Upcoming Home Shows

Q: Hi Joe Gagnon,

I wondered when you where going to post the home shows you are going to be at this spring. I am a representative for OnGard and would like to have a presence at the shows you are attending.

Thanks, 
Greg Szczesny

A:  Hi Greg,

Thanks for your note.

I will be broadcasting on Sat. March 3 from the Canton Home Show and on Sat. March 10 from the Dearborn Home Show. (That's put on by the Dearborn Board of Realtors.)

I will have your product on display at the broadcast booths, if you stop by and there are questions and you're available.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Repair Follow Up

Q: Hi Joe Gagnon,

I thought I'd update you on my dishwasher repair. As you know, Mark was able to locate the necessary part which enabled him to rebuild the pump and then reinstall it. The repair entailed three trips to my house. Trip one to confirm the problem: The pump needed a part which he managed to locate. This was remarkable since that part is no longer made. His second trip was to remove the broken pump and rebuild it with the new part (which had to be done at his shop). His third and final trip was to install the rebuilt pump.

His efforts were successful! My dishwasher again runs quietly and efficiently. The horrendous racket is gone. My dishes are clean and I am very happy.

My thanks to both you and Mark, 
Evelina

A:  Hi Evelina,

Thank you for the follow up. I'm proud of that boy.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - Frigidaire Washer

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

I have a Frigidaire Front load washer Model #GLTF2940FS.

It is 5 years old and is turning on and off every few minutes, and flashes a 'J' in the display. Do you have an idea of what is wrong? I e-mailed Frigidaire and the only thing they would tell me was to call for service.


Thank you,

Julie

A:  Hi Julie,

Thanks for the note.

I might suggest you contact my son Mark who owns a business in Livonia. He also travels to Jackson to do service. His number is 734-953-6991. Ask him to investigate and see what the code J means on your washer. He will tell you what is wrong and how to fix it yourself.

Let me know what you find out.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - Purchasing a New Washing Machine

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

My real issue is the need to buy a new clothes washing machine on an incredibly tight budget. Most of the kids are gone but, we do have one attending high school still living with us. So, on most occasions there are three living at the residence. Although we have a small home, space is not an issue, but stack-ability, if not at a premium, is of interest. Our real concerns are those of durability, performance and quality at a value or good price. Price range $400-$800.

Thanks,

Scott

A:  Hi Scott,

Thanks for the note.

I might suggest a Speed Queen washer available at Busen's Appliance, Downriver.

Let me know what you decide please.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - Maytag Washer

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

 

I have a Maytag top loading washer, purchased in 1975 and still working fine - except for the vibration has gotten worse - similar to an unbalanced load. I have checked with a level similar to this aluminum one: Stanley 42-074 Jobmaster Aluminum Carpenter's Level in both the front-to-back, as well as side-to-side, on the top of the washing machine. It is level to within 1/32 or 1/16 of an inch. The Maytag sits on two 2x4 slats, one on the left and one on the right. These 2x4 slats sit upon the eight inch square ceramic floor tiles in laundry room.

 

You have said on the air that the rubber feet need to be inspected, either that or the floor is not level or warped. The floor has not changed and the level appliance seems to confirm that. The appliance does not "rock" when I attempt to rock it. When vibration occurs at the end of a wash cycle (during rinse and spin dry cycle), the entire applicance moved to the right about one inch.

Help!

 

Thanks,

William

A:  Hi William,

 

Thanks for the note.

 

I've just spent four days at the Novi Home Show and answered several questions just like yours. Make sure the lock nuts on the legs are tight. Change the rubber feet. Take off the front panel and inspect the springs. If all of this is ok, lets look at the floor. Put a glass of water on top of the dryer and turn on the washer. If the glass of water is shaking all over, blame the floor.

Let me know what you find please.

 

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - GE Washer Leaking

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

My GE washer is leaking oily water from the bottom during the rinse cycle.  It's about 12 years old. Is it worth fixing or should I replace it?

Thank you for your input,

Fran

A:  Hi Fran,

Thanks for the note.

Your washer has a seal in the transmission that is defective. Cost of repairs is too much for that washer. Time to kiss it good-bye.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

OnGard...Article by Joe Gagnon

IS ONGARD THE ANSWER?

