A quick guide to fixing common appliance problems: washing machine, dryer, and more!

Everyone needs help sometimes, especially when it comes to household problems. Having a bad appliance day can really put you in a tight spot so it always helps to have this knowledge in order to handle the small stuff yourself. If it’s a bigger issue, one that you don’t feel confident fixing yourself, you’ll notice pretty fans and the best thing is you already know who to call. 

First, here are some basic tips when approaching any appliance issue:

• Try to run a cycle of work for washing machines, etc to see or hear what the issue is. 
• Only take this on when you have time, doing repairs in a rush or leaving them halfway done is not a good idea. 
• Have all your tools ready to go. 
• Clear the space where you are going to work, things might get messy. 
• Unplug the appliance, always.

Ok, with those ground rules you’ll be good to start. 

Dryers 

A dryer that is not drying properly, meaning it’s leaving your clothes wet or moist because it’s not generating enough heat or maybe not starting, can be fairly simple to repair. Here are three things that could be happening. 

1. If the appliance is not starting you should check your circuit breaker, it could just be that the breaker for this outlet flipped. Dryers require a lot of power so breakers are more likely to flip when you are using them regularly. 
2. Your door actuator may need to be replaced, this spring loaded rod is situated to push against the door switch, keeping it closed and trapping the hot air inside. This piece is easy to replace and not expensive. 
3. A clogged air filter could be obstructing hot air from reaching the inside of the dryer so clean or replace it, same with the vent. 

Dishwasher

Dishwashers are one of the most used and helpful home appliances, so having it out of service can be a drag. Here are some things you can try to fix the most common dishwasher problem. 

• If your dishwasher is leaking regularly. Try cleaning the debris and obstructions around the door to fix this. Remember, to include the door gasket and recheck to see if the seals are intact, if they are broken change them. 

• One of the top causes of problems with dishwashers is a clogged filter, it can cause the appliance to pool with dirty water, not wash properly and leak out into your kitchen. To fix this appliance issue, first locate the filter, usually at the bottom of the dishwasher tub, remove, soak in soap or vinegar, clean and put it back. 

Refrigerator

The fridge is at the center of the kitchen proper functioning so it a really important piece of your home, take a look at some quick fixes for the most common refrigerator problem:

• Noisy fridge, get it leveled or place it on a special, a type of dense soundproofing mat. 
• Not cool enough or leaking, check, clean or replace the door seal to help trap in cold air and prevent leaks. 
• Still not cold enough or leaking, check the drainage tube at the bottom of the refrigerator, you can clean this with a mix of baking soda and vinegar, with the help of some warm water. 

Washing Machine

Washing machines have made the heaviest task at home as easy as pressing a few buttons and waiting, so it’s a real bummer when yours isn’t working properly. 

• If your front loading washing machine wont turn on, try checking the lid strike switch on the door, this needs to be able to move freely to let the appliance switch on. Turn a washing cycle on and then push the blunt end of a pen into the receiving hole on the appliance. This should loosen any obstruction and allow it to fill with water and wash. 
• If your washing machine is just not moving you can check your directional cogs in the plastic agitator and replace them, you can also try a factory reset using your owner’s manual. 
• For an issue with draining, you can clean the pump that helps drain the unit to free it from debris that could be causing the obstruction. 
• Other things that can help is not overloading the washing machine and using less detergent.