing a dangerous buildup of heat and an instant fire that spreads fast.

?If you notice that it?s taking longer for your clothes to dry, it?s likely that lint is clogging the venting system, You should clean it out as soon as possible.? How to prevent a fire:

A venting system should be cleaned out from inside of the dryer to the outside vent cap at least once per year. Professionals can be hired for this or homeowners can purchase a long brush like this and do it on their own. Also, vinyl venting should be replaced immediately with an aluminum equivalent. White vinyl no longer meets national fire code standards in the US. Dryer lint traps should be cleaned out after every load. For extra precaution, homeowners can use a bristled long brush to remove pieces of lint that collect there. The lawn mower: Injury machine.

New stories about tragic accidents this time of the year are helping to raise awareness but the true dangers associated with lawn mowers are still not widely recognized. Push, self-propelled and riding lawn mowers all bear great risks so proper care and precautions are critical to family safety.

?Debris ? pet and children?s toys, stones, plastic edging, wood chips, pieces of aged blades, etcetera ? can be catapulted at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour,? said Jeff Linderman, RepairClinic.com?s on-staff landscaping expert. ?Being hit with these objects at such a speed can be a fatal injury.? How to prevent accidents:

The cutting blade located under the deck should be checked regularly for damage, bends, and dullness. Blades should be replaced annually to every two years, depending on its usage. Replacement blades are inexpensive and easy to install.

?Children and pets should always stay inside when the lawn mower is in operation,? said Linderman. ?This keeps them safe from flying debris. Also, when using a riding mower, it?s particularly difficult to spot children who may venture too close to the mower.?

It?s important to remember to consult the mower?s owner?s manual.

?Many people often remove or adjust the position of their mower?s deflector, despite warnings against this in the mower?s owner?s manual,? said Linderman. ?This is unwise because it can send debris flying at a longer distance.?

Another protective mower safety feature is its rubber trail shield located at the back of the mower that prevents debris from flying out as the blade runs over it. Before each mowing season, mower owners should check to make sure this is working properly and free of tears.

The microwave oven: Repairing & electrocution risk holder.

Fortunately, a microwave oven remains safe, unless you attempt repair, which may be a fatal mistake. Despite its small size compared to other home appliances, the microwave oven stores thousands of volts of electricity in its capacitor, even after the microwave oven has been unplugged. That?s more than 30 wall outlets combined.

How to prevent accidents:

Replacing electronic parts in a microwave oven can be extremely dangerous. This should be left to a repair professional. However, the cost to purchase a new microwave is often comparable to the cost of replacement parts so a new unit is most often the best solution. Non-electronic microwave parts like door latches, glass trays and their associated parts are inexpensive and easy to replace.

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Dryer vent cleaning brush. For 4" diameter round ducts. 20 feet long Manufacturer Number 18001034 (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=424663)

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...

Appliance myths and truths:

Refrigerators make cold, false. Refrigerators remove the heat and in the absence of heat is...cold.

Rerfigerators, air conditioners, freezers need to be recharged once in a while, false. They have a sealed system, if they need to be recharge = a leak.

My washing machine lid switch must be ok because it makes a "click" noise, false. Many have built in fuses or the switch cannot close the contact even withit making a click noise.

My washing machine fill hoses are ok becasue I do not see any cracks or buldges, false. Washing machine rubber fill hoses should be replaced every 5 years or so, they do have an expiry life!

My dishwasher fills up completely with water, false. The dishwasher fills up with only a few inches of water in the bottom.

You have to rince the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, false. While it is a good idea to scrap off any food chunks and you should soak anything with cooked on food, it is NOT in your best interest to rince the dishes off before running the dishwasher.

If your dryer is running but not heating, the heating element needs replacing, not necessarily, could be true or false. It takes two fuses to run the dryer. The dryer can continue to run with one good fuse but it won't heat, and there are many things that can stop the heat from working!

If you see the drum light on inside the dryer, the dryer is getting proper power, false in the case of electric dryers. Electric dryers have 2 power coming to them, the light bulb only needs 1 power to work.

Some foods can spark in your microwave, true. Food high in iron can acually spark in the microwave when heating them up.

I can check the water pressure to my dishwasher, icemaker or chilled water by simply turning on the kitchen tap to see if the flow is good and strong, false. The water pressure should be checked right at the effected appliance.

