FAQ: Encino Appliance Repair

• How much will it cost me? What is a Service Call Fee? Is there an extra charge for weekends, holidays, or travel?
• Can I get a price quote over the phone? How about a ballpark figure?
• What do you charge for labor?
• Does the technician have all the parts? If not, how long will it take to get them?
• You worked on my appliance but it is still not working. What do I do now?
• Do I have to be home for my repair? Can my son/daughter be home instead?
• Do you sell appliances? Do you install appliances?
• Do you pick up appliances?

Washer Safety Tip
Before making repairs, pull the plug and turn off the faucets. Note: Appliance models vary; see your owner's manual for information specific to your washer.
When your washer doesn't work.
Check for:

• Proper power supply.
• Unplugged or defective cord.
• Blown fuse or circuit breaker.
• Kinked water supply or drain hose.

Remedies:

• Repair power supply.
• Plug in or replace cord.
• Replace fuses or turn circuit breaker back on.
• Straighten the kink. If you can't, replace the hose.

Washer doesn't fill.
Check for:

• Blocked water inlet screens.
• Clogged filters
• A kink in one of the hoses
• Timer that is not set
• Defective timer or temperature selector.

Remedies:

• Clean or replace water inlet screens.
• Check the inlet hose filters and clean them.
• Straighten the water supply hoses.
• Turn the timer slightly or press the buttons firmly.
• Replace timer or temperature selector*
  *Problem is best left to a professional.

Oversudsing
Oversudsing causes leaks and blocks drains. To reduce the suds, pour 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed with some cold water into the washer repair. Next time, use less detergent (try low-suds type).
Water temperature not right?
Be sure the faucets are fully open, screens in the water inlet valve or hoses aren't clogged, and there's lot's of hot water.
Washer repair won't spin or begins to vibrate.
The wash load may be too large or out of balance. Try removing some of the items or redistribute the load.
Washer repair doesn't agitate.
Washing machine won't drain.
Check for:

• A kink in the drain hose
• The position of the drain hose is too high.
• Defective timer
• Stuck drain pump

Remedies:

• Straighten the hose.
• Make sure the hose is not emptying more than 3 feet above the floor.
• Replace the timer.
• Call a qualified contractor.

The water doesn't get hot enough.
Check for:

• The water heater setting is too low.
• The water supply hoses are misconnected.
• Defective mixing valve
• Defective timer

Remedies:

• Reset the thermostat to 140 - 160 degrees F.
• Reverse the hose connection.
• Replace the defective valve.
• Replace the timer.
• Call a qualified contractor.

Troubleshooting an Electric Clothes Dryer
Dryers are classified according to the kind of power that provides their heat-either electricity or gas. But even a gas dryer repair uses electricity for all its non-heating actions. When your dryer repair doesn't do its job, look first to the basics. Is it plugged in? Is the cord defective? Has the dryer's fuse blown or has the circuit breaker tripped? Clean the lint trap and use a vacuum or a piece of wire to remove any lint from the exhaust duct. If the load seems too wet to dry efficiently, put it through the washer's spin cycle again.
Safety Tip - Before doing any work on your dryer, pull the plug. Turn off the gas supply to a gas dryer, at ether the appliance shutoff or the main shutoff valve. Should you smell gas, get out of the house immediately.

Note: Appliance models vary; see your owner's manual for information specific to your dryer repair.
Drum doesn't rotate, though dryer turns on.
Check for:

• Defective start switch, door switch, or timer.
• Loose or broken drum belt.
• Loose or broken idler pulley or spring.
• Defective support roller, centrifugal switch, or motor.

Remedies:

• Replace start switch, door switch, or timer.*
• Tighten loose belt.
• Replace broken belt.*
• Replace idler pulley or spring.*
• Replace support roller, centrifugal switch or motor.*
  *Problem is best left to a professional.

Dryer doesn't heat, though drum rotates.
Check for:

• Defective temperature control or timer.
• Defective over heat protector.
• E - Power off.
• E - Defective heating element.
• G - Pilot light out.
• G - Defective electric pilot.
• G - Incorrect air-gas ratio.

Remedies:

• Replace temperature control or timer.*
• Replace overheat protector.*
• E - Check fuse or circuit breaker.
• E - Replace heating element.
• G - Relight or replace flame switch.*
• G - Replace pilot.*
• G - Adjust shutter on burner.
  *Problem is best left to a professional.

