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Cleaning Washing Machine Inner Drum

Washing Machine Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Cleaning a Washing Machine

How do you know it is time to clean your washing machine inner drum? - when it starts talking to you through your nose and your washed clothing also smells.

Another noticeable sign that your washing machine inner drum is dirty is when you start seeing black spots on the clothes after it has been washed.

After you have put on washed cleaned clothes it always has that freshness smell, but after an hour or two when your body and garments heat up.. . . a smell starts to filling the airspace around you it could mean

Reasons for smells

You are using an inferior washing detergent to wash your washing
Under dosing - (using to little cleaning agent will make clothes smell clean but it will not actually remove all the bacteria)
Inner drum of Washing Machine is dirty and covered with bacteria
Your personal hygiene skills needs improving

Here is how you should do it

TOPLOADER WASHING MACHINE

Select the Heavy-load or Maximum water setting, because you want your machine to fill up right to the rim.
Fill washing machine with Hot water and once it stops add another liter or two which you pour in by hand. The idea is to get the water level over its usual level because just above that normal level is the "black-greasy-rim" which you want to remove.
Pour a cup of white vinegar and a cup of soda. Sometimes I use Dishwasher detergent instead, which also removes scum off the inner drum beautifully.
Then Switch on the washing machine and let it do a couple of turns - so that the cleaning mixture can dilute and mix with water.
Switch off and let the washing-machine stand for at least 24 hours. Personally I like to leave it for a weekend. Friday to a Monday morning
After this soaking period switch the machine on and let it complete the washing cycle with the cleaning mixture
If you want you can run it through another wash cycle without anything in it but it not really necessary because most washing machine have about rinse cycle which they take in water and pump it out again.

FRONTLOADER WASHING MACHINE

Cleaning a front-loading washing machine is basically the same as a Toploader washing machine you just follow the steps as described above
Select hottest wash
Pour Cleaning mixture or 150g Dishwashing Machine detergent directly into the drum or pour it into the soap dispenser tray
Switch washing machine on and let fill with water. After it has turn a couple of times it will start to heat up the water. Once it has the machines water is hot (feel the glass door). Turn machine off. then add another 4 liters hot water which you pour in through the soap dispenser.
Let it stand for a day or two with water/detergent mixture inside it.
After the soak period switch turn power on and let machine complete cycle

I recommended that you clean your washing machine every 6 months but it is entirely up to you,It also depends on what you wash on a regular basis, if it is overalls or sweaty sports clothing - then you should do it more often.

If you feel you wanna do it every month - Go-for-it!

Cheers!

Ps. We would like to hear from you Leave us a comment.

Dirty Washing Machine Hose

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Dirty Washing Machine Hose

When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine?

Do you know there are Aliens living inside your Washing Machine and they are multiplying daily.

And you are wondering why you are getting sick

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Cleaning washing machine inner drum http://highpointappliances.blogspot.co.za/2015/10/washing-machine-inner-drum-cleaning.html

Exploded Danfoss temperature Controller

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

ERC102D Danfoss temperature Controller Exploded Danfoss temperature Controller

Danfoss temperature controllers are some of the best electronic temperature controllers on the market and they are normally used in Staycold refrigerators. I recently had the the privilege to work on one of my clients Display refrigerator

It is unusual for the controller to explode like this but with current guys controlling of our power source in South Africa anything is possible. Sorry! I should not put all blame on these guys for everything that goes wrong.

Sometimes it is also a case that the refrigerator wasn't serviced regularly. If you look closely at the picture below you will see that some of the push-on connectors has turned brown in color.

Obviously the middle wires are the ones that carry the highest load/Amps and the more Amps flow the more electrical wires heat up. Over time with expansion(heating) and contraction(cooling) of connectors and wires causes the whole connection to become loose. That is the time when the whole unit explode

If this refrigerator was serviced regularly the refrigerator technician would have seen that push-on connections was going bad because it has turned color and needs to be replaced.

As always if you need information, leave me a comments below or shoot over to facebook and "like" it

Cheers!
http://www.pinepienaar.info/

Dirty Defy Stove

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Dirty Defy Stove Four Twenty Two

The Defy model; four twenty two stove must be one of the best models Defy manufactures has ever produced for general household use. Its so simple to use and it gives the same end cooking results as the more advanced Defy models.

