Monthly Archives: January 2019

Washer Repair: Common Washer Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Washer repair professionals report that most of the washer problems are due to the many mistakes that people make when they are using their washing machines. Here are some of the most common washer mistakes and what you should do go about them:

Maintenance mistakes

How you take care of the washer has a great impact on how it operates and how long it lasts. One of the mistakes that people make is failing to replace or check the water hoses. Water hoses are one of the most integral parts of the washer; therefore, when you aren’t inspecting them, you are making a serious mistake.

When you don’t inspect the hoses you can’t tell when they develop issues which often gets you by surprise.

For peace of mind you need to undertake regular water hose inspection. When you notice a crack or any other problem, you should replace the hose immediately. Some people tend to ignore the problem which leads to flooding of the house. As you might have guessed, this leads to house damage.

Another mistake that people make is failing to level their washing machines. When you work with an unleveled washing machine, the unit keeps on making annoying noises. The unleveled appliance also tends to scratch the floor causing damage to the floor and the machine.

For you to save money and have peace of mind, you should ensure that your washing machine is leveled all the time. One of the quickest ways of going about it is purchasing a leveler kit for your machine.

Washing machine cleaning mistakes

Washing machines are designed to clean, but you also need to clean them regularly. Some people make the mistake of never cleaning them. This is not only unhygienic, but also dangerous to the machine.

Others will clean the appliances, but they will forget some of the crucial areas. For example, some will forget to clean out the lint trap or filter. The lint trap is meant to protect the washer; therefore, it’s common for debris, dirt, and other materials to stick to the unit.

If you don’t clean it early enough, it’s bound to clog leading to the tub draining improperly. The drain can also leave fuzzy remnants on your clothes before they even get to the dryer.

When you are cleaning the washing machine, ensure that you pay close attention to the lint trap and ensure that you have cleaned it thoroughly.

Another cleaning mistake that people make is failing to run a cleaning cycle. When you fail to do so, soap residues and other particles are bound to buildup in the washing machine, shortening its life.

Other homeowners will clean their appliances, but they will fail cleaning them as deeply as they are supposed to. As you might have guessed, this doesn’t give the washers the clean look that they deserve hence they keep on developing problems.

For you to clean the washers as deep as possible, you need to run the longest wash and spin cycle. You should then refill the tub again with hot water while adding one quart of white distilled vinegar. Once you are done, repeat the longest cycle.

You don’t have to hire a professional to help you with the cleaning but if you don’t have the time or you feel that you are unable to properly clean the washing machine, you should go ahead and hire an experienced expert to help you out.

Usage mistakes

Commercial appliance repair Fairfaxprofessionals report that most of the washing machine problems are as a result of poor usage. The most common mistake is overloading the machine.

When you overload the washing machine, it tends to work harder in order to spin all the clothes. This puts more tension on the parts. This not only leads to damage to the appliance, it also tends to greatly reduce the lifespan of the appliance.

Others use a lot of detergent with the aim of giving their clothes an extra clean look. There is nothing that is as misleading as this. When you use a lot of detergent you don’t give your clothes a clean look. The extra detergent tends to build up in the unit leading to clogging.

Oven Repair: Signs Your Oven Is On Its Way Out

Regardless of the type of oven you have in your home, it will come a time when you will have to replace it. Oven repair professionals report that an oven that is on its way out always gives signs. Some of the signs that you should be on the lookout for include:

Failure of the oven to cook the food right

You put all the necessary ingredients in the food, but the recipe doesn’t come out right. This usually comes about when the different components of the oven wear out or break, bringing about fluctuations in temperature. The fluctuations lead to poor results when you make your food.

When you are having this problem, it means that the oven is no longer able to properly regulate the temperature and you need to replace the thermostat.

The heat might also be escaping out of the oven. Before you run into a conclusion that your appliance needs to be replaced, check the seals around the door and ensure that thy are in good shape. If they are worn out, it’s time to replace them.

Pilot problems

If you have a gas oven, one of the clear signs that it’s time to think about replacing it is having consistent pilot light problems. If your oven isn’t lighting automatically, you might be having a broken switch.

As a gas oven owner, you should be cautious of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you notice the oven burning with a yellow orange flame instead of a vibrant blue one, it means that it isn’t receiving enough oxygen. This should be a case of concern.

Sometimes the pilot light will light up but keep on going out. When you are having this problem or any other, you should contact a repair professional to inspect the unit and identify the source of the problem. If the issues are due to old age of the appliance, you have no way out, other than to replace it.

Failure of the electric oven to heat up

Many people prefer electric ovens due to their convenience. Unfortunately, just like any other appliances, they tend to develop problems that you should have them fixed. One of the most common problems is their failure to light up.

