Appliances Fixes - Made Easy - Save $$$

  If your gas oven isn't heating properly, you can probably fix it yourself. Check your symptoms to see if this fix will work for you. Time Less than 30 minutes Complexity Beginner Cost $25 Introduction Have you noticed your gas  oven  is taking too long to heat up, or it no longer heats at all? There's a 95 percent chance you just need to replace a $25 igniter. Gas oven igniters last around eight years. As they start to wear out, you may notice these symptoms: Takes too long to heat up; Never reaches bake temperature; Cooks unevenly; Stove burners  light, but oven won't heat up. In around 30 minutes, by replacing the worn-out oven igniter, all these problems can be solved. But before you replace the igniter, be sure the cause isn't  bad gas flow . Look behind your oven to confirm the gas line isn't crimped, and the gas valve handle is in line with the gas line. (If you have a built-in oven, your gas line is not exposed and can't be crimped or turned off.) Note:...

  In 30 years as an appliance repair technician, I've seen lots of usage mistakes by homeowners. Luckily, most are easily preventable. ke Overloading the Washing Machine With Heavy Items This is one of the most common and expensive appliance mistakes. It often results in a worn out rear bearing or a broken spider bracket. When that happens, you’ll need a new washer. It’s a $700 to $1,500 mistake. To prevent it: Avoid washing bathroom mats . They absorb too much water, and the weight stresses the motor. Avoid washing  weighted blankets . They destroy your washer faster than any other item. Avoid washing rugs, dog blankets,  sleeping bags , comforters and all other bulky items. Like mats and weighted blankets, they’re heavy when wet and will quickly cause trouble. Not Cleaning the Dryer Vent This mistake can be catastrophically costly, because it can cause a  dryer fire . When dryer vents become clogged with lint, the heated air can’t escape. If the dryer gets too...

  As an appliance repair technician with more than three decades of experience, I’ve seen many dishwashers that eventually leak from the bottom corners of the door. I love receiving this repair request. It’s almost always caused by the same problem, and I can fix it within 10 minutes with a few supplies. Eventually, all dishwashers end up with a dribbling leak from the lower corner of the door. If left untreated, it can warp and discolor the kitchen floor — a costly repair. Here, I’ll share all the possible causes of a dishwasher door leak and some easy DIY fixes. On This Page About the Expert Why Does a Dishwasher Leak From the Bottom of the Door? How To Stop a Dishwasher From Leaking in the Front About the Expert Scott Flint (aka Scott the Fixit Guy)  has spent more than 30 years as an appliance tech and teacher, repairing washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves and ovens. He operates three YouTube DIY channels with more 60,000 subscribers and an average of 1,000...

  All brands of dishwashers need really hot water to work their best. In my 30 years of appliance repair, I’ve seen many dishwashers not cleaning well and not   melting the soap because the water wasn’t heating properly. The 120-degree water from your home’s  water heater  generally isn’t hot enough for your dishwasher to do its job. That’s why most dishwaters boost that water’s temperature to 160 degrees, high enough to kill all pathogens and melt all your dishwasher soap. If you open your dishwasher door 30 minutes into the cycle, you should see a big plume of steam billowing out. If not, something’s wrong with your dishwasher’s heating system. The most common reason for a dishwasher not heating properly is the water inlet valve not letting in enough water to activate the heater. At 30 minutes into the cycle, if you open the door you should see water high enough to touch the heating element near the bottom of the dishwasher. Some dishwashers, like Bosch and Miele, ...