More Canadians choosing to repair than replace their appliances

Today’s blog headline comes from B loomberg.com article, “Canadians Hang on to Their Fridges, ‘Beaters,’ in Slow Recovery” and it makes sense especially when you consider Canada’s economic downturn that started last year.

The article quoted appliance shop salesman Ben Miller of Prince George, British Columbia, as saying, “Most people are willing to repair rather than buy new because they don’t have the money.”

It seems this repair than replace mentality is also prevalent in the U.S.  Bob Harlacher, an appliance parts store manager in Bronx, N.Y. for 30 years  said that he has noticed more people buying replacement parts and repairing their old appliances due to new appliances becoming more expensive.

“The price of (new) appliances has also gone up, so maybe that’s making people repair them more. I deal a lot with (appliance) mechanics and this is something that that have noticed and told me.”

According to the Bloomberg article, Canadians are taking advantage of temporary tax credits for home renovations. Michael Rowe, chief financial officer of Home Depot’s building- product Canadian unit, said customers are more drawn to items in his store that will get them a tax break.

If you need to make an appliance repair, a good place to start is online. Look for websites that provide how to repair help and forums where you can post your appliance repair questions.

For appliance parts in Canada, APWagner.ca carries new brand-name parts for all major household appliances and ships across Canada.

• APWagner.ca – Appliance Parts in Canada
• Store locations for APWagner.ca

Free Online Appliance Repair Guides:

• Washing Machine Repair Help
• Refrigerator Repair Help
• Clothes Dryer Repair Help
• Gas Ranger Repair Help
• Electric Oven Repair Help

Frigidaire clothes dryer overheating and too hot to touch

Question: The top of my Frigidaire FSE747GES1 clothes dryer is too hot to touch and the top rear of it is scorched. I tore it apart last night and completely cleaned the entire route of lint from the lint collector in the front, all the way through the exterior house wall. After all the cleaning, the dryer is still too hot to touch after a few minutes of running: THIS MAY EXPLAIN OUR SUDDEN $180 MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL!!!

Most all web posts related to overheating dryers point to an airflow problem, but we clearly don’t have that problem.

After reading a million web posts about dryers overheating, I’ve come to 2 possible conclusions:

1) The 240v heating coil is possibly grounding out (touching metal where it shouldn’t) and thus causing the element to be heated continuously because it also will bypass the safety thermostat?

2) Possible cycle thermostat failure?

I went through the schematic and parts list from the link  and can’t find any other thermostat, other than part #33 which appears to only be the safety one.

I need to crack this unit back open asap, but before I do, I was hoping to get info on the location of the operating thermostat and a price.

Answer: Here’s a link to the Clothes Dryer Thermostat you need. It’s located on the fan blower housing.

Frigidaire Dryer Thermostat

You may also have a problem with a grounded element. To read more about grounded elements, visit ApplianceAid.com for a further explanation on Grounded Elements on Clothes Dryers.

Another reason your clothes dryer can be too hot to touch is due to clogged or blocked air vents. Clean any lint from the inner and outer ductwork. If your dryer can’t get rid of any excess heat or moisture, the heat will build up in the dryer drum, and becomes a fire hazard.

To find more Clothes Dryer Repair help, visit the free online clothes dryer repair help guides on APWagner.ca.

Need a part for your clothes dryer? Purchase electric clothes dryer parts and gas clothes dryer parts online and have the part shipped to your home in Canada at apwagner.ca.

Samsung™ Over-the-Range Microwaves Recalled Due to Shock Hazard

Today Samsung has announced a voluntary recall of their 1000 watt over-the-range microwave ovens due to the danger of shock hazard.

No injuries or incidents have been reported in relation to the recalled microwaves which were sold throughout the U.S. from January 2009 through July 2009 and retailed between $180 and $200.

Serial and Model Number Lable Location for recalled Samsung Over-The-Range Microwave Ovens

Consumers should stop using the recalled microwave ovens immediately and contact Samsung for a free repair.