This is often due to problems with the heating element that might be have broken or worn out. If your heating element isn’t glowing, you should think about replacing it. Sometimes you might find that the oven isn’t heating up at all. In such a case, you have a serious problem in your hands that you should have it looked into by a professional.

Scorching worktops

There should be no scorch marks on your worktops when you are cooking; therefore, when you notice them, you have a reason to be worried. The marks often come about when there isn’t enough space between the oven and cupboards. The seals on the oven might also be worn out, hence making the heat escape.

When you are having scorch marks when cooking, the first thing you should check are the seals and confirm that they aren’t worn out. If they are, replace them.

In some cases, you might find the oven doors and knobs overheating. This is usually due to failure of the cooling fan. Unless you have the skills, you should avoid trying to fix the issues. The best way out is to simply hire a professional and ask them to inspect the unit.

An oven that is problematic to clean

One of the ways of maintaining your oven is to regularly clean it. In addition to cleaning leaving your oven looking great, it also increases its efficiency as you get rid of the annoying dirt that might have built up.

You also tend to get rid of odors that might have been caught up in the grease and food spills. A good oven should be easy to clean even with a simple moist piece of cloth.

If you find yourself having problems cleaning oven surfaces, the tops might be damaged or too old and you have no way out, other than to replace them.

Before you pull the plug, ask an appliance repair Alexandria professional to inspect the unit and make the necessary recommendation.

Dishwasher Repair: Tips On How To Properly Load The Dishwasher

Dishwasher repair professionals report that one of the reasons why dishwashers keep on failing is due to improper loading. For you to keep your unit functioning optimally you need to be cautious of how you load it. Here are tips on how to do it:

Start with the bottom

Many people start loading their appliances from the top. This is wrong. You should start from the bottom. Insert the plates into the slots in the bottom section of the dishwasher. Ensure that they are facing towards the center.

If the plates have to lean, lean them inwards and downwards. This is to ensure that they are properly sprayed by the jets that spray water outwards, from the center.

When arranging the plates, keep the surfaces separated and accessible to the water stream. When it comes to the cups, bowls, and glasses, place them at an angle so that they get enough water from below. Take caution that they don’t take up a lot of room.

The best way of going about it is stacking the bowls neatly on an incline. This ensures that the washing solution reaches inside the bowl.

Place plastics on the top rack

Since the heating element of most dishwashers is on the bottom, you should place plastic items in the bottom rack. This is to prevent them from melting or warping. When loading them, take caution that you don’t crowd them, making it hard for water and cleaning solution to reach them.

If you have large plastic items, consider handwashing them first before you place them in the dishwasher. This makes the work of the unit much easy.

Properly load the cutlery basket

The cutlery basket carries the knives, spoons, and forks. Do you have dangerous or ultra-sharp knives? Hand wash them. This is to prevent the dishwasher from getting dull. You should distribute the cutlery loosely, positioning the soiled surfaces of the spoons and forks apart so that the water can reach them.

Be cautious when loading long pieces of cutlery. This is because they tend to block the spray from the nozzles, tubes, and rotating devices. If you have the long pieces, lay them in the upper basket.

When it comes to the larger serving utensils, place them at the top section of the dishwasher. You should arrange them facing down, so that water doesn’t collect in them.

Use the plastic safety rack to hold wine glasses

Does your dishwasher have a plastic, mesh-like piece on the top rack? It’s designed to hold wine glasses, so make use of it. In addition to wine glasses, you can also use it to hold any fragile pieces you might be having.

After loading the dishwasher, inspect the spinning arms and rotating devices and ensure that they are spinning freely. There should be no tubes or sprayers obstructing them.

Also, check the detergent cups and ensure that they open fully. You should note that if there are any materials obstructing or blocking the surfaces, they make it harder for the dishwasher to properly clean the dishes.

Tips on how to get the most from your dishwasher

In addition to properly loading the dishwasher, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that your unit is functioning optimally.

One of the things you can do is to scrape off large food pieces from the dishes and into the trash or garbage disposal. You should get rid of things such as seeds, bones, corncobs, peelings, and any other thick materials that might be there. If the dishes are too dirty, consider pre-rinsing them.  

Everyone wants shiny dishes when they are coming from the dish washer. For you to make it easy for the unit to give you the results you are looking for, make use of a rinse agent or pre-wash fluid. The fluid helps you to reduce water spots, especially if you have hard water.

Commercial appliance repair Northern VA professionals recommend that you run the garbage disposal before you run the dishwasher. Most of the dishwashers drain into the same pipe as the sink; therefore, when you run the garbage disposal, you drain it thus making it easy for the dishwasher to work and give you clean dishes.