To insure you always achieve a tasty result with your stove there is one universal rule you must follow and that is regular cleaning.

Its O.K to clean your stove once in a while

With most defy Stoves you are able to lift up the plates and clean under neath the plates. Some of them has two screws on the side which you should unscrew - if you need some pointer here just leave a comment below or if Facebook works better for you click hear.

Dishwasher Problems

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

DISHWASHER PROBLEMS

In this post you will find the most common problems that Dishwasher user's experience and also which they can sorted out themselves.

Foggy or Cloudy Glassware

Using a Cheap or inferior Dishwasher powder
This happens when dishwasher heater-element setting is too high. Just turn your thermostat to a lower setting.
Glassware must always be loaded on the top shelve of a Dishwasher.
Your glassware is not suited to be washed in a Dishwasher. (Du! why didn't the manufacture tell you this before the glasses were damaged. . .or didn't you not read the instruction pamphlet)

Sandy or Gritty Deposits

Using an inferior detergent
When you use too little detergent (under-dosing)
Overloading machine and water-jets cannot spray chemicals on all articles in Dishwasher
Spray arms jets are blocked - Clean filter and take a paperclip to dislodge food that is stuck in the little jet-holes.

Cutlery Rusted or Discolored

Quality of cutlery/stainless might not be as good as you think it is.
Salt-acidic when too high will also cause discoloration
If stainless steel is left in a Damp dishwasher it will also discolor

Crockery Patterns are fading

Temperature setting are to high
Decorative crockery are not dishwasher proof when it starts to fade or loosing patterns. (how's that for lightbulb moment). But seriously I suggest you should never wash any decorative crockery in a dishwasher. It is the same as washing a printed t-shirt in a automatic-washing-machine.

Crystal ware

Never-Ever! wash cristal in a dishwasher. When the manufacturer says their products are dishwasher proof/safe, then you know you are buying an inferior product which you have paid too much for because you thought it was good cristal.

Recommendation

Somethings you just don't do mechanically - Washing Cristal by hand in lukewarm soapy water is just the right thing to do and besides it just feels so good between your fingers, its almost as thrilling as the "First".

Cheers!

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Ps. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to leave a comment here or go and "Like" our Facebook page for a Free Quotation!

Fridge is Freezing

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth - Fridge is Freezing

When the fridge section of your refrigerator is getting too cold and food starts to freeze inside the fridge compartment It could be two things.

1. The Thermostat has gone on the blink and needs to be replaced.
2. Refrigerant (gas) is getting low and needs a top up

Replacing a thermostat is no problem but regassing or just topping-up the refrigerant has some risks to it. Before going this route please checkout the two following posts.

A. Refrigerator Gassing

B. Signs of Low Refrigerator Gas

It's not that I don't want to regas your refrigerator it's just that I want you guys to be aware of the risks.

As always if you need more . . . . shoot over to our Facebook Page "like" the page and quotes are FREE!

Cheers!

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Tumble Dryers is hot but slow to Dry clothes

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Tumble Drier is hot but slow to Dry clothes

When your tumble dryer is heating but takes a long time to dry the clothes. Most of the time it is a sign that your tumble dryer has a ventilation problem but there are also a couple of other things that causes this phenomenon

Possible reasons for not Drying

Not sorting your clothing properly before loading into the tumble dryer
Blocked filters
Broken belt
Broken fan

Sorting clothing; Just like when you do washing in a washing Machine and you separated the colors, It is also very important to separate the different material in a tumble dryer (and also colors). Loading heavy cotton (like jeans, towels) and woolen clothing together in the tumble dryer will cause the woolen article to stretch. Cotton takes much longer to dry and the woolen clothing will get heat burns from been too long in Tumble dryer.

Blocked filters; Blocked fluff filters will cause the tumble dryer to use a lot more electricity than you suppose to. I am sure you know about the fluff filter in the door or in the case of whirlpool it has slide in filter on top. Most people remember to clean this regularly but they forget about the back intake louvers or the outlet channels.

Broken Belt; You will pick this up straight away, the tumble dryer makes the usual noises but the drum does not turn. Tumble driers like Kelvinator, Speed Queen and Whirlpool has safety switches attached to the Drum Belt that will turn of the unit/heater elements. Some of the other makes make use of an overload (clickson) to turn off the heaters. By the time the sensors switch off its already too late and the clothing has been scorch.

