Appliance Repair

I see a lot of appliances on the curbside and I know there are a number of reasons for this.  Appliances are made much cheaper than they used to be. They are often designed with a lifespan as short as 10 years and can break down even sooner. The cost to diagnose and repair an issue can be so high in terms of parts and labour that people are inclined to purchase new than repair. The good news is that we can fix appliances ourselves (this requires a bit of bravery and some technical skill in operating basic hand tools and practicing safety). 

I once had a relatively new washing machine that stopped pumping. It was taking Sears an unreasonable amount of time to get to my house to do the repair, so I fixed it myself for free. The problem turned out to be a quarter stuck in the intake of the pump, which I found by disconnecting the hose. I removed the quarter and the unit was back in service again. 

A more recent washing machine had stopped supplying hot and mixed-temperature water. I diagnosed and fixed the problem using YouTube videos (these videos are terrific for boosting confidence and overcoming fear). In this situation, the hot water intake valve had ceased which normally opens to let hot water in. Interestingly, the cause of the problem was the degradation of cheap connection hoses with fittings made of steel rather than brass. Iron filings had clogged the intake screen. I was able to clean out the screen but the intake valve (a solenoid) was no longer operational. I sourced a replacement mixing valve assembly for $100.00 (see photo below) and bought some better quality hoses for another $50.00. My washing machine has been working ever since! 

In the Toronto, Canada area where I live, appliance parts can be sourced from “Reliable Parts” and similar warehouses.  I’ve saved thousands of dollars sourcing parts from “Pool & Hot Tub Depot” of London, Ontario and doing my own repairs on my hot tub. I’ve sourced replacement parts for my barbecue from “Grill Spot”, also here in Canada. I’ve had recent success with a US supplier called “Repair Clinic'' for a lawn mower part which crossed the border and arrived at my doorstep in two days (they also supply parts for major appliances).  Repair Clinic has a good blog article of their own on Appliance Repair.  Here is a link: 
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REPAIR CLINIC EARTH DAY POST - APPLIANCE REPAIR