If my food waste disposal stops working I should call an appliance tech instead of a plumber, true. While most food waste disposals are installed by plumbers they do not normally service them when there is a problem, appliance techs do.

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...
Refrigerator/Freezer

Manual Defrost Refrigerator

On manual-defrost refrigerator/freezers, check for frost build up in the freezer. If frost has accumulated on the walls to a thickness of ? an inch or more, remove all food, turn off the appliance and allow all the frost to melt. Then reset the thermostat and resume normal usage. Be sure not to use any utensils or tools to scrape off the frost, as it is very easy to puncture the evaporator and ruin the refrigerator.

Automatic Defrost Refrigerator

On self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers, clean the drain pan underneath the refrigerator that collects water (Some are not accessible. Don't worry if you can't find yours).

Clean the refrigerator cooling fan and the condenser coils. The coils are underneath the refrigerator. They are usually black and look like a series of small tubes and "fins" connecting the tubes. Order a refrigerator condenser brush (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=12859) to make the job easier.

Check the door seals to be sure they are sealing properly against the frame of the refrigerator/freezer. If they are torn, or don't seal properly, the refrigerator or freezer may not cool properly. This problem is worse when the weather is warmer and more humid. Clean the gaskets and frame with warm soapy water so they don't stick to the frame.

Inspect the back wall of the freezer for any frost build up. It's not normal to have any frost on the back wall or floor of a self-defrosting appliance. The presence of frost is normally an indication the self-defrosting system has a problem. See our Repair Help (http://www.repairclinic.com/Repair-Help) section for help with a defrosting problem.

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...

Access help for a direct drive style washing machine.

There is now 4 ways to lift up the consol on a Whirlpool built direct drive style washer.

Exposed screws (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/lwawp-console-screws.jpg), hidden under the plastic end cap screws (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/ddaccess1aa.JPG).

Screws behind the consol (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/wp_dd_wash_head_small.jpg) and now... No screws ( see pic below ).

Newer ( last few years ) version has a push clip that must be released before the consol can be pulled forward and then up. Direct drive WLP style Kenmore, newer version. Lid switch is now under the consol on this newer version. Consol has two clips between the consol and top panel. Need a putty knife or such to push in to release the clips to lift the consol to access the switch.

53

http://www.applianceaid.com/animates/ddanimnew.gif

jeff.

[jeff1]

Appliance tip of the week...
Compressor won't run or it is "clicking' on and off, some may even make a buzzzzzzz noise:

This normally could be a bad start relay and over load for the compressor, dirty condenser coils need cleaning, condenser fan motor is not running or the compressor itself.

To check the compressor properly you should test it with an amp meter (http://www.applianceaid.com/electrical-testing-tips.php), each compressor is rated in running amps ( see model/serial tag or the sticker on the compressor )...if the compressor is drawing too much current, this may be why it is shutting off.

Check the model tag for proper amp rating. Some relays will be easy to notice the broken with them, they may be burnt.

Example one (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/burntrelay.jpg), Example two (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/burntrelayA.jpg), Example three (http://www.applianceaid.com/images/burntrelayB.jpg). Some of these relays can be removed and give them a little shake, and if they rattle around inside the relay is likely bad.

Compressors can also seize and click on and off or one of the electrical windings inside the compressor could have opened up. You can use a test cord to help check the compressor and this also will help with the amp test.

If the compressor checks ok and you want to install a replacement start relay. You will need to find out which winding is which. You will need an ohm meter (http://www.applianceaid.com/electrical-testing-tips.php) to determine the windings. First check to see if you have windings in the compressor.

Then check to see if they are grounded. If the compressor has windings and they are not grounded, you can find which winding is which. Check for grounded windings by reading from each terminal to a good ground on the cabinet.

Read from the top terminal to the lower left terminal. Read from the top terminal to the lower right terminal. Read from the lower left terminal to the lower right terminal. Write down the resistance of each reading as you go.

The highest reading you get will be the run and start winding of the compressor in series with each other. The other terminal left will be the common terminal. Read from the common terminal to each of the other terminals.

The terminal with the lower resistance will be the run winding. The higher resistance the start winding. Using the original style relay is always preferred!

*Refrigerator Parts (http://www.applianceaid.com/refrigerator-parts.php)*

jeff.