Before Calling a Repairman - Stoves

This will be the last one in this series; a large majority of refrigerator issues need to be checked by a repairman. So here are a few things to check on your stove/range/oven before calling for an appliance technician.


Power - Does the stove even turn on or are there no lights, no display?  Check your fuse box before calling someone.

Burners not igniting/elements not heating - For gas appliances check that there is no dirt or other crud blocking the holes that the gas comes out of.  For electrical appliances make sure the elements are cool and try pulling them out of their sockets and putting them back in again.  If those things are fine you will need an appliance tech.

Oven Does not Heat - Does it really not heat at all or is it just not getting hot enough?  This is a rather similar fix as the burners and elements since the oven element is very similar in function to the top ones. Check if the oven needs cleaning and if not call for service.

Oven door is locked - There are a few reasons this might happen but the biggest offender is the self-clean cycle. Dig up your user manual, you may need to hold certain keys to get the door to unlock after the cycle.  If you can't find it or it doesn't work, call for help.

Bad odors - Cleaning required; if it is a gas smell rather than just a bad smell call for assistance.  A gas leak is not something that you want to just leave.

Broken Glasstop or Oven Door Glass - Find your model number and call for quotes; the glasstop or ceramic top for your stove is a special order and it's going to take at least a week if not more to come in. It is also ridiculously expensive, so if it has gotten cracked or shattered I am very sorry.  Oven door glass is much more reasonable but it can still be annoying to install so the quotes for the labour might be higher than you expect.

Before Calling a Repairman - Dishwashers

Dishwashers are a wonderful appliance to have but it is very annoying when they break.  Here are a few things you can do yourself before getting an appliance technician involved.


Power - You'll notice this comes up every time if you read all of my articles.  Check your fuse box, lots of embarrassing service calls could have been avoided if someone had just checked their fuses.

Dishes not getting cleaned - Haul out your user manual and check if you are following all the directions on how to use the dishwasher best. Some dishwashers will actually have a reservoir for a certain kind of salt; the salt will help soften your water and improve the shine on your dishes and cups. Make sure you are using a good type of dishwasher soap and unfortunately you really do need a "finisher" like Jetdry to really get rid of soap scum. If your finding left over soap in the machine after the full cycle is run you should call a tech.

Cycles not completing or Stopping during cycles - Make sure you are closing the door 100% if the door isn't completely shut it might start alright but end up stopping before finishing since it thinks you've opened it. You may need to call someone to adjust the door for you or perhaps change out the latch if it's a constant issue.

Bad Smells or an explosion of bubbles - For smells clean it with a special detergent or stick with the always effective vinegar and baking soda trick.  Bubbles comes from somebody using hand dishwashing soap for the dishwasher.  They are very different things.  The soap for dishwashers are specially designed to not "sud" or make bubbles and if you use regular soap it's going to be.. interesting...

For things like leaks, floppy doors, power problems not caused fuses, and other issues you'll likely need a repairman.

Before Calling a Repairman - Washing Machines

Decided to do a series on common issues to help you decide when to call or not call for a repairman. Bear in mind that every instance where I say that maintenance is needed you can complete it yourself but if your not confident you can do it yourself you can get an appliance repair technician to do the maintenance for you.


Common things to check on your washer before calling for assistance:

Power - Does the machine seem to have power? Are any lights on or the display?  If there is nothing check your fuses.  If it has power but doesn't start anyway you'll need to look at a few other things.

Overloading - Did you stuff too many clothes into the washer in an attempt to get your laundry done more quickly or before your leaving on a trip?  Pull a bunch of them out, the motors in these machines are only good for a certain amount of weight and so are the moving parts that bear the drum weight.  Be patient, overloading will just break your machine.  Besides, it'll take a long time to dry in the dryer when you get to that stage too.

Not draining - Did the rest of the cycle run without a hitch until you got to the drain cycle?  Try selecting just a spin and drain cycle if you can and see if it works the second time.  If it doesn't you'll need to either check the drain line for clogs or call for help unfortunately, there are several reasons the machine doesn't drain and the drain line is just one of them.  It can also be an issue with the controls or computer, the wiring between a few components needed to drain, the pump, the drain lines, etc.

