In This Issue

Featured Items

Polder Cooking Thermometer with Timer and Clock

Universal Electric Range Surface Element

Universal Range Drip Pan

Ceramic Cooktop Cleaning Kit

Message from the RepairGuru®

Welcome to the March 2006 edition of the RepairClinic.com newsletter. This month, learn how fellow do-it-yourselfer, Jeff, successfully replaced his oven control panel to get the family's oven working again.

And, it's time to maintain your range/oven and vent hood to keep them working efficiently and safely. We'll show you how and why you should check, clean or replace your stovetop drip bowls and vent hood filters.

New Hampshire Resident Successfully Troubleshoots Oven, Pockets $140

Jeff D., North Salem, New Hampshire With a wife, toddler and a new baby on the way, Jeff already had his hands full when the family's oven suddenly stopped working. For more than a week, the family of three had to get by without baking or roasting. The knob on the control panel that regulates the oven temperature just wouldn't cause the oven burner to ignite. The top burners worked fine, but not the oven. And, the clock was out on the two-year-old range. "I called some local appliance repair folks," Jeff said. "It would be $60 just to ring my doorbell, then $75 an hour - plus parts. I thought, 'You know what, there's got to be a better solution.'" Jeff researched options online, typing in "appliance repair" on a search engine, and found a listing for RepairClinic.com near the top of the search results. Once at RepairClinic.com, he entered the details about his oven model and emailed the RepairGuru®.

How Did He Do It? Problem: Oven control panel and clock stopped working What led him to RepairClinic.com: A search engine query for "appliance repair" How he diagnosed the problem: Sent details about his type of oven and problem to the RepairGuru How he fixed it: Unplugged the oven Removed the face of the oven control panel Disconnected the malfunctioning control panel and clock from the connecting wires Connected the new part to the internal wiring Screwed the control panel face back on Part needed: New oven clock and control panel Tools used: Screwdriver

"To tell you the truth, I was a little leery about ordering a part from somewhere far away not knowing exactly how to fix it myself," he said.

However, seeing a photo of the part reassured him that it was the right part and that he could easily fix it on his own.

When the new clock and control panel arrived a few days later, Jeff first unplugged the range, and then removed the face of the control panel. In just five minutes, he had switched out the old part for the new, and replaced the control panel's face - such an easy fix he really didn't even need additional instructions.

Jeff estimates that he saved about $140 by ordering online from RepairClinic.com and fixing the oven himself. The next time he runs into an appliance problem, he won't hesitate to repair the appliance himself.

"RepairClinic.com would be my first choice before anything else," he said.

Two Tips to Try This Month

Boost oven and stove efficiency
Have your stovetop drip bowls seen a few too many drips? Drip pans and bowls serve multiple functions for a range. They catch food and spills, help radiate heat back at the pan for better efficiency, and protect you from accidentally touching internal components.
Dirty drip bowls reduce the heating efficiency of burners, so it might be time to clean or replace bowls. You can clean the drip pans with a non-abrasive household cleanser.

CLEANING TIP: Some model ranges are equipped with porcelain drip pans that can be placed inside the oven and cleaned with the oven's self-cleaning cycle. Check your owner's manual to see if your model has this feature.

If your bowls are simply too dirty or worn, it's time to replace them. To find stovetop drip bowls, click here.

Prevent fires and improve air quality
It also might be time to clean or replace the filter(s) in your range vent hood or underneath your over-the-range microwave oven. The thin, silvery screen is the grease filter. Depending on your model, you may have more than one. This filter traps airborne oils and grease to keep them out of the blower and exhaust vent.

To clean the filter, remove it and soak it in a degreasing solution until the grease is dissolved. Next, wash it with warm, soapy water to remove any traces of the degreaser. Then put it in the upper rack of the dishwasher and run it through a normal cycle.

Need a good degreaser? Click here.

Note: If your unit circulates the air rather than vents it, it may have one or more activated charcoal filters. Don't wash these. Just replace them when they lose their effectiveness.

If your filter is too dirty to clean or is worn out, replace it with a new one. To find a filter based on your model. click here.

Bonus tip:
Also, improve the efficiency and temperature accuracy of your oven by checking the oven door to ensure it closes tightly. If it doesn't close properly, replace the door gasket, hinges or door springs. To find what you need, click here.

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