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Range/oven
Inside:
Don't
run the self-cleaning cycle less than one
week before a major cooking event, such
as a big holiday meal. Ovens often fail
during and just after a self-cleaning cycle.
You may need time for a repair if this happens
to you.
Prior to starting the self-cleaning cycle,
loosen up large particles in the oven with
a damp rag and a plastic spatula. The oven
temperature reaches 800 to 900 degrees during
self-cleaning, and the oven door will remain
locked for several hours afterward. If the
door does not open, do not force it. You
may need to call for service.
Remember
to open a window in the kitchen or run
an externally vented exhaust fan while
self-cleaning because the process produces
lots of smoke and fumes. And, gas ovens
produce elevated levels of carbon monoxide
during cleaning.
If
your gas oven is slow to light and the
temperature is inaccurate, the igniter
may be too weak to open the gas valve
properly. Even though the igniter may
glow red, it must reach a certain temperature
to be effective. If you have this problem,
use the Part
Detective to find the right
replacement igniter for your oven.
If either the bake or broil heating element
on your electric oven burns out, replace
it now in time for holiday cooking. Normally,
a bake or broil heating element can be
replaced from the inside of the oven.
There's usually no need to pull the oven
away from the wall or to take off any
complicated panels. Be sure to unplug
the oven and get some help if necessary.
Check out our
range/stove/oven
troubleshooting section.
To order a heating element for your range,
use the PartDetective.
Outside:
Spruce up your range top with new drip
pans and burners. Use our PartDetective
to find the exact replacement drip pans
and burners for your range.
You can clean any porcelain stovetop or
glass range/oven control panel with a
non-abrasive cleanser or glass cleaner.
Watch out for some "cream type"
cleansers as they often have tiny abrasive
particles in them, which can damage your
stovetop or control panel. RepairClinic.com
recommends Appliance
Polish & Cleaner for safe
cleaning.
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Refrigerator
Inside:
Now's a good time to clean your refrigerator's
door seals so they don't stick to the door
frame and tear. Use an old toothbrush and
a little dish soap and water to clean all
the nooks and crannies. Use a bit of diluted
bleach to clean away any mold or mildew.
To
reduce odors inside your refrigerator
and freezer, be sure to cover all foods
well and put onions, garlic and other
strong smelling foods in sealed bags.
RepairClinic.com also suggests Fridge
Aid, a high quality activated
charcoal air filter, to help combat odors.
Fridge
Aid fights odors for a full
year.
Outside:
Most frost-free refrigerators have a set
of coils underneath called the condenser.
Because these coils must remain clean for
efficient cooling, we recommend you clean
them once a year - more often if you have
pets that shed. You'll need a condenser
brush to complete this chore.
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Dishwasher
Inside:
If your dishwasher isn't getting the dishes
as clean as it should, there may not be
enough water entering the machine during
the fill cycle. After the dishwasher fills,
check inside to see if there is water covering
the entire bottom of the dishwasher floor.
If not, replace the water inlet valve. You
can order the one for your dishwasher using
the PartDetective.
Also, repair your worn dishwasher rack tines
to prevent rust pieces from ruining the
pump. Before making a repair, be sure to
clean up the rusted spots on the dishwasher
rack with household sandpaper to make the
repair last much longer. Repair kits for
light blue, gray and white tines are available in our
dishwasher
accessories section.
If you can't repair the racks, you should
replace them to avoid more costly repairs
down the road. Use our
PartDetective
to find the right racks for your dishwasher.
Outside:
Exterior cleaning is easy. Just use a damp
sponge and a little dish detergent to wipe
the exterior clean.
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What's
new at RepairClinic.com
Order
status and tracking
You
can now check the status of RepairClinic.com
orders online. This new system will identify
what you ordered, tell you when it will
ship and give you a tracking number if your
package has one. You'll also be able to
see a history of all your previous RepairClinic.com
orders.
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On Sale Now:
10%
off meat
thermometers
Use
an electronic meat thermometer for safe holiday
cooking. RepairClinic.com recommends Polder's
high-quality, automatic, timer/electronic
meat
thermometer to ensure safe cooking.
It takes the guesswork out of cooking turkey,
ham and other meats and also works great for
testing soup and stew temperatures. The meat
thermometer is on sale through
November 24. |
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Appliance fun
fact
Percy
L. Spencer, an electrical engineer, invented
the microwave oven in the 1940s. While touring
a laboratory at the Raytheon Company, he stopped
in front of a magnetron, the power tube that
drives a radar set. Spencer noticed the chocolate
bar in his pocket began to melt. He immediately
experimented with a bag of unpopped corn,
holding it next to the magnetron. His quick
observation powers and this simple experiment
led to the invention of the microwave. (Information
courtesy of greatachievements.org) |
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Survey
results
Thanks to the
more than 700 readers who participated in
the Appliance Repair survey in the October
newsletter. To see the results, click here.
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Appliance
maintenance calendar
We've put together a maintenance calendar
to help you figure out what needs to be done
and when. Add the page to your favorites,
or print it out and keep it for reference
throughout the year. You can find the appliance
maintenance calendar
here. |
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Tell a Friend
about RepairClinic.com and WIN a prize
Tell a friend
about RepairClinic.com and win a quality Klein
5-in-1 screwdriver. Just complete our "Tell
a Friend"
form before Nov. 25, 2002. We'll
randomly draw 5 prizewinners from all entrants.
NOTE: Other than the "Tell a Friend" email,
your friend will not receive any un-requested
emails from RepairClinic.com. For a complete
list of rules, click
here. |
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Information
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here.
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