Leaking - This is a one stop check; if it's the drain hose that's leaking it's something you can probably replace yourself without too much fuss.  If it's coming from inside of the machine or anywhere else you will be better off getting a professional to figure out where it's coming from and fix it.  To help you out: If the leak is coming from the water hook up that's actually in the wall you want a Handyman or a Plumber; if it's the machine you want an Appliance Repair Technician.

Dents, rents, and holes in the drum - Unless it's under warranty still don't bother calling for repairs. The drum is a very expensive part and it's also labour intensive to install.  You would typically be looking at the same cost, or more than, as purchasing a new machine.

Bad Smells - Cleaning is required.  I imagine sighs every time I say to clean an appliance, unfortunately maintenance really is key.  Just tackle it one day when you have extra energy!  If scrubbing out the drum and seals with vinegar and baking soda doesn't solve them smell you might need to have the door seal replaced or the drains cleaned more aggressively. To help prevent bad smells in the first place always leave the door open a crack or the lid up on the washer, the extra air flow will allow it to dry out more quickly so mold can't start growing.

Before calling a Repairman - Dryers

Did you ever think your dryer was broken and you needed to have repairs done but it turned out it was fine?  Here are a few things to check before calling for an appliance technician.


Power - Does the machine not even turn on, no lights, no display?  Check your fuse box before calling someone.  Big appliances like washing machines and dryers tend to be put on their own circuit in newer homes and you might not realize that it's tripped.

The dryer takes hours to dry anything - This tends to be a maintenance issue, you might need to call an appliance tech but you should take a few steps yourself before calling.  Typically, the reason this happens is because you have not cleaned out your dryer or dryer vents recently enough.  The harder it is for air to vent the more heat and moisture will stay in the machine.  If you have a condenser dryer (ductless dryer) your problem is not something that can be fixed, slow dry times is just part of the way the machine works.

Not drying at all! - Are the clothes even slightly warmer than they were when they came out of the wash?  Check that you aren't using an "Air Fluff" or similar cycle; not all cycles on the dryer actually heat up.  If you are using a regular dry cycle you will need to call for help.

Shuts off right away - Check that you haven't over loaded the machine.  Try spinning the drum gently to ensure it's moving or doesn't spin wildly.  Some things like this will make the dryer not run if you have a newer model with safety features built in.  If the drum doesn't spin or spins with no traction at all you'll need to put in a service call.

Grinding or screeching noises:  Likely a maintenance issue; clean your machine.  If you can't solve it call for help.

Banging Noises:  Just wanted to put this here to distinguish between them; aside from checking that you haven't put something heavy or hard inside that is making the bang you will need to call for help on this.

Summer Refrigerator Overloads

It might be a good idea to invest in a bag or two of ice!

This past week has seen more refrigerators stop working in the GTA than we've seen for the past several months.  While the heat certainly makes it more difficult for a fridge to keep it's cool do what you can to help it out.  If it's dead in the water call for an appliance repair technician ASAP.  The sooner the better since this is popular vacation time so a lot of techs are out of town and it might be more than a day before you can set an appointment.  Which isn't very nice when your food is spoiling.


Do what you can to keep your fridge from breaking:

• Make sure the fridge is clean, inside, out and underneath!  
• Keep the door closed as much as possible so the compressor does not need to turn on as frequently and save it some stress.
• Fridges actually regulate temperature better when they are mostly full instead of empty. Don't go buy more things if it's stopped cooling, but don't try to have as few things as possible either; it's not actually going to help.
• Did I mention clean it?  Yes clean it! (and make sure you vacuum)
• Make sure your door seals are good and if not get them replaced.
• Don't cover the air vents in the freezer

It is always cheaper to maintain something than fix it so ensure you keep your fridge in the best shape that you can.

Other Dryer Vent Tips

In addition to cleaning out your dryer vents here are a few other tips.

