Most Common Appliance Issues and What Causes Them

Domestic appliances can last a long time if maintained properly, but even the most well looked after ones will start to show signs of wear and tear over months and years of use. For more complicated issues, you’ll want to hire a professional appliance repair technician. However, many issues turn out to be simple ones with easy fixes that you can do by yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the most common appliance issues you may encounter, their causes, and how to deal with them.

Loud or shaky washing machine

Washing machines aren’t the quietest, but if yours is shaking about lots and making an incredible racket, there is likely a problem with it. The first thing to do is to make sure you’re not overloading the machine with clothes. If this isn’t the issue, check if the machine is balanced and level. Adjusting the legs up or down accordingly is easy to do and can help your machine run a lot more smoothly. A smooth-running machine will reduce the stress on the internal parts too, making it last longer before a repair is due.

Bad smell coming from the washing machine

Washing machines provide moist environments for mold and mildew to grow, which can lead to a bad smell building up on the inside. Running an empty wash cycle with a store-bought cleaning tablet can eliminate this issue entirely and leave your machine smelling great again. Using a towel or cloth to dry out the interior of your machine after future wash cycles is an easy way to prevent the smell from building up in the future too!

Dishwasher not cleaning dishes

If your dishwasher isn’t cleaning your dishes properly, a clogged filter is likely to blame. Food scraps can often get stuck in the filtration system, preventing water from getting into the spray arms. Fortunately, this appliance repair is quite simple. Firstly, open up your dishwasher, remove the lower rack, then take off the filter cap. With gloves on you can carefully reach in and remove any food scraps and debris clogging the system. After replacing all the parts, your dishwasher should be good to go once more.

Gas stove issues

Igniters on gas stoves can sometimes get clogged up with debris, so if yours is clicking away and not igniting, it may just need cleaning out. Pop the lid off and give it a quick clean with a cloth to remove the obstruction.

Fridge not cooling properly

If you’re having problems with your refrigerator not staying cool, the first thing to do is check the coils on the back of the unit to make sure they’re not too dirty. These coils are what the refrigerant fluid runs through, and if they’re dirty the fridge won’t cool efficiently. The appliance repair here is easy – simply giving the coils a clean should help your fridge run properly again.

Be sure to check and try the solutions mentioned above first if you start having appliance issues. If an issue persists, however, it’s best to call an appliance repair professional to take a look.