10 Common Appliances Issues and How to Troubleshoot Them

2. Table of Content 1. Refrigerator Issues. 2. Oven Issues. 3. Dishwasher Issues. 4. Washing Machine Issues. 5. Dryer Issues. 6. Air Conditioner Issues. 7. Microwave Issues. 8. Light Issues. 9. Disposer Issues. 10.Stovetop Issues.  The Wrap.

3. Introduction When a home appliance like the washer, the refrigerator or the microwave is not working, what is the first thing to consider? Like most homeowners, your instinct will tell you to pick up your phone and call the nearest repairman that you know. If you don’t know any, you’ll go straight to your browser and look for a household appliance repair service near to you. While such a step may seem like an easy decision, great appliance repair experts do not come cheap. Are you aware that some of the problems are things that you can fix on your own? Well, it’s time you get a little smarter and start saving money instead of wasting it on repairmen who do nothing but just run a simple troubleshooting process. But first, you need to have a richly-packed DIY toolbox to help you tackle the fixes. Here is quick overview of some of the common appliance issues and I Appliance Repair’s recommendations on how to troubleshoot them:

4. Refrigerator Issues a) The refrigerator is not cooling well This could be caused by the following:  The condenser coil (located behind the unit’s kickplate) has accumulated dust. You need to unplug the refrigerator from the power source and brush off the dust from the condenser coil. You can also vacuum. It’s faster that way.  The gasket (the rubberized strips which seal the refrigerator door) is worn out. Just buy a new gasket to replace the damaged one. It costs $40-$60.  Frost has accumulated in the defrosting freezer. This problem can be because of a faulty compressing unit or a thermostat. Such issues are hard to troubleshoot and you’ll need to call a refrigerator repair expert to fix it.

5. b) The icemaker isn’t working Potential causes include:  The bale level (a hanger-like feature) is out of position. Just identify where the level is so as to switch it on. If it’s out of position, it must be facing downwards.  The water valve is blocked. First ascertain if this is the case by placing your finger in the compartment to check for ice cubes. If there is none, call an expert.

6. c) The refrigerator is producing a strange noise There are two major reasons to explain this:  The condenser has something trapped inside it. Unscrew the unit to access the fan. Remove anything that looks foreign.  The fan motor has an issue. Ask an expert to repair it. It will cost your $150-$250 if you choose to call I Appliance Repair Toronto.

7. Oven Issues a) The Appliance won’t heat up You can blame this problem on technology if your oven is an electric one. It often has to do with you failing to set the timer correctly. The appliance is designed to follow instructions. It will heat at an appointed time. Check the timer function to confirm the time that you have set it. If the timer is not indicating ‘time cook’ or ‘delay’ or ‘hold’, you need to engage. If it’s already engaged but still can’t heat up, you need to call an expert to check it. It may be something technical.

8. b) Incorrect temperature If your appliance is displaying a temperature that is different from the one that you have set or your food is overcooking, it could be because of poor calibration. You need to recalibrate the oven using the user’s manual. The manual will show you how to better adjust the temperature to a minimum recommended value (350actually). Often, recalibration requires you to press certain temperature control buttons on your cooking appliance.

9. c) Oven door is refusing to open or close If the door of the cooking appliance won’t close or open, it may be due to:  The door lever is locked: First unplug the appliance from the power source for a few minutes before trying to engage the door. If this approach fails, reinitiate the auto-cleaning cycle for 15 minutes before trying to engage the door again. Aproblem with the hinge: You need to disassemble the door to replace the hinge. 

10. Dishwasher Issues a) The washer can’t clean the plates There are three main causes for this:  An obstruction by food: You need to check the float to remove any food material that may have blocked it.  Abroken/fractured spray arm: Repair the dishwasher yourself by replacing the spray arm. It costs $20-$50 to replace.  Overloading: Try to reduce the number of plates that you load into the machine.

11. b) Water is not draining This problem can be because of minor issues such as:  Clogging by dirt or food deposits: Check the drain pump to see if it’s clogged before calling a dishwasher repair expert.  The garbage disposal is missing a plug: Check to identify the unattached hose. Unscrew it from the washer and reattach it correctly.

12. c) Awater pool on the floor This issue can be caused by:  A worn-out gasket or a fractured door latch: Fixing either of the two requires expert knowledge and will cost you $80-$150. However, if the issue has something to do with the motor pump, it will cost you $600 to replace it.  Too much washing detergent: Pour half cup white vinegar into the dishwasher to get rid of suds deposits. Thereafter, use less soap.

13. Washing Machine Issues a) Potential causes include:  A damaged lid switch (found on the top part of the washer): Confirm if it’s the lid switch that has a problem by closing it to listen if there is any noise coming from it. If there isn’t, call a washing machine repair expert to fix it.  A problem with the transmission: It may cost you $400-$500 to fix the issue since you’ll have to hire an expert. b) The washer is clogged Sources of clogging may be debris, dirt, or pieces of fabric. Check the pump for foreign materials and remove them if any.

