Does Your Front Load Washer Smell Bad?

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Front loaders often have a high risk for getting odors due to the mold which can get into the machine. The following video will give you some constructive tips on how to clear these odors out.

Before attempting any repair on an appliance, be sure that you fully understand the required steps and that you can safely and competently use all of the required tools. Only use replacement parts of the same size, specifications and capacity as your original manufacturer’s part.

In addition, be sure to pay very close attention to any and all safety cautions and warnings posted on the appliance being serviced. Understanding and adhering to these safety advisories can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself.

It is also always a good idea to have a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies, be sure you understand how to use both before starting. If you are unsure about any of the steps in the repair procedure, it is recommended you call your local appliance repair technician for your own safety.

This post is brought to you by internet marketing firm Charleston-SEO.


Posted in Appliance Repair Charleston, Front Load Washers

Cleaning the pump on a Whirlpool Duet

One thing that will shut a washer down quickly is when something is lodged in the pump. In a best case scenario, the blockage just prevents the flow of water and the machine will function correctly once the blockage is remove. Worst case scenarios involve the blockage moving down so that it binds the pump impeller which will often cause the pump motor to short out because it can’t move.

Before attempting any repair on an appliance, be sure that you fully understand the required steps and that you can safely and competently use all of the required tools. Only use replacement parts of the same size, specifications and capacity as your original manufacturer’s part.

In addition, be sure to pay very close attention to any and all safety cautions and warnings posted on the appliance being serviced. Understanding and adhering to these safety advisories can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself.

It is also always a good idea to have a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies, be sure you understand how to use both before starting. If you are unsure about any of the steps in the repair procedure, it is recommended you call your local appliance repair technician for your own safety.

This post is brought to you by web marketing firm Charleston-SEO.

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Posted in Appliance Repair, Washer Repair, Whirlpool

Beware of Appliance Warranties

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You should be cautious with appliance warranties. They might look good, but the manufacturers always have an angle. They usually have limited their risks by making the parts with high risk of failure either inexpensive for them or very expensive for you. Today’s Appliances are designed to fail and keep the money flowing out of our pockets and into theirs. No matter how much my clients have paid for their new appliances, I start to see them fail at the five to six year marke.

Before attempting any repair on an appliance, be sure that you fully understand the required steps and that you can safely and competently use all of the required tools. Only use replacement parts of the same size, specifications and capacity as your original manufacturer’s part.

In addition, be sure to pay very close attention to any and all safety cautions and warnings posted on the appliance being serviced. Understanding and adhering to these safety advisories can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself.

It is also always a good idea to have a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies, be sure you understand how to use both before starting. If you are unsure about any of the steps in the repair procedure, it is recommended you call your local appliance repair technician for your own safety.

This post is brought to you by web development firm Charleston-SEO.

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Posted in Appliance Repair, Appliance Repair Charleston

How to check a capacitor

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Capacitors are electrical devices that boost the available electric power to a motor when it is initially starting up. Motors need more power to get started than they do once the are running. Knowing how to check a capacitor is essential to knowing how to diagnose the problem with an appliance’s motor.

Before attempting any repair, be sure that you fully understand the required steps and that you can safely and competently use all of the required tools. Only use replacement parts of the same size, specifications and capacity as your original manufacturer’s part.

It is also always a good idea to have a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies, be sure you understand how to use both before starting. If you are unsure about any of the steps in the repair procedure, it is recommended you call your local appliance repair technician for your own safety.

In addition, be sure to pay very close attention to any and all safety cautions and warnings posted on the appliance being serviced. Understanding and adhering to these safety advisories can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself.

This post is brought to you by Charleston-SEO.

Posted in Appliance Repair, Uncategorized

Using A Multimeter

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One of the most valuable if not the most valuable tools in diagnosing appliances is a multi-meter. You don’t have to have a crazy expensive one to do the job either, however you do have to understand how to use it properly. So if you’re going to attempt to repair your own appliances or trouble shoot them on your own, it will be worth your while to buy an inexpensive multimeter and then watch this video to learn the basics of how to use it.

Before attempting any repair, be sure that you fully understand the required steps and that you can safely and competently use all of the required tools. Only use replacement parts of the same size, specifications and capacity as your original manufacturer’s part.

It is also always a good idea to have a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies, be sure you understand how to use both before starting. If you are unsure about any of the steps in the repair procedure, it is recommended you call your local appliance repair technician for your own safety.

In addition, be sure to pay very close attention to any and all safety cautions and warnings posted on the appliance being serviced. Understanding and adhering to these safety advisories can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury to yourself.

This post is brought to you by web design firm Charleston-SEO.

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Posted in Appliance Repair, Appliance Repair Charleston, Tools

Don’t Let Your Washer Be A Danger!

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Responding to a call on a washing machine that wouldn’t spin, I ran into an extremely dangerous situation. After removing the front cover I realized the last person to service this washing machine was a rank amateur.

The reason this particular washing machine was refusing to go into spin cycle was that the wire leading to the lid switch had shorted out, burnt itself in two, although luckily it had not affected any other parts of the washer.
The bigger problem however was that someone in the past had completely bypassed the lid switch, while those of you not in the appliance repair trade may not realize the implications of such a hazardous move, any professional appliance repairman worth their salt will tell you this is a huge NO, NO!