Broken Fan; The same motor that turns the inner drum of the tumble dryer has also got a fan-blade fitted on the other end. The purpose of this fan is to cool down the motor and also push air through the heater elements. Once the air has moved over the elements it becomes very hot. The hot-air is then channeled into the tumble drum through the wet clothing and out the “otherside”.

“Otherside” is the area where cleaners seldom venture. Under and at the backside of a tumble drier is like the “Darkside of the Moon” for most cleaners. This is also the area where aliens and foreigners hangout (aliens like fluff, paper, socks and Toys)

Most tumble driers has a outlet vent or intake grill at the back of the machine. Tumble driers like Defy have their air intake at the back; Whirlpool again has an outlet vent at the back. It is very common for one of the above mentioned objects to move into or over the back grill causing the tumble driers to work ineffectively.

I hope the information here has added some value to your life and as always if you need more just shoot over to facebook ("like" the Page for a free quotation) or just leave a comment on this post – I will try to respond to your inquiry right away.

Cheers

Ps. Sorry for my phone been busy most of the time. (Whatsapp or SmS is a alternative) )83 52 52 52 2

Signs of Low Refrigerator Gas

Signs of Low Refrigerator Gas - Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Russel Hobbs Refrigerator

Domestic and Industrial refrigerator give you different indicators or signs when it is low on Gas (refrigerant). In this post I am just going to cover domestic fridges/freezers and in another post I will do industrial fridges (walk in refrigerators).

Refrigerant starvation can lead to expensive repairs

Signs of Low refrigerator Gas

1. The first signs of low gas; your food starts to freeze up in the fridge section of your refrigerator. Salad leaves turning black (frostbite), tomatoes are frozen in the vegetable draw, milk and eggs are also frozen in the fridge. (This also the time when most people think it is the refrigerator-thermostat that has gone on the blink – but I will explain more about this situation in another post)

2. The second sign; the fridge is developing a ice buildup on the condenser plate and a faint smell is present

3. Big block of ice is forming in one corner of the refrigerator and freezer section is making too much ice. It becomes difficult to keep the freezer door close. It is about this stage you start hearing a clicking sound
.
4. At stage four your fridge is not making any ice anymore but the inside back is still sweating a lot with water dripping continuously. The moldy smell has also increased. The freezer section is now really over-icing. At this stage you also start breaking the inside-draws because they are now freezing soled and are stuck. Clicking sounds start to increase. In another post I will explain more about that clicking sound. For now if you don’t speak Refri-lingo the "clicking" sound means "Help!"
5. At stage five your refrigerator is close to dying a horrible death, it becomes noisy and stays off for long period. The frozen food becomes soft and everything starts to defrost.

If you notice any of the above mentioned signs in your refrigerator don’t let the compressor and refrigerator suffer. Switch it off straight away then get a professional to come analyze your refrigerator.

I hope this information has added some value to your life

Cheers!

083 52 52 522

PS; Also Check out this post http://highpointappliances.blogspot.com/2015/04/refrigerator-gassing.html

Refrigerator Gassing

Refrigerator Re-Gassing - Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Customers in the Eastern Cape ask us everyday to re-gas their fridges and freezers, which we always more than happy to oblige but recharging a refrigerator with refrigerant is one thing - repairing it is another

Kic Freezer, Defy Silver fridge, Kelvinator

When a refrigerator unit needs gas. it means that the unit has a gas-leak because;

Refrigerant (gas) never gets used up by the refrigerator
Refrigerant never gets old (that it needs replacing)

Reasons for gas leaks

The refrigerator-tubing was punched by a sharp objects (like a knife) - it is repairable and also regasable.

When the refrigerator has an outside gas leak - it is also repairable. This condition normally happens when the unit was moved and during the move strain was put on the pipe joints.

Internal leaks are Not repairable.

Internal gas leak

Long - long time ago manufactures weren't only building appliances they were also building reputations. They build appliances to last, using the best materials available ie copper and aluminum.

Those days are gone!

Instead of using more copper and aluminum inside their new refrigerators, manufactures are now using steel tubing that has been galvanised.

HELLO! . . .

