Appliance repair

[Tom]

Within the last 2 weeks, I've had to do some repairs to a dryer and water heater.  Since it's been a while.  I looked up vids on youtube.  There are a number of vids for appliance repair of all types.  Not hard to do.  The hassle is moving the appliances around.  Easier than electrical work on a MG. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlyStHM9Nr0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUKBtLkaeo

[Lannis]

Within the last 2 weeks, I've had to do some repairs to a dryer and water heater.  Since it's been a while.  I looked up vids on youtube.  There are a number of vids for appliance repair of all types.  Not hard to do.  The hassle is moving the appliances around.  Easier than electrical work on a MG. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlyStHM9Nr0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUKBtLkaeo

It's amazing how many of them there are.   For yard and lawn equipment too.

I had to install a new rack slider system on my Kitchenaid dishwasher.   Looked up the video, they had the exact model and the exact process I needed, and it was step by step.   I'd have done it and undone it three times without the video.

Between places like "jackssmallengines" and on-line applicance videos, I've saved a ton of money on $50-a-trip appliance repair ....

Lannis

[Tom]

The incentive to do it myself was because of the over-charging that the appliance repair guys do.  $80 to show at your door.  Prepaid.  Then the time to diagnose the problem per/hour.  Repair time plus mark-up on parts.  The real money is charging for a repair/warranty contract paid monthly.  Residue income.    Thought about doing this for extra income.

[tris]

Put a new element in our Dualit toaster the other day from the stash I inherited from my Uncle after he passed 10 years ago.

[Tom]

Repair, recycle and save money. Lower junk to the landfill.

[Muzz]

You guys will be calling yourselves Kiwis soon!

A bit of #8 wire and a bit of flax, hang, you can fix 'most anything.

I am finding the lathe very useful. Just turned a new sliding door roller out of a bit of acetyl engineering plastic. "I am sorry sir but that door hardware is obsolete now and we don't carry spares. We have an independent contractor who can come around and fix it". Read in to THAT what you will.

[Idontwantapickle]

Fixed the agitator in the clothes washer not long ago. A quick video search showed the process,  parts from Amazon 4 bucks. 15 minutes and done.
Now if I could just fix the agitator outside of the washer........

[Muzz]

Many years ago I had a knock on the door quite late at night. My dentist mate was standing there and explained that he had a patient in the chair and his suction had gone on the blink, and had patients lined up. (It was his late night surgery night) I found a piece of hose originally from a washing machine, some duct tape, and with his vacuum cleaner we replaced the blown suction unit. Worked ok too!

[oldbike54]

 Well that just sucks Muzz 

 Dusty

[Muzz]

Well that just sucks Muzz 

 Dusty

Wot can I say.

[oldbike54]

Wot can I say.

 If you sound like Steven Adams we will need a translator 

 Dusty

[derek533]

Washing machines and dryers are the easiest appliances to repair IMO.  As long as they aren't front loaders or have computer control boards and are all mechanical, the hardest part is just removing the cover so you can get to the parts. 

Unfortunately for me, the wife wanted front loaders so now we have these fancy schmancy machines that I dread when they go bad as I've been told those boards are so expensive that it's just cheaper to buy new.  I hope that's not the case but am afraid it will be. 

[Lannis]

Washing machines and dryers are the easiest appliances to repair IMO.  As long as they aren't front loaders or have computer control boards and are all mechanical, the hardest part is just removing the cover so you can get to the parts. 

Unfortunately for me, the wife wanted front loaders so now we have these fancy schmancy machines that I dread when they go bad as I've been told those boards are so expensive that it's just cheaper to buy new.  I hope that's not the case but am afraid it will be.

It's the case for our KitchenAid dishwasher.   I've never been so disappointed with a supposedly top-of-the-line piece of kit.   The dishrack rollers failed, the door gasket failed, the "garbage disposal" which supposedly chops up the waste into chunks failed, and NOW the main control panel, which is also what you use to pull the door open, is slowly coming off, all in 5 years of two people living here.   And our friendly dealer (he IS friendly, really) tells us that a new control panel costs more than a new dishwasher.   GE or Whirlpool for me next time ....

Lannis

[toma nova]

repairclinic.com has an incredible number of troubleshooting videos.  Prices are higher than amazon but I usually pay for the knowledge.

[Guzzistajohn]

I fixed my own whirlpool dishwasher about a month ago and saved over $300.00 took me 20-30 minutes. I've fixed MUCH more complicated things than that. Like multi head embroidery machines and power wheelchairs and motor bikes. The wife said "you get better lookin' all the time!"

[Kiwi_Roy]

Consider some high quality Fisher & Paykel appliances from MuzzLand

[n3303j]

   GE or Whirlpool for me next time ....

Lannis

SKIP THE GE!
Bought the somewhat premium Profile Series.
Microwaves that blow magnetrons and door switches.
Refrigerators that fail ice makers and condenser fans.
Dish Washers that fail silicone couplings and leak all over the floor every three years, plus door seal failure, racks rusting out, touch pads quitting. Stoves that had 2 burners and 3 controls fail in the first two years. There were other failures along the line but I don't remember the details.

After all the warranty work I'm sure they lost profitability. After the 4 year warranty I became technician of choice.

YES to videos on how to access a lot of this stuff and online service and diagnostic information. It all sure helped 

[Idontwantapickle]

It's the case for our KitchenAid dishwasher.   I've never been so disappointed with a supposedly top-of-the-line piece of kit.   The dishrack rollers failed, the door gasket failed, the "garbage disposal" which supposedly chops up the waste into chunks failed, and NOW the main control panel, which is also what you use to pull the door open, is slowly coming off, all in 5 years of two people living here.   And our friendly dealer (he IS friendly, really) tells us that a new control panel costs more than a new dishwasher.   GE or Whirlpool for me next time ....

