Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Do You Have a Washer That Won't Drain?

If you are having problems with your washer, and it won't drain, here is a troubleshooting article that will help you find out why. We're here to help you figure out, and hopefully fix your problem yourself, without having to cash out the big bucks to hire a repair man.

The first thing you can check is the plug. Is the washer still plugged in? I know, I know, it might sound stupid but sometimes washers “walk” out from the wall and become unplugged from the outlet. If it’s not, shine a flashlight on it and check for burns or breaks in the wiring. If you discover any burns or breaks, unplug the machine to prevent an electrical fire, and call your repairman to replace the cord.

If that’s not the issue, here’s another tip on how to fix a washer that won’t drain. You should check to see if the load is unbalanced. Sometimes a washer will just stop if there is more weight on one side than the other. Most times it will thump around a bit if it is unbalanced, if that is the case just evenly distribute the clothes around the agitator, and see if your washer will start then. If it starts “walking” then grab a pair of pliers and a level, place the level on top of the washer and adjust the leveling legs underneath the washer. If that still doesn’t work, then move on to step three.

Here’s the third tip on how to fix a washer that won’t drain: check the drain hose in the back of the washer. Look at the hose and see if it has any kinks in it, if there are, straighten them out. Also you’ll need to check for any objects inside the hose, to do that, unclamp the hose from the washer and shine a flashlight inside. (Remember to have a five-gallon bucket handy because there will be water!) If there is a clog in the hose, you can remove the hose from the washer and spray the blockage out with a garden hose. If the hose is blocked by a piece of clothing take a clothes hanger, unbend it, and poke the clothing out the end of the hose. Re-attach the hose to the back of the machine, and see if it drains.

Now, if there was no clog at all in your drain hose, then the next thing to do is check the pump. You’ll need a screwdriver and perhaps a volt meter for this part. Unscrew the back panel off of your washer using the screwdriver and locate the pump. It is usually found on the bottom right side or left side on the interior of the machine. Take your volt meter and test the pump for continuity, if it does not generate any electrical flow you will need to replace your pump. Tip: If you are replacing the pump yourself remember to first unplug the machine from the wall before you start. Otherwise you’ll be in for a shock! (Pun intended.)

If none of these tips on how to fix a washer that won’t drain work for you, there is another thing you can try before you have to cash out the big bucks for a service man. Find the model number of your machine, and contact a parts dealer and they can help you troubleshoot your appliance from there.
So feel free to give us a jingle at 715-392-4808 and you can speak with a technician and further troubleshoot from there. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Store Hours Have Changed!

Just so everyone knows we are no longer open on Sunday. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
FYI: Our normal business hours are 9-5 Monday through Friday* (CST).

* We close at 4:00 P.M. on Friday during November through January in honor of the Sabbath.
Thanks for your understanding!
Have a lovely rest of the week!
:)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Looking for a Quality, Used Appliance?

If you are in the market for a used appliance, check out our eBay store. We have all of our appliances that are for sale listed up there! It's pretty sweet, if you'd like to take a peek just visit eBay.com and search Balcum Appliance. Look for the "appliances for sale" category and feel free to browse! :)
If you have any questions about our appliances, parts, or just want to say hello, please feel free to call us at (715) 392-4808, or email help@balcum.com
We'd be more than happy to hear from you! :)

Also, I'd like to mention our favorite website for looking up appliance repair information, and handy how-to guides (if you're a do-it-yourselfer appliance repair, or part install person). We recommend visiting http://www.applianceaid.com. You'll definitely want to bookmark that page!
Thank you for reading, and we will have a new update for you all next Wednesday. Have a splendid week everyone!
-Balcum

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Update!

Hello readers! I apologize for not updating our blog as frequently as I would like! I'd like to tell you about some new changes that we have started.
First of all, we have lowered our price of electronics recycling to $.25 per pound!
Secondly, we lowered the price of household appliance recycling to $10.00 per item now.
And last but not least, we are no longer doing household or in-shop service/repairs.
If you are looking to get your appliance repaired, call our store during our business hours and we will give you the number of a technician we highly recommend. Our phone number is (715) 392-4808.
If you have any questions about any of these changes, you can call us. Or e-mail help@balcum.com and we will be more than happy to help you!
If you would like to download a .pdf version of our updated recycling pricing guide you can visit www.balcum.com and it's under the 'recycling' tab.
Well, I thank you for taking a peek at our blog this week. I will now be updating it every Thursday. So make sure to visit if you want to get the scoop on what's happening!
Thanks for reading, have a great rest of the week!
-Balcums