10 Common Appliance Repairs

Have you ever wanted to repair that appliance that just isn't working at full capacity anymore? This article covers the top ten home solutions for fixing your broken appliances.

10. My garbage disposal blade won't turn.

Garbage Disposals are known to stop working. This is sometimes known to be caused by something becoming lodged in the gears. The easiest solution is listed below.

First you should use a flashlight to inspect the drain, and look for objects that might be caught up in the gears of the disposal. If any are visible, remove them with your hands. Now you should turn your garbage disposal on to see if it is operational. If it is not, use a broom handle to manually turn the blade counter clockwise. Keep turning until the object is dislodged, and your blade spins.

Please note that you should never use your garbage disposal without running water going through it. This is bad on the gears, and will significantly reduce the life of your garbage disposal.

9. How can I clean mineral deposits in my dish washer?

Start your dish washer without any soap or detergent solution in it. When the spraying cycle begins, open the door immediately. Remove around ½ gallon of water from the bottom of the dish washer, and replace it with white vinegar. Now start the washing process again. Once it's done, all deposits should be gone.

8. My toaster still works, but the bread won't pop up when it's done.

Always make sure the appliance you're repairing is unplugged before you start working on it.

The first step should be to open up your toaster. Look for small bread crumbs, as this is the most likely suspect. Either vacuum, or remove the crumbs with a very small clean brush.

Please note that shaking a toaster can dislodge parts inside of it.

7. The fans in my computer are making strange noises, how do I clean them?

Periodically it is wise to clean the fans in your computer. The dust in the air will clog up your fans, and can actually be very hardzous to your computer.

First you should open your case. If you cannot find the proper screws to remove the cover, you should reference the manual. Sometimes opening your computer case can be quite tricky.