With the cost of living rising, the last thing a Sacramento homeowner wants is appliance repair bills. Here are a few tips that can help you do the easy repairs and maintenance yourself.
THE OVEN
THE REFRIGERATOR
Vacuum the Coils - Over time, the coils on the refrigerator can attract dirt, dust, dander, and pet hair, which means the fridge will have to kick it into overdrive to keep the stuff inside cool. If your refrigerator stops working on a hot day, suspect the coils. Service pros find this problem on 50% of their refrigerator calls. On many fridges, you get to the coils by removing the front grille. Then push a coil cleaning brush (sold at home centers) into the coils, pull it back and vacuum it clean. If the coils are located on the back, pull out your fridge to clean them. Bonus: The clean coils will cool more efficiently and save you money on your utility bill!
Replace the Refrigerator's Water Filter - It’s a good idea to replace the water filter on your fridge every three to six months. To help you remember, change the filter every time the season changes.
Clean Fridge Gaskets - If you keep your refrigerator door gaskets clean, they’ll seal properly and last the life of the fridge. But if you let sticky foods like syrup and jam build up on the door gasket, they’ll glue the gasket to the frame. Pulling harder on a stuck door eventually tears the gasket, and that’ll cost you $100 or more to fix. Plus, if the door doesn’t seal properly, the fridge has to run longer, and that’ll boost your electric bill. Clean the door gasket with warm water and a sponge. Don’t use detergents; they can damage the gasket.
Fight Stinky Fridge Syndrome - If your power goes out and the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad, you’ve got a really stinky mess on your hands. Here’s what to do to get rid of the smell:
THE WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER
Inspect the Hoses - Look for any loose connections, cracks, leaks or weak spots. On average, hoses should be replaced every five years. If you think it’s been at least that long since they’ve been replaced, consider ordering a new set.
Don't Overload - You may think you’re saving time, water or energy by cramming more clothes into your washer and dryer. But overloading any washer or dryer causes damage to motors, belts and other moving parts. Some of the repairs are so expensive that you’re better off buying a new machine.
Keep It Quiet - Washers and dryers transfer vibrations to floors and telegraph noise throughout the house. The solution is to set their feet on rubber anti-vibration pads (available at some home centers and online).
Don’t Slam the Doors! - If you continually drop or slam the lid to your washer or dryer (top or front load), you’re going to break the lid/ door switch. That’ll cost you at least $100. Avoid this repair by lowering the lid and gently closing the door.
Unclog the Dryer - With respect to the dryer, spend a little bit of time removing clumps of lint from the exhaust pipe and surrounding area then give it a good vacuum to ensure all of the lint has been removed. You can even vacuum out the lint trap if you’re feeling up to it. Even if the filter looks clean, it may be covered by a nearly invisible film caused by dryer sheets. Test your filter by pouring water into it. If the filter holds water, it’s past time to clean it. This film reduces airflow and forces the thermostat to shut off the heat before the clothes are dry. Pull out the filter and scrub it in hot water with a little laundry detergent and a stiff kitchen brush. Also check the outside dryer vent for any lint that may have built up there.
THE DISHWASHER
Messy food filters - When your dishwasher no longer gets your dishes clean, a food-filled filter is most often to blame. If it’s clogged, water can’t make it to the spray arms to clean the dishes in the top rack. The fix takes two minutes. Simply pull out the lower rack and remove the filter cover inside the dishwasher. (Check your owner’s manual if you can’t spot the filter.) Then use a wet/dry vacuum to clean off the screen. While you’re there, slide the nearby float switch up and down. If the cover sticks, jiggle it up and down and clean it with water.
THE OVEN
- Check the Oven Seal - If your oven door doesn’t properly seal, the oven will lose nearly 20 percent of the heat it generates. Not only will this heat your home (which isn’t very appealing during hot Sacramento summers), your food will take longer to cook, and it may not cook evenly.
- Recalibrate Your Oven Temperature Setting - If the temperature in your oven seems off, or if your new oven just doesn’t heat like your old one, you can recalibrate the temperature setting. Look for your oven model number online for the procedure. All you need is a good quality oven thermometer.
