Tag Archives: appliance repair technician

Commercial Kitchen Appliance Service: Guide On How To Maintain Kitchen Appliances

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There are many kitchen appliances and for them to continue working effectively for long you need to take good care of them. Here are kitchen appliance maintenance tips:

Refrigerator

A broken down refrigerator is very inconvenient. To avoid the breakdown you should clean the appliance at least once a week and remove all the old food and mold that might be there. You should also remove dirt and cobwebs from the back of the refrigerator using a broom.

You should go around the appliance and ensure all the parts are working perfectly. You should take a look at the door bins, caps shelves and retainer bars. To have peace of mind you should repair even the most minor flaw that you notice. If your refrigerator has crisper drawers or glass shelves you should replace them even if they have a minor crack.

A refrigerator that is on the verge of breaking down produces unusual sounds. You should listen to any sounds that might be coming from the evaporator fan motors or condenser fan. Any rattling, buzzing, squeaking or squealing sound is a cause of concern.

If you can’t fix the problem you should ask a refrigerator repair professional to take a look at it.

Dishwasher

The dishwasher saves you a lot of time and energy as all you need to do is to put your dirty utensils in the appliance and it handles everything. One of the major reasons why the appliance breaks down is due to improper use.

To avoid hiring a commercial appliance repair professional every now and then you should carefully load the appliance. The racks are made from steel wire and coated with a vinyl material that can easily get damaged when used roughly. The appliance can also stop working if you overload it.

Remember that the appliance also gets dirty just like any other appliance in your home; therefore, you should clean it on a regular basis.

When cleaning the utensils you should take care that no foreign materials enter the pump area. Materials in the pump area tend to damage the impellers, filters, and seals requiring you to undertake expensive repair.

When the dishwasher is running, you should listen to any unusual sounds such as rattling, grinding or scraping noises. If you notice any unusual sounds you should hire a dishwasher repair contractor to fix it.

Conclusion

A malfunctioning kitchen appliance is very inconvenient and can cost you a lot of money to repair it. To avoid hiring emergency kitchen appliance repair Alexandria you should properly maintain your appliances.

 

How To Repair The Heating Pad

heating pad repair professional

A heating pad is a small electrical unit that is usually a continuous electrical wire encased in a plastic pad. The pads also come with a removable sponge-line inner that holds the moisture to pass heat.

Major problems with the heating pads

Although, the pads don’t require any maintenance, they tend to develop a number of problems. One of the problems is the breaking of the electrical wire resulting to the pad heating intermittently or not at all. Another major problem is the malfunctioning of the thermostat.

Before you take any action you should try manipulating the pad. If you manipulate it and it goes on and off, the problem is most likely due to a broken wire within it. In this case you shouldn’t try repairing the heating pad—you should simply buy a new one.

If the pad works on some settings and not on others, the problem is most likely in the thermostat. You should open the pad and repair the thermostat according to the manufacturer instructions.

Heating pad repair

You should consider repairing the unit if you manipulate it and there is no change. You need to two items to repair the heating pad: screwdrivers and multimeter. You should attach the multimeter to the electric cord prongs while the controller is in the “off” position.

The multimeter will help you in determining the resistance. When you see that the resistance is infinite, it means that you have an open circuit or no connection. This means that there is a break inside the wire in the electrical current. If you test and you see zero ohms, it means that there is good flow of electrical current.

You should also test the thermostat. If you test the thermostat and you see a zero reading, it means that the switch is working well. If you see any other reading, there is an interruption thus you need to replace the thermostat.

Although, you can test the unit by yourself, it’s highly encouraged that you hire an appliance repair professional to test it for you. In addition to the professional, testing the unit, he/she will also recommend the best heating pad in case you need to replace it.

Conclusion

These are tips on how to undertake heating pad repair. If your heating pad is faulty and need to be replaced, you should ensure that the heating pad replacement is done by a certified technician.