The following model and serial numbers are included in this recall:

Samsung™ Over-the-Range Microwaves Recalled (Serial Number Range VF122xxxxx – VF831xxxxx) and Models Beginning with
Affected production lots	Affected Serial Number Range
	From serial number	To serial number
All SMH9151x produced from January through May 2009:	xxxxxxxS1xxxxxx	xxxxxxxS5xxxxxx

Some products produced in June were also affected:	From serial number	To serial number
SMH9151B	xxxxxxOS600001   xxxxxxTS600001	xxxxxxOS600100   xxxxxxTS601100
SMH9151S	xxxxxxTS600001	xxxxxxTS601386
SMH9151ST	xxxxxxTS600001	xxxxxxTS600330
SMH9151STE	xxxxxxTS600001	xxxxxxTS600330
SMH9151W	xxxxxxOS600001   xxxxxxTS600001	xxxxxxOS600200   xxxxxxTS602055

For additional information, contact Samsung toll-free at (888) 402-6974 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET seven days a week, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.samsung.com/otrrecall

According to a recall notice posted on the Samsung website, the recall was issued due to the “possibility that an installation bolt can contact the terminal on the capacitor of the ventilation motor on some installations. In some circumstances if the power cord is connected to an ungrounded outlet, there could be a remote risk of shock.”

For more information:

• Samsung.com Over-The-Range Microwave Oven Recall Information
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Samsung Over-The-Range Microwave Oven Recall Notice

Maytag Dishwasher no longer cleaning very well

Dishwasher Repair Question: My Maytag Dishwasher, model number MDBD880AWB is going on about 6-yrs of age, and it now fails to do a thorough cleaning of dishes and glasses. The unit will run through the wash cycle just fine, but will not clean. At first, I thought that it might be the orifices in the spray arm, and I cleared each one of them with a tooth pick. Still not cleaning. What else could be wrong?

Answer: One of the first things I check on any dishwasher with a complaint of clean-ability is water softness.

If you do not have soft water then your dishwasher soap will not work properly. The hard water build up also does not do the water pump and other parts of the dishwasher any good. You might want to try a Dishwasher Cleaner that removes mineral build-up, rust and calcium deposits to see if that improves your dishwasher’s cleaning ability.

Even if you have a water softener it may not be working correctly or you may simply be running out of soft water before you run the dishwasher.

There are test strips you can by to test your water softness.

If after checking your water softness and your dishwasher is still not cleaning properly, here are some other factors to consider:

Loading: Loading is very important to a good cleaning. Load so that you don’t block any sprayer arms, and distribute the dishes so that they all get sprayed by the wash water.

Water temperature: The temperature should be at least 49C, and up to about 65C. Most dishwashers will pause while they heat up the water to the proper temperature. If your unit is hooked up to the kitchen sink, you may want to run the faucet for a few seconds to ensure that the water entering the dishwasher is already hot.

Detergent: It is very important to use fresh detergent, so keep it fresh and dry. You can store it in an airtight container. Many manufacturers recommend discarding old and lumpy detergent as it may not dissolve fully, and may leave a gritty residue. Using the right kind and amount of detergent is also very important to getting dishes as clean as possible.

Rinse aid: The use of a Dishwasher Rinse Aid like Jet-Dry Rinse Agent can help to keep dishes spot-free and keep dish drying time down.

If you noticed unsightly stains or smells coming from your dishwasher, try a Dishwasher Cleaner like Glisten, or affresh Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal Cleaner which you can use to clean both appliances.



Save Money: Keeping a full fridge lowers your energy bill

You would not think so, but it’s true; a full refrigerator lowers your utility bill.

How? When the refrigerator is fully stocked, less cold air is lost each time you open the door. Plus the food that is already cooled/cold helps cool new room-temperature foods when placed inside the refrigerator –it helps to even out the temperature.

Experts say that the Celsius settings for your refrigerator should read between two and seven degrees Celsius, with four degrees Celsius being the optimum level.

For more refrigerator and freezer maintenance tips, visit www.APWagner.ca. You can also find refrigerator repair help, freezer repair help, appliance parts and more.

GE Electric Oven won’t broil, but burners all work

I have GE Electric Oven Model Number JGSP23WEY5WW. The broil works just fine, but the oven does not heat at all. All 4 burners work just fine as well. Is this something simple to fix,
or do I need to call a professional, or do I throw the oven out the door?

Well don’t throw the oven out until you have checked it out. It could be an easy fix.

First, check the timer control and make sure the oven is not in the automatic cleaning cycle. If your oven has an option for choosing Delay-Cook or Delay-Start, make sure that this feature is not currently running. Some ovens have a lock-out feature. If this is selected, your oven will not work until it is de-selected.

Next, test the heating element for continuity. A burned out heating element if often the cause for an oven not baking or broiling and it’s a part that is easy to replace.

Following that, you’ll want to check the common wiring, selector switch, and thermostat. Sometimes there are screw-in fuses that control the current to the bake and broil elements. These are usually 30 amp fuses, one for each element. Consult your owner’s manual for their location, and replace as necessary. If you do not have your owner’s manual, check this website for appliance diagrams for repair help purposes. Just enter your appliance’s model number and you will be presented with inside diagrams of your appliances, as well as an appliance part’s list according to your appliance’s model.

