Cleaning | Home Maintenance

Appliance Repairs You Can Do on Your Own

Appliances break down from time to time, and that is a part of their natural cycle of life. Still, when that happens too often, it might seem like you are the one supporting the handyman and his family. The worst thing is that these breakdowns almost always happen when your monthly bills are already piled up. And let’s face it – usually, there is barely enough money to pay for the bills, let alone repairs or a new appliance. Have you ever considered fixing the appliance yourself? Indeed, there are some complicated and touchy things you should steer away from, but there are plenty of those you can tackle with your own hands. Here are some of them.

A Smelly DishwasherAppliance Repairs You Can Do on Your Own

Dishwasher odors can be very unpleasant, and since they are not caused by the dishwasher being too clean, they are probably bad for your health too. Start eliminating the odors by cleaning the screen at its bottom. Later add a disinfectant and dishwasher cleaner, and run for a full cycle. Other things you can try are cleaning the sprayer arm pots and cleaning the door lip.

A Smelly Washing Machine

So many smelly appliances in one house, don’t you think? It is a good thing you will learn how to fix them, though. A smelly washing machine can transfer the smell onto your clothes, so read carefully. Those odors are usually caused by mold, so they can be fixed with a mold cleaner. Once you put it into the machine run it empty for one cycle, and then leave the door opened to dry out.

Re-calibrating the Oven Temperature

One of the common oven repairs is fixing the heaters which are not heating properly or evenly. What if we tell you that the issue might not be in the heaters, but in the thermometer? The temperature in the oven might not match the temperature you have set. Check whether it is calibrated properly with a quality thermometer you will put on the center shelf and leave the oven to heat. If the two temperatures differ, go get your manual (since the settings are different for different brands) and recalibrate the thermostat.

Replacing Stove Burners or SocketsAppliance Repairs You Can Do on Your Own

Annoying as it may be, an electric burner that doesn’t heat well is a minor breakdown that can be repaired in no time. First you need to check if the problem is in the burner or the socket. Do that by replacing it with the burner that works. If it is still not working, the problem is in the socket or the switch. Replace the socket by unscrewing the wires and reconnecting them to a new socket. If it is the switch, and you are not sure that you can tackle multiple wires, you can always call your good old handyman.

Repairing the Fridge Ice-Maker

It’s the middle of summer and your ice-maker is on strike? Put down your phone and do not call the professionals. This usually happens because of a blockage in one of the three common trouble spots: water inlet, saddle valve, and water inlet valve. Remove the ice-maker to see the inlet tube and melt the ice with a hair dryer. If the problem is in the saddle valve, turn it clockwise to unclog it. Replacing the inlet valve can be done by unscrewing the cover panel and removing the screws that keep it in place. All you have to do now is to unplug the wiring remove the valve, and install a new one.

A large part of malfunctions that happen around the house require simple fixtures, such as pressing the reset button or proper cleaning. Wouldn’t calling a handyman for them be a waste of his time and your money? Take matters into your own hands and beat those persistent breakdowns.

Article written by Lillian Connors. If one thing is true about Lillian Connors, her mind is utterly curious. That’s why she can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of home improvement projects and spread the word about them. As the Co-Editor at SmoothDecorator, she cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit and what we eat, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *