In This Issue

Featured Items

Universal Appliance Light Bulbs

Burner Covers

Universal Gas Range Burner Knob Kit

Message from the RepairGuru®

Welcome to the April 2006 edition of the RepairClinic.com newsletter. This month, you'll hear how Miriam and her family, do-it-yourselfers in Los Angeles, fixed a frightening oven problem with the help of RepairClinic.com.

Plus, you'll find tips to whip your washer and dryer into shape. They work hard all year to get your clothes clean and dry, so they need a little TLC from time to time.

Los Angeles Family Reigns in Relentless Range-Top Sparking

Miriam K., Los Angeles, CA Appliance problems are often frustrating. But sometimes they can also be downright dangerous. Such was the case for Miriam's teenage daughter, who was home alone when all the burners on the gas range began clicking and sparking - and just wouldn't stop. "She called me at work in a panic about the clicking," Miriam said. "I tried to get her to unplug the stove, but she couldn't get to the plug. She was freaked out because it was nonstop." Miriam drove home, and she, too, was stymied by the relentless clicking. Finally, the two pulled the range away from the wall to unplug it.

How Did They Do It? Problem: Burners on gas range were clicking and sparking, non-stop What led them to RepairClinic.com: Typed in the range's model number at Google.com How they diagnosed the problem: On the site, they found the answer among a list of frequent gas range problems How they fixed it: Removed the bottom drawer from the range Unscrewed the igniter on the side of the drawer cavity Replaced the old igniter with the new one Part needed: Igniter module Tools used: Screwdriver

Knowing a service call and parts might cost at least $100, Miriam began proactively looking for a cause. She consulted the manual for her range top, but even there couldn't find the answer she needed. From there, she went to Google.com, typed in the model number of her gas range, and was directed to RepairClinic.com®.

"Once on the site, she consulted Repair Help to diagnose the problem as a malfunctioning igniter module. With a little more help from the website, she soon learned where the igniter is located. A detailed diagram showed her exactly where to find the part on her range. On her model, it was located at the bottom, close to the storage drawer.

It's a very easy site to navigate," she said. "The diagram on RepairClinic.com® looked just like our range."

For further assistance, she emailed the site's handy RepairGuru® for more specific instructions. After a quick response and a look at some of the testimonials on the site, she had the confidence to order the necessary part from RepairClinic.com®.

Within three days, they had the igniter. To replace it, her husband removed the bottom drawer to access the igniter located on the side. He unscrewed it, and then installed the new part. In total, it took about 20 minutes.

The team effort was a success. Since then, the family hasn't experienced any more frightening burner incidents. And, they saved at least $150 in parts and labor.

Now, Miriam and her husband regularly read the monthly RepairClinic.com® newsletter for other home maintenance tips. They even averted another potential home safety hazard by vacuuming out the lint from their dryer.

"I've felt very comfortable with the help I've received from RepairClinic.com®, very reassured," Miriam said.

Two Tips to Try This Month

Prevent washing machine floods
Over time, the hoses connecting your washer to the water supply will deteriorate, so it's important to inspect them at least twice a year. Our advice: add this to the list of things to check each time you change your clocks in the fall and spring.

You should inspect your hoses for any splits, cracks, blisters (run your hands along them and feel for potential problems), or corrosion around the fittings. If you find any of these signs of wear, or the hoses are more than five years old, it's time to replace them.

Need new water fill hoses? Click here.

Help avoid dryer lint fires and reduce drying time
To operate safely and efficiently, your dryer must have a clean venting system. Even the smallest hint of lint - especially when it's blocking airways - can catch fire under the right circumstances, or lead to a deterioration in dryer performance.

To avoid problems, clean the vent ducting. We recommend special vent cleaning brushes, which make the job easier and can reach the sometimes long distances from the machine to the outside wall. If you have a lint brush, follow the instructions provided with the brush.

To order a dryer vent brush, click here.

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