DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you decide to call an appliance repair in Rockford for help, you should be able to keep your household appliances running properly with the help of the tips below.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

The presence of a gross odor in your washing machine can defeat the entire point of the appliance! If you are in the process of trying to wash your clothing items so that they’re fresh and clean, but the appliance will not cooperate, run an empty cycle in hot water with 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to remove the odor. This issue often happens in front-loading washing machines. To prevent future smells, crack the door open following cycles to let it dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A warm fridge in the kitchen is not a good sign. A warm refrigerator definitely won’t keep beverages cool or refreshing, and the food inside of it might also be on the verge of spoiling! In many cases, your refrigerator will not require professional repair; instead the inside could just need a cleaning. Or the coils on the back of the unit need cleaning.

Unplug it and drag it far from the wall prior to cleaning the coils. If you don’t see cooling improvement, it’s time to call for appliance repair.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas oven clicks and clicks and the burner won’t light, look to make certain the burner cap is tightened and correctly aligned. You may experience this if you have recently had a boil over or spill on the stove top.

Otherwise, the source is most likely to be a dirty igniter. To clean the igniter on a gas stove, first remove the burner lid and clear away any debris. You can use a pin to pick debris from the grooves of the igniter. If that does not resolve the problem, it is wise to not disassemble a lighter unless you have training; in this case enlist a professional appliance repair company to diagnose the issue.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal includes self-protection with its own overload trip. If it is filled up, overheats, grinds for too much time, or has some other issue, your disposal may simply have to be reset instead of replaced. Be sure the power switch is OFF. Next, locate the reset switch on the disposal under the kitchen sink and then press the switch. If the button does not stay pushed in, wait 10 minutes and then try again. Now, turn on the water and turn the button on.

If the disposal in the kitchen sink is filled with food and you hear nothing but a humming noise and not the grinding of food, you may need to manually unwind the disposal blades with a hex key tool to clear the clog. Next, press the reset switch to get the garbage disposal running again. If these tips fail to get things working like it should, do not allow the urge to put one of your hands down into the disposal to troubleshoot. Be smart and set up an appointment with a professional appliance repairman in Rockford.

5. No Power from Outlet

In the kitchen or bathroom, the electrical outlets need to be equipped with GFCI capabilities to protect homeowners against harm in wet environments. If a GFCI outlet is not generating power, press the red “reset” switch to see if it restores power.

If it does not, or if you are trying on a typical outlet, make certain that a breaker has not been tripped in the home’s circuit breaker box. If you are unsure if a circuit breaker was tripped, flip it so it is in the OFF position and back into the ON position. Please remember, safety by electricity is critical. If you have concerns, call a professional service.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A shaking washing machine will produce quite a startling racket and isn’t a productive method to clean clothing. If your washing machine starts knocking around, the washing machine could be broken down. To repair this issue, rotate the legs on the machine to lift or lower each corner until it is level. Another likely case is the washer is not leveled. Open the top and arrange the clothes so they are dispersed within the drum of the washer.

Doing this will help your washer not have to work quite as hard. If you do try to move around the clothing a few times to no avail, don’t ignore the problem. You may have a loosened drum or motor mount to repair, which can be easy enough for a professional technician to fix. But if you continue to use your washing machine when it has this issue might damage other components and result in a more costly repair down the road.

Call for Help

If none of these quick fixes solve your problems, you can schedule an appointment from Rapid Rockford Appliance Repair!


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Repair or Replace Appliances
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