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MAJOR APPLIANCES REPAIR

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Appliances are built to perform.

They work hard, year after year, usually without too many problems. They’re easy to take for granted. The result is that when an appliance breaks down, you may be completely at a loss — you don’t know how it works, you have no idea why it stopped working, and you certainly don’t know how to fix it.

Absolute Appliances Repair is specializing in major appliances repair.

What can you do? You can pay a professional to fix it, or you can fix it yourself and save money.

Most appliances operate on your home’s electrical system: They use AC current from the circuit wiring in your home. Small appliances work on 110-120-volt circuits, and the plugs on their cords have two blades. Large or major appliances, such as air conditioners, dryers, and ranges, usually require 220-240-volt wiring and cannot be operated on 110-120-volt circuits. Large appliances are wired with a grounding wire; their plugs have two blades and a prong. This type of appliance must be plugged into a grounded outlet — one with openings to accept both blades and grounding prong — or grounded with a special adapter plug. All appliances are labeled — either on a metal plate or on the appliance casing — with their power requirements in watts and volts, and sometimes in amps.

Small appliances are usually fairly simple machines. They may consist of a simple heating element, a fan, a set of blades, or rotating beaters attached to a drive shaft; or they may have two or three simple mechanical linkages. Repairs to these appliances are usually correspondingly simple. Large appliances are more complex — one major appliance, such as a washing machine, may have a motor, a timer, and a pump, as well as various valves, switches, and solenoids. With this type of appliance, problems can occur in either the control devices or the mechanical/power components. Failure of a control device may affect one operation or the entire appliance; failure of a mechanical/power device usually affects only the functions that depend on that device. When a major appliance breaks down, knowing how to diagnose the problem is as important as knowing how to fix it.

Because major appliances are so complex, it usually isn’t obvious where a malfunction is.

(Many newer appliances include electronic diagnostics that can be interpreted from the owner’s manual.) The first step is to decide whether the problem is in a control device or a mechanical device. In a dryer, for example, the control devices govern the heat, and the mechanical components turn the drum. Which system is affected? If the drum turns, but the dryer doesn’t heat, the problem is in the control system. If the dryer heats, but the drum doesn’t turn, the problem is mechanical. This kind of analysis can be used to pinpoint the type of failure — control system or mechanical system — in all large appliances.

 

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(415) 831-1259       San Francisco
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(650) 525-0512       South SF / Daly City / Pacifica

 

 

TIPS FOR ELECTRIC STOVE REPAIR

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You can solve most electric range burner problems yourself and avoid the expensive service call. It’s quick and easy to replace a burner or bad burner socket.

Replace a bad burner or socket

Check the burner

Test the burner by replacing the burner that doesn’t work with one that you know does.

If one of your electric burners isn’t heating, it could be a bad burner, a bad connection in the burner socket or a faulty switch.

To see if the problem is the burner, exchange the burner with one that you know works. If that burner won’t heat, the problem is either the burner socket or the infinite switch. (The burner prongs plug into the burner socket.) Connections in the burner socket can burn out and fail to provide power. If the prongs look burned, inspect the socket. If the socket looks charred or burned, replace it.

CAUTION: Always unplug your electric range before working on it.

Call Absolute Appliance Repair NOW if you have any problems with your stove!

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(415) 831-1259 San Francisco
(415) 388-0690 Marin County
(650) 525-0512 South SF / Daly City / Pacifica

 

 

 

SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR APPLIANCES

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The kitchen in my previous home resembled a time capsule of 1950’s appliance splendor.  The yellow enamel wall oven with its round glass window was state of the art in 1953, but had become a vintage curiosity by the time I lived there.  The matching yellow cook top still worked fine, but looked rather dated, although it did go well with the yellow boomerang pattern laminate countertops.   While they may not be technological wonders by today’s standards, mid-twentieth century appliances had simple controls and were built to last for decades.