14. C ) The washer is not cleaning well This may be because of overloading or using too much detergent. Reduce the number of clothes that you feed the machine and the detergent too. d) The water does not agitate This may be because of a problem with the presetting. Check the user’s manual to understand the reset procedure. e) The washer vibrates when spinning This could be because the machine is not properly balanced. This is easy to fix since all you have to do is place the machine on a thick flat board and screw it to offer it more stability.

15. Dryer Issues a) The machine is making an unusual noise This problem is very rare but possible causes include:  A foreign substance such as a coin is trapped into the motor: You shouldn’t try to turn on the motor if the clogging substance is metallic. This may kill your motor. Instead, call an expert to fix the jam. It will cost you around $85-$150 to fix.  A worn-out drum roller: The drum rollers usually make a funny noise when there is an issue with the idler pulley. You need to hire an expert in dryer repair to check it out.

16. b) Clothes are taking a long time to dry Such a dryer issue may be due to:  A blocked external vent: You need to check the dryer’s vent outside your house for clogging. Clear any obstruction by using a vacuum machine. Thereafter, establish a maintenance plan to check for clogging at least once a month.  An accumulation of lint: Such a problem should be addressed soon before it becomes a fire hazard. Check the lint slot, the lint pipe, and the lint screen for blockages. Vacuum the areas to unclog them.

17. Air Conditioner Issues a) Water is constantly dripping from the AC’s front panel This may be because the AC unit is not realigned. You need to reposition the unit so that it slants downwards, toward the external. b) The AC won’t turn on There are two main reasons to explain this:  A blown fuse: This is common when you turn the AC on an off in quick successions. You need to open up the unit to take out the fuse and replace it with another one. Go with the blown one to the store to get an exact copy.  It’s an Off Period: If you signed up with your power company for a discount offer during the high season and they gave you a limited entitlement, the AC may not work during an offseason. Call your electricity company to confirm this fact before calling an expert.

18. c) The circuit breaker keeps tripping This problem means that you are overtaxing the circuit breaker. You need to turn off all the other services such as TV and the lights that are running on the circuit. If this does not work, you need to replace the breaker. They are not that expensive in the market.

19. Microwave Issues If your microwave is failing to power up, it may be because of:  Poor setting: You need to check the GFCI outlet to reset it by pressing the button found on the outlet.  A blown fuse: Start by unplugging the microwave. Next, switch its circuit breaker to access the blown fuse. Replace it with a new one. There are so many options on the market. If you don’t know what to get, ask a microwave repair expert.

20. Light Issues a) The light has gone off There are several reasons to explain this household problem, including:  The main switch is off: Check the main switch to see if the switch is dropped. If it is, pull it up.  The bulbs are blown: The bulbs need changing. b) The light switch is not working This may be because of something small that is lodged in the switch. You need to unscrew the switch and replace it with a new one. c) A tripped GFI A single GFI is mostly used to connect external lights. You need to check it out and reposition it if it’s tripped.

21. Disposer Issues a) The equipment is humming If the machine is humming and not spinning, it may be because of a foreign material stuck inside. Switch the unit off and try to turn the blades mechanically by moving them with a wrench. You can also turn the button bolt. This will help to dislodge the trapped foreign material. Some garbage disposals come with their own wrench for this purpose. b) The disposer is heating up Every garbage disposer has an inbuilt overload sensor that allows it to shut off when the mortar is overworked. You need to reduce the amount of garbage that you put in the disposer. Then, you should press the reset button found under the unit to activate the machine.

22. Stovetop Issues a) The absence of a flame despite a spark Here are the potential causes:  The gas burner has clogged: You need to clean the burner holes with a safety pin. A needle can also work but avoid a toothpick since it can break off.  The spark plug is covered with oil or any other spill: The spark plug is the rod-shaped ignitor found on the burner. Use a toothbrush to scrub the spark plug. This is followed by cleaning it with warm water and soap. b) The top is fractured/broken This problem can be because of the heavy weight placed on the stovetop. You need to repair the stovetop yourself. A good replacement cost $250-$400. To replace it, you need to:  Unplug your stove by unscrewing it to pull out the cooktop.  Install a new cooktop and screw it into position.

23. The Wrap The above guide will allow you to fix popular household appliance issues at home conveniently. You become a repair genius just from the comfort of your house. In case the issue is too technical and the discussed solutions are not working, you may find it necessary to visit I Appliance Repair Toronto for expert input.

24. The End For more details, please visit: https://iappliancerepairtoronto.ca/refrigerator-repair/ https://iappliancerepairtoronto.ca/dryer-repair/ https://iappliancerepairtoronto.ca/dishwasher-repair/ https://iappliancerepairtoronto.ca/microwave-repair/