Listen, I don’t want to scare you– but around 200,000 people yearly are injured by household appliances. Over 14,000 are treated in the E.R., hospitalized, or severely injured. However, there is no need to worry about scary appliance repairs when you have Atlanta Appliance Services.
Atlanta Appliance Services brings the readers an article for Halloween featuring the scary appliance repairs we have seen as well as some other repair professionals have witnessed.
1| Scariest Appliance Repairs: The Case of the Wrong Guy
There’s a story from an upstate man that went to a house to work on a dryer. All he was trying to do was fix the dryer! He was in the laundry room when he heard a big bang near the front of the house. It turns out it was the police coming to look for someone that had been up to no good. They made a mistake and thought the repair guy was who they were looking for. He ended up convincing them that they got the wrong person.
The reason your dryer may not work:
Dryer Won’t Turn On- The first thing Atlanta Appliance Service will check is the circuit breaker that powers the dryer. If the breaker has been tripped due to a power surge, it will shut off immediately. Other issues leading to a dryer not coming on include a damaged dryer door switch or a broken power cord. You can save yourself time and money by avoiding troubleshooting and repairs instead of hiring an experienced professional.
Excessive Noise- As I am sure you know, the home’s dryer has various moving parts. Each part has to work in unison for this appliance to operate correctly. Suppose you notice your dryer making squeaking, humming, or thumping noises. In that case, you need to call in a professional to take a look.
Most dryers have glides that are small plastic pieces located at the front of the drum. These glides will wear and break as time goes by, leading to excessive noise problems. If you hear the dryer making a thumping noise, it could be due to broken glides.
Our professionals will also check the condition of a dryer’s blower wheel and the drum support roller when pinpointing the cause of the noise. If either of these components is damaged, we can quickly replace them.
Won’t Tumble Correctly- A broken belt can cause a dryer to stop tumbling. If the belt is not making the drum rotate, it will be impossible to get your clothes dry and free of wrinkles. Due to the complexity of changing out a dryer belt, it is best to hire our professionals for this job.
In a more severe case, this problem will be caused by a seized motor or other damaged parts that support the dryer. Just know, the price of replacing these vital pieces will be worth it. Once our professionals have finished this work, the dryer in your home should run like a well-oiled machine.
2| Gross: The Rotten Fridge
A husband and wife called an appliance repair company because they left town for three days to return home to an awful smell. You see, the technician got there and was a little nervous when he smelt the stench from the house as soon as he opened the front door. They walked him to the kitchen and directed him to their refrigerator. He opened the door to find their refrigerator gone entirely out and their food spoiled.
Preparing for your new refrigerator:
- Shop locally first for fast delivery.
- Measure your space.
- Look for efficiency.
- Be flexible with different brands.
3| Scariest Appliance Repairs: Crazy Spin Cycle
One customer stated they were just about to leave to go on the vacation of their dreams. She had the last crucial load of laundry in the washer with all their beach towels and bathing suites. She went to check on the clothes when she heard the familiar sound of the last spin cycle.
There she found the washer had started shaking violently. Then all of a sudden, it stopped spinning. She looked inside, and the tub was still full of water. The washing machine was dead! Their vacation clothes were soaking wet and unwashed.
Additional causes:
Clogged/ Jammed Drain Hose- Small items have a way of finding their way into the washer, and they can get stuck in the pump, as can small clothing items.
Broken Lid Switch- If the lid switch is bad, the control panel of your washing machine interprets that as the lid being open. When the control panel doesn’t detect the switch engaged, the washer won’t agitate or spin when you close the lid.
Damaged Belt- A drive belt can wear out, break, or slip on the pulleys over time. This results in a washer tub that won’t spin or agitate and a drain pump that won’t be able to pump water out of the tub.
4| Dirty Dish Nightmare
A young guy just moved out and had an appliance team come out to his apartment. He heard a loud bang in his kitchen the night before starting his dishwasher. He mentioned to them that his dishwasher worked sometimes. After assessing, the technicians found that his spray arm was clogged.
Additional causes:
Dirty Filter- Older dishwashers typically have a self-cleaning filter that works by grinding down food particles until they become small enough to wash away. Newer models usually have a removable filter that needs to be taken out and cleaned periodically. Additional reasons your dishwasher may not be working:
- Broken Soap Dispenser- If your soap dispenser isn’t working, detergent may not reach your dishes, or it may not be coming out at the right time during the wash cycle. A common issue that arises is a jammed spring in the dispenser door. You can use a small old toothbrush to clean off the soap scum, dispenser, and springs.
Tip: Mixing hot water and vinegar will help dissolve grease and debris. If the spring or the dispenser door is broken, it must be replaced. You can also check the gasket around the dispenser and replace it if it’s cracked. Occasionally, a small dab of petroleum jelly around the gasket may extend its life.
- Low Water Temperature- Most dishwasher cycles require a water temperature of at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit to work correctly. Some models have a heat-boosting mechanism built in, but if yours doesn’t, we can ensure that your water heater is set to 120 degrees.
5| Beware the Spiritual Oven
Interestingly, one customer stated- Believe it or not, our oven turns off and on whenever it wants. The timer will randomly start beeping when I haven’t even set the timer, I will be in the middle of dinner, and it just shuts off with our meal half cooked! It’s honestly starting to freak us out! I’ve had enough of my oven having a mind of its own.
Reasons for oven issues:
Ventilation System Blocked- Your gas oven could be turned off because its ventilation system is blocked. Every part of a modern oven is designed with food safety and people in mind. Improved ventilation systems filter outside air, draw cool air from the surrounding environment into the range using a powerful cooling fan, and then safely send hot air out the back of the unit. This highly efficient airflow is what lets your favorite meal cook without drying out or making you wait too long for it to cool down.
Faulty Temperature Sensor- That thermistor ensures the oven always reaches and maintains your set temperature. Using a thermistor in the range makes it easier to control the temperature. The thermistor monitors the current temperature inside the oven. It adjusts power to the heating elements, keeping the heat constant and cooking your food perfectly. It allows you to work faster and more efficiently than any other solution by eliminating time spent checking in on pies or keeping the oven constantly running to maintain your set temperature.
Broken Heating Elements- The heating elements in your oven can be found on your oven’s back, top, and bottom. With any other appliances, your range will become worn out and damaged over time and with constant use. Overheating can happen if the heating elements are bent out of shape or damaged. Also, wiring problems in the oven are another common issue that leads to an underpowered heating element needing replacement.
Contact Us Today for Scary Appliance Repairs
Although all the information listed above may seem overwhelming, there is no need for you to worry. Atlanta Appliance Services will be glad to serve you and guide you through repairing or replacing any appliance. Reach out to us today for additional information.