Welcome
Welcome to the December 2005 edition of the RepairClinic.com newsletter.
This month, you'll find tips and tricks to get your stovetop and dishwasher
ready for the extra demands of the holidays.
Message
from the RepairGuru®
Both your dishwasher and stovetop are household appliances you just can't
live without - perhaps even more so as we approach the holidays. As you
step up your cooking and prepare to host the whole family at your place,
there's no worse time to encounter a problem with your stovetop or dishwasher.
Worry not! It's not too late to get the parts you need to keep your appliances
running smoothly for the remainder of the holiday season. In this issue,
we talk about some of the most common dishwasher and stovetop repair problems.
Dishes
Not Clean? Burners on the Fritz?
Here, we list a variety of common problems on dishwashers and stovetops,
as well as some useful tips for getting them in top form.
Dishwasher
Washability problems
Many washability problems such as food residue on dishes and glasses
are caused by inadequate wash water supply or issues with the spray arms.
Dishwashers recycle water during the wash cycle, so it's important they
get enough water at the start of the cycle to clean the dishes adequately.
Unlike your washing machine, which will fill until it has enough water,
the dishwasher only fills for a set period of time. So, if the water inlet
valve is clogged, worn or defective, the dishwasher will not allow enough
time for the proper water level to be reached. If it seems clogged or
worn, it's time to replace it. In some parts of the country, it's necessary
to replace the water inlet valve every two to three years.
Once the dishwasher has filled with the right amount of water, a pump
forces the water up into the spray arms - the metal or plastic parts that
rotate while spraying water at your dishes. Each spray arm has small holes
where water sprays out. If those holes become blocked or clogged, water
won't reach all your dishes. It's easy to remove these spray arms and
dislodge any food particles that may be preventing their effective operation.
Next, check your silverware basket for any large holes in the bottom.
A hole in the basket can allow knives and other objects to slip down and
stop the spray arm from rotating. Many a service call can be avoided by
paying close attention to the free movement of the spray arms.
Rusting dish racks
Virtually all dish racks in modern dishwashers are made from steel coated
with either vinyl or nylon. If the coating wears off, or is cut by a sharp
knife, it will expose the steel to the water. The steel beneath is usually
not rust-resistant so the racks will eventually start to rust.
If small pieces of rusted steel fall from the racks they can be sucked
into the pump assembly and easily cut its soft rubber seals. If that happens,
water will leak past the seal and could end up shorting out the pump motor
or other components. A leak of this sort could go undetected for some
time, causing damage to the floor beneath the dishwasher and potentially
anything beneath the floor. Use this handy leak diverter mat to help you
detect a leak early on.
Dishwasher
Leak Catcher
Water temperature problems
Detergents work best with hot water. Some dishwashers have heating elements
that boost water temperatures to the correct levels. If your unit lacks
a boosting heater it will perform better if your household hot water is
as hot as is safely possible. (Be careful not to set the temperature too
high if you have small children or people with disabilities in the house
that might be injured by scalding hot water.) Another trick is to run
the hot water at the sink nearest your dishwater before you start the
dishwasher. This ensures that the dishwasher fills with hot water. Please
refer to your owner's manual to learn what temperature is recommended
for optimal performance.
Standing water
Another common problem is standing water at the bottom of your washer
at the end of a cycle. There are two reasons this might happen:
1. There may be a problem with the pump or a clog in the drain hose. At
the end of each cycle, the dishwasher should have enough time to pump
all the water out. If you notice water remaining in the bottom after a
pumping cycle, check the drain line for blockages. Most blockages occur
near the end of the drain line, either where it connects to a garbage
disposer or enters an air gap assembly.
2. The water inlet valve may be leaking. In this case, you won't see
any (or too much) water in the bottom of the dishwasher at the end of
a cycle. However, the next morning or the next time you run a load, there
appears to be quite a bit more clean water in the bottom. A leaking water
inlet valve is often the culprit. Repair this quickly. If the leak gets
worse, it will eventually leak all over your kitchen floor, causing untold
damage. You can order a new water inlet valve by entering your model number
in our PartDetective here.
Gas Stovetop
Spark module failure
Most modern gas stovetops have a spark module that lights the gas at the
burner assembly. When the module fails, one or several burners can stop
igniting. In fact, the module may work for some burners, but not others.
You can usually replace the module easily if you know where it is located
on the appliance. Ask our RepairGuru about your specific model and he
can direct you to the correct location.
Defective spark switch
Each stove burner has its own knob. Attached to that knob are two components,
the burner gas valve and a spark igniter switch. When you turn on the
burner, gas begins to flow out to the burner assembly and the spark igniter
switch activates the spark module, which sends a spark out to the burner.
If the spark igniter switch is defective, you won't hear the spark module
make its clicking sound and the burner won't light - or - the spark switch
might click all the time, even if the burner is switched off. These switches
are fairly easy to replace and aren't very expensive. Stovetop boil-overs
often cause this problem.
Broken electrode
The electrode is a small component alongside the stovetop burner assembly.
When the spark module is activated, the electrode acts as a grounding
rod for the spark. A gap between the electrode and the burner allows the
spark to jump to the burner, much like a static shock you might get after
walking across a rug. If the electrode is broken, worn out or defective,
it may ground the energy of the spark to some other metal component and
not produce a spark. If so, it's time to replace the electrode.
Poor flame
Gas stovetop burners have small holes around the perimeter of the
burner to distribute the flame evenly. If some of the holes become clogged,
the flame will burn in an irregular pattern. Use a small metal wire to
clean out the holes. Don't use a toothpick for this task or small pieces
of the toothpick can break off or enlarge the small holes and make the
situation worse.
Electric Coil Burner Stovetop
Bad burner socket
Most coil burner elements have a plug-in socket underneath the stovetop.
The burner elements plug into the socket similar to the way a lamp cord
plugs into a wall socket. Over time, these sockets wear out, degrading
the connection to the burner element. As a result, the socket and/or burner
element can become damaged by electrical arcing at the socket.
Find out if your manufacturer provides a kit to replace worn sockets.
With standard tools, it's usually easy to replace. If you decide not to
replace it, be sure to file off any pitting or scoring on the burner element.
Runaway temperatures
Does your burner tend to run on high, no matter where you set the knob?
This "runaway" infinite switch is a common problem with coil
burner elements. Infinite switch just means you can set the switch behind
the knob for that particular burner to an infinite number of positions
between hot and warm. If you have a runaway burner element, it's time
to replace the switch.
Uneven burner surface
Coil burners often become deformed over time. If your burner element is
not lying flat, it will take longer for your pot to reach the proper cooking
temperature. If the element looks deformed, or if one of its supports
is broken, a pot could tip and spill, potentially injuring someone. Replace
all unstable burner elements immediately.
Burner boil-overs
We've all done it - let something boil over on the stovetop at one time
or another. And we aren't always quick to clean the spill beneath the
burner. When this happens, the burner bowl will not function the way it's
designed. Part of the burner bowl's job is to reflect the burner heat
back up to the cooking pot. If the bowl is dirty and/or tarnished, it
won't be as effective. However, bowls are easy to replace and relatively
inexpensive.
Electric Glass/Ceramic Stovetop
Never-ending indicator light
Most glass/ceramic stovetops have indicator lights allowing you to see
when the glass on one of the burners is hot. The indicator light is triggered
by a sensor near the burner assembly. As the burner heats up, the sensor
turns on the indicator light and will keep it on until the burner assembly
cools down. If the sensor is defective, the indicator light will stay
on long after the cooking surface has cooled. In this case, you will usually
need to replace the entire burner assembly including the sensor.
Burner burn-out
If you turn on a burner and nothing happens, you may have a burned-out
burner element. The only way to know for sure is to remove the element
and check where it plugs into the stovetop with a multi-meter or continuity
checker. If the burner checks out OK, you should investigate the burner
switch.
Dirty stovetop
Glass and ceramic stovetops get dirty in a hurry. Just one boil-over can
leave a baked-on mess. Go ahead and carefully use special razor blade
scrapers on these stovetops. We sell an inexpensive scraper here.
Removing the top
If you need to service a glass or ceramic stovetop, you probably have
to remove the entire top. Often, the burners are attached to the top so
you may have to disconnect some wires. The top is usually held down by
just a few screws.
Next month: Troubleshoot your humidifier and microwave.
News
and Announcements
While we love providing the advice you need to take care of your appliances,
we also have to stock all the parts you might need as well. We're pleased
to announce that we have stocked up on all of the essential parts for
this holiday season. Now more than ever, you'll find the parts you need
to get the job done right and fast.
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