 

How To Take Care And Repair Ceramic Cooktop

ceramic cooktop

Do you have a ceramic cooktop in your home? You should take good care of it for it to last for a long time. If you don’t know what to do, here are tips that you should put into consideration:

How To Take Care Of Ceramic Cooktops

When cleaning the cooktops you should never use abrasive cleaners or metal pads which can easily scratch them. Instead of using these cleaners, you should use a soft sponge, clothes and creams that are designed for ceramic cooktops.

If you cook with pots, you should be careful that you don’t drag them on the cooktop.

Sugary substances can discolour your cooktop; therefore, you should be cautious that they don’t land there thus leaving yellowish areas that are impossible to remove.

You should also not place a hot glass bakeware on the smooth cooktop.

How To Repair A Ceramic Cooktop

Although, you might be taking good care of your cooktop, accidents do happen. For example, the ceramic cooktop might get chipped. When this happens you should repair the damaged cooktop.

There are two ways in which you can repair a chipped ceramic cooktop: with the chipped piece and without the chipped piece.

To repair using the chipped piece you should clean the chipped area in order to prepare it for the chipped piece. You should use a ceramic epoxy adhesive in order to glue the piece back into place. For the pieces to stick together, you should apply some pressure on them. After you have replaced the chipped piece you should protect the area with a ceramic sealer and let the area dry for 24 hours.

If you want to repair the area without the chipped piece you should mix the filing compound from the ceramic repair kit. As rule of thumb you should follow the given mixing instructions. Once the mixture is ready you should use a flat edged tool to spackle the filler compound into the chipped area. If there are rough areas you should smooth them with steel wool. You should then wipe the area, seal it and allow it to dry.

Conclusion

These are tips on how to take care and repair a ceramic cooktop. If your cooktop is damaged and you don’t have the skills to repair it, you should hire the services of a ceramic cooktop repair professional to help you out.

Common Problems With Electric Ovens

oven repairHas your electric oven stopped working and wondering what the problem could be? Here are some of the common electric oven faults:

Power problems

When your oven has power problems, it fails to start. If there’s power in the socket and the appliance isn’t starting, the fuse may have blown. The electrical supply may also have been interrupted; therefore, you should check the main fuse board and ensure that everything is okay. If your oven has a digital timer, it might have stuck in automatic. You should reset the timer using the given instructions.

Oven has power, but not heating up

This problem is brought about by a number of factors such as faulty thermal fuse or thermal switch. It can also be brought about by a faulty oven element. You should check the two parts and ensure that they are intact. You should carefully take a look at the element and ensure that there are no broken pieces on it. If there are any pieces, you should consider replacing the element.

Oven burns food

This happens when the temperature is too high. You should check the thermostat sensing bulb and ensure that it’s intact. Sometimes, the bulb comes loose and ends up on the floor of the oven or heating element. If the bulb is in the right place, you should consider recalibrating the thermostat. Recalibration is a sensitive process; therefore, you should seek the services of a qualified electric oven repair professional.

Door and control knobs get too hot

This is common when the cooling fan is faulty or is blowing air out from the top of the appliance. You should check if your oven has a fan. If the fan isn’t working, you should replace it.

Oven door doesn’t close or has fallen off

The main causes of this problem are faulty hinges. Here the hinges might have broken or become misaligned. It’s also possible that the door seal might have perished on become loose. In this case, you only need to replace the seal.

Electric oven repair costs

Electric oven repair costs depend on the part of the oven that you want to repair. For example, if you want to replace the heating element you will need to part with $20-$30.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about the common problems with electric ovens. To avoid problems, you should avoid undertaking electric oven repair on your own—you should hire the services of a professional.

Understanding The Common Problems With Refrigerators

refrigerator repiarA refrigerator is an important unit to have in your house. The unfortunate thing with refrigerators is that they tend to develop problems over time. To help you out here are some of the common refrigerator problems:

Failure of the fridge to cool

There are many factors that can prevent your refrigerator from cooling. Some of these factors include: defective fan, bad compressor, capacitor and overstocking the fridge.

