Appliance Breakdowns

Refrigerator Breakdowns

No power to the refrigerator

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
Unit isn't plugged in	Plug in unit
Blown fuse	Check fuse box/circuit breaker

Refrigerator makes funny noises

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The unit may not be level	Level the unit
The drain pan is rattling	Make sure the pan is not touching the sides or the compressor
The fan blades are hitting something	Make sure the fan blades are not bent or obstructed

Refrigerator is not cooling properly

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The condenser coils are dirty	Clean the coils with a vacuum
The condenser fan is malfunctioning	Check the fan and repair or replace as necessary
The thermostat is not set properly	Adjust the thermostat as necessary
The door gasket is defective	Replace the door gasket to eliminate cold air from escaping
The room temperature is very hot	The unit may be operating properly, try to cool the room
Heavy frost accumulation	Defrost the unit more frequently

Refrigerator ices up and will not defrost

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The drains are clogged	Clear the drains
The door gasket leaks or is damaged	Replace the door gasket
The drain hose is damaged or cracked	Replace the drain hose

Refrigerator leaks water

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The drain line is clogged or the drain pan is full	Clear the drain line and empty the drain pan

Refrigerator has a bad odor

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The drain pan is dirty	Clean and sanitize the drain pan
There is spoiled food in the unit	Remove any spoiled food. Keep an open container of baking soda in the unit until the odor is gone

Microwave Breakdowns

Microwave will not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
No power to the unit	Make sure the unit is plugged in. Check and reset the breaker s properly closed and latched

Touch pad is not working

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The clock is not set	Reset the clock
A programming sequence was entered improperly	Press “Clear” on the touchpad and re-program

There is a popping noise coming from inside the unit

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
There is metal or metallic trim on an item in the unit	Remove metal or metal-trimmed items from inside the unit
The unit was turned on with nothing in the unit	Make sure you always have an item in the unit when you turn it on

Electric Oven, Range, or Cooktop Breakdowns

Range will not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
There is no power to the unit	Make sure the unit is plugged in. Check and reset the breaker

One of the burners does not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The element is not properly "plugged in"	Remove the burner and replace to a fully secured position, ensuring it is properly “plugged in”
The burner is defective	Remove the burner and plug it in to another burner position, If it still does not work, replace the burner
The burner wiring, terminal block, or switch is defective	Test each part and replace as necessary

Oven timer is not working properly

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The timer fuse is blown	Replace the fuse
There is a loose connection	Turn off the power to the oven and tighten all connections
The timer is bad	Replace the timer

Oven overheats

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
An oven vent could be clogged	Clear the clog and replace the filter as necessary

Oven does not maintain the set temperature

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The door gasket is damaged and leaks	Replace the door gasket
The calibration of the thermostat is not correct	Contact the manufacturer for recalibration instructions

Self-cleaning function is not working

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The oven door is not locked	Shut and lock the oven door and restart the self-clean cycle

Related Topics

• Gas Oven, Range, or Cooktop Breakdowns

Gas Oven, Range, or Cooktop Breakdowns

There is a gas odor coming from the oven

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The pilot light has gone out	Open any windows and doors to create good ventilation and relight the pilot
The gas line is leaking	Leave the house an call the gas company immediately

No ignition to the oven or burners

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The pilot light is out	Relight the pilot
Gas is not turned on	Make sure the gas valve is turned on. Consult the gas company if necessary
The burner cap may not be set properly	Make sure the cap matches the burner size and is sealed properly

Burners will not stay on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The pilot port is clogged	Turn off the gas and clear the port
The pilot is getting blown out	Avoid drafts near the range

Burner flame is not steady

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The burner may be clogged	Clean the burner surface and port
The gas mixture is incorrect	Call your local gas company