Kitchen appliances today are not just functional machines, they’re high tech works of art.  The stainless steel, colored glass and bronze finishes seen in contemporary showrooms make the appliances of decades past seem rather dowdy. Modern appliances can be concealed to near invisibility or be the stand out stars in the kitchen.  Even small appliances now have plenty of style.  They often resemble sculptures sitting on kitchen countertops.   It’s easy to forget about safety when confronted with all the dazzling appliance surfaces.

Whether your appliances are gleaming new marvels of technology or have seen better days, there are some basic safety tips to keep in mind for using and maintaining the appliances in your kitchen.

  1. Read the instruction manuals.  Modern appliances are complicated and using them safely often requires more than just flipping an on-off switch.  The manufacturer’s recommendations for safe use can be found in appliance manuals, but many people never take the time to read them.
  2. When you buy a new appliance, fill out the registration card.  Manufacturers then have a way to contact you in the event of a product recall.
  3. All appliances should have a UL seal of approval, indicating they have been tested and are safe to use.
  4. Do not use extension cords with appliances.  Check the cords on small appliances periodically to be sure they’re not frayed, burned or otherwise unfit for use.
  5. Vintage appliances, both large and small, are a hot design trend.  Vintage appliances should be professionally inspected and rewired if you plan to use them for more than display purposes.  Better yet, buy new appliances that look vintage.
  6. If you have electrical appliances with removable cords, connect the cord to the appliance first, then plug it into the wall outlet.  Unplug the cord from the wall outlet first, too, and then disconnect it from the appliance.

Call Absolute Appliance Repair NOW if you have any problems with your Appliances!

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(415) 831-1259 San Francisco
(415) 388-0690 Marin County
(650) 525-0512 South SF / Daly City / Pacifica

 

HOW TO USE FLASH DEFROST ON A KENMORE FREEZER

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Kenmore freezers have a flash defrost feature that allows you to quickly thaw out the ice inside the unit. Cleaning the interior of the unit can then be quickly accomplished provided you take the necessary steps.

Here are the steps for using the flash defrost on a Kenmore freezer.

  • Remove all the contents inside the freezer. Keep the contents in basins or place them on towels or several sheets of newspaper to control melting liquids. Keep a dishrag nearby to wipe away the excess melt-water. You should also spread newspapers around the freezer to catch the melt-off. If an item needs to be kept cold, keep it in an ice-box or cooler.
  • Turn on the flash defrost button.This button will activate the heating coil that will thoroughly melt all the ice at a much faster rate than simply exposing it to room temperature. The accompanying user’s manual should indicate how long it will take for your freezer model to finish defrosting. Keep the freezer door open during the defrosting cycle and clean-up, as closing it will halt the flash defrost cycle.
  • Turn off the flash defrost before cleaning the interior. Once all the ice has melted, switch off the flash defrost plunger and remove the plug from outlet to prevent any chance of an electrical accident. Use a washrag to wipe the interior of dirt and liquid; you can also use baking soda to remove bad odors. You may use a bit of liquid soap or detergent to remove stains and odors. Make sure to remove excess moisture before re-plugging the unit. Avoid using toxic cleaning supplies that may contaminate the freezer contents. Make sure the power cord is not exposed to moisture when cleaning the unit.
  • Re-plug the freezer. Switch the freezer on and return all the contents back in place. You can add activated carbon to prevent odors from building up. Clean the work area and properly dispose of the wet newspapers.
  • Troubleshoot a faulty flash defrost. If the freezer isn’t defrosting quickly when you set the flash defrost on, check if the unit is plugged in the socket. The freezer should also be open during this cycle. Do not expose any wires while the unit is plugged in or the interior is still moist. If the flash defrost still won’t operate, contact the Kenmore service center to ask for help or schedule for repairs. You may still defrost the freezer manually by exposing the interior to room temperature, but keep the contents in ice boxes or store them temporarily in your neighbor’s freezer until you can clean and power up your freezer again. Make similar arrangements with the contents while the freezer is being examined and repaired.

Do not operate your freezer under direct sunlight or expose it to the elements to prevent it from being damaged prematurely. Read the user manual thoroughly and operate the freezer within stated parameters, and do not store any item that will prevent the freezer door from closing properly.