Your dryer should be absolutely no further than 10 feet away from an outside wall.  The further a dryer is from the area that it is going to be venting to, the longer the vent needs to be.  While this sounds rather obvious any turns or bends in the vent will be catch points for lint and other debris to build up, increasing the risk of a fire.  The more direct the path is the better.  If the dryer does need to be buried inside of the home or you are in a condo where a vent is not available you should be looking a condenser dryers instead.  Condenser dryers do not use vents and thus can be placed anywhere.

Check the hose that connects between the dryer and the vent, while this is also technically part of the vent it is a very important one.  This part of the vent tends to be a soft flexible hose and that flexibility is where you can run into trouble.  The hose should be as short as possible; the longer it is the bigger the chances are that it is going to be coiled up or bent at an awkward angle. You can also get this soft hose replaced with a hard tube that looks more like the rest of the venting system; it's a bit more expensive and you'll need to be very certain that that is exactly where you want the dryer to stay but it's typically worth it.

Dryer in the basement?  If the vent goes up to the main floor before going outside you might want to invest in an air booster which in simple terms is just a fan that goes inside of the vent to help promote air flow.  Just as with kinks and bends if the dryer is not using enough force to get the air out lint is going to get stuck at the bend and you can end up with a serious problem quickly.

Are you Cleaning your Dryer Vents?

Even if you are extremely careful about cleaning lint out of your dryer catch there is still some lint that will get through that and end up in the machine and the vent.  If you are lucky your vent will have a secondary catch that acts very similarly to the catch inside of the dryer itself.  If you don't you might want to look into getting one installed, they are relatively inexpensive and can make vent cleaning an easier and less frequent task.


Regular dryer and dryer vent maintenance is an absolute must to keep your home safe against fires.  On top of being safe it will also allow your dryer to work more easily since air flow will not be blocked by any debris.

It doesn't matter if it is summer or winter, dryer maintenance can be performed at any time of year.  It is more important for you to pick a month, or a specific date every year where you will have your vents cleaned.

Finding your User Manual if it has been Lost

And by lost I mean you likely threw it out because you didn't think it was handy or it's been too long since you bought the appliance that you have no idea where it might be. Fear not!  Replacements can normally be found and either downloaded (for free no less) or a physical copy can be purchased.


Step 1: Find your model number
If your sticker with the model number has faded or been scraped off you are out of luck. Start looking around the house for the booklet or if you purchased it recently see if you can find the receipt and get in touch with the store you bought it from. They might have it in their digital records which model it is or which series it's from and if it's a really recent purchase maybe you can find the same model on the floor still. Maybe, good luck.


Step 2: Google it!
Search Google for your model number and include "user manual" (in quotes as I have) in the search terms.  Make sure your results are for your model number, you might end up getting hits for a similar one that maybe is more recent.  If you are put the model number in quotes as well.  Getting hits for part suppliers? Look at words in the search results to include as negative terms, normally -parts will get rid of those people trying to sell you something.


Step 3: Finding a user manual (from somewhere not sketchy)
Note 1: If it is asking for payment to download the manual put that tab as the dead last option. There are places to get the manual for free and we're going to try and find one first.
Note 2: If it's to download a PDF put this one off until near the end when you have a chance to look over the site carefully. PDF's can include a lot of junk, including viruses, so if it's a site that looks sketchy (More than three ads or ads to porn everywhere) this is not a good choice, delete it from the list of options.
Now... hopefully we are on the manufacturers website with links to download the manual.  If you are, fantastic! If there's a link to purchase it and have a physical copy mailed to you, keep this one in mind but hold off for now.
If we are on a site such as Manualslib or InstructionsManuals you are in good hands, check the model number is correct and before you click on anything just hover over the link with your mouse pointer. See something like "GoogleLeadsServices" ? That is an AD, not your lovely user manual, so ignore it.  Hover over a different link until you see something like instructionmanuals.com/u2/pdf... ending with your model number and this is the one you want.  Download and enjoy.