When your fridge fails to cool food, you should look at the condenser coils and dust them off. You should also look at the refrigerator door seal and ensure that isn’t broken. Finally, you should take a look at the thermostat and ensure that it’s set correctly. For ideal results, you should ensure that it’s set between 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Leaking

It’s common for water to leak in refrigerators especially if there is a condensation build up. To repair the problem, you should check the lines to your dispenser. If the lines are broken or damaged you should replace them. You should also take a look at the drain pan. If there are holes or cracks on the pan, you should replace the pan.

Fridge freezing food

This happens when the thermostat isn’t set properly. The problem can also happen when the circulating fan blows cold air through the freezer. You should look at the fan and ensure that it’s working perfectly and blowing air the right way.

Frost buildup

This happens when there is a thick layer of frost that blocks the freezer. To undertake refrigerator repair you should empty and unplug the fridge temporarily in order to allow the ice to melt. To speed up the defrosting process you should consider using a hairdryer.

Excessive noise

Excessive noise in refrigerators is brought about by a number of factors including: unlubricated motors and malfunctioning fan. To fix the problem you should lubricate the motors. You should also replace the fan if it’s the one causing the problem. If you replace the fan and the problem persists, you should check its position and ensure that you haven’t placed it too close to the compressor.

Conclusion

These are some of the common problems with refrigerators. While there are some minor problems that you can rectify by yourself, you should avoid trying to rectify problems that you don’t understand. If your fridge develops complex problems you should hire a refrigerator repair professional to help you out.

Decide Whether to Repair or Replace Your Refrigerator

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Among all the home appliances, refrigerators are the one of those that is taken for granted. It is because of the fact that refrigerators are the most reliable and durable appliance. It is not extraordinary to get years of trouble-free service from a refrigerator. Eventually, every appliance needs repair or replacement. But the reliability of refrigerators makes it difficult for homeowners take decision at the right time.

Repair or replace your refrigerator

It is not easy to choose between refrigerator repair and replacement. The decision of whether or not to replace an old refrigerator depends on multiple things, including the condition, impact on the environment and your own personal requirements.

How to Decide When to Replace a Refrigerator?

Age: How old is your refrigerator? In general, refrigerators have 10 to 20 years of life span. No matter which brand of refrigerator you are using, it will not work with the same efficiency after 20 years. If your refrigerator is less than 15 years old, and it is showing problems, then consider appliance repair. But if it is more than 18 years old and not working properly, opt for replacement.

Type of Refrigerator: Some refrigerator types are more complex and expensive to repair than others. Built-in refrigerators are easy to repair while refrigerators with bottom freezers are expensive to repair. Thus, if your refrigerator is making you pay expensive repair bills, then it is better to replace it.

Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency is important thing associated with the electronic appliances. In case, your refrigerator is consuming a lot of energy and hiking your electricity bill, then it is better to replace it with new energy efficient refrigerator. Do remember to check the energy star rating whenever you purchase your next electronic appliance. Electronic engineering is progressing at rapid pace. The newer appliance you purchase, the more energy efficiency you get. Energy efficient appliances are expensive but they provide long-term benefits.

Condition: Condition of refrigerator depends on usage. If you have used your refrigerator properly, then your appliance may provide some more years of services. On the other hand, if you haven’t paid any attention over appliance maintenance, you may need early replacement.

So, these are some beaming signals that say that you need a refrigerator replacement. You can also discuss this matter with appliance repair technician before actually replacing it. You may get some good advice.

 

5 Dishwasher Problems You Should Never Ignore

According to appliance repair professionals, every appliance, including a dishwasher, develops problems in its life. Some of the problems are minor, and you can continue using the dishwasher without fixing it, but others are too elaborate, and you should never ignore them. Which are these problems? Here they are:

Bad odor coming from your appliance

Your dishwasher should be smelling fresh and clean, so if yours produces a bad odor, it means that there is something wrong, and you should look at it. In most cases, the primary culprit is the drain filter.

