Common Household Appliances Problems And How To Solve Them?

What is your first instinct when an appliance breaks down? If you’re like most people, you won’t know what to do. You might consult someone for professional repairs, or you might try to make a repair on your own. The only problem is—how do you recognize exactly what’s wrong with the appliance? Unless you have experience with household repairs, you might just end up staring at an appliance with no idea what to do.

To help you better understand your appliances and how they can break down, we’ve come up with a list of the most common problems you might encounter with household appliances.

The Dryer Isn’t Generating Heat

Clothes dryers tend to break down from time to time, but fixing one shouldn’t be a problem. If your clothes dryer isn’t working or just isn’t getting enough heat, it might be time to do a thorough examination. A dryer that won’t start at all, the issue could be the circuit breaker, as these machines take a lot of power. Check it to see if it’s been flipped off.

If your machine isn’t generating enough heat, you can suspect a clogged lint filter or vent tube. You should remove them from the machine and clean them. After you put them back in, the machine should work more efficiently.

Always make sure that the dryer is off and disconnected from a power source before making repairs. Dryers have double the voltage of many other appliances, so keep yourself safe just in case.

The Air Conditioner Is Tripping The Circuit Breaker

Air conditioners are a godsend in the warmer months of the year, but they can malfunction or break down from time to time. If your air conditioner is dripping water from its front panel, there’s a pretty easy fix—simply realign it so that the slope goes downward. Plenty of people take their AC to a shop when they could have saved money on air conditioner repairs by Googling the issue.

Another common issue with air conditioners is constant circuit breaker tripping. This can be caused by the circuit breaker being overtaxed. If multiple appliances are running on the same circuit, it might be time to spread them out. If disconnecting them doesn’t do the trick and the air conditioner still won’t stabilize, you might have to replace the circuit breaker.

The Dishwasher is Leaking

Considering how often we use dishwashers; it should come as no surprise that they are prone to malfunctions. Leaks that come from the dishwasher door are common enough, but they are usually easy to diagnose and take care of.

The first thing you should check is whether or not something is blocking the door a tiny bit. If so, removing it will do the trick. If not, you should try to clean the door gasket of any food particles. They can compromise the door’s seal if they pile up, leading to frequent leaks. A damaged or broken seal should be replaced, as there’s no use trying to save it.

The Washing Machine Won’t Work

Washing machines are tough appliances, but they can break down rather easily if not maintained well. The good news is that many of their most common issues are easy to fix. Is it making noise and shaking a lot? Try to readjust the legs, and it should be fine. The drum isn’t draining water after a wash? Simply unclog the drainage pipe.

If the washing machine won’t turn on at all, this could be a sign of a major issue. Consult the manual and consider calling a professional to take a look. Even if something is broken, it won’t take too long to fix or replace. All you need are some reliable washing machine parts from a store and a manual to help you get started with repairs. With some professional help, you will be back to washing your clothes in no time.

The Refrigerator Isn’t Cooling

A refrigerator that doesn’t cool your food is as useful as a glorified cabinet. While fridge malfunctions aren’t too common, they can ruin weeks' worth of groceries, which is why you need to take care of them asap. If it breaks down in the middle of the day, consider checking the coils. They tend to get clogged up by hair and debris, especially if you have pets. A coil cleaning brush might be needed for this task.

If the coils aren’t the issue or they aren’t working despite thorough cleaning, you might need to get a refrigerator repair expert to diagnose the problem. It could be a drainage tube or something wrong with the thermometer. Either way, you won’t find it easy to DIY the repairs.

Conclusion

Whether your fridge or washing machine broke down, you’re going to want to repair it as soon as possible. While household repairs might be complicated, most of the time, you just need to figure out what’s wrong. Knowing whether or not you need to call a professional is crucial if you want to avoid spending money on unnecessary repairs. Consider some of the tips we’ve mentioned above and see if you can take care of the appliance problem on your own.