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Fix it yourself

Appliance Repair Technician repairs you can do yourself

16 appliance repair technician problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
16
Pro-only
0
Typical time
15 min – 2 h
  1. 01

    Dishwasher door not latching

    Pull out both racks and check nothing is in the way: a mispositioned upper rack, a tall pan handle or a fallen utensil stops the door from closing the last centimetre.

    easy 20–60 min· $20–50 for a latch assembly

  2. 02

    Dishwasher not cleaning properly

    Remove the lower rack and lift out the filter assembly (twist and pull on most models); wash it in hot soapy water with a brush.

    easy 30–60 min· $5–15 for cleaner and rinse aid

  3. 03

    Dishwasher Not Draining After Cycle

    Bail the standing water out with a cup and towels, then remove and clean the filter at the bottom of the tub.

    easy 20–60 min· $0–10

  4. 04

    Dryer Not Heating

    Check the breaker: electric dryers use a double breaker, and one leg tripping leaves the drum turning with no heat.

    moderate 30–90 min· $10–20 for a fuse and a vent brush

  5. 05

    Dryer overheating

    Stop using the dryer until the vent is cleared; a dryer that trips its thermal fuse is telling you the air cannot get out.

    easy 30–60 min· $15–40 for a vent brush kit and metal duct

  6. 06

    Dryer Smells Like Burning

    Stop the dryer, unplug it (or switch off the gas valve and unplug it), and leave the door open until it is cool; do not run it again until you find the cause.

    moderate 45–90 min· $15–40 for a vent brush kit and metal duct

  7. 07

    Dryer taking too long to dry clothes

    Dry a small load first: if a half load comes out damp too, the dryer is not simply overloaded.

    easy 30–90 min· $15–40 for a vent brush kit and metal duct

  8. 08

    Fridge not cooling

    Check the temperature dial or display — a knocked dial, a 'demo' mode, or a vacation setting is common after cleaning.

    easy 20–60 min· $0–15 for a coil brush and thermometer

  9. 09

    Oven door glass shattered

    Switch the oven off at the breaker or unplug it and let it cool; wear gloves and sweep up the large pieces before vacuuming the small ones from the floor and the oven cavity.

    moderate 1–2 h· $40–150 for a glass panel

  10. 10

    Oven not heating evenly

    Hang an oven thermometer in the centre, set 180 °C (350 °F), and read it after 20 minutes and again at 40; a steady reading 15 °C off is calibration, a swinging one is the sensor or element.

    easy 30–90 min· $20–60 for an element or gasket; $10 for a thermometer

  11. 11

    Refrigerator ice maker not working

    Check the basics: the ice maker's arm or switch is in the on position, the freezer is at −18 °C (0 °F), and the water line valve behind the fridge is open.

    easy 30–90 min· $20–50 for a filter; $25–60 for an inlet valve

  12. 12

    Refrigerator Making Clicking Noise

    Unplug the fridge and pull it out; the click comes from the small black relay box clipped to the side of the compressor at the bottom rear.

    moderate 30–60 min· $15–40 for a relay and overload kit

  13. 13

    Stove burner not igniting

    Turn the burner off, lift the grate and the burner cap, and let everything dry if anything boiled over — a wet igniter clicks but will not spark until it is dry.

    easy 15–45 min· $0 for a clean; $15–40 for an igniter

  14. 14

    Washer not draining

    Switch the machine off at the wall. On a front-loader, open the small hatch at the bottom front, put a shallow tray under it, and unscrew the filter slowly to let the water out.

    easy 30–60 min· $0 for a filter clean; $25–60 for a drain pump

  15. 15

    Washing machine leaking water

    Run a cycle and watch with a flashlight: note whether the puddle appears during fill, wash, or spin — each points at a different part.

    easy 30–90 min· $15–40 for hoses; $30–80 for a door gasket

  16. 16

    Washing machine shaking violently during spin

    Wash a normal mixed load: a single heavy item like a bath mat or a duvet unbalances any machine, and that is not a fault.

    easy 20–60 min· $10–30 for pads; $30–80 for dampers

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