Three Common Household Appliance Problems And How To Repair Them

Let's face it:  major appliances are major purchases, and most major appliances are heavily relied on and generally used on a daily basis. If one of your major appliances malfunctions (or stops working altogether), it's a major headache:  not only will you have to shell out big bucks, but you'll also be inconvenienced until your new appliance arrives.  If your broken appliance just needs to be repaired, you're lucky.  Here we'll talk about three common appliance problems and how to repair them.

Three Common Household Appliance Problems And How To Repair Them

1. Your Washing Machine

Losing the use of your washing machine in the middle of a wash cycle can be one of the most frustrating situations.  If you are in the middle of washing your clothes and you find that the machine has not begun to agitate, rinse or spin, then you are likely to have the issue of a broken lid or a broken door switch.  I personally learned this the hard way and went through not one but TWO washers on account of broken lid latches. Machines with lid latches use a sensor to determine whether the door has been closed and whether or not it can begin the wash cycle.

In order to fix the issue, you'll have to call a laundry appliances professional.  It's possible to experience harmful EMF exposure should you try and repair it yourself (and to be honest, it's not an easy fix). Read up on safe EMF levels for more information on this.  (Not-so-fun-fact: washing machines are one of the biggest culprits of EMF exposure.)

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2. Your Freezer

A freezer with a floor of ice is a common occurrence in a lot of refrigerators, especially older models. This is usually on account of a badly clogged defrost drain.  To rid yourself of this ice build up, defrost your freezer.  Defrosting your freezer can take a couple of hours, so be sure to move any frozen food to a separate freezer or ice chest to keep cold during the process (if you're defrosting a freezer that's part of a fridge, be sure you empty the contents of the fridge as well).  Unplug the unit, and lay towels on the floor beneath.  As tempting as it might be, don't chop away at the ice; you don't want to damage coils or chip the plastic surround.  Lastly, and most conveniently, aim a hair dryer on it's hottest setting at the ice, taking care that you are safely away from any water hazard.

Once the ice has melted and you've wiped out all of the water, clean your freezer with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water, and dry thoroughly with a clean towel.   Plug the unit back in and wait about 30 minutes before putting all of the food back in.
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​3. Your Fridge's Water Dispenser

There is nothing worse than grabbing a glass of "filtered" water from your refrigerator's water dispenser only to find you have some unwanted guests floating in the glass. These "floaters" can be caused by contamination, mineral deposits and even mold (um, ew?).  Be sure to replace your fridge's water filter every six months minimum, or as your manufacturer suggests.  To see what you're dealing with when it comes to your fridge's water, you can purchase inexpensive water test kits to check for lead,  copper, iron, chlorine, mercury and other bacterias.

For more information, consult your refrigerator's warranty and instruction guide for assistance.

​When it comes to certain appliance repairs, you should make sure that you hire a professional. These can range from emergency plumbing services to a licensed, qualified electrician. Doing so boasts multiple benefits and ensures that the repairs are done to a high standard. While you could certainly do minimal repairs like replacing gaskets, make sure you know your limitations. Hire a professional for anything you feel you cannot do on your own.

Still not sure if you should repair or replace?  We think you'll love this infographic from uniquedoor.com because it actually shows search terms on YouTube that you can use in order to find solutions to the appliance problems you may be having, so you can make a more informed decision on how to handle your appliance issue(s).