5 Common Appliance Problems You Can Easily Solve Yourself


We use our kitchen and home appliances every day, so when something goes wrong with one of them it can make life rather more stressful. So what do you do...? Well you could call an engineer to come over and take a look, but more times than often the problem can be easily solved by yourself for free.

Here we will take a look at 5 of the most commonly occurring problems in household appliances and how you may be able to fix them without having the pleasure of paying an engineers call out fee.

1. Bottom of freezer building up with ice

The main reason for a build-up of ice in the bottom of the freezer is a blockage in the defrost drain. When a freezer goes through its defrost cycle any melted water is removed via the defrost drain. If this becomes blocked the water will pool at the bottom of the appliance and eventually freeze.

The best way to solve this problem is to remove all foodstuffs and any drawers from your freezer, unplug it, and leave it to defrost. Once the appliance has defrosted, locate the defrost drain, usually on the back wall of the freezer (sometimes covered by a plastic screw-on panel) and carefully pour hot water through the drain. This should remove any blockages. Finally plug your freezer back in and leave it to return to its optimum temperature, you should find it has returned to its normal working order. 


2. Dishes still dirty after coming out of the dishwasher 

One of the possible reasons this problem may occur is that the filter is blocked. A blockage in the filter can restrict the flow of water to the spray arms. The filter can easily become blocked with food residue from dirty plates and dishes which will reduce the effectiveness of your dishwasher.

This problem is can be easily resolved by locating the filter (usually on the floor of the appliance), removing the mesh screen and giving it a good clean using hot water. Replace the mesh screen and used the appliance as normal.


3. Contents of fridge not getting cold/cold enough 

A common cause of this problem is that your fridge is being overworked, usually due to dust and debris covering the refrigerator condenser coils. This causes the appliance to use too much energy and can shorten its lifespan. 

To overcome this problem begin by locating the condenser coils, these can usually be found below the refrigerator (behind the kick plate) or on the back of the refrigerator. Ensure the refrigerator is unplugged, to avoid any electric shocks, and proceed to clean the condenser coils using a vacuum cleaner. If the vacuum cleaner does not do a sufficient enough job a special brush can be used. Repeat this process on an annual basis to avoid future problems. 


4. Clothes still wet after coming out of the tumble dryer

This problem is usually caused by a build-up of lint in your tumble dryer. It is advised that you clean the filter in your tumble dryer after every use. Lint and sediment can build up very quickly and, if left, can cause some real damage to your appliance. A blocked tumble dryer filter will reduce the airflow inside the machine. 

To clean the filter simply remove it and place it under a running tap, if the water does not drain through it clean using a brush and hot soapy water. 

The tumble dryer vent can also become blocked due to a build-up of lint. This can cause the machine to overheat and become a fire hazard, so always check the vent cover is clear. 
 

5. Bad smell coming from washing machine

The cause of this is usually down to mould growing inside the appliance. As a washing machine must have an airtight seal to avoid any leakage, the inside will remain damp after use and this environment will encourage the growth of mould. This will become most obvious around the door seal gasket. 

One way of dealing with this is to put your machine on a hot wash without any clothes in, special washing machine cleaner tablets are also available and will do a more thorough job. This should help remove any mould from the inside of the machine. To ensure the appliance remains mould free, try giving it a quick dry with a towel after every wash and leave the door open between washes to allow any remaining water to evaporate before mould starts to form.  

 


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