It’s a sad truth, but many of us don’t give proper attention to our appliances. Without regular maintenance, they’re bound to break down sooner or later. Unfortunately, most people choose the latter. The reason behind it is simple: who knows what’s wrong with the appliance and how to fix it? Don’t worry though – I’ve got you covered. In this post I’ll cover all the basics of repairing your broken appliances.
Fixing an Oven With a Faulty Thermostat
If you’ve got a faulty thermostat on your oven, don’t despair! It’s an easy problem to fix, and the parts are cheap. To start with, turn off the power to the oven before you work on it. Next, remove the oven door. Then, detach the oven door mechanism and pull out the wires going to the thermostat. The thermostat is easy to get at once you’ve removed those two screws that hold it in place—a screwdriver will do the trick.
As for replacing it, you’ll want to measure your new thermostat against your old one to make sure you’re buying the right replacement part. It should be about an inch longer than your old one, but everything else should match up just fine. If possible, replace one part at a time so that you can put them back together again in case something goes wrong. See if your new part is easier to adjust than the old one was; if not, take a look at its adjustment dial and see whether there’s anything blocking it from moving freely around its track (if there is, carefully remove it). Once you’ve replaced your thermostat and put everything back together, make sure to test the oven by setting it on broil or bake.
Fixing the Washing Machine That Won’t Drain
If you find that your washing machine won’t drain, there are a few simple steps to take before you call a repairman. The most common cause of this problem is a clogged drain line, which is a relatively easy fix. First, make sure that the drain isn’t plugged with lint or stray sock threads from the dryer. To do this, unplug the dryer and run a long metal coat hanger through the hose. If it comes out clean in the other end, you’re fine. If not, start clearing it out with paper towels until the hanger comes out clean.
To check the washer’s standpipe, remove it and look inside; if there’s nothing blocking it, replace it and try to run a load again. If that doesn’t work, remove your washer’s lid and check all of its hoses and connectors for cracks or tears. You might also want to see if there’s any debris on or around the pump housing; wipe or vacuum as needed. Once your machine is clear of any obstruction, give it another shot at draining properly.
Replacing the Freezer Gasket in a Refrigerator
The freezer gasket of your refrigerator is an important part of the appliance, and if it’s not working properly, you could be losing money on your energy bills every year. If you’re not sure how to tell whether or not the gasket is broken, or if you’re not sure how to fix it should it be broken, here are some guidelines for checking and replacing the part.
Checking the Gasket: The first thing to do when troubleshooting a problem with your refrigerator is to check the temperature settings. If the freezer has been keeping food at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours and that temperature hasn’t changed even after adjusting the settings on the control panel, then something may be wrong with the seal between the refrigerator door and its frame. To test this, you simply need to open the freezer. If everything seems fine, try closing the door while holding a small candle or flashlight so that you can see if air is being let in around the edges of the door where it meets with its metal frame. If there is indeed a gap, then it’s likely that your gasket has gone bad and needs replacement. Also check around each hinge (there should be three) for any cracks or holes that might allow air to leak into your refrigerator.
Your kitchen appliances are the heart of your kitchen; they prepare and cook food, clean up afterward and keep you company while doing the necessary dishes. Your refrigerator keeps your food fresh, your dishwasher makes clean up easy, and your stove is there to cook it all. Although these appliances have a lot to do with making your kitchen work for you, sometimes they need just a little help to get them going like new.
