Thursday, August 30, 2012

Consumer Question: Dishwasher Won't Start


Hi, Joe,


I have a 5-year old Kenmore dishwasher that doesn't start when the door is closed, even if the lock light is on. I've turned the breaker on and off, turned the water feed on and off, and I've held the start button for 30 seconds but  nothing happens. What do you think is wrong?

Thank you,
Jeffrey

A: Hi Jeffrey,


Thanks for your note. 


I suspect you have a problem with the electronic board on this dishwasher. You may need a technician to confirm this. 

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Consumer Question: Washing Machine Water Valve


Hi, Joe,


I heard you on the radio and you really know what you are talking about. My problem is with my washer - it will not switch from cold to hot. Please help!


Thank you,
C.L. Perry


A: Hi C.L. Perry,


Thanks for your note. 


The water valve is where the 2 hoses connect to the washer. It's plastic with 4 wires connected and easy to remove. That is usually the culprit and is a fast part in the service industry.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Consumer Question: Freezer Thermostat


Hi, Joe,


A couple of weeks ago I had my stand-up side-by-side refrigerator/freezer repaired. It had frozen over and the repairman replaced the part that was responsible for preventing this and told me to leave it unplugged for 22 to 24 hours. I did so and now the refrigerator and freezer is working fine but the ice maker is not producing ice anymore. Can you help me with this problem?


Thank you,
Jermaine


A: Hi Jermaine,


Thanks for your note. 


I am wondering if the technician really fixed your refrigerator? I really need to know what the temperature is in the freezer. The icemaker will not work if the temperature is not cold enough in the freezer. The icemaker has a thermostat inside of it which must be cold enough to let the icemaker begin to operate.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Consumer Question: Defective Igniter


Hi, Joe,


We have a GEXL44 gas range. The oven will not light. The glow bar is working. We dont smell any gas.

Thanks,
Tom

A: Hi, Tom,

Thanks for your note. 


In 9 out of 10 cases, the igniter is defective even though it glows. It is not sending enough milliwatts to open the gas valve.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Consumer Question - Heating & Cooling Experts


Hi, Joe,


We need to replace our furnace and add central A/C to our home. Which brand of furnace and A/C do you feel would be the most quiet, dependable, and trouble-free for us to purchase? Our house is an 1800. sq. ft. ranch with a full basement. We're replacing a 47 yr. old furnace.

Also, could you recommend a quality HVAC contractor in the A2 area?

Thanks for your help and professional advice,
Jim

A: Hi, Jim,

Thanks for your note. 


I suggest you contact Kelley Brothers at 734-462-6266. They sell the Amana Line of Products which are the best and you will be amazed at the warranty they give you. Kelley Brothers may be the best service company in America. Please let me know how it goes.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Consumer Question: Parts for 25yr Old Refrigerator


Hi, Joe,


We have a Frigidaire refrigerator Model FPE20V3B and two beverage holders in the door have snapped off and I can't find replacements for them.  I have checked at Carmacks, Repair Clinic, and a company on Telegraph Rd in Dearborn Hgts and they all tell me the refrigerator is over 25 years old and the part I need is no longer available.

Do you know of anyone that may have the part I need?

We bought the refrigerator new in 1979 and it is still working. We miss the use of the shelves. Can you help us?

Thanks,
David

A: Hi, David,


Thanks for your note. 


I'm sorry to say that I can't help you find those door bars and supports. You might take a sample and get in touch with the delivery guys of a major retailer who remove models like yours from homes and eventually they will run into one.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Consumer Question: A/C Tripping the Circuit Breaker


Hi, Joe,



My outdoor air-conditioning unit is 10 years old. The freon or coolant supply is adequate. Twice in the past week, the circuit breaker(50 amp) has been tripped rendering the whole house temperature to increase or not cool. What do you suggest? Is it ok to just reset the breaker? Is it time to buy a new unit? Is it possible for the compressor to have become so inefficient that an increase amperage is needed? My understanding is that a compressor may cost about $2000, and a new unit at least $3000.




Thanks for your help.
HR

A: Hi, HR,

Thanks for your note. 