Look over the heating elements to see if there is any bubbling, burnt spots, or broken spots in the element. If there is, you will want to replace the element.

Why doesn’t the oven bake or broil, but the top burners are still working?

Ideas for your next kitchen renovation

If you are looking for some inspiration for your next kitchen renovation or remodel, here are a few helpful articles.

Consider your lifestyle, more might be less

If you have a small kitchen, considering reclaiming some space by putting appliances underneath counters.  This article from Canada.com, “Size matters in the kitchen” talks about some options for those looking to conserve or work in a small space.

Drawer appliances, Asian influences, and recycled products

The SeattleTimes.com has a good article looking at the latest trends in kitchen design to inspire you. According to the article, “9 hot trends to make your kitchen sizzle, “says that some of the top trends are drawer appliances (refrigerators, dishwasher and yes, even microwave ovens), using materials made from recycled products, and Asian-inspired designs.

The overlooked kitchen range vent hood

The NationalPost.com, has an excellent article on range vent hoods, why they matter, how they should be set up by Mike Holmes. The article, “Can your kitchen fan take the heat?” says that it is important that you have a properly working and vented range hood.

“Never exhaust into the attic or soffits or crawl space. I’ve come across situations where the kitchen fans vent into the attic; this is a really bad idea. First – the last thing you want to do is allow hot, moist air up into your attic space, especially in winter. It will lead to ice dams, mould, rot – and a world of trouble caused by condensation. “

For more tips, read the rest of the article here: http://www.nationalpost.com/homes/story.html?id=2111343.

WasherFresh destroys stinky odor causing residues and smells

You may have noticed lately that your washer stinks. Clothes and especially towels after use, might be giving off a foul odor. The problem isn’t your detergent or clothes; it’s being caused by your washer.

Mold and mildew can grow in hard-to-see, hard-to-reach places in your washing machine, embedding the smells into your newly cleaned laundry, being especially problematic for thick absorbent towels. Even though mold can grow in any type of washer, it’s especial a problem in front-loading HE washing machines.

WasherFresh fights bad odors in HE Washers, freshens and cleans. 3 -pack - $8.99

To get your washer and laundry smelling fresh again, use a cleaner like WasherFresh to remove stubborn mold and mildew smells. To use, simply drop one of the premeasured pouches of WasherFresh into your empty clothes washer and select a hot water aggressive cleaning cycle available on your machine. WasherFresh dissolves quickly releasing all the active ingredients so it starts cleaning and freshening the laundry tub sooner and longer.

WasherFresh is available in Canada in packs of three pouches and packs of six pouches from APWagner.ca Appliance Parts.

To prevent any future stinky smells, follow these HE washing machine maintenance tips recommended by washing machine manufacturers.

• After use, pull back the rubber seal on a front load machine and wipe the inside with a paper towel to remove any mold growth.
• Keep your washer’s door open after use.

Do it Yourself projects gone horribly wrong

Next time someone nags you about an appliance repair, point them to the website, “There, I Fixed It.” to show them that quality repair work takes time and that there’s a right way and a wrong way to git ‘er done.

Seriously, this site is better than Bob Vila.

The WRONG way to provide your home with air conditioning

The First Refrigerator Air Conditioning System - http://thereifixedit.com

With a little tinker, cardboard boxes, duct tape and a household fan, you too can have indoor air conditioning

Well that’s fine, but what about fixing the air conditioning in your car? Easy!

Car air conditioning - generator powered! - http://thereifixedit.com

Refrigerator parts? We don’t need no stinkin’ refrigerator parts, not when we have duck tape!

http://thereifixedit.com/tag/kitchen/

And one more that is my favorite, a  clever way to turn a car accident into an artistic statement.

I like to think of it as art. - http://thereifixedit.com

Kenmore brand electric oven display not working right

Please help! I have a Kenmore brand electric oven, model number C880662020L0. The problem is the arrow for the temperature to go up is not working after 175 degrees. What part do I need?

Answer: Even though the brand on your electric range says “Kenmore” your oven was actually built by another manufacturer, in this case, Inglis made your electric range. It sounds like you will need a new clock timer and to order this part in Canada call 1-800-287-1627. Appliance part specialists will look up the correct part you need according to your electric range’s model number. To find the model number on your electric range, view this page.

Do you have other issues with your electric oven or range? Here are some repair solutions to common electric stove problems:

• Why won’t my electric stove surface burners warm up?
• Why do the surface element or burners on my electric range only have one high setting now?
• Why doesn’t my electric oven bake?