Lannis

Lannis,
Skip the GE and get a Bosch dishwasher.  Made right here in Fayetteville. I've never been happier with an appliance.  Can't even hear it running.
Hunter

[Texas Turnip]

Appliance repairs are easy for this redneck. Today I had to fix my solar clothes dryer. Tightened up the wire. (Most wont understand this} Lannis will.

My garbage grinder is, well, a compost bucket. Put the eggshells and other vegetable scraps in a old plastic coffee can and bury it.

Ice maker is filling the ice cube trays.

Dishwasher is adding soap to the water, wash dishes and rinse, put in dish rack. The next morning everything is dry. 

Tex

[twowings]

I've found that searspartsdirect.co m has parts for most any appliance with some helpful wrenching support...have fixed both my Kenmore washer and dryer with easily obtainable parts...

[charlie b]

I get most of my parts in town.  A couple of repair shops are really nice about selling just the parts.

Had a furnace blower motor fail (the small one for the burners).  Took it into the shop and they not only got me the part but they took the assembly, took off the old motor and installed the new one, complete with gasket and fan at no charge.

[Tom]

When we had a store here, I buy the parts and get advice too.  Not enough business to stay open.

[Lannis]

Appliance repairs are easy for this redneck. Today I had to fix my solar clothes dryer. Tightened up the wire. (Most wont understand this} Lannis will.

My garbage grinder is, well, a compost bucket. Put the eggshells and other vegetable scraps in a old plastic coffee can and bury it.

Ice maker is filling the ice cube trays.

Dishwasher is adding soap to the water, wash dishes and rinse, put in dish rack. The next morning everything is dry. 

Tex

(Cue Darth Vader voice) "It is too late for me, son" when it comes to the dishwasher.   It's just WAY too easy compared to a dishmop, dishpan, and drying rack.

But we're already there on the solar-powered clothes dryer.   We cut our electric bill almost $40 a month when we went to the clothesline instead of the dryer.   And I never did run a water line to the refrigerator for an "ice maker".   When I'm sleeping at someone's house that has an icemaker, I jump halfway out of the bed every time it fills the bin; I couldn't stand the racket here ...

And compost is the best kind of soil conditioner.

Lannis

[Kentktk]

Lannis,
Skip the GE and get a Bosch dishwasher.  Made right here in Fayetteville. I've never been happier with an appliance.  Can't even hear it running.
Hunter

I despise my Bosch, it is quiet and cleans very well, but has German idiosyncrasies that will in the end piss you off.

[tris]

A good friend of mine who knows me very well once contemplated getting me something that was broken for my birthday as he knew I'd enjoy fixing it - wasn't sure whether to be pleased or annoyed at the time 

Still that's probably why I (all of us?) ride a Guzzi rather than Honda ....... if I can just fix this low throttle surge  ..............

[pebra]

Our 65 years old Swedish countertop mixer is holding up fine, thank you.
But I know some replacement parts are plastic instead of wood as in the original.

[Two Checks]

No more Kithen Aid. GE or Whirlpool....Kitche n Aid is made by Whirlpool and GE isn't made by GE. IIRC it is now owned by Electrolux, a Swedish company that also owns Frigidaire.

Waiting for the plumber to arrive to install a new water heater.

[charlie b]

I think there are only two mfg of appliances in the world.  They just slap different covers on the guts and put on the label the distributor wants on them.

Go to a parts center and see what models a part fits.  The list is long.  Good for us 'fixers' since it means a small warehouse can hold all the parts you need.

We got a Samsung dishwasher cause we needed an all stainless one for our bad water.  Ended up with matching refrig and stove.  Not had any problem with them in the 5 yrs we've had it but we only use it about once a month.

[Orange Guzzi]

I own a coin operated laundry.  Repairs to washer (3 different brands and styles), dryers (2 different brands), vending machines, (8 different types), water heater, furnace/a.c., customers vehicles, bicycles and pets.  Then throw in some Dear Abby conversations and domestic disputes. 

Commercial machines are the same as residential for the most part other than the vending control. When looking for repair parts, look for commercial suppliers.  Control boards can be repaired/exchanged for $75.  I keep extra perishable parts on hand for fast change outs.  I have an advantage over single unit owner because I can swap parts between units to trouble shoot. 

When replacing a wash machine, a front loader is the best investment.  Buy a unit with the least amount of features.  You will only need cold water, light, medium and heavy load.  Hot water wash only stays hot for 1 minute or less. A front loader uses 12-13 gallons a complete cycle and a  top loader uses 55 gallons.  A front loader will spin the clothes dryer, taking less time and energy to dry.  Gas dryers are more efficient.  You get more btu's from gas than electric. 

[blackcat]

We have a Miele washer and dryer so getting a repair man is 3 or 4 day wait so when the washing machine had a problem, I called up the guy and told him what was happening and what I did and my suspicion that it was the pump. He said that he could replace the pump but it would be at least 4 days before he could get there and that it was an easy job, so he said go on line and look at the video and just order the pump and do it myself. I laughed, thanked him and a couple of days later the new pump is installed and it's working like a champ.

Last week the dryer moisture sensor wasn't working and it has brushes which run on the dryer barrel. Parts list says it is $100 part but the brushes look good. Hmmm....found some chap on YouTube from Australia who made some suggestions and it's working again without the new part.

A couple of years back I needed a part for the dishwasher, found the part online for $20 bucks and thought, I'll buy it locally. Went to the parts supplier, gave the guy the number he comes back and says it will be $38 bucks. I grumbled, purchased the part and I will never bother with the local parts supplier again, mostly because they went out of business. Evidently others came to the same conclusion.