I might suggest you call a reputable service company and ask if they have a licensed electrician who can check the unit as well as the circuit breaker box. It could be that all you need is a new circuit breaker. Please let me know.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Article from the O & E Newspaper: THE OLD BECOMES NEW


Originally printed in the Observer & Eccentric Newspaper

In my beginning years of fixing appliances I spent some time in England staying in a Flat in downtown London. I was impressed by an AGA kitchen range which provided constant heat using oil as a fuel and venting to the outside. In the past 80 years it still proves to be a popular product used by thousands of the Queen’s subjects. Joe Henderson, a voice of many years in the appliance industry tells me they were also a high end range sold in this country some 50 years ago. My darling Valorie also tells me she has seen them in magazines on kitchen designs etc. The concept of this range makes me just slightly curious but not enough to purchase one. Even though this range can now be programmed by your cell phone I still can’t picture myself explaining to our neighbors why black smoke is coming out of a pipe on the side of our house. Sometimes I think I am such an old fashioned guy and love the way things once were. On my recent yearly fishing trip to the wilds of Northern Canada such became the case. My friends and I left early in the morning knowing full well that the largest forest fire in Canada was burning in close proximity to our fishing cabin. The fire was 100 miles long and 3 miles wide and was being fueled by 40 mph winds with no rain or calm weather in sight. All main highways were closed and would be for 10 to 14 days leaving just a bush road open to those either crazy enough or with plain old courage, to make the journey. We arrived at the fishing lodge and set up in our cabin which had no electricity because the power lines had been consumed by the forest fire. The portable generators were only big enough to supply the water pumps so we had running water and we used propane gas lanterns and candles just like the old days. We were now set for 7 days of fishing and adventure and hopefully would not be evacuated from our warm and heavenly spot.

My responsibility on these fishing trips is to wake up the guys at 5:30 and make a pot of coffee with the modern coffee maker of today which needs electricity to work properly. That was a problem until I opened a cupboard and spied sitting on the shelf this old beat up tin pot with a glass bubble on top. My memory clicked on and I figured out how to use it. You pull out this long rod which holds a round screen affair which you fill with coffee. You then fill the tin pot with water and place it on the burner of the gas range which is connected to a propane tank outside. You turn the burner on high until the coffee begins to percolate and then to low heat for 5 minutes. I poured 4 cups of coffee and placed them on the kitchen table and my 3 coffee drinking fishing buddies had nothing but compliments about the taste of their cups of coffee. And so after 3 days of living without electricity the power supply was restored and for the remainder of the trip, I was asked to use the tin pot and forget about the modern coffee maker sitting on the kitchen counter.

On a very personal level one of the guys was having a constipation problem and I used an old Indian method of curing the ailment. I stripped a small section of a Birch tree and after removing the bark; I cut out a quarter size chunk of the tree and had this guy chew on it for 15 minutes. It tastes like Turpentine but he said it worked better than the drugstore product. Such is the verbiage that  old can become new and 50 years from now homeowners will seek out old major home appliances because they were made better than today. Stay tuned. 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Consumer Question: Washing Machine Timer


Hi, Joe,


I have a Maytag Atlantis washer that stopped discharging water, in fact when I turn the control knob it will not do anything, except fill with water.  If I unplug the washer and let it sit for about 45 minutes, it will discharge water and spin.  I noticed a thin trickle of what appears to be a thinset oil (like 3 in 1 oil) coming from under the trim skirt on the control knob.  I suspect that the timer has failed.  Before I buy a new timer, is it possible that there is a problem with the transmission/clutch?  It was late last night when I discovered the problem and I didn't think to try and run the washer through a full cycle, I was more concerned with getting the water and clothes out.


So my question is, is there a way to test the timer vs. transmission source of the problem without tearing the machine apart or randomly replacing parts?

Thank you,
Trevor

A: Hi, Trevor,


Thanks for your note. 


I don't suspect the transmission is bad and there is no oil in the timer. The oily substance could be the splash of detergent that builds up in that area. The fact that you have to let it sit before it works could mean that the motor is overheating or there could be problems with the electronics. I suggest you call for service before you start purchasing parts for this machine.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon