Common Appliance Problems In Your Home

Posted On November 24, 2020

Home appliances are an important part of any home. These machines are designed to make our lives easier, so it can be very inconvenient when one breaks down. Whenever any of your appliances may break due to any reason the first thought in your mind may be to replace it. However, in many cases, all you may need to do to repair it is just replace a part of fix it. So here are some common appliance problems in your home and how to fix them.

Smelly Washing Machine

A bad odor in your washing machine can defeat the purpose of the appliance! If you’re trying to get your clothes clean and fresh, but your machine isn’t cooperating, run an empty cycle in hot water with two cups of white vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda to remove the smell. This problem frequently occurs in front-loading washers. To prevent future odors, leave the door open between washes to let it dry out.

Wobbling Washing Machine

A wobbling washing machine can produce quite a startling racket and isn’t a great way to get clean clothes. If your washing machine is suddenly shaking around a lot, the machine may be out of plumb. To fix this problem, rotate the legs of the washing machine to lift or lower each corner until it’s straightened out.

Another likely scenario is that the washer is off balance. Open the lid and rearrange the clothes so they’re more evenly dispersed within the drum. Doing this can help your washer not have to work as hard. If you attempt to rearrange the clothes a few times to no avail, don’t ignore the problem.

You could have a loose drum or motor mount on your hands, which is easy enough for a professional to repair. But continuing to run your washer with this problem could damage other components and lead to a more costly repair down the road.

Inefficient Refrigerator

A semi-cool fridge is never a welcome sign. Not only are your drinks less than refreshing, but your food may also be living in the temperature danger zone and on the verge of spoiling! In some cases, your fridge may not need repair work; it could just need a cleaning. Or, to be more specific, the coils on the back of the fridge need cleaning. Unplug the appliance and pull it out from the wall before giving the coils a thorough vacuuming.

Igniting the Gas Stove

If the igniter on your gas stove clicks and clicks without the burner ever lighting, check to make sure your burner cap is in place and properly aligned. You may also experience this if you’ve had a recent boil over or spill on your stovetop.

Otherwise, the source is likely to be a dirty igniter. To clean, remove the burner cap and wipe away any debris. You can also use a metal pin to pick debris from the grooves. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s safest not to take a lighter apart without proper training; call a professional repair technician to investigate.

Broken Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals normally last for around 12 to 15 years. However, it is possible to extend the lifespan of this appliance if you have regular maintenance and service towards it. Avoid putting non-food items in your garbage disposal and be careful before grinding any food. As some food may actually damage the garbage disposal over time.

If the disposal is clogged with debris and you hear nothing but a humming sound rather than the grinding of food, you may need to manually turn the blades with a hex key to clear the jam. Then, press the reset button to get back to work. If these tips don’t get things working like normal, do not succumb to the temptation to shove your arm down the system to investigate. Be safe and schedule an appointment with a professional appliance repair technician at that point.

Dishwashers

Dishwashers are probably the most used appliance in the kitchen which is why its life span is around 10 to 12 years as well. However, regular maintenance and appliance services should defect any faults within the dishwasher and get it fixed right away. This way it could last longer.

You should clean your dishwasher at least once a month in order for it to work more efficiently. This way you could remove all the clogs which may appear within the dishwasher and not letting the water flow normally.

No Power at an Outlet

In the kitchen or bathroom, your outlets should be equipped with GFCI switches to protect against harm in wet environments. If the GFCI outlet isn’t providing you any power then hit the red reset button to check if it restores power.

You could be trying a standard outlet, make sure that a breaker hasn’t been tripped. If you’re unsure if a breaker has been tripped, flip it to the off position and back to the on position. Remember, safety around electricity is critical.