April 2008 Newsletter

Message from your RepairGuru®

Welcome to the April 2008 edition of the RepairClinic.com newsletter. This issue focuses on washing machines. When Jonathan S. was confronted with a washer problem, he thought “what would dad do?” 

“My wife was going to quickly transfer the washed load into the dryer before we left the house,” explains Jonathan. “But, we discovered all the clothes were sopping.” They tried to force the machine into spin mode, but no spin. Then, they took the clump of dripping clothes out of the washer and started it out on a normal wash cycle to see what it would do. The washer filled with water and ran through each cycle—without the drum ever moving. Jonathan didn’t want to call a repairman on a holiday; so, off to the Laundromat his wife and son went. He stayed home and opened the back of the washer to see if he could figure out the problem. “My dad used to fix everything around the house when I was a kid, so I had to give it a try.”

Jonathan did a Google search on the make and model number for his 2002 Kenmore washing machine, and came up with a cross link to RepairClinic.com. He pulled out the envelope from the inside back of the washing machine to get the technical sheets. He checked the belt, and it wasn’t broken. He used his dad’s old Ohm meter and tested the motor and circuit board. The motor was good, but the circuit board had one terminal which tested “inconclusive” and looked discolored. He went back to the Internet for some case histories and contacted the RepairClinic.com’s RepairGuru® for advice.

In addition to the instructions from the RepairGuru, RepairClinic.com’s PartDetective proved to be a great search engine to find the right part—especially with the corresponding photos. The new circuit board came in two days. “I put it in, buttoned everything up, and BAM, we had agitation again—the right kind,” says Jonathan. To help reduce the probability of the circuit board burning out again, he replaced the wall socket and put a surge protector on it" “Who knew my washer had a little computer in it?"

When Jonathan was asked if he considers himself a full do-it-yourselfer like his dad, he replied that he is just “a grasshopper in the Kung-Fu of appliance repair.” He thinks his father would be pleased with him, though, that he solved the problem and didn’t have to buy a new washing machine or pay for a service call and labor costs. And, he knows his own college-aged son appreciates not having to haul any more loads to and from the Laundromat.

Check water-fill hoses periodically for wear, blisters, or weaknesses. If a hose ruptures, large quantities of water could gush out—and the hot water hose can contain water hot enough to scald someone nearby. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the hoses every five years. High quality stainless steel hoses are one alternative.

Make sure your washing machine is level. All four legs should be touching the floor to avoid vibration, rocking, and walking of the washer during the spin cycle. The front legs should be adjustable to achieve the proper height. Then tighten the lock nut up against the body of the machine. If your machine has “self adjusting” rear legs, you set these legs by tilting the machine forward (with help!) three to four inches off the floor and then setting the machine back down.

Monitor and clean lint build up. Most washing machines collect lint and send it down the drain. However, Maytag washing machines can be different because they collect lint in the center tube of the agitator. Lift out that tube and clean it periodically. Other machines have a lint filter near the top of the tub that you can slide out, clean, and reinsert.

Between April 9, 2008 – April 30, 2008, the first 100 customers will receive 15% off this valuable item:

Prevent a burst hose from flooding your floor with Floodstop. When a few drops of water make contact with the sensor, an alarm sounds, the valves are closed, and water is shut off automatically.

For 15% off discount, enter this PROMO CODE with your order: FLOODSTOP