Try these quick tips to solve common kitchen appliance problems.
Often, we get calls from folks with appliance problems that are either preventable or easily fixable by the homeowner. While we are always happy to help with all your appliance repair needs, we also want to save our clients their hard-earned money whenever possible. Here are a few tips that might help you fix your next kitchen appliance problem yourself.
Garbage Disposals
If your garbage disposal won’t turn on, don’t panic. It’s not necessarily ruined forever. It is highly likely that the motor simply got too hot and triggered the automatic shutoff feature. To turn it back on, just let the motor cool and then push the reset button. This button can be found on the side or bottom of the unit depending on the make and model of garbage disposal you may have.
Refrigerators
If your refrigerator hasn’t been cooling like it should, or if it has quit altogether, the very first thing you should do is check the coils for hair, lint, and dust bunnies. If the coils get covered in this type of debris, it will compromise their cooling power until eventually they may overheat and shut down entirely. Simply open the grille at the bottom or back of the fridge to access the coils and use an old bottle brush or special coil cleaning brush to clean them. You may have to wait a few hours for the motor to cool after overheating, but it should turn back on by itself.
Stove Burners
If your gas burners won’t ignite, they might just be dirty. Get an old toothbrush and some water, then remove the strike plate to reveal the igniter, which will look like a little ceramic nub to one side. Gently clean any burnt food residue from the igniter and surrounding area and your burners should light again. If your electric burners won’t heat, a fairly simple electrical problem could be to blame. Check the burner to see if it seems loose. If so, remove it and gently bend the prongs outward. This should help create a better electrical connection between the stove and the burner and get you better performance. Be careful not to bend the prongs too much as you could damage the socket.
Dishwashers
If the dishes still seem dirty at the end of a cycle, you probably have a dirty filter. This is very easy to fix. All you have to do is remove the lower dishwasher rack and lift up the filter cover at the bottom of the unit. You will then be able to see whether any food is blocking the filter. Use a wet/dry vac to suck up any junk. This will ensure that your dishes get rinsed with clean water and turn out sanitary.
Need More than a Quick Fix?
If you’ve tried the above quick fixes for common kitchen appliance problems without success, it’s time to call American Appliance Repair. We strive to provide same day service for all appliance repair calls and we’ll get your appliances back in working condition as soon as possible.
