Common Appliance Issues and What to Do About Them
There is no doubt, appliances are built to perform. They work hard, year after year, generally without too many problems and repairs. Often, we take their importance in our daily lives for granted. And then, when an appliance has an occasional breakdown, you may be entirely at a loss. If you have no clue how it works and no concept of why it quit working, then you certainly don’t understand how to fix it. Good News! You do not have to troubleshoot common appliance issues on your own.
That is just what Atlanta Appliance Services is here for. We have written this article specifically for you.
In addition, if at any point you feel in over your head or something isn’t as easy as it seems, you can call in a professional. You see, the worst thing you can do is push forward and cause even more damage.
So, before you go to town on your fridge with a screwdriver, let’s gather some background information on the major appliances in your home. Here are some tips and tricks we use to diagnose common appliance issues and get them running again for our clients.
Troubleshooting Common Appliance Issues Should Only Be Done with The Power Off
Of course, your home appliances operate on your home’s electrical system. They utilize A/C current from the circuit electrical wiring in your house.
Large or significant appliances, such as the refrigerator, clothes dryers, and ranges, usually need 220-240-volt wiring and cannot be run on 110-120-volt circuits. Other home appliances are wired with a grounding wire which you can see in the plugs, with two blades and a prong. This type of appliance needs to be plugged into a grounded outlet, with openings to accept both blades and grounding prong, or grounded with a special adapter plug.
Before you begin any sort of repair work, locate the breaker that runs that appliance and switch it to the off position. It may seem like an obvious suggestion, but countless homeowners forget this simple step and end up hurt. Keep the chance of being electrocuted low and keep yourself safe during the repair.
How Do Most Appliances Work?
Smaller appliances are generally relatively basic machines. They may consist of a primary heating aspect, a fan, a set of blades, or rotating beaters connected to a drive shaft. Or they may have 2 or 3 basic mechanical linkages. Repairs to these home appliances are straightforward if you have a little know-how and a decent set of tools. But if you do not have the correct tools, they may seem impossible to accomplish.
That said, the major appliances are more complex. One of the most essential home appliances, a washing machine, may have a motor, a timer, and a pump, as well as different valves, switches, and solenoids. Not to mention, the computers built in today’s technology are pretty complex.
Failure of a control mechanism in any part of the appliance might impact one portion of the operation or the whole instrument. So, what is a homeowner to do?
Here are some of our suggestions for troubleshooting common appliance issues. Once you figure it out, give us a call to get the part ordered if necessary and come out to make the repair.
Detecting the Common Appliance Issues
When a major home appliance breaks down, understanding how to detect the problem is crucial, as well as understanding how to repair it. Because the technology in today’s major appliances is so complicated, it generally isn’t apparent where a breakdown is.
For example, the control devices indicate the heat in a clothes dryer, and the mechanical components turn the drum. Would you know which system is causing the issue? Well, if the drum rotates but the dryer does not heat, the issue may be in the control system. However, if the clothes dryer heats up but the drum does not turn, the problem is mechanical. You see, it is really a process of elimination.
To find out exactly what the problem is, you will need to inspect each part of the appliance to find the malfunctioning part. This isn’t as challenging as it sounds since home appliance elements work together in a rational sequence if you have the tools.
Beginning with the most basic possibilities, you can evaluate the components one by one to separate the reason for the failure. And again, always ensure the electrical power or the gas supply to the device is detached and shut off at the breaker before you check for the common appliance issues or make any repairs.
Don’t Get in Over Your Head
When attempting to troubleshoot common appliance issues, you can certainly take on more than you bargained for. There are many parts, and taking them off could be difficult. Then putting it all back together can be confusing as well. For instance, if the parts of a machine are held together with screws, bolts, plugs, and other take-apart fasteners, you can most likely open it up and make any required repair work. However, if the parts are held together with rivets or welds, do not attempt to repair the home appliance yourself.
Contact us at Atlanta Appliance Services, and we will be happy to come to look it over for you. That way, you can take pride in knowing you got to the point you were able to, then you let us take over.
Finding Appliance Parts
Most appliance parts are available from device service centers, appliance-repair dealers, and appliance-parts shops. You don’t always have to go to a particular brand-name home appliance parts center to acquire the parts and service you need for brand-name home appliances. So you do have some shopping choices. If you can’t locate a service center in your area, you can order the part you require straight from the maker.
Be sure to give the manufacturer all the model and parts information possible for the appliance. If readily available, search on the Internet for replacement parts. Then if you do not want to deal with the repair and endless searching for the right part at the right price… call Atlanta Appliance Services. Our trucks are loaded with appliance parts that deal with the common appliance issues we see each and every day. Besides, we know just where to find the correct parts for the repair you need and can usually get it faster than our clients.
First Steps to Common Appliance Issues and Diagnostic Testing
Should you notice one of your appliances is not running right, start with these tips for diagnostic testing.
- First, check to ensure the fuses and/or breakers that control the circuit have actually not blown or tripped. Oh, and there might be more than one electrical panel for your home, appliances such as ranges, and an AC system. Look for blown fuses or tripped breakers at both the primary panel and any additional panel.
- Now, press the reset buttons to restore power to washers, clothes dryers, and others. Some ranges have different plug-type fuses for oven operation; make sure these have not blown. And if the appliance utilizes gas or water, check to make certain it is getting an adequate supply.
- Then, it is a good idea to examine the owner’s manual for the home appliance. If you do not still have a manual for the home appliance, you can most likely find one online, even for an old or outdated device.
When All Else Fails, Time to Call In a Professional
Finally, if the preliminary testing isn’t helping and it’s not a simple fix, please don’t try to do it yourself. As you know, significant appliances are an investment, and you don’t want to make the problem any worse.
Therefore, before you really start tinkering away, call in a professional to take a look. We are more than happy to help find what the problem is and how much the repair will be. At the very least, you’ll actually know what’s wrong.
Quality Service with Atlanta Appliance Services
Are you are experiencing a common appliance issue? Is your machine is not working at peak performance, a repair might be required. Ensure you call an experienced quality appliance and repair specialist who will restore it to top condition, and one with a good reputation as well. And don’t forget, preventative appliance maintenance is the key to keeping your home running efficiently, smoothly, and safely.
Atlanta Appliance Repair is the local appliance repair company that you can count on. We specialize in repairing appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and much more.
Contact our appliance repair service to get on the schedule for your appliance maintenance before it is too late.