Oven does not bake evenly

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
Circulation in the oven is not adequate	If you cover a shelf with aluminum foil, make sure you have at least 2 inches of clearance on the sides and back
The exhaust vent may be clogged	Clear the vent and replace the filter as necessary
The oven was not preheated	Preheat the oven before baking
The door seal leaks	Replace the door seal

Related Topics

• Electric Oven, Range, or Cooktop Breakdowns

Dishwasher Breakdowns

Dishwasher will not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The door is not closed properly	Be sure the door is properly closed and latched
No power to the unit	Be sure the unit is plugged in properly and reset the breaker
The door latch is defective	Inspect the door latch, repair or replace as necessary
The control selector is in the wrong position	Adjust the control to the correct “Start” position

Dishwasher will not fill with water

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The water filter is clogged	If equipped, clean the intake water filter
The overflow switch is defective	If the switch sticks in the “full” position the unit will not fill with water, Replace the switch
The water valve is not on	Make sure the valve in the feed line is on, Track the feed line until you find the valve

Dishwasher makes funny noises

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
A spray arm is hitting the dishes	Make sure the dishes do not obstruct the spray arm(s)
A knocking sound occurs from a defective water intake valve	Replace the water intake valve

Soap dispenser does not open

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
Soap buildup is interfering with proper operation	Remove soap buildup and clean with vinegar
The lid may be blocked	Make sure the lid is not obstructed

Dishes are still wet

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
There may be a problem with the heating element	Make sure all the electrical connections around the element are secure and clean the element with vinegar
The timer is defective	Replace the timer

Dishwasher is leaking

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The door seal has failed	Make sure the seal is clean and free of any soap buildup or waste, Clean or replace as necessary
The hose clamps are loose	Check and tighten clamps
The door hinges have failed	Replace the door hinges to regain a tight fit of the door
Excessive soapsuds caused from liquid soap	Switch to a powder detergent

Washer Breakdowns

Washer will not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
No power to the unit	Make sure the unit is plugged in. Check and reset the breaker

Washer will not fill with water

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The water valves are turned off	Make sure the water valves are turned on
Water-line filters are clogged	Make sure the water-line filters are clear
There is a kink in a water hose	Check and straighten both water hoses

Washer fills with water but will not run

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The tub may be overfilled	Remove some laundry and redistribute the remaining laundry in the tub
The timer is defective	Wait 15 minutes to allow the machine to reset; Replace the timer
The lid is not closed properly	Make sure the lid is closed and the safety switch is working
The drive belt may be loose or broken	Tighten or replace the drive belt as necessary

Washer is leaking water

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The hose connections are loose	Check and tighten the hose connections
Possible failed parts: gasket, mixing valve, hoses, overflow switch, or sensor	Check and replace the defective parts as necessary

Washer vibrates more than it should

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The laundry load is unbalanced	Distribute the clothes evenly
The machine may not be level	Level the machine

Washer will not drain

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The lid is not closed properly	Because the unit spins and drains at the same time, be sure the lid is closed
The drain hose may be kinked	Check and straighten the drain hose
The position of the drain hose may be too high	If the drain hose is more than 4 feet above floor level and it cannot be lowered easily, call a qualified service provider

Related Topics

• Dryer Breakdowns

Dryer Breakdowns

Dryer will not turn on

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The unit is not getting power	Make sure the unit is plugged in. Check and reset the breaker

Dryer motor runs but the drum does not turn

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The belt drive is loose or broken	Tighten or replace the belt
The drum is stuck	Check the drum and remove any obstructions
The drum support mechanism is broken	Check and replace as necessary

Clothes don't dry

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The lint trap or exhaust vent is clogged	Clear the trap or vent
There are too many clothes in the dryer	Remove some clothes
The door gasket leaks	Check and replace the door gasket
The heating element may not be operating properly	Check the heating element, thermostat, and timer, and replace as necessary

Dryer will not shut off

Possible Cause	Possible Solution
The unit has a bad timer	Check and replace the timer

Related Topics

• Washer Breakdowns