Not finding it?  Not all manuals are online unfortunately, try calling your manufacturer to see if they have the manuals in their database or if they can ship you one.  User manuals do get tossed/deleted when they are old enough so if this is the case, my apologies.  On the upside, if this is the case your appliance worked so well for so long you definitely don't have a warranty on anything. Unfortunately there probably aren't even parts available for it anymore either, so if you have a problem it's time to go shopping for a new one.


Final note:  If you clicked anywhere that pulled up an ad go download an antivirus scanner or use the one you have installed already.  Better safe than sorry.

No idea where to find your model number?  That article is up next.

Keeping a Washing Machine Smelling Good

Front Loading Washing Machines are excellent, energy and water efficient appliances but just a few forgetful moments is all it takes to have the washer pick up a bad odor.  If the door is left closed after running a load or any wet clothes are left inside for too long the washer might have some mold start growing.  Fortunately there are a few different tricks to cleaning out your washer.


Buying Cleaner Packets

You can find washing machine cleaner packets just about anywhere you can find soap for the machine but the chemicals used here are rather harsh and those with sensitive skin may want to steer clear.  Anyone particular about using natural products should also give them a wide berth, there are natural options that you can use instead.


Vinegar for the Win

Vinegar and baking soda aren't just for making science fair volcanoes; they are extremely efficient at cleaning appliances and other items.  Mix up 1/4 cup of baking soda, and a 1/4 cup of water; keep 2 cups of vinegar on the side.  The soda/water mixture is essentially your soap, so put it in the detergent bin, pour the vinegar directly into the drum of your washing machine. Run the washer on the hottest water setting and let the vinegar and soda do all the hard work.  You will need to follow the wash cycle with a bit of scrubbing around the seals of the machine, be thorough but gentle, the door seal can get ripped rather easily.


To help prevent this problem in the first place you should keep your front loading washer door open in between washes.  This will allow the washing machine drum to dry out and help cut down on mold.

Ready for the Summer Heat?

It might seem silly to start thinking about summer when winter is still firmly making it's presence known all around us.  However, this is actually the best time to start looking at your air conditioner units.  Getting them serviced when no one is using them is a great strategy, it will ensure that it is easier to book an appointment for repairs, and it will save you from being uncomfortable later.

The last thing that anyone wants to do is wait in the blistering summer heat for an HVAC repairman.  Be prepared, get it done now when rates tend to be lower and more repairmen are available to fix your AC, it will be a decision you will not regret.

Baking for the Holiday? Make sure your oven is working TODAY!

With Thanksgiving tomorrow (for us in Canada at any rate) you should check that your oven is not only heating, but heating properly today!

Nothing is worse than having plans to have family come over for a big dinner to find that your oven is not going to be able to cook the turkey, pies, or anything else that goes in the oven.

Most people do not check their ovens ahead of time and while most appliance repair companies do work on holidays, they will likely only be working for the first half of the day so they can go home to enjoy dinner with family themselves.  It will be hard to book an appointment the same day on a holiday, so take some time to make sure that your stove and oven are working!


If you don't have one buy a thermometer that you can leave in the oven and set the temperature to 375 degrees.  If your thermometer agrees with the stoves thermostat that it is in fact 375; turn it up higher to 425 degrees.  If they agree on that temperature as well you should be good to cook just about anything.

If your oven doesn't heat up at all call right away for service.  Even if you can't book an appointment for today you should be able to set one for early tomorrow still and bake as usual.

Fall is here and Winter is coming!

The weather is starting to move out of warm summer days and is moving into fall. Fall of course inevitably leads into winter; have you checked that your furnace is working yet?

It is extremely important to check that you can get heat before you really need it; not everyone does this and calls for service on the first cold day of the year can put the demand for service very heavy on appliance repair companies. Last year we, and other local companies, were booked for a week straight with calls for assistance with central air furnaces, mini splits, and other types of heaters that were not working.

Change your filters if you haven't yet; give the unit a good vacuuming, and see if it is working soon! Nothing is worse shivering in the cold in your own home.

Is your Dishwasher Filled with Bubbles?