THE REFRIGERATOR
Vacuum the Coils - Over time, the coils on the refrigerator can attract dirt, dust, dander, and pet hair, which means the fridge will have to kick it into overdrive to keep the stuff inside cool. If your refrigerator stops working on a hot day, suspect the coils. Service pros find this problem on 50% of their refrigerator calls. On many fridges, you get to the coils by removing the front grille. Then push a coil cleaning brush (sold at home centers) into the coils, pull it back and vacuum it clean. If the coils are located on the back, pull out your fridge to clean them. Bonus: The clean coils will cool more efficiently and save you money on your utility bill!
Replace the Refrigerator's Water Filter - It’s a good idea to replace the water filter on your fridge every three to six months. To help you remember, change the filter every time the season changes.
Clean Fridge Gaskets - If you keep your refrigerator door gaskets clean, they’ll seal properly and last the life of the fridge. But if you let sticky foods like syrup and jam build up on the door gasket, they’ll glue the gasket to the frame. Pulling harder on a stuck door eventually tears the gasket, and that’ll cost you $100 or more to fix. Plus, if the door doesn’t seal properly, the fridge has to run longer, and that’ll boost your electric bill. Clean the door gasket with warm water and a sponge. Don’t use detergents; they can damage the gasket.
Fight Stinky Fridge Syndrome - If your power goes out and the food in your fridge and freezer goes bad, you’ve got a really stinky mess on your hands. Here’s what to do to get rid of the smell:
- Remove the food and wipe everything down with a disinfecting cleaning spray.
- Clean all the nooks and crannies inside the freezer, especially the shelf supports.
- Smash about 12 charcoal briquettes and spread the chunks on two trays. One goes in the fridge, the other in the freezer.
- Crunch up newspaper and fill the shelves with it.
- Close the doors and walk away, giving the charcoal and newspaper time to absorb odors.
- Replace the old newspaper and charcoal with fresh stuff every day for about a week or until the smell is gone.
THE WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER
Inspect the Hoses - Look for any loose connections, cracks, leaks or weak spots. On average, hoses should be replaced every five years. If you think it’s been at least that long since they’ve been replaced, consider ordering a new set.
Don't Overload - You may think you’re saving time, water or energy by cramming more clothes into your washer and dryer. But overloading any washer or dryer causes damage to motors, belts and other moving parts. Some of the repairs are so expensive that you’re better off buying a new machine.
Keep It Quiet - Washers and dryers transfer vibrations to floors and telegraph noise throughout the house. The solution is to set their feet on rubber anti-vibration pads (available at some home centers and online).
Don’t Slam the Doors! - If you continually drop or slam the lid to your washer or dryer (top or front load), you’re going to break the lid/ door switch. That’ll cost you at least $100. Avoid this repair by lowering the lid and gently closing the door.
Unclog the Dryer - With respect to the dryer, spend a little bit of time removing clumps of lint from the exhaust pipe and surrounding area then give it a good vacuum to ensure all of the lint has been removed. You can even vacuum out the lint trap if you’re feeling up to it. Even if the filter looks clean, it may be covered by a nearly invisible film caused by dryer sheets. Test your filter by pouring water into it. If the filter holds water, it’s past time to clean it. This film reduces airflow and forces the thermostat to shut off the heat before the clothes are dry. Pull out the filter and scrub it in hot water with a little laundry detergent and a stiff kitchen brush. Also check the outside dryer vent for any lint that may have built up there.
THE DISHWASHER
Messy food filters - When your dishwasher no longer gets your dishes clean, a food-filled filter is most often to blame. If it’s clogged, water can’t make it to the spray arms to clean the dishes in the top rack. The fix takes two minutes. Simply pull out the lower rack and remove the filter cover inside the dishwasher. (Check your owner’s manual if you can’t spot the filter.) Then use a wet/dry vacuum to clean off the screen. While you’re there, slide the nearby float switch up and down. If the cover sticks, jiggle it up and down and clean it with water.