Clothes don't dry.
Check for:

• Clogged lint trap or exhaust duct.
• Worn door seal.
• G - Incorrect air-gas ratio.

Remedies:

• Clean lint trap or exhaust duct.
• Replace door seal.
• G - Adjust shutter on burner.

The motor runs but the drum doesn't turn.
Check for:

• Blocked drum
• Broken drive belt
• Broken idler wheel assembly
• Work support wheel

Remedies:

• Open the unit and look for any obstruction around the drum.
• Replace the belt.
• Check the assembly and replace if necessary.
• Check the wheel and replace if necessary.
• Call a qualified contractor.

The drum turns but nothing gets dry.
Check for:

• Clogged lint trap or exhaust vent
• Defective safety thermostat is defective
• Defective heating element
• Defective timer

Remedies:

• Unclog lint trap or exhaust vent.
• Replace safety thermostat.
• Replace heating element.
• Replace timer.
• Call a qualified contractor.

You can't get the Dishwasher water to stop running.
Check for:

• Stuck water inlet valve.
• Defective Dishwasher  timer.
• Defective overflow switch. Needs Dishwasher repair!

Remedies:

• Check the valve and see if you can shut it.
• Replace the timer.
• If the switch is frozen on the EMPTY position, the water will continue to run.

The Dishwasher water isn't draining out of the unit.
Check for:

• Clogged or leaking drain hose.
• Defective pump motor.
• Dishwasher has Defective timer. Needs dishwasher repair

Remedies:

• Disconnect the Dishwasher drain hose and blow through it to be sure it is clear.
• Call a qualified contractor.
• Replace the Dishwasher  timer.

The dishes aren't drying.
Check for:

• Mineral deposits on the heating element.
• Loose heating element wire.
• Burnt out heating element.
• Defective timer.

Remedies:

• The deposits should come off with vinegar.
• Check all the electrical connections around the heating elements.
• Replace the heating element.
• Replace the timer.

Water is leaking out of the dishwasher.
Check for:

• Damaged Dishwasher door seal.
• Defective overflow switch.
• Broken door hinges.
• Loose heating element nuts.
• Loose hose clamps.

Remedies:

• Replace the door seal.
• Check the switch for damages.
• Replace the refrigerator  hinges.needs refrigerator repair!
• Tighten the nuts that attach the element to the tub.
• To see if there's a loose hose connection, you may have to move the unit.

Troubleshooting Refrigerator repairs
The refrigerator has stopped running. No sound can be heard and the light is out.
Check for:

• No power at the outlet.
• Damaged power cord.

Remedies:

• Check the fuse box/circuit breaker.
• Check the outlet with a VOM or lamp.
• If refrigerator blows fuses, put it on its own circuit.
• Replace the cord.

The refrigerator repair has stopped running, the light is on and you hear occasional clicking.
Check for:

• Dirty condenser coils.
• Defective condenser fan. (frost-free types)
• Incorrect voltage reaching the unit.
• Defective thermostat.
• Defective compressor.

Remedies:

• Clean the coils.
• Check the fan.
• Check the voltage with a VOM, then call the power company if it's not between 105 and 125 volts.
• Test the thermostat and replace if necessary.
• Call a qualified contractor.

The refrigerator constantly cycles on and off.
Check for:

• Wrong voltage reaching the unit.
• Defective refrigerator compressor. Needs refrigerator repair
• Leaking refrigerant.
• Dirty condenser coils.

Remedies:

• Run the unit its own circuit and check the voltage at the outlet.
• Call a qualified contractor.
• Call a qualified contractor.
• Clean the coils.

The refrigerator doesn't cool well or runs all the time.
Check for:

• Thermostat on wrong setting.
• Dirty condenser coils.
• Damaged door gasket.
• Sagging door.
• Heavy frost accumulation.
• Door is open too much.
• Hot and humid weather.
• Inside light on.
• Wet insulation in the door and sides
• Room too warm.
• Damaged evaporator fan.
• Damaged condenser fan
• Defective defrost timer.
• The refrigerant has leaked out.

Remedies:

• Change the refrigerator thermostat temperature.
• Clean the coils.
• Check the gaskets.
• Straighten the door.
• Defrost the unit more often.
• Open the door as little as possible.
• If the unit runs continuously, but cools well, there is no problem.
• Check the door switch.

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