Appliance Repair and Troubleshooting Tips from St. Petersburg Appliance Repair Service

2009-12-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

Appliance Repair St Petersburg: Appliance repair can be expensive. It is especially annoying because in most cases, the appliance only breaks down when you are using it, leaving laundry half-done; meals half-cooked; a mess in the sink when the garbage disposal fails to work, etc…

Sometimes the problem is quite simple; however, frustrated homeowners often over-react and call the appliance repair man before investigating the problem themselves. How embarrassing would it be for the appliance repair man to come in and simply plug the appliance in?

There are several reasons it might be unplugged. Maybe you did some spring cleaning and unplugged it to sweep behind it; maybe you bumped the plug and it came loose. It’s possible that the cat went back there and jarred it loose. Always check the power supply first.

Here are some troubleshooting tips for malfunctioning appliances:

REFRIGERATOR REPAIR TIPS
If your refrigerator is not running or is not cold enough...
1. Turn the thermostat up to the next highest setting. If it comes on, let it run for 24 hours and check temperature to confirm it is working properly.
2. Clear/remove anything blocking the air flow around the outside of the refrigerator (on top, underneath, behind, beside, in front of, etc.). Allow 3" of clearance all the way around.
3. If there are condenser coils on the rear of the box, make sure the box is several inches from the wall and that nothing is on top at the rear, blocking the heat from coming off the coils.
4. If the condenser coils are underneath the refrigerator, clean the coils with a vacuum cleaner thoroughly at least twice a year.
If the door is sticking or not closing properly...
1. Wipe off the face of the gasket with a wet rag and make sure the interior shelves, drawers and food are not preventing the door from closing from the inside.

STOVE REPAIR TIPS
Electric - If your burners are not heating...
1. Make sure they are sitting straight in their proper positions.
Electric - If your oven is not heating...
1. Make sure the clock is set on manual cycle and not the automatic time bake cycle.
Gas - If the top burners are not lighting...
1. Wipe off the burner with a hot, damp rag and then dry completely.
Gas - If your oven is not heating...
1. Make sure the clock is set on the manual and not the automatic cycle.
2. Raise up the top and keep the area clean and free of grease build-up.

DISHWASHER REPAIR TIPS
If the dishes are not getting clean...
1. Make sure the water is hot enough. It should be at least 140 degrees, which is hot enough to burn you - VERY HOT! If it is not hot enough, turn the hot water heater thermostat up to a higher setting.
2. Make sure the lower spray arm is unobstructed and turning freely.
3. Make sure the bottom inside the dishwasher is clean and free of debris.
4. Make sure you are following the proper loading procedures. Use the proper amount of detergent and make sure the detergent is fresh (check expiration or "best if used by" date.
If the door isn't closing...
1. Make sure the latch assembly is unrestricted and latching properly. Make sure nothing is blocking the door from opening and closing properly.
If the unit is leaking...
1. Make sure you are following the proper loading procedures, including proper type and amounts of detergents. Run the unit through cycle while empty - if it doesn't leak, it's probably a loading problem.
2. Make sure the racks are positioned properly.
3. Make sure the door is unrestricted around the opening.

Tech Tip - If the inside of your dishwasher is beginning to brown and form mineral stains, put Limeaway (available at your grocery store) or Tang Citrus Drink into the tank during the wash cycle. The citric acid from these products will remove the mineral buildup and restore the finish.

Tech Tip - If your dishwasher is developing a film on the inside, put 6-7 drops of good-quality, name brand regular liquid detergent (for hand-washing dishes) in the bottom and put the machine through a regular cycle. This procedure will wash away soap scum, mineral deposits and grit. It will also allow the machine to work better. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not put more than 6-7 drops of liquid detergent. Be proactive, prevent potential floods!

WASHER REPAIR TIPS
If machine is dead...
1. Make sure the lid is closed properly.
2. Make sure the timer and all of the controls are set properly.
3. Make sure both water faucets are turned on.

Tech Tip - Follow the proper loading procedure and machine operation.

Tech Tip - Never overload the machine.

DRYER REPAIR TIPS
If the clothes are not getting dry...
1. Make sure the dryer is not pushed back against the rear exhaust duct causing an air flow restriction.
2. Make sure the clothes are coming out of the washer spun damp dry. If the washer is not spinning the clothes damp dry, the dryer will not dry the clothes in a normal amount of time.

Tech Tip - Follow the proper loading procedure and machine operation.

Tech Tip - Never overload the dryer.

DISPOSAL REPAIR TIPS
If the unit jams/hums...
1. Turn the unit off. After turning the unit off, remove anything that has fallen into the grinding chamber.
2. Turn the unit off. After turning the unit off, insert an "unjamming" tool into the bottom and turn clockwise. Once the tool turns freely, remove whatever was causing the jam.
3. If the unit is dead, press the red reset button located on the bottom of the disposal - if the unit begins to hum and the reset trips again, it is still jammed. Repeat step #2 and #3.

Tech Tip - Always run water in the sink when you operate the unit.

FREEZER REPAIR TIPS
If the unit is not self-defrosting and the temperatures begin to rise...
1. Check the frost buildup on the inside of the freezer. If it is heavily frosted, manually defrost the freezer by turning it off at the thermostat. Unplug from the wall and allow 12 hours for the unit to defrost, with both doors open.
If the unit is not an automatic self-defrosting model...
1. Defrost the unit once a year or as often as needed. Follow the proper defrosting methods. DO NOT USE a knife, pick, hammer, chisel, screwdriver, etc. or any sharp object)

Tech Tip - Follow all procedures outlined under the refrigerator heading.

Tech Tip - Do not pack the freezer.

MICROWAVE REPAIR TIPS
1. Always use microwave safe dishes.
2. Do not use aluminum foil or anything with metal on it (unless your microwave specifically allows it. Check your owner's manual)
3. Wipe the seal off with a wet rag and dry it thoroughly as often as needed.
4. Do not twist, bend, or slam the door in any way.

In addition to the above, check the owners’ manual that comes with your appliance. Most manuals will have a troubleshooting section. If you are unable to fix the problem then it will be necessary to call an appliance repair specialist.

Appliance Repair Specialists provides affordable and dependable appliance repair service, often the same day you call to request it. Their skilled technicians are qualified to work on most large and small appliances and major brands like Maytag, Amana, Kitchen Aid, Whirlpool, Frigidaire and more. Service technicians are certified in most appliance repair categories from microwaves and garbage disposals to stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers.

We provide dependable, affordable appliance repair in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Brandon, Dover, Gibsonton, Lithia, Lutz, Odessa, Plant City, Riverview, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Sun City Center, Seffner, Thonotosassa, Valrico, Wimauma, Tampa

If you have questions please call (813) 288-1900 or (727) 822-2600

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Appliance Repair Specialists offer Energy Saving Tips to Consumers: Energy Savings in the Refrigerator Equals Money in the Bank!

2009-12-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Appliance Repair St Petersburg FL: Lance Kimball from Appliance Repair Specialists of Tampa, said, “Appliances account for about 20 percent of a household’s annual electricity use.” Since most of our nation’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels (such as coal and natural gas), which contribute to global warming and air and water pollution, replacing older appliances with more efficient models can amount to a huge home energy saving. However, these appliances are only as efficient as the person using them.

No matter what model of energy saving refrigerator you own, there are easy ways to make sure it is using as little electricity as possible:

• Keep your refrigerator away from heat sources (including dishwashers, ovens, heating vents, and direct sunlight), which cause it to work harder to keep its contents cold.
• Leave a few inches of space behind the refrigerator to ensure proper air circulation around the condenser coils, and vacuum the coils at least once a year.
• Open the door as little as possible to minimize the amount of cold air that escapes.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold, which can waste energy. Recommended temperatures are between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (ºF) for refrigerators and 5 ºF for freezers.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer full to better retain the cold. If your refrigerator is fairly empty, store water-filled containers inside.

Your search for any energy saving product should include questions about electricity conservation and energy efficient appliances.

This report was prepared by the Appliances Repairs Specialists of Tampa with important contributions from Consumers’ Report issued May 2008. Since 1998, we have been located at 5447 Haines Rd; Ste 167; St. Petersburg, FL 33714. We serve Hillsborough, Pinellas and portions of Pasco Counties. We offer the following services: Repair all major appliances brands; Offering same day or next day service; Dryer vent cleaning; Authorized warranty service for Maytag, Whirlpool, Jenn Air, Kitchen Aid. Our Service Technicians are certified in all of these categories: refrigerator, appliance repair, gas appliance repair, garbage disposal repair, electric dryer repair, washer and dryer repair. Please call me, Lance Kimball, at 727-822-2600.

Dependable, affordable appliance repair for homes and businesses in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Brandon, Dover, Gibsonton, Lithia, Lutz, Odessa, Plant City, Riverview, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Sun City Center, Seffner, Thonotosassa, Valrico, Wimauma, Tampa

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Appliance Repair St. Petersburg FL 727.822.2600

Appliance Repair and Troubleshooting Tips from St. Petersburg Appliance Repair Service

Appliance Repair Specialists offer Energy Saving Tips to Consumers: Energy Savings in the Refrigerator Equals Money in the Bank!