Has someone put dish washing fluid in the dishwasher rather than the usual fare or is it just filled with bubbles? There is unfortunately a strong distinction between the soap you use to hand wash dishes and dishwasher soap.  Dishwasher soap is formulated so that it does not produce many, if any, suds or bubbles. While turning your Dishwasher into a bubble monster may bring joy to any children that see it it's not very practical and most new models of dishwashers will have a sensor that will stop it from running at all if there are too many suds.

Here is how to fix it:

Option 1: The Oil Method

This is a much easier method than the other but requires oil to work. As long as it is oil that you can consume, it is safe to use. Cooking oil or vegetable oil is best but olive oil will work just fine; it's just expensive by comparison. This option is the one most recommended by manufacturers aside from using specially formulated tabs.

• Add a 1/2 cup of oil to the machine and run on a rinse cycle or a light one
• Stop about mid cycle to check on the number of suds; add some more oil if needed
• If suds remain at the end of the cycle run it again with some more oil

Option 2: The Cinderella Method
This method is named after Cinderella as it involves some hand scrubbing. This is much more involved than the Oil option but you are more likely to have everything needed on hand. Be very careful of the heating element; if you ran a load recently it will still be hot.

• Remove as much of the suds and water in the machine as possible using buckets (or pans or cups... whatever you have)
• Wipe down the interior with a clean cloth (not one used for cleaning dishes or the counter and absolutely not a sponge that has been used before! Those things hold soap like nothing else)
• Wipe down the interior with a different dry cloth to get any more remnants
• Add 1/2 a cup to 1 cup (125-250 mls) of white vinegar to the dishwasher and then sprinkle salt on top of that; be generous you should use at close to a 1/2 cup of salt
• Start the dishwasher on a rinse cycle or light load and stop it after approximately 10 minutes; if there are still a lot of suds add more vinegar
• Continue starting, stopping, and adding vinegar if needed
• If one cycle completes with a very small amount of suds simply run it again with nothing in it to ensure the drain lines have cleared out

Vinegar can be used in washing machines that have too many suds as well; go easy on the salt though. You can also use the formulated tabs to clean out washers and dishwasher but the other techniques are far cheaper and shouldn't require a trip to the store; not to mention the tabs will use chemicals to get results.

Filters: Why You Need to Change Them

Filters are a component of a lot of different appliances that don't get changed or cleaned anywhere near as often as they should.  From filters in your Central Vacuum or over the range microwave to the ones in your Furnace, these appliances are often tucked out of sight and you likely don't think about what is accumulating on them very often.

You should be changing, or cleaning if they are sturdy enough, your filters every 6 months if not more often. If you own any pets with feathers or fur you should be changing every 3 months; you may want to try to find a reusable filter that you can vacuum and wash to make things a bit easier but even that will require replacing with time. Be cautious with this style of filter after washing; they will need to be dried properly to ensure no mold has a chance to grow on them.

No matter what type of appliance the filter protects: If the filter is dirty it is harder to pull air through it which in turn makes the fan motor work harder to do the same job.  This additional effort will shorten the life span of the motor forcing you to get repairs or replace it much sooner.  Filters will always be cheaper than repairs or buying a new unit so take care of your appliances!  You will save money in the long run.

Maintaining a Ceramic Top Stove

A Ceramic or glass top stove is an excellent modern appliance but there are a few extra tricks to keeping them clean and protecting them from damage than the older style radiant element stoves.

While the perfectly flat surface may be tempting to use as extra counter space by leaving items on top but this can be a bad idea; you might place items on it while the surface is still hot. The surface is rather durable but if it is cracked you will need to replace the entire surface and that part is very expensive even before an appliance technicians labour.  Be cautious with what is placed on the stove and ensure nothing heavy can fall on it; if you have an over the range microwave ensure it is installed properly!

Cleaning can be rather simple as long as you keep a few tips in mind:

• Try to clean spills as soon as they occur and only use damp cloths to prevent anything from melting onto the cooktop.
• Never use abrasive scrubbing pads or you will scratch the surface or leave streaks on it.
• Avoid strong chemical cleaners. A simple paste of warm water and baking soda usually does the trick.
• Aside from wiping up spills; always clean when the surface is cool
• If something is stuck on and just not coming off find a cooktop scraper; several have been designed specifically for ceramic surfaces and can clean without causing damage.