To explain, the purpose of a lid switch is to keep the lid of the washer securely closed while the machine is going into high speed spins, which can reach hundreds of RPM’s (Revolutions Per Minute). This is the period of time that your washer presents the greatest hazard to your family or anyone using the machine.

Not a year goes by that some unfortunate individual foolishly decides to reach their arm into a machine that is in a high speed spin in a misguided effort to slow it down or stop it. The results are most always tragic. The clothes in the washer usually trap the person’s arm and then literally twist it off. A best case scenario is the arm is shattered in several places, in some of the worst ones, the arm has been wrenched free of the body.

To tie this in, the purpose of your lid switch is to make absolutely sure this does not happen to whomever is using the washer or to anyone passing by. Under no circumstances should a lid switch be bypassed, nor should you make any other repairs to a unit that has had the switch bypassed.

In the handful of instances I have run into this issue, the homeowner was upset to know their appliance’s main safety feature had been bypassed, and more than happy to pay the small extra cost to have the lid safety system working properly.

How can you check to make sure your washer is functioning correctly? Put a load in your washer and start it and let it fill with water. Most washers will allow you to open the lid in the agitation cycle so you can add detergents and softeners. Now with the machine full of water, open the lid and advance the time to the spin cycle. On any properly functioning washing machine, THE WASHER SHOULD NOT SPIN WITH THE LID OPEN!!

If you washer does, call your local appliance repairman. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Posted in Appliance Repair, Appliance Repair Charleston, Uncategorized

Ten Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Refrigerator

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Hi everyone, this is basically a condensed version of an article I wrote for eZine articles titled “Ten Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Refrigerator”.  So let’s get started.

1. Always move refrigerators in an upright position. Without going into the details laying a refrigerator on its side can do a lot of damage to the refrigerator, if you have to do this with your refrigerator, make sure you let it stand up right for at least 48 hours before you plug it back in.

2. Always locate refrigerators away from potential heat sources such as windows, ranges, and heaters. Also don’t placed her fridge raider to the motor close to anything that could possibly restrict airflow pretty other important parts. In addition, it isn’t a good idea to place refrigerators on top carpet, because most refrigerators have their condensers located underneath and carpeting will retain heat and restrict airflow.

3. You should always plug the refrigerator directly into the wall to avoid burning out the compressor, if you absolutely have to use an extension cord, make sure to use a heavy-duty, 3 pronged extension cord with very heavy gauge wiring.

4. When leaving for an extended period of time, like a vacation or extended trip, it is a good idea to go ahead and discard to which is perishable, to turn the icemaker off, and leave the refrigerator running.

5. Don’t overfill the refrigerator to deploy the cool air cannot circulate freely, this is an important factor in the regulation of food temperature.

6. In order to prevent odors and preserve the quality of food, it is a good idea to have all expose foods covered or wrapped. Also you want to remove spoiled food and clean up spills immediately.

7. Clean your refrigerator at regular intervals by removing all food and removable interior parts. It is a good idea to wash them with a mild household detergent or baking soda, and then to rinse them with warm water for wiping dry. You will want to pull out removable glass shelves and plastic and repeat the cleaning process. Be careful not to put cold glass or plastic and hot water suddenly, as the sudden temperature change may cause them to crack. Also, abrasive cleansers are not recommended and can degrade the services of your plastic parts.

8. Condenser coils should be cleaned often by gently brushing off the lint and dust buildup which happens over time and make calls overheating. You want to repeat this process even more often if you have pets that shed, is their hair  will clog up the condenser coils and reduce the efficiency of the unit.

9. Your refrigerator store sales should also be cleaned regularly so that they seal well and  maintained the proper temperature in your refrigerator.

10. Sweep or vacuum dust and other debris under and around the refrigerator as this kind of debris has a tendency to accumulate in the condenser and reduce the efficiency of your refrigerator. Doing this regularly will promote good air flow and temperature in your refrigerator.

Following these procedures will help keep your refrigerator or freezer in proper working condition and help up to last as long as possible. In addition, these tips will save money by allowing your unit to operate as efficiently as possible.

Posted in Appliance Repair Charleston, Uncategorized

Samsung – Sorry, No Can Do!

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I hate to put up negative publicity, I hate to say no to clients, but every once in a while I am forced to. That being said, I must announce that we will no longer be servicing Samsung appliances for reasons that it is probably not a good idea to go into due to the fact that they have a huge legal department.

We have been providing service on Samsung appliances for some time but they are just too problematic and parts are too hard to get. So without further ado I must say…SAYONARA SAMSUNG!

Posted in Appliance Repair Charleston, Misc

The New Blog

I’m not sure if anyone in the world besides Google is interested in keeping up with the day to day activities on an appliance repairman, but I’ve started this blog just in case there is. Actually, this will be a good place to put all the advice and observations I keep meaning to add to my main site, but never get the time to.

Anyway thanks for stopping in and be sure to check back for updates and new content.

Posted in Misc