Most appliances have a drain filter to prevent food particles from clogging the drain, so if it’s dirty, it’s bound to produce bad smells that can be off-putting.

To get rid of the smells, you should remove the drain filters from the floor of your dishwasher and clean them in your kitchen sink with hot water and soap. It will even be better if you can use a bottlebrush in the cleaning so that you can reach all the interior surfaces.

You should clean the filter, ensuring it’s free of food debris and gunk.

Loud, abnormal noises

While dishwashers aren’t the quietest appliances, they aren’t supposed to be too loud that you are uncomfortable using them. As a rule of thumb, anything outside the typical low-pitched whirring means something is wrong.

The problem might be due to a minor issue such as a large pot getting in the way of spray arms, and all you need to do is rearrange the dishes so they can get clean.

The problem could also be due to a more complicated problem such as a drain pump, wash pump, or motor malfunctioning. If the abnormal noises are due to more complicated problems, have the appliance inspected by an experienced professional.

Rust

Rust is often not a reason to raise the alarm, especially if it’s just minor rust on the exterior, but if you see plenty of rust on the interior, there is a reason to worry. Rust is often a clear indication of an ongoing water leak, showing that your appliance is at the later stages of its life.

You can’t reverse or fix rust problems, so if there is a lot of rust on your appliance, so if your appliance has a lot of rust on it, it’s time to get a new unit. Of course, buy a new modern appliance and the ideal fit for your lifestyle.

Grime on the interior

It’s normal for grime to accumulate on the interior walls of your appliance, especially if you have been using it for a long time. The grime is usually black, gray, or even orange, and it’s brought about by food, mildew, bacteria, or mold buildup.

The grime is harmless to your appliance, but you risk getting sick from consuming the bacteria and mold when it gets to your dishes. It’s also common for the gunk to get to the dishwasher parts, leading to a malfunction.

Whenever you notice grime on your appliance, regardless of its size, move with haste and remove it. Begin with removing upper and lower racks, then run them under hot water in the kitchen sink. You should then scrub the insides of the dishwasher with a rag or sponge dampened with hot water, ensuring that you wipe down the door gasket, which can collect mold and mildew.

Water leaking on the outside

Most people will notice their appliances surrounded by a pool of water after running them, then ignore them. This is wrong as when the appliance keeps leaking water, the water can rot the floor, which, as you can guess, isn’t cheap to fix.

When you notice your appliance leaking, you shouldn’t ignore it—you should move with haste and fix the problem immediately.

The leaking problem can be brought about by several reasons, such as a clogged drain filter or parts having rust or calcium/lime buildup.

If you don’t know what you are doing, don’t try troubleshooting the appliance yourself—let a professional handle it.

Conclusion

These are some of the dishwasher problems you shouldn’t ignore. While they appear minor, they often lead to complex problems, so try to fix them as soon as possible. To avoid ruining your appliance, don’t try to fix the problems yourself—let a commercial appliance repair Springfield professional do it.

Signs Your Refrigerator Ice Maker Needs Repair

Did you know the refrigerator ice maker gives obvious signs that it’s time to fix it? Some of these signs as given by refrigerator ice maker repair professionals include:

The freezer gets too warm

For the ice maker to make ice, it needs to be cold, so if you notice the temperature in your appliance being too high, there might be a problem that you need to look into. Even if your freezer is above 10 degrees F, you should be worried.

While the freezer might be freezing food, the ice maker won’t make ice, and in some cases, it might stop making any ice altogether.

To make ice, the freezer should be functioning at 0 degrees F, which is the temperature you should shoot for. Before you contact a repair professional, turn down the freezer and observe the temperature. If it doesn’t drop, get in touch with an expert to find out why the temperature isn’t dropping.

The ice doesn’t taste right.

Sometimes the ice maker will make ice, but it has a weird taste or smell on tasting it. Sometimes it might be due to poor city water supply, but if tap water tastes alright, but the ice still has a weird taste or smell, the problem might be with the ice maker.