After all of these years of writing this column I have always admired the standards of this newspaper’s ethics in journalism. My writings have never been used as an advertising medium but rather a true forum of consumer education. I will ask you to excuse me on this one occasion because the information I’m about to give you is so important, it takes precedence over my ethics as well. There is no money exchanging hands between this new company and myself nor do I expect there will be. It is a product produced here in Michigan and they need all of the publicity they can get but most important the smart consumer who is concerned about a clothes dryer fire needs to know about this product. It is called OnGARD and is a simple fire extinguisher which attaches to the back wall with a piece of plastic tubing leading into the base of the clothes dryer.

I don’t mean to simplify the concept but it took Gerald Flood, the inventor a short time to create this wonderful safety device. In the past, I have talked to manufacturer’s engineers and others about an extinguisher that could be installed within a clothes dryer to prevent the happening of a dryer fire. I’m sure the feeling from a manufacture is that installing a fire suppression system within a dryer would mean admitting that the product is at fault. Not  so, I claim as the homeowner is at fault here. They build a fine product which does the job very sufficiently and we the consumer don’t pay enough attention to how a clothes dryer operates. There are over 16,000 dryer fires reported each year in this country and I’ll bet that twice that amount go unreported. Many people are injured and many die and yet the news media does a terrible job of educating the American public. While this lack of concern seems prevalent and the way it is, this new invention can begin to save lives and make more homeowners aware.

I have been approached many times to endorse someone’s new product and I don’t bite all that often. Take the product invented a few years back that would save energy costs by simply plugging your refrigerator into it. I stated that it might cause a compressor failure and it did, but millions were made before the product was removed from store shelves. Someone is always out to make a quick buck in this world which should raise the caution flag in shopper’s habits. This new invention is just now hitting the market place and as you can tell, I believe in it very strongly. It is not difficult for a typical homeowner to install themselves. You mount the extinguisher to the wall behind the dryer and then run the plastic tube through a louver on the back of the dryer. The tube lays on the inside floor of the dryer and when the heat of the flame hits the tube, it propels a proven fire suppressor powder throughout the base of the dryer which puts out the fire. Another important factor is that there is enough powder expelled that some of it will travel up the vent line to extinguish and prevent the fire from spreading outside of the dryer. It is not expensive to purchase especially compared to the damage cost with most dryer fires. The life of the product is in the area of 6 years and the fire extinguisher has a gauge on it to tell you when it needs to be recharged. I have asked to be notified on the sad occasion of a dryer fire when this product has proven itself. Currently this product can be purchased at www.ongard.biz or call 1-800-338-9010.

I recently spent some time appearing at the January edition of the Novi Home Improvement show and I want to thank the many people who stopped by and said hello. It’s a fact that so many of you commented on this column that I write and with great pride, I tell you that I am blessed to do so. Stay tuned.

Regards,
Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - Cleaning Maytag Dryer

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

We have a Maytag Dryer (Model # MDG308DAWW  Serial # 11508514JJ) which my husband would like to clean the interior around the combustion chamber. We cannot find any access panel on this machine.

Thanks,

Angela

A:  Hi Angela,

Thanks for the note.

Have your husband look along the bottom edge of the front panel. Two screws come off and the panel pulls away at the bottom. Remove the wires leading to the door switch and then you have access to the interior.

Please let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - GE Refrigerator

Q: Hello Joe Gagnon,

My daughter has a GE side by side refrigerator/freezer - model GSS25LGMB WW. It was in the house when she bought it 14 months ago. They have had intermittent problems where the water dispenser in the freezer door did not dispense water. A couple of months ago, the water valve in the back was replaced. A month ago the control board was replaced as the freezer was not cold enough. Friday, the water was not dispensing again and the technician that replaced the control board came out. He verified the value was good, by disconnecting the line at the bottom of the freezer door and by pressing the water lever, water was shot out into a container. He then stated that the line was plugged in the freezer door and it could only be replaced by replacing the entire freezer door since the line was embedded in the solid mold. Estimate was nearly $400. I asked if we could 'blow’ out the line and he said he could not do that, but I could try. I went home, got my portable air tanks and returned. I noticed some water on the floor, wiped it up and tried the water lever one more time before I stared to blow out and to my surprise, water was dispensed with a full stream as one would expect. Sorry for the long story, but what could be the issue.

Thanks,

Gene

A:  Hi Gene,

Thanks for the note.

I believe GE has a problem with many of these. My neighbor had the same thing and he found the water line froze up because of a void in the insulation going up the mullion. I had him get in touch with my son, Mark, at his business, and Mark told him how to rip it apart and reinsulate that section. Mark's phone number is 734-953-6991.

Please let me know what you find.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon