Home Appliances

Appliance repair covers a wide range of items, but many tips and pieces of advice can be applied to almost all of them. You should definitely take the time to learn how to perform at least minor repairs by yourself. For major appliances, this can mean big savings on a professional repair bill, and for smaller appliances it can mean keeping a perfectly fine older model rather than paying big bucks for an upgrade.

Locating Access Screws

A common problem that can arise when working on small appliances is having difficulty locating the access point. Sometimes you can remove every single visible screw and still not figure out how to get inside the machine. In these cases, the best tip available is to find the nameplate of the manufacturer, and remove its mounting screws. In many cases, nameplates serve the dual purpose of concealing access points.

Plastic Housing Access

Some appliances don't have any screws at all indicating access points. If your appliance has no screws but does have molded plastic housing, inspect it carefully to find things like a post sticking through a hole. When you find these, locate the nearest seam in the plastic, and use it to pry the machine apart.

Finding Dropped Parts

Appliance repair many times means dealing with small parts that can be dropped and are difficult to find. One effective method for finding lost parts sounds backwards, but it often works. The obstacle may actually be too much light. Turn off overhead lights and draw curtains or blinds to make the room darker. Grab a flashlight, and situate it close to the floor while you swing it back and forth slowly like a searchlight. This method of illumination will reveal the shadow of lost parts better than a room filled with light.

Unclogging Air Vents

Repair of small appliances powered by a motor can often be as simple as unblocking air vents. Obstruction of these vents reduces air circulation, which can cause overheating. Repair is as simple as inserting a pipe cleaner into the vents to break up larger pieces of debris and then using a handheld vacuum to remove what's left.

Checking Power Supply

When a major appliance, like an oven, water heater or air conditioner, appears to need major repair work because it has stopped working, one little step can reduce frustration and save time and money. Head to your home's main service panel. Depending on the type you have, you should look for either a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Replace with a new fuse, or flip the circuit breaker back into position. Turn on the appliance again, and your repair needs may have just come to a quick conclusion.