When to Fix or Replace a Troublesome Appliance
For many of us, our kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we spend time with friends and family, throw parties, and share meals. We also use it for cooking which means that appliances are crucial to daily life! But sometimes, even a well-intentioned appliance can come to be too much work or not worth the hassle. So, here are some helpful tips on identifying if your current appliance is still working as intended or if you need to start calling Pittsburgh Appliance Repair.
When your dishwasher leaves food residue or water spots on the dishes
If you find that your dishes are coming out with food residues despite being fully pre-rinsed and loaded correctly, the problem could be that you have run out of rinse aid. The purpose of the rinse aid is to alter water’s surface tension, allowing it to spread out instead of forming droplets. If you still have some rinse aid left, try adding more. Alternatively, you could add more detergent if you have a traditional dishwasher. Also, ensure that your detergent contains a rinse aid to remove any food residues.
If you are still having this problem after trying the above solutions, your dishwasher’s filter is likely dirty, and you might need to replace it. Follow the instruction manual for dishwasher filter replacement to help you fix the problem.
Suppose your dishwasher is not heating the water, or the electronic panel isn’t showing any signs of power. In that case, it’s prudent to call in an appliance repair service to troubleshoot the dishwasher issue. However, if you still think that it’s time for a replacement, it’s best to consult with a specialist to discuss your dishwasher needs.
The refrigerator doesn’t seem to be as cold as it once was
The first thing to check is if the temperature is set correctly? Check your owner’s manual to see how low it should go. If you find the temperature is too high, lower it slightly and check if that has fixed the problem. If not, consider cleaning the gasket. A dirty gasket will impact the fridge’s ability to seal properly and maintain cold air. Use warm soapy water to clean this area and wait until it is completely dry before closing it back up.
If the refrigerator is still not cooling well, clean the coils. The coils are located at the back of the fridge and should be cleaned every six months. Carefully vacuum any dust or dirt off them before spraying them with a coil cleaner. Wait for the coils to dry completely before plugging in the refrigerator. If you have pets that shed, consider cleaning the coils more often.
The vacuum cleaner no longer generates the same level of suction as it used to
The first action you should take is to empty the vacuum cleaner bag or bin if it is full to avoid blocking the airflow. You should also check that the filter in your vacuum cleaner is clean. If it isn’t, try removing and cleaning the filter before you continue troubleshooting problems with your vacuum.
If the vacuum cleaner still isn’t working, you could check for a blockage in the hose or wand by turning your vacuum cleaner over and checking for anything that might be preventing items from passing through. Remove any kinks or clogged dust from inside the hose by giving it a “fluffing.”
If your vacuum cleaner still isn’t operating properly, check for any cracks in its body and address these straight away. If there are no cracks, consider calling an appliance specialist to inspect and service your vacuum cleaner.
In this article, we’ve discussed all the different ways you can identify when it’s time for a new appliance and how to troubleshoot common problems. The takeaway? It pays off to be proactive about replacing your appliances instead of waiting until they’re broken beyond repair.
For instance, if your dishwasher leaves food residue, check whether you have run out of rinse aid and add more detergent with a rinse aid additive. The filter might also be dirty, so clean this before troubleshooting any other problems.
Similarly, vacuum cleaners may lose suction over time which could mean that there is dust blocking its airflow or an obstruction in the hose/wand area of the vacuum cleaner itself has been clogged by pet hair build-up from shedding pets! Contact expert repair service technicians for advice if you need help identifying which one of your appliances needs fixing or replacement.