Having an appliance breakdown on you can be a headache. It can be costly to have a handyman come in to repair it for you, or it might take too long for them to come to fix it before you need it.
However, there are ways to repair appliances yourself, and we will teach you how so don’t call a repair service just yet!
How To Repair Your Refrigerator
These are the most common problems that your refrigerator may run into:
- A broken ice maker
- A water leakage
- A cooling failure
There are simple fixes you can do all on your own at home, but you need some tools first. The tools required are:
- A 4-in-1 screwdriver
- An Adjustable wrench
- A long brush
- A nut driver
- A vacuum
- A hairdryer
- A level tool
Now that you know what you need, we will teach you how to fix each problem step-by-step.
What To Do If Your Ice Maker Stops Working
If your ice maker has stopped working, it’s probably due to a blocked water supply. There are three spots where a blockage can occur, the water inlet, saddle valve, and inlet valve.
Let’s start with the water inlet. First, check the water inlet tube for ice, which can get clogged with ice sometimes when the water can’t reach the ice maker in time.
Unscrew the ice maker, unplug the wiring harness, and carefully take it out, which will reveal the water inlet tube. Use a hairdryer or another heat source to melt the ice until water stops dripping from the tube.
Look in your basement(if you have one) or under your kitchen sink to find the saddle valve. The needle hole in the pipe can easily clog over time, but unclogging it is easy, fortunately.
Once you find the valve, turn it clockwise to unblock it. Tighten it to clear mineral deposits, and then reopen the valve.
The inlet valve has to be replaced, unlike the others. This valve is at the back of your refrigerator. Unscrew the cover panel and the valve, then unplug the wiring.
Lastly, unscrew the nuts connecting the water lines. Now perform these steps backward to put in your new inlet valve. Be sure to check for leaks before putting your fridge back.
What To Do If Your Fridge Is Leaking Water
Water can leak from the fridge due to a failure in the system that deals with melting ice and condensation. In addition, water can leak from water supply lines.
So, first, pull your fridge out and check for leaks. If you notice a leak coming from the inlet valve, tighten the compression nuts. If the tubing is leaking, you will have to replace the leaking tube.
If your fridge is tilted, water can spill out from the pan underneath, which is responsible for collecting it and letting it evaporate. Use a level to see if your refrigerator is at a proper level, then adjust the position of the fridge until the bubbles are leveled.
If your fridge isn’t at the appropriate level, you could also move the front corners with the adjustment screws. These are behind the front cover grille.
Lastly, you can clear the drain hole to fix leaks. Remove the cover panel and the back cover panel. Now, use a hairdryer to melt clogged nice and clean around the drain hole.
Once finished, insert a thin tube into the hole to blow out debris. You can usually just use your breath or use an air compressor for a detailed clean.
What To Do If Your Fridge Has A Cooling Failure
A refrigerator not cooling is one of the most common problems people have to deal with. The most common fix is to make sure your fridge is plugged in, as a loss of power is probably the cause. Also, be sure to check the circuit breaker. But if both are working correctly, there could be other causes.
First, check the temperature control dial in your fridge. Sometimes this dial can be accidentally turned down and might be why your fridge isn’t getting cooled.
Also, the vents inside your fridge could be blocked by food and containers. Make sure to remove any objects in the way of the vents.
The next thing to do is to clean the coils inside your fridge. Depending on how old your fridge is, you can find it on its backside or underneath it. Clean these coils often to maintain your fridge’s cooling year-round. A long brush is good to have when cleaning the coils.
Sometimes debris can get into the fan in your refrigerator. To get to the fan, you have to pull out your fridge and unscrew the cover panel on the back. Now, use a vacuum to clean out debris and dust from the fan. Before putting everything back, test the fan to make sure it spins without struggle.
How To Repair Your Washing Machine
These are the common problems that can arise in a washing machine:
- It does not drain
- It does not spin
- It is leaking
There are simple fixes for all of these, so try these methods before making a service call!
What To Do When A Washing Machine Will Not Drain
There are three reasons why your washing machine is not draining:
- The drain hose is kinked or clogged
- The end of the drain hose is not at the correct height above the floor
- A gentle cycle was selected, or it is at a low spin speed
[Also read How Often Should You Change Dryer Filter – And How To Do It Properly]
If your drain hose is clogged, you can find it behind your washing machine. If it is kinked, straighten the hose out to promote good water flow. If it’s blocked, remove the drain hose to unclog it. Be sure to refer to your washing machine’s instructions before removing the drain.
If the end of the drain hose is not at the correct height, seek out the proper minimum and maximum drainpipe height requirements for your washing machine.
When the drain hose is at the incorrect height, it will not be able to pump out the water correctly. And sometimes, the water will come back into the washer.
Sometimes you might not realize you had your washer at a low spin speed. Slow spinning cycles generally leave more water in the load. Just select a higher spin speed cycle to remove more water.
What To Do When A Washing Machine Will Not Spin
There are main three reasons why your washing machine is not spinning:
- A power failure occurred
- The load is unbalanced or is overloaded
- The washer is unlevel
If there was a power failure in your washer, it likely did not get to full spin speed. Additional water being present in the washer can cause a power failure. Turn on a spin cycle or a drain and spin cycle to get rid of excess water.
If the wash load is unbalanced or overloaded, your washing machine won’t spin. Therefore, a load should be balanced and loosely packed, giving it enough freedom to spin.
An unlevel washer can struggle to spin properly because a load can become unbalanced within it, causing other issues, like excessive noise and vibrations. Find the proper level for your washer with a level tool.
What To Do If A Washing Machine Is Leaking
There are usually two leading causes of a leak in a washing machine. Water could be leaking from the front door of a washer or hoses.
[Also read Should You Fix or Replace Your Microwave?]
If the leak is coming from the front door, it might be because of an issue with the door seal. Clean the door seal with a damp cloth.
If that doesn’t work, check if anything is stuck between the door and the washer. If it’s the hose, make sure they are connected correctly or not damaged.
Hopefully, now you see that you can repair appliances yourself at home. As long as you understand what you are doing, you should be fine.
Related Questions
How Do You Repair An Electrical Appliance?
Electrical appliances can be challenging to repair if you aren’t familiar with them. For example, a dishwasher is an electrical appliance.
You can solve most issues by cleaning the dishwasher spray arm or float switch. But if it isn’t starting and there’s no water, it can be serious. You should call a professional to assess appliance problems like this.
What Do Technicians Do Before Repairing The Appliances?
Before repairing appliances, technicians will examine them and identify the cause of the issue. They will also commonly provide a rough estimate of the cost of a repair.
Technicians can fix any issue with your appliances. They have experience working with household appliances, so don’t be averse to calling them if you need help!
