DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you pick up the phone to call an appliance repair in Edison for help, you should be able to keep your appliances in good shape with the help of a lot of the troubleshooting tips below.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

The presence of a bad odor in a washing machine defeats the entire purpose of the appliance! If you’re in the process of trying to wash your clothes so they’re fresh and clean, but the washing machine will not cooperate, run an cycle without clothes/laundry in hot water with 2 cups of white vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda to eliminate the unpleasant odor. This issue commonly happens in front-loading washing machines. To prevent smells in the future, prop the door open after cycles so it will dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A room-temperature refrigerator in the kitchen is never a good sign. A warm refrigerator won’t keep drinks cool or refreshing, and the food inside might also be in danger of spoiling! In some cases, your refrigerator will not be in need of repair; instead it might just need to be cleaned out. Or the coils on the back of the appliance need cleaning.

Unplug the refrigerator and pull it away from the wall before cleaning the coils. If you do not notice instant cooling improvement, it’s a good idea to contact an appliance repair service.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas stove continues to click and the burner won’t light, check to be certain the burner cap is on tight and properly aligned. You might notice this problem if you have had a recent boil over or spill on the top of your stove.

If that’s not the case, the source is most likely to be a clogged igniter. To clean the igniter, take off the burner lid and clear away any debris. You can use a pin to scrape debris from the grooves of the igniter. If that does not resolve the problem, it’s smart to not disassemble a lighter unless you have the proper training; call on a professional appliance repairman to diagnose the issue.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

A garbage disposal comes with self-protection in the form of an overload trip switch. If it gets clogged, overheats, grinds for too long, or has another problem, your garbage disposal may just need to be reset rather than repaired. First, please make sure the switch is OFF. Then, find the reset button on the disposal under the sink and press the switch. If the switch won’t stay pushed in, wait a few minutes and try again. Next, turn on the water and turn the button on.

If the disposal in the sink is filled up with food and you the only noise you hear is a humming sound and not waste grinding, you could need to turn the disposal blades with a hex key to clear the clog. Then, press the reset switch to get the garbage disposal running again. If these tips do not get things working like it is supposed to, please don’t allow the urge to stick your hands down into the system to figure things out. Be smart and arrange service with a professional appliance repairman in Edison.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a home’s bathroom or kitchen, the outlets should be installed with GFCI switches in order to protect people against harm in wet environments. If a GFCI electrical outlet isn’t generating power, push the red reset switch to see if it will restore juice.

If it doesn’t, or if you are trying a standard electrical outlet, be sure that a breaker has not been tripped in the breaker panel. If you are uncertain if a circuit breaker is tripped, flip it so it is in the OFF position and back to the ON position. But remember, safety around wiring is a must. Should you have any doubts, call a professional.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washing machine will create quite a loud racket and isn’t a good way to get wash laundry. If yours starts knocking around, the washing machine might be broken down. In order to repair this problem, turn the legs on the appliance to lift or lower all corners until it’s balanced. Another possible case is that the appliance is not balanced. Open the lid and arrange the clothes so that they’re dispersed inside of the drum of the washing machine.

Trying this will help your washing machine not have to work quite as hard. If you attempt to rearrange the laundry a couple of times to no avail, don’t ignore the problem. You may have a loose motor or drum mount, which should be easy enough for a professional to repair. But continuing to use the washer when it has this problem might damage other components and result in a bigger repair later.

Call for Help

If these suggestions fix your issues, you can schedule service from Ideal Edison Appliance Repair!

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