Well, spring cleaning time is just around the corner. (At least for us, it's still snowing in April!) With that, every year you should clean your appliances to keep them in good shape, and running smoothly. Here are some tips for dryer maintenance.
It's important to keep your dryer in tip top shape, both for performance reasons and also because if you don't keep your dryer clear of lint it could cause a fire. In this article I will explain some simple dryer maintenance tips, so you can be sure that your dryer won't become a fire hazard. The only tools you need are: a flashlight, a vent brush, and a vacuum with a small hose attachment.
The first dryer maintenance tip I have for you is to clean out your dryer venting pipe and duct. This is important to do at least once a year - or more if your dryer is used frequently. All you should need to do is unclamp the venting pipe from the duct and either vacuum out or poke out the clog. Don't try to push the clogged lint back into your dryer, though. You can also use what is called a vent brush, it has lots of bristles that trap and collect the lint and dust on the inside of your dryer venting. It is a handy tool to have, especially since you should be cleaning out the venting of your dryer at least once a year.
The second dryer maintenance tip I have is to clean out the interior of your clothes dryer. Most of the time the lint that comes off your clothes is collected in the lint filter, but sometimes it can collect inside the dryer. All your really need to do is take a flashlight and see if you have any lint accumulation on the inside of your dryer. If you do, you can use a vacuum to suck it out.
The third tip to maintain your dryer is to clean the lint filter. You probably already know that you should be cleaning off the lint filter after every load. You should also be inspecting the filter itself for any cracks, tears, or holes. If your lint filter is damaged, or has any tears you should replace it. Sometimes dirt and soap can stick to the filter, which easily comes off with warm water, soap, and a toothbrush.
The last dryer maintenance tip is to clean the space under the lint filter. Usually lint filters do a good job at... you guessed it - filtering lint. But sometimes lint and other debris can get stuck in the area under the lint filter. Basically all you need to do is clean out that space with your vacuum.
Well, that's basically all you'll need to do to keep your dryer in peak performance. But there is one last thing to check. If you do notice that your dryer has a lot of lint buildup you might want to hire a repair man to take a look at your machine and to clean the inner components as well.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tips To Help Fix a Dryer That Won't Heat
Hello Readers! I apologize for not updating sooner, but my family and I were on vacation down in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, it was wonderful. So now we are all ready to get back to work, and I have a new little article just for you. I hope it is helpful!
If your dryer will not heat then hopefully this article will help you. I will give you a few tips on how to fix it. Over the years I have learned these solutions as once I was asking myself "why won't my dryer heat?" Then I started working with people that work on appliances and I learned a whole lot of tips and solutions for fixing appliances. It is a benefit to know all of these tips and how to’s because to have a repair man come out to fix your machine can be quite costly.
There could be a number of reasons why your dryer won't heat. But first, you have to find out if your dryer is electric or gas. With electric dryers, they run on a separate circuit breaker, so make sure that is on. Turn it off and then turn it back on and then go try your dryer to see if it will heat. Say your dryer still does not heat; then you will need a continuity tester. Usually all dryers have a thermal fuse in the exhaust path. According to what dryer you have depends if the fuse will be found towards the front or back. If you have a back panel on your dryer then most likely that is where it will be. They are just about 1" in size and you will see where the spots are for continuity testing.
There will also likely be another thermal fuse that can cause your dryer to not heat and it is located outside the heater housing assembly. These also need to be tested with the continuity tester. So after you checked all of these options and you are still wondering "why my dryer won't heat?" then the next most common problem can be the heating element. All electric dryer elements are made of metal coils on some form of a frame with two contact points which is where the wires plug into. If one of the coils is broken then it will not heat your dryer and you will need a new heat element.