Get in touch with an experienced professional to look into the source of the problem and fix it.

Faulty water inlet valve

The water inlet runs from the wall to your appliance and connects via the water inlet valve. This valve can fail to function due to a variety of reasons that include:

  • The water pressure might be too low that it doesn’t activate the valve as well as it should
  • There might be some mineral build up in the valve or hose that restricts proper water flow
  • The valve might fail mechanically

If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can try troubleshooting the appliance by shutting off the water to your appliance then disconnecting the hose from the inlet valve.

After removing the hose, inspect it and identify any issues that might be present.

If the problem is due to low water pressure, you will notice the low pressures in some areas of your house, and you should work on increasing it.

The buildup will be visible in the valve and hose if the problem is due to mineral buildup. In some cases, you can remove the buildup, but you are better off simply replacing the valve and getting it working again in other cases.

If the valve has failed, remove the metal bracket securing it to the appliance, and test it with a multimeter.

If you have done everything within your knowledge level and still the valve inlet valve has a problem, get in touch with an experienced professional to help with the troubleshooting.

Loud noises

It’s normal for the ice maker to make some noises, but they shouldn’t be too loud that you hear them from a distance. In most cases, ice makers are loud when dumping ice, but they tend to be fairly silent in all the other cases.

If your ice maker is making constant loud and /or unusual sounds, you must be having a mechanical problem that needs to be looked at by an expert.

No ice

The purpose of the ice maker is to make ice, so when it fails to, it’s obvious that you have a problem that you should look into. Your icemaker will fail to make ice due to plenty of reasons such as blocked water line, electricity problem or any other problem.

If you can’t tell why your unit isn’t functioning, get in touch with an experienced appliance repair Springfield professional to help with the inspection and troubleshooting.

Work with the right contractor

While there are many contractors in the industry you can hire, take your time and hire an experienced one that knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is hiring a contractor and they cause more problems than were originally there.

Does A Dishwasher Save Water?

A study published in the international journal of consumer studies looked at 200 homes with and without a dishwasher in four European countries. The study was done over two weeks, and during this period, the participants had to record every dishwashing process.

The researchers would interview and observe the participants concerning their dishwashing habits, and after the two weeks, the results showed that homes with a dishwasher used on average 50% less water and 28% less energy than those without a dishwasher.

So to answer your questions, does a dishwasher save water? Yes, it does.

Did you know you can save even more water by doing the right things? Here are some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals:

Use the right dishwasher

Everything begins here. When you are looking for a dishwasher in the market, buy one rated for energy and water efficiency. If this is the first time purchasing the appliance, learn to read the yellow energy guide label.

In most cases, the best appliances are those with the highest energy rating. Unfortunately, they tend to be expensive to buy.

Run a full load

When it comes to cleaning the dishes, don’t put just a few of them in the dishwasher—you should wait until you have enough of them so that you run the unit at maximum capacity. As you can guess, when you run the dishwasher at full load, you spend less water as you don’t have to run another load any time soon.

Some modern dishwashers have half-load programs to encourage homeowners to run their appliances even if they don’t have enough dishes for a full load. While these programs use less water and energy than a normal cycle, the amount of water they save isn’t half of what you would have spent had you run a full load.

Due to this, you should avoid using this program.

To save money, wait to have enough dishes for a full cycle, then select the eco or water-saving cycle. This way you will save water and energy.

Don’t pre-rinse the dishes.

Some homeowners have the impression that they get cleaner dishes and give their appliances an easier time when they pre-rinse the dishes. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessary as you end up spending too much water.

You can scrape off as much food and grease from the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, but you don’t have to pre-rinse them.

Most modern dishwashers are powerful enough to remove as much dirt from the dishes, so you don’t need to do the pre-rinsing.

If you have heavily soiled dishes, pre-soak them instead of rinsing them under the tap.

Load the dishwasher efficiently.

