Troubleshooting Guides
How to Best Clean Grill Grates (and Keep ‘Em Clean)
It’s grilling season, baby! If you’re hoping to impress everyone with your skills, start with clean grill grates. When you don’t regularly clean your grill grates the right way, you allow unsavory and unsafe gunk to build up and coat your otherwise perfectly cooked meat and veggies. Turns out, high heat does not clean as… Read more »
Forget Energy Efficiency. Repair Your Appliances to Protect the Earth.
Earth Day is that one day reminding us we need to do more for our environment. If you have appliances you think might be on their last legs, think again. Before wishing your refrigerator, dishwasher, or oven farewell to the landfills, you might want to look into salvaging your appliances for a few more good… Read more »
How Long do Refrigerators Last on Average?
And How Can I Make Mine Last Longer? Before giving up on your current refrigerator and buying a new one, it’s important to understand how long refrigerators are expected to last, and how to take care of them to get the most value out of every refrigerator you ever own. How Long Do Refrigerators Last?… Read more »
Why does my new oven take such a long time to preheat?
The facts behind why modern ovens heat up slowly. If you’re reading this article, you are likely worried that something is amiss with your new oven. ‘Preheating shouldn’t take this long,’ you’re probably telling yourself. ‘Our old oven never took this long to preheat, did it?’ Relax, you’re not crazy—many folks are asking the same… Read more »
What should appliance repair cost? Am I being taken for a ride?
Everyone has a sense for how much milk and eggs cost, and what their grocery list will run in the final tally. But when the appliances break down that preserve and cook that food, it’s anybody’s guess as to what appliance repair costs. The problem is most people don’t know what’s involved with the repair… Read more »
How do I check the appliances included with my next home?
So you’re moving or planning to move into a new home or apartment? Congratulations! Now you probably have a home inspection checklist at the ready – test outlets and look for leaks – but what do you plan to do about some of the most valuable, and costly to fix or replace, elements in the… Read more »
Bosch or ASKO dishwasher not draining and pump keeps running
Do you have a Bosch or ASKO dishwasher that is not working properly, but you continually hear a whirring noise as though something is running even when the dishwasher is off? Your dishwasher may have a leak. On ASKO, Bosch, and select other import dishwashers, there is a wafer in the bottom of the dishwasher pan. When… Read more »
Refrigerator Repair: When to DIY and When to Call in a Professional
One of the most difficult decisions a homeowner can make is whether or not to tackle a DIY repair or to call a professional repair technician. There is a time and a place for DIY and simple parts replacements, however, there are some aspects to appliance repair that may require more technical experience in order… Read more »
Ice Maker Problems and Repairs
Angie’s List recently interviewed Hometown Hero Appliance Repair‘s own Todd Daganaar, in order to answer all of your burning (freezing?) ice maker questions. Common issues with ice makers include: Failing to make ice Leaking Flooding “Generally, in any case, the ice maker itself will need to be replaced,” Daganaar says, as few manufacturers make separate parts for them.… Read more »
Appliance Owners Manuals
Question: Where can I locate owner’s manuals and documentation for my appliance? Answer: Most manufacturers supply this information on their websites. A few examples are below: For GE and Hotpoint Appliances, try http://www.geappliances.com/service_and_support/literature/ For Frigidaire and Electrolux Appliances, look at http://www.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/Product-Support-Manuals/ For Whirlpool and Maytag Appliances, check out http://www.whirlpool.com/manuals On LG Appliances, documentation is at… Read more »
Model and Serial Number of Appliances
Question: Where do I find the model and serial number for my appliance? Answer: There are as many possibilities as there are appliances, but here are a few common places to look: Refrigerators / Freezers: Usually the model tag is located near the top shelf of the fresh food section on a tag on the… Read more »
What to Do When Your Dishwasher Is Not Cleaning Dishes
Question: Why are my dishes coming out dirty, perhaps even dirtier than they were when I put them in the dishwasher? Answer: There are several factors in the performance of a dishwasher, and some of them can be easily addressed. Wash performance may improve if you do the following: Use rinse aid such as Jet… Read more »
Washing Machine (Laundry)
Washer problems and repair: Whirlpool, Maytag, GE and more Are you having problems with your washer, does it need repair? Below are some common symptoms you may be experiencing and tips to help you diagnose the problem. Symptom Things to check Washer won’t fill Check your water inlet valve, which supplies water into the machine… Read more »
Dryer (Laundry)
Dryer problems and repair: Whirlpool, Maytag, GE and more Are you having problems with your dryer, does it need repair? Below are some common symptoms you may be experiencing and tips to help you diagnose the problem. Symptom Things to check Dryer will not heat Check the heating element on Electric Dryer models. On most… Read more »
Maytag Performa Dryer Won’t Start
NOTE: Before beginning repairs, remove power from the unit. This information applies to many models, but specifically those starting with prefixes such as PYE, CYE, PYE2000, PYE2300, and more. Symptom Things to check Maytag Performa dryer won’t turn on Check the thermal fuse. This is 95% of the time the culprit on this specific style… Read more »
Diagnosing defrost issues on refrigerators and freezers
One common failure in modern refrigerators that we encounter time and time again is a failure in the defrost system. You might notice that things are as cold as they should be in either section, and if you’re very attentive, you might see an ice or frost buildup on the back wall inside the freezer… Read more »
Troubleshooting UL or U/L Error Codes
The UL error code can be one of the most frustrating and elusive error codes to address on the high efficiency top load washer designs, including the Whirlpool Cabrio, the Maytag Bravos, and the Kenmore Oasis. At first glance, the error code seems to indicate an unbalanced load. Here are a few things to check… Read more »
Installing a Washing Machine Motor Coupling
At Hometown Hero Appliance Repair we are here to help you with all of your appliance service, maintenance and parts needs. We created this simple to follow tutorial to help you replace a motor coupler in a Whirlpool, Kenmore, Roper, Estate, or Kitchenaid washing machine. Please click link below to access PDF presentation. Whirlpool Motor Coupling… Read more »