Anybody Home?

Even a mumpara can work this out;- Steel + Ice(moisture) = Rust

Freezing tubes exposed

As you can see from the picture above, the ice tubes (Galvanised pipes) that cools the inside cabinet is logged between the outer and inside cabinets.The cooling tubes is fitted off centre, more towards the inside cabinet so that it can cool down the inside first.

Removing inside cabinet of freezer that protects freezing tubes

This layout (design) makes it impossible for someone to repair a refrigerator when it has a internal gas leaking. Without cutting the refrigerator cabinet open.

Multiple gas leaks in refrigerator

Most of time when a person re-gas your refrigerator you can actually hear where the leak is and if you then cut it open, you can repair that leak but the damaged (cut) can never be repair to its former glory.

As you can see from the pictures you might repair the actual gas but the rest of the refrigerators tubing are also corroded and will be developing leaks in the near future.

Badly Rusted freezing tubes

The Catch 22 Situation

Without connecting gauges there is just no way of determining before hand if your refrigerator unit has

a gas leak or
if your compressor is not circulating the gas
Or if the refrigerator unit has a gas blockage

What I am trying to tell you is that most of the time your refrigerator cannot be repaired and by fill your refrigerator with refrigerant You're only buying time - the snake is still there.

I hope this information will help you to make a more informed decision about having your refrigerator re-gassed or not. If you need more information you can catch me at https://www.facebook.com/Appliancesa.

Regards

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Ps: Also check out this post http://highpointappliances.blogspot.com/2015/06/signs-of-low-refrigerator-gas.html

Stove Ovens

Stove Ovens - Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

WHIRLPOOL

Each stove oven differ from Model to model but at the end of the day they more or less work on the same principals. They also have the same components in them to do cooking. All Ovens has the following working parts; an energy source (element or magnetron), energy regulator (thermostats), Selector controls and an oven chamber.

The different electrical ovens;

1. The Radiant oven (traditional oven)

2. The convection oven

3. Microwave oven

Radiant oven

The traditional oven is called a radiant oven and it has two elements, one for bake and one for grilling. A thermostat then controls the oven temperature by switching the elements on and off.

The more expensive model has three elements and a separate selector switch for the various oven control setting. The third element is there just to heat the oven to a preheat setting and once the oven has reach the preheat setting it does not come on again during the cooking process.

Convection Oven

Apart from the normal elements the convection oven also has a heating element at the back of the chamber with a fan that blows the hot air into the cavity and then sucks it back again. This constant air movement elements cold and hot spots in the oven camber, making it possible to cook on all the shelves and achieve the same results on all the shelves.

Food gets cook 25% faster in a convection oven saving you money on electricity usage,

Microwave Oven

The ultra modern oven has a magnetron build into it making it possible to do microwave cooking will baking something inside it. This oven is very similar to the traditional convectional microwave oven except that this oven is bigger and it has a bake element.

In the next post I will cover more about the elements and thermostats

Happy cooking

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Washing machine letting water in slowly

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth 083 52 52 52 2

Solenoid inlet Valves

Solenoid valves control the water intake of a washing machine and if it takes a longer time to fill the Washing machine with water, the fault is at the solenoid valve.

Lg Washing Machine Hot and Cold Solenoid valves

The valve opens and closes by means of an electric current that gets turned on/off by the Timer (programmer) of the washing machine.

Common Problems

- Water runs slowly into the washing machine drum
- No water is entering the washing Machine
- The washing machine programmer stops halfway through the wash program

Most Washing machines has two solenoid valves

one for the cold water inlet and one for the hot water inlet
some washing machines has three solenoid valves – the third valve is for fabric softener intake
when your machine only have one cold water solenoid valve, then it means that your washer unit have heater element build-in. The element could also be a reason why the washing machine takes a long time to complete a washing cycle but I will cover that in another post.

Hoover Triple Solenoid Valve - Leaking

Common preventable Mistakes

1. Tap is closed

This is by far the most popular mistake. Somebody has turned the mains off or open the water-feed tap halfway. When the water tap is not fully opened and the water runs slowly into the washing machine it takes a long time for the washing machine to complete a washing cycle.

