DIY Appliance Repair Tips

Wait! Before you get the itch to call an appliance repair in Santa Barbara for help, you should be able to keep your household appliances running properly with the troubleshooting tips in this post.

1. Smelly Washing Machine

A gross smell in your washing machine defeats the point of owning the appliance! If you are in the process of attempting to get your clothing items so that they’re clean and fresh, but your washing machine is not cooperating, run an empty cycle in warm water with 2 cups of white vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda to get rid of the unpleasant odor. This issue frequently occurs in front-loading machines. To prevent future odors, leave the door open after cycles so it will dry out.

2. Inefficient Refrigerant

A warm fridge in the kitchen is never a good sign. A warm refrigerator definitely won’t keep liquids cool or refreshing, and the food on the inside might also be on the verge of rotting! In a lot of cases, your refrigerator won’t require professional repair; instead interior could just need to be cleaned. Or the coils on the back of the appliance need cleaning.

Unplug the appliance and drag it far from the wall before cleaning the refrigerator coils. If you don’t see cooling improvement, it is time to reach out to a professional appliance repair company in Santa Barbara for a diagnosis.

3. Clicking Igniter on Stove

If the igniter on your gas-powered stove clicks nonstop and the burner will not light, look to make certain your burner lid is on tight and correctly aligned. You may also experience this if you’ve had a recent boil over or spill on the top of the stove.

Otherwise, the source is probably a clogged igniter. To clean , take off the burner cap and clear away any loose particles. You can also use a clothes pin to scrape debris from the grooves. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s smart to not disassemble a lighter without the right training; in this case enlist a professional appliance repairman to diagnose the issue.

4. Broken Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal includes self-protection in the form of an overload trip. If it becomes clogged, overheats, is left on for too long, or has a different issue, your disposal could simply have to be reset rather than fixed. Be sure the switch is OFF. Then, find the button on the disposal beneath the kitchen sink and then press the button. If the button will not stay in, wait a few minutes and attempt it again. Now, turn on the water and then press the button on.

If the garbage disposal in the kitchen sink is filled up with food and you the only noise you hear is a humming sound and not the grinding of waste, you might need to manually turn the blades using a hex key to remove the clog. Now, press the reset button to get the garbage disposal running again. If these tips don’t get the appliance working like normal, please do not allow the urge to stick your hands down in the system to solve the problem. Be safe and schedule service with a professional appliance company in Santa Barbara.

5. No Power from Outlet

In a bathroom or kitchen, your outlets need to be installed with GFCI switches in order to protect people against harm in wet rooms. If a GFCI outlet is not generating power, push the red reset button to see if it restores power.

If it doesn’t, or if you are trying on a typical electrical outlet, make certain that a breaker hasn’t tripped in the home’s breaker box. If you’re unsure if a circuit breaker was tripped, switch it so it is in the OFF position and then flip it back to the ON position. But remember, safety around electricity is critical. If you have any doubts, call a professional.

6. Wobbling Washing Machine

A shaking washing machine will often produce quite a obnoxious banging and isn’t a productive way to wash laundry. If your washer starts banging, the appliance may be broken. In order to repair this issue, turn the legs of the machine to lower or lift each of the corners until it’s straightened out. One other likely situation is that the appliance is not leveled. Open the top and move around the shirts and pants so that they’re dispersed within the drum of the washing machine.

Doing this should help the washing machine not have to work quite as hard. If you do try to rearrange the laundry a few times without success, do not ignore the problem. You might have a loose motor or drum mount to repair, which should be easy enough for a professional repairman to fix. But continuing to operate your washing machine with this issue could break other parts and result in a bigger repair over time.

Call for Help

If these suggestions fix your problems, you can schedule an appointment from S.O.S. Santa Barbara Appliance Repair!

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