If an element stops working you are going to need an appliance technician to repair it for you; do not try to do it yourself! Electric appliances draw in more power than small appliances and the risk of electrocution will have greater consequences. The cooktop itself is also difficult to work with and should only be done by someone with training on how to remove and reinstall without damage.

Have a Leak? Take a Look First

Washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators (with or without an ice maker or water dispenser) all have a risk of springing a leak.  Even if you do not want to repair it yourself you should take a quick peek at it to try and guess where it is coming from.

Depending on whether the leak is part of the pipes from the sink, the line running from the appliance, or the appliance itself makes a very large difference on who you should call for help.  Plumbers and Appliance technicians should both be able to assist with the drain or intake line that goes between the two but only an appliance technician can fix your machine if the leak is coming from the machine itself.

A little looking can save you trips from two different professionals, both of whom will likely charge you for coming to your home.

Rinsing Before Using the Dishwasher

While your dishwasher can certainly handle some food clinging to it's filter and still clean your dishes well you do need to rinse all of your dishes before putting them in to ensure the best clean over the long run.

Some of our clients have been dismayed to hear that the reason their dishwasher broke down is because too much food was left on items and their filter developed a hole.  Debris getting past the filter will lead to a clog in the circulation system which is an integral part of how any dishwasher, no matter what the brand is, cleans dishes.

Just remember that anything that is on your dishes might end up staying in the dishwasher.  Just imagining some food items sitting inside the dishwasher load after load should be enough to inspire you to rinse before loading.

The Importance of Clean Dryer Vents

The vents used by the dryer allow for hot air to be cycled out of the house and lowers the amount of time needed to dry items.  While there are no hazards from having a dryer vent air inside of the house, newer models of dryers are actually designed to not use one, there is a potential fire hazard with the vent itself.

While it is very common to have the laundry set up in the basement this can cause problems with the venting system.  Dryer vents should have as few turns and vertical lifts as possible before they exit the home so they should be installed against a wall that goes directly outside.  While the lint catch that is part of your dryer normally does a good job at catching most of the lint, even the most avid of cleaners will have lint build up inside of the dryer and the dryer vent.

Your dryer vent should be cleaned out every single year if not more often.  There are a number of inventions on the market that will allow you to do this yourself with just a drill or another tool or it can be done by a professional.  Look through your user manual to see how often you should be cleaning the inside of the dryer and put a note on the calendar to have your vents serviced yearly. A bit of maintenance can prevent a lot of trouble down the road.

Preparing for the Winter Chill

This is the time of year where appliance repair companies are starting to think about winter.  Late summer or fall is actually the best time to have your furnace inspected to ensure that it is working correctly.  Preventative maintenance is key and a majority of home owners will not have their furnace inspected before they need to turn it on one chilly day and discover that it is not working.

This usually means that every company that offers repairs on heating units; whether they are furnaces, fireplaces or portable heaters, will find themselves flooded with phone calls for help.  If you are not quick enough you might need to wait for a day, or more, before you can even have someone out to see your furnace let alone get it up and running again.

Just as you should have your air conditioner or heat pump inspected during the winter, remember to have your furnace inspected during the summer or the fall.  If your furnace is a central unit, filters tend to go on sale during the summer as well so you can save some money.

Refrigerator Maintenance

Following up on my Summer Refrigerator Woes I thought I would continue some advice on fridges and keeping them running.

How often do you clean your refrigerator?  Have you, in fact, ever done it?

Unfortunately this is something that is very easy to forget about and you should do it at least twice a year if not more often.

Go digging for your fridges user manual to find advice on when and how to service your refrigerator.  If you're not sure where it is or you have "misplaced" it, do a quick search for "How to Maintain a Refrigerator" and you should get a few tips on what you need to service and perhaps a video or two.

Good luck and beware of dust bunnies!