2. Inlet hose is Kink

This happens when you push the machine back and the hose gets twisted or bend. Its mostly with the hot water inlet hose that it works fine then over a period of time, then heat from the hot water makes the pipe soft - kinks and stops the water flowing freely

Make sure the bend-end hose connection is attached to the washing machine solenoid.

3. Solenoid valve filter is dirty

Where? – Inside the solenoid-valve is a small mesh-filter that prevents small particles and debris from entering the solenoid valve. The filler get blogged over time, especially in a area where there is a lot of development happening or when your area’s water supply pipes are old.

Unscrew the water hose at the washing machine solenoid, use a long nose pliers to pull the mash filler out of the solenoid housing. Wash and rinse the mash-filter under running tap water.

When none of the above mentioned mistakes are present then you have to open the washing machine, use your multitester and do continuity test across the poles of the valve solenoid. A good test should give you a .38 ohms reading across. If there is no reading just replace it

If you need to do an emergency repair before you can get to me, just wedge out the solenoid coil and change it over with the fabric softener solenoid valve coil. This is not the right way but it will buy you time.

Hope your repair project is successful, if not just shoot over to facebook and ask me for more help or advice.

Cheers

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Microwave oven waveguide cover

Microwave oven waveguide cover - Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth 083 52 52 52 2

If you think you can do a thing or that you cannot do a thing in either case you are right. - Henry Ford
Microwave oven waveguide cover are the biggest reason why microwave ovens fail, to be more specifically why microwave magnetron's fail - and this failure is preventable.

Most people don't even know their microwave oven has a waveguide cover, which should be replaced regular.

What is a Microwave oven waveguide cover

Microwave waveguide cover is made out a `dielectric` material like Mica (or plastic) and it's sole purpose is to protect the magnetron Antenna from foodsplater and other foreign objects entering the wave cavity. (a microwave is a radio on steroids creating radio waves (no ionising radiation) that agitate molecules.

The Microwave wave cavity is situated behind the controls on the right hand side or at the top inside the Microwave Oven.

Ways to know when your waveguide needs replacing

The most frequent indication is when an electric storm happens inside the microwave - (arcing)
It gets even more spectacular when the wave cover starts to burn inside the microwave.
When mica (wave cover) becomes darker
Dark dots and spots appear on Waveguide
Waveguide cover is soft and soggy

Replacing the Wave guide cover

Normally there is a screw or a grommet keeping the mica in place. just unscrew, then lift the mica by inserting a knife between mica and Microwave casing

Clean wave-cavity with soft dishwashing liquid but be very careful not to mess water on the Magnetron antenna. Insert new mica - Voila!

Where to get Mica

You can buy a small piece of Mica from most reputable microwave repairs shop. if you take your old mica templet with they will even cut it for you at a little extra fee.

Just a word of caution never try to substitute the mica with cardboard, it gets wet from the the steam - THEN. . . . .

> using Plastic or duck tape will burn after a while

www.pinepienaar.info

Ps; We replace waveguide covers all the time in our all appliance repair workshop when we do microwave oven services - If you don't come right you can always drop me line and I will gladly send some of the "magic material" to you. (mica comes in different sizes)

Provincial Hospital Uitenhage going Italian

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Recently I had the privilege of tasting the pasta from one of the talented chef cooking at Provincial Hospital in Uitenhage and believe-you-me even my Italian friends mother ( Mama Albonetti ) will approve.

Industrial Frying Pan

One of the perks repairing appliances in a industrial kitchen you sometimes get to taste the end product but only when the chef is in a good mood and only he/she will serve you.

I learned early in my kitchen-repairs-career chefs are like a artist, most of them are extremely sensitive and emotional. If you want to see emotions fly - touch a chef pot or pan without his permission.

RESPECT

Fortunately all the kitchen-artist I work with - know I appreciate their creations and masterpieces just as much as they do. (most times they let me have a sample)

Cooking 300 to 700 healthy meals in a hospital while achieving that individual result of a home cook meal, just takes a special kind of person.

Bon Appetit

Vintage Maytag Washing Machine

Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

Those were the days when manufacturers build reputations and machines to give you service for a very long long time.

One can only dream about buying an appliance days that is going to last you have as long - without having some of appliances repairs done to it.

Don't you just love old appliances and gadgets

http://www.pinepienaar.info

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Solenoid inlet Valves

Most Washing machines has two solenoid valves