In all homes, your appliances get a lot of daily use, from your refrigerator and washing machine, to your microwave and dishwasher. These are essential appliance in every home and when not working properly can cause some serious headaches. Not all issues that come up with these appliances need to be solved by a professional appliance repair team. So, before you go calling your local repair company, take a look at these common problems and their fixes.

Leaking Refrigerator/Freezer

A typical problem for refrigerators is that it will leak water. This is most likely an issue with the water supply line being clogged or frozen. If frozen, just unplug power to the refrigerator until the ice melts. Be sure to shut off the valve so the line won’t continue to leak. If it isn’t frozen, then it could be clogged with food or debris. Try to clean out the debris as best as you can, but if you notice a tear in the hose, then it will need to be replaced. Another reason for a leaky fridge is a clogged defrost drain. This drain carries water from the freezer to a pan below the refrigerator while it is defrosting. Easiest way to fix this is to clean out the drain hole, located at the bottom of the freezer, if you see any debris and then run hot water through it to clear it all out. This should also clean out the drain hose that is located in the back of the refrigerator as well.

Wobbly Washing Machine and Dryer

One of the most common problems with your washing machine and dryer is wobbling, and it sure can be annoying. If your washing machine or dryer are banging around out of control, the machine is likely out of balance. Similar to the unlevel refrigerator previously mentioned, your washing machine and dryer have legs that can be adjusted so that it is perfectly level. Check to see if your washer or dryer is off balance, and if it is, turn the knob on the legs at the corners of the machine until the wobble is gone. If this does not fix the problem, then the reason for the wobble could be your clothes are not balanced within the washing machine or dryer and you just need to shift them around a bit. Although less likely, this would be the easier solution. If both options do not fix the problem, it would be best to call an appliance repair service to come check it out. A wobbling washer and dryer can wreak havoc on the internals of the machines.

Microwave Will Not Turn On

When your microwave will not power up, it might not be necessary to instantly replace it. There are a few simple fixes that you could try. First, the microwave will not turn on if there is a problem with the door latch assembly. A correct latch assembly will signal to the microwave that the door is shut. If it doesn’t do this properly, then the microwave will not turn on. Remove the inner door panel and inspect the latch for any kind of damage. They are usually made of plastic, so damage is not uncommon. If you do see damage, you will need to order a new latch and replace the broken one. Next, microwaves can draw a large amount of power to run, and it could be that it just tripped the GFCI outlet. Find out where the microwave is plugged in at and reset the outlet. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you could have blown the microwave fuse, and although inconvenient, is an inexpensive fix. Locate where the fuse is on the microwave, it may require removing the panel, and replace with a new one that matches your microwave. Typically, a blown fuse will be black or show singe marks. For safety, before working on these fixes for your microwave, make sure you unplug it to prevent any kind of electrical shock.

Clogged Dishwasher

 Dishwashers are one of the most used appliances in your home, so problems are certain to arise eventually. If your dishwasher is not draining, then you most likely have a clog somewhere. The first thing to do is run your garbage disposal. Many times, the drain pipe from your dishwasher might be clogged where the disposal is at and running it may clear the problem. The problem could be with the dishwasher drain. Check to see if there are any objects or food that are preventing the water from draining out. Similar to the dishwasher drain, the filter could also be clogged. Locate where the filter is on your dishwasher and clean it out. This should be part of your regular maintenance schedule, not just if you have a draining problem. There also could be an issue with the drain hose. Check the drain hose to see if it has any kinks and straighten them out. You can also check to see if there are any objects or food lodged in the hose and clean it out with a clothes hanger. The last thing to check is the drain basket. Overtime this will collect food and objects and can potentially prevent the dishwasher from draining. The drain basket is usually located at the bottom of the dishwasher. Clean it out and see if this fixes the problem. These are all easy solutions that can be made before calling an appliance repair service.



Conclusion

With all the different appliances in your home, it is just a matter of time before problems begin to occur, but not all issues require a call to an appliance repair company. Many of them are very simple fixes you can do yourself to save money. Many times, issues that come up with your appliances can seem very daunting at first. With a little time and research, you can quickly solve many of the problems the same day they occur, while other may involve just ordering an inexpensive new part. But if you are uncomfortable fixing these issues with your home appliances yourself, then it would be best to call an appliance repair company  to come in and fix the problems.