DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you pick up the phone to call for appliance repair in Pittsburgh for help, you can keep your appliances in good condition with the help of the troubleshooting tips in this post.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

The presence of a foul smell in a washing machine defeats the reason for the appliance! If you are in the process of attempting to wash your clothing items so they are clean and fresh, but the washer is not cooperating, run an cycle with no clothes/laundry in warm water and pour in two cups of white vinegar and half of a cup of baking soda to get rid of the smell. This problem often happens in front-loading washing machines. To ensure no more odors in the future, leave the door open after washes so it can dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A lukewarm refrigerator in the kitchen is not a welcome sign. A warm refrigerator definitely will not keep drinks cool or refreshing, and the food inside might also be on the verge of rotting! In some cases, your refrigerator will not need repair; it could just need to be cleaned. Or the coils on the back of the refrigerator need cleaning.

Unplug the refrigerator and drag it away from the wall before vacuuming the refrigerator coils. If you do not notice cooling improvement, it is time to hire an appliance repair company for troubleshooting.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas stove clicks and clicks and the burner doesn’t light, look to make sure the burner lid is tightened and properly aligned. You could experience this problem if you’ve had a recent boil over or spill on the top of the stove.

If that’s not the case, the reason is probably a dirty igniter. To clean , remove the burner lid and dust away any particles. You can use a pin to pick debris from the grooves of the igniter. If that does not fix the problem, it is best not to take a lighter apart unless you have the right training; in this case enlist a professional appliance repair service to determine the problem.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal includes self-protection with its own overload trip switch. If it becomes filled up, overheats, grinds for too long, or has another issue, the garbage disposal may just need to be reset instead of repaired. You should be sure the power switch is OFF. Then, find the button on the disposal under the sink and then press the switch. If the button will not stay in, just wait 10 minutes and attempt it again. Next, turn on the water and then turn the button on.

If the garbage disposal in the sink is clogged with debris and you hear nothing but a humming noise rather than the grinding of waste, you may need to turn the blades using a hex key tool to remove the jam. Next, push in the reset button to get the garbage disposal working again. If the previous tips are unable to get the appliance working like it should, do not give in to the urge to push your arms down in the system to troubleshoot. Be smart and schedule an appointment with a professional appliance company.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a bathroom or kitchen, your outlets must be installed with GFCI switches to protect people from harm in wet environments. If a GFCI electrical outlet is not providing power, push the red reset button to see if that restores juice.

If not, or if you’re trying on a typical electrical outlet, be sure that a breaker hasn’t been tripped in your home’s breaker panel. If you are not sure if a circuit breaker has been tripped, flip it to the OFF position and back to the ON position. Please remember, safety by electrical outlets is critical. If you have any doubts, call a professional service.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washing machine will often produce quite a loud racket and is not a productive method to wash laundry. If your washer starts shaking around, the machine could be broken down. To fix this issue, rotate the legs on the washing machine to lower or lift each corner until it’s straightened out. Another possible scenario is the unit is not leveled. Lift open the top and rearrange the shirts and pants so that they’re dispersed in the drum of the washing machine.

Trying this will help the washer not need to work as hard. If you do attempt to rearrange the clothes a couple of times without success, do not ignore the issue. You could have a loose motor or drum mount to repair, which should be easy for a professional technician to repair. But continuing to use your washer with this issue might ruin some of the other parts and result in a bigger repair in the future.

Call for Help

If none of these quick fixes can fix your problems, you will want to schedule service from Champion Appliance Repair!

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