Appliance repair guides
What usually causes the most common problems, what you can safely check yourself, and when to call.
Refrigerator not cooling, but the freezer works
The freezer is cold, the fresh food side is warm. That split almost always points to airflow or defrost, not the compressor. Here is what causes it, what you can check yourself, and when to call.
Read the guide →Dryer runs, but clothes are still wet
The drum turns, the timer runs, and you still need a second cycle. In most homes the cause is airflow, not the heater. A blocked vent also makes the dryer a fire risk.
Read the guide →Washer won't drain
Water left in the drum, clothes soaking wet, or an OE, 5C or F9 E1 code on the display. Most drain problems start with something small stuck in the pump.
Read the guide →Oven not heating
The display works, the burners work, but the oven stays cold or takes forever to preheat. The cause depends on whether your oven is electric or gas.
Read the guide →Repair or replace your appliance?
A simple rule, typical lifespans, and the repairs that are almost always worth doing. Written by a technician who give this advice in customers' kitchens every day.
Read the guide →Garage refrigerator stopped working in winter?
In a Chicago-area winter, a refrigerator or freezer in an unheated garage can stop keeping food frozen even though nothing is broken. Here is why, and what to do.
Read the guide →Ice maker not making ice
An ice maker that stopped is one of the most common refrigerator calls. Often the cause is simple; here is what to check first.
Read the guide →Dishwasher not draining
Water standing in the bottom of the dishwasher after a cycle? In most cases the cause is a blockage you can reach yourself.
Read the guide →Gas burner clicking but won't light
You hear the click, smell a little gas, but the flame does not catch. Most of the time this is a moisture or cleaning problem, not a broken range.
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