For those of you that have a gas dryer- and are wondering "why won't my dryer heat"? - well, gas dryers run on a burner system. There are a few parts that can fail and cause your dryer to not heat. But some you can replace by testing them and others you have to just decide to do it or not. With gas dryers not just a continuity tester is needed to test; you will need a good ohm meter. When your dryer starts hot but finishes cold then you could have some bad coils. They energize to keep the gas valves open. But the valves are one of the things that you are not able to test so you have to replace them. If your dryer never heats, then try the igniter first. Disconnect the clear plastic connector which has attached the igniter to the burner circuit. Disconnect and put your probes on the igniter side. After that the meter has to be under 100 ohms of resistance because anything higher means you need to replace the igniter. But if the igniter is good then the last thing to check is the flame sensor. If you don't have continuity then it needs to be replaced; it's that simple. One more thing: make sure you clean out your vent because if that is full of lint then that can cause your dryer to slow down on heating and also cause a fire.
Ok, well I hope the information I have provided has helped you. There is nothing else that I can let you know at this point. If your dryer does not work after trying all of these options then it's time to call a repairman.
I hope this helped you! Thank you for reading, and have a fantastic weekend!
-Balcum
If your dryer will not heat then hopefully this article will help you. I will give you a few tips on how to fix it. Over the years I have learned these solutions as once I was asking myself "why won't my dryer heat?" Then I started working with people that work on appliances and I learned a whole lot of tips and solutions for fixing appliances. It is a benefit to know all of these tips and how to’s because to have a repair man come out to fix your machine can be quite costly.
There could be a number of reasons why your dryer won't heat. But first, you have to find out if your dryer is electric or gas. With electric dryers, they run on a separate circuit breaker, so make sure that is on. Turn it off and then turn it back on and then go try your dryer to see if it will heat. Say your dryer still does not heat; then you will need a continuity tester. Usually all dryers have a thermal fuse in the exhaust path. According to what dryer you have depends if the fuse will be found towards the front or back. If you have a back panel on your dryer then most likely that is where it will be. They are just about 1" in size and you will see where the spots are for continuity testing.
There will also likely be another thermal fuse that can cause your dryer to not heat and it is located outside the heater housing assembly. These also need to be tested with the continuity tester. So after you checked all of these options and you are still wondering "why my dryer won't heat?" then the next most common problem can be the heating element. All electric dryer elements are made of metal coils on some form of a frame with two contact points which is where the wires plug into. If one of the coils is broken then it will not heat your dryer and you will need a new heat element.
For those of you that have a gas dryer- and are wondering "why won't my dryer heat"? - well, gas dryers run on a burner system. There are a few parts that can fail and cause your dryer to not heat. But some you can replace by testing them and others you have to just decide to do it or not. With gas dryers not just a continuity tester is needed to test; you will need a good ohm meter. When your dryer starts hot but finishes cold then you could have some bad coils. They energize to keep the gas valves open. But the valves are one of the things that you are not able to test so you have to replace them. If your dryer never heats, then try the igniter first. Disconnect the clear plastic connector which has attached the igniter to the burner circuit. Disconnect and put your probes on the igniter side. After that the meter has to be under 100 ohms of resistance because anything higher means you need to replace the igniter. But if the igniter is good then the last thing to check is the flame sensor. If you don't have continuity then it needs to be replaced; it's that simple. One more thing: make sure you clean out your vent because if that is full of lint then that can cause your dryer to slow down on heating and also cause a fire.
Ok, well I hope the information I have provided has helped you. There is nothing else that I can let you know at this point. If your dryer does not work after trying all of these options then it's time to call a repairman.
I hope this helped you! Thank you for reading, and have a fantastic weekend!
-Balcum
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!
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!
:)
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
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
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
Monday, December 13, 2010
Like to break things? I do!!!
You will never guess what I did this weekend!!!!!! I was cleaning my kitchen, and accidentally slid my stool into my oven and shattered my door glass. So I called my husband to inform him I broke the glass, he laughed at me and told me that they are expensive. I then realized I could get my model number and go see if Balcum appliance had them in stock (my place of work!) Thank God we had a few in stock. So rather than paying full price for a brand new one I got a used one there for 50% off retail price on used parts, So in the end I got my glass for $70.00 rather than an arm and leg. Although we do sell brand new items too, but used is just the same.
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