In This Issue

	Message from the RepairGuru
	Store Manager Howard M. Blows the Whistle on Dryer Nightmare
	Dryer Tips to Try this Month
	Featured Items

Featured Items

Avoid Lint Build-up with this Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush

Installing or Moving a Dryer? Buy the Vent that Fits Your Location

Purchase this Vacuum Cleaner Attachment for Refrigerator Condenser and Dryer Duct Cleaning

Message from your RepairGuru®

Welcome to the October 2007 edition of the RepairClinic.com newsletter. While the little ones are preparing their costumes for the big night, maybe you've been clearing the cobwebs from your appliance repair list? Or, perhaps, you just solved a goblin of an appliance problem, and can't wait to share the news.

That's exactly what happened to Howard M. recently when he stopped his 'appliance nightmare' dead in its tracks. Read below to see how the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio store manager set his dryer straight.

Store Manager Howard M. Blows the Whistle on Dryer Nightmare

Howard M. of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio "When our dryer stopped working, we picked up the phone and called a repairman," says Howard M. "He came out and said that we had blown a thermal fuse in our dryer and it would cost about $100 to repair." Howard and his wife, who have two boys ages 3 and 7, agreed to the repair, but the service technician didn't have the part on hand. Instead, he went back to the shop, returning the next day to do the repair. "At the time, that seemed okay," explains Howard. "My wife runs a daycare in our home, so we do laundry every day. But we were only down a short time."

What he fixed: Amana dryer What led him to RepairClinic.com: Didn't want to pay serviceman for repeat repair How he diagnosed the problem: He relied on RepairGuru to troubleshoot the cause of his problem, and spoke directly with a service representative to find the part he needed. How he fixed the dryer: Unplugged the appliance Removed two screws and two wires from fuse Attached new fuse to wires and put screws back in Replaced cover and panel Cleaned out dryer duct to remove lint blockage Plugged appliance back into outlet Parts needed: Thermal Fuse ($5 plus shipping) Tools used: Screwdriver Dryer duct brush

The problem, however, was that their nine-year-old Amana dryer ran for only a couple of months before blowing the same thermal fuse."

"I couldn't believe it," says Howard. "Obviously, the repairman just solved the symptom without figuring out what was causing the problem. At this point, I was annoyed. We had six loads of laundry that we had to take to the Laundromat. That was just day one."

Howard works as a store manager for a local crafts retailer but had never repaired his own appliance before. At first, he tried to call around for help, but everyone was closed. He decided he wasn't going to pay a repairman twice for the same repair: "I had already pulled the dryer out, removed the panel and used an electrical meter to determine which of the two thermal fuses had blown," says Howard. "My next step was to make it my business to find out what was causing the blown thermal fuse. I went online and looked up Amana parts. RepairClinic.com came up as the number-one choice."

The RepairGuru walked Howard through a series of troubleshooting questions. Sure enough, he found his answer quickly. "We had new basement windows installed and had to have a new dryer vent installed as well," explains Howard. "We found out that the filter on the vent was clogged and was causing moisture and heat to back up into the unit and blow the fuse. I wasn't happy that the serviceman we had previously paid hadn't made the effort to properly troubleshoot our dryer problem."

Howard still wasn't sure, though, exactly which part he needed, so he called RepairClinic.com directly. "It was great," says Howard. "The customer service lady walked me through the entire process and I found exactly what I needed. Once the part arrived, I turned a few screws, connected a couple of wires and put the cover back on. Our dryer has been back in business ever since."

Dryer Tips to Try this Month

Take a Look Under your dryer's lint filter - Have you ever taken the time to look inside the lint filter housing when you are cleaning the filter? The area that surrounds the lint filter can accumulate lint and needs to be looked at and cleaned at least once a year. A vacuum makes quick work of removing this build, especially if you use a long attachment.

Dryer Vents have Installation Codes - Have you ever wondered if your dryer vent is installed properly or if it meets your local code? The Uniform Mechanical Codes, which are the basis for most local building codes require that clothes dryers exhaust must be ducted to the outdoors. This means that for most states, dryer vents cannot terminate in the attic or a garage. Venting into the attic or garage could create a moisture build-up and possibly promote mold growth. Check with the local building inspector or department to make sure your dryer exhaust vent meets requirements.

Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets - There has been a lot of concerns about the safety of the chemicals used in many dryer sheets, the market has responded with more environmentally friendly versions. You might also consider these more natural ways to reduce static cling and soften your clothes.

	When you are washing your clothes, try adding baking soda during the rinse cycle or ½ cup of white vinegar during the wash cycle (but don't use vinegar if you're also using bleach, another toxic favorite). Baking soda and vinegar are more natural softeners for your clothes.
	Look for wash detergents with soy-based softeners included, many natural food stores carry these products or you can shop on-line.
	Separate cottons and synthetic fabrics when they are being washed and dried. It's the synthetics that cause most of the static problems. Consider not using the dryer at all for nylon, rayon, and other synthetic fabrics, try using the clothes-line or drying them flat on a dryer rack.
	One of the simplest solutions to prevent static cling is to not dry clothes completely. The small amount of remaining moisture keeps static cling from forming on the clothes. Try using a dryer rack or place synthetics on a towel on the top of the dryer for the last 10% of the drying process.

Subscription Information

To unsubscribe, please visit this URL.