Did you know how you load the dishwasher significantly impacts the amount of water the unit consumes? As much as you want to save as much water as possible, don’t overload the dishwasher as this might prevent some of the items from being thoroughly cleaned, and you are forced to redo it, which, as you can guess, means that you have to spend more water and energy.

The right way to go about it is to never load more items in the dishwasher than it’s designed to carry. When loading, load large items at the back and sides of the rack. Don’t place big plates at the front as they will stop the water from reaching the detergent dispenser.

Regularly tune up your appliance.

You will observe all of the above tips, but if your appliance is in bad shape, it will consume a lot more water than it should.

To avoid this, make it a habit to contact dishwasher repair Springfield professionals at least once a year to inspect the appliance and fix any issues it might be having,

To get the best service, ensure that the professional you hire is experienced and knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is to hire someone that comes to cause more problems than were originally there.

Besides hiring a professional once a year, make it a habit to fix the appliance whenever you notice even the most minor problems.

How Do You Know If Your Refrigerator Icemaker Is Bad?

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

Do you have a feeling that your ice maker has a problem? It could be true.

How do you know if your refrigerator ice maker is bad? Well, there are a number of things you can look out for. Some of these things as given by appliance repair professionals include:

The ice maker not making ice

The unit is supposed to make ice, so if it’s not, there is definitely a problem. The icemaker will fail to make ice for plenty of reasons, such as wrong temperature settings, dirty filters, blockages, and many others.

You should look into the unit and confirm whether the thermostat is set at the right temperature. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the temperature doesn’t exceed 5ºF.

While at it, check the arm lever and ensure that it’s pushed down. If it’s up, it might be the reason the ice maker won’t make ice, so you need to push it down.

How is the water stream? If the stream is weak or there is no water coming out, you might be having a problem with the waterline. Inspect it and if blocked or damaged, fix it.

Ice maker not making enough ice

Sometimes the ice maker will make some ice, but you can tell it’s not working at its capacity. In most cases, this will happen due to problems with the waterline. You need to access the line and find out whether it’s blocked or damaged.

Fix the problem and ensure that the stream has a steady flow with good water pressure (30-120 psi). When replacing the water line, ensure that everything is connected tightly and the water inlet valve is fully open and free of debris.

Ice maker making ice that is too small or has a weird taste

If the ice coming from the ice maker is too small, it could be due to water line problems. Does the ice have a weird taste or color? This might be due to food odors from the freezer.

Check the water line for any bulges, kinks, or damage. If you see any problem, fix it.

If the problem is too big that you have to replace the line, replace the line using a copper water line. This way, you have a durable water line that won’t give the water a weird taste.

To prevent the smell of the food in the freezer from getting into the water, make it a habit to cover the food with plastic.

Ice maker not dropping ice

If your ice maker isn’t dropping ice, you could be having a blockage in the ice tray, or the ice cube has jammed between the lever and bin. If this is the case, double-check and confirm that the lever is pushed down and/or the ice maker is switched on. If you aren’t sure about it, consult your owner’s manual.

Also, confirm if the problem is due to ice accumulation in the ice bin. If there is blocked ice, remove it by carefully chipping at it with a plastic knife.

Ice maker making loud noises

Although the icemaker should make some noise when working, the noise shouldn’t be too loud that it’s a distraction. So if your appliance is making constant or unusual noises, it might be having a mechanical problem that you need to look at.

In most cases, you can’t properly diagnose the noises and fix them on your own—you have to hire an experienced refrigerator icemaker repair Fairfax professional to help out.

Water leaking into the freezer or on the floor.

Two of the most common culprits for this problem are a faulty water line and an unleveled icemaker.

The first place to check is whether the refrigerator is leveled. If it’s not, level it. Once the fridge is level, check the inside of the freezer and ensure that it’s also leveled.

How is the water line? Check its condition and ensure that the fill tube is positioned properly. The tube’s location will vary depending on the ice maker model, but it should always be above the icemaker tray or inside the water fill cup.