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.


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

 pine pienaar


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

















Refrigerator Troubleshoot in Port Elizabeth

Refrigerator repairs in South Africa

Whirlpool refrigerator

A refrigerator is one of the most important and also the most used Appliance in a home. When the Fridge or Freezer starts playing up there is normally panic and chaos in the Household. Most of the time it is not something serious and with a little help from me you can sort your refrigerator out yourself.


The best way I can help you is for you to help me troubleshoot the Refrigerator. Go down the list below of common faults and diagnoses. Sometimes you might find that your refrigerator has two or more of the below symptoms.

A
Whirlpool Refrigerator Back

  1. Freezer is icing up but the Fridge side is not Cold
  2. Fridge side has big lump of ice-build on the one side
  3. Fridge is freezing food like milk, eggs and vegetables 
  4. Food do not last long in fridge
  5. Fridge is starting to smell (odors)
  6. Refrigerator is running continuously but not making ice


    B
    1. The light is on but Refrigerator is not running
    2. Refrigerator light is off but refrigerator is working
    3. The light is off and refrigerator is not running
    C

    1. Refrigerator is running continuously and making to much ice
    2. Refrigerator is making strange noises
    3. Refrigerator is making "clicking" sounds
    4. Refrigerator stops and starts too infrequently
    5. Refrigerator defrost it self.
    D Water Leaks
    1. Water are Dripping  from inside the refrigerator
    2. Water are on the floor (cannot see where it is coming from) 
    There are Plenty more signs and symptoms but I will cover that in a later post, for now this will give you something to work with.

    Keep Cool!

    http://www.pinepienaar.info/







    Ps. I will be covering each diagnose with a individual post. If your problem arises before I could cover it just go to our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Appliancesa and pop the question .    I will gladly answer any questions
    you might have.

    Provincial Hospital is Cooking

    Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth

    Cooking In Provincial Hospital has just moved up two nudges with the new Industrial double Cooking pots that was installed.


    The electrical three phase control box are situated in between the two cooking pots


    The industrial catering pots has their lids permanently mounted on the sides


    The Catering pots has the ability to tiled right over, making it easy to dish up the cooked food.


    The new Catering equipment has inspired the chefs to new highs - the food looks and smells like it could be for a 5 star hotel.

    Isn't it great looking forward to the day your are going to end up in the Provincial Hospital and you are going to have the privilege of sampling their exquisine meals.

    If you need more information send me a email or go to http://www.facebook.com/Appliancesa

    Bon Appetit











    Empilweni TB Hospital Port Elizabeth upgrades Washer

    Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth 083 52 52 52 2

    Empilweni TB Hospital Port Elizabeth just Upgrade with a new Whirlpool Heavy Duty Washer which we supplied and installed



    This Whirlpool washer was installed in one of the more sensitive wards to minimize "importing" germs from the outside.  The Sterile conditions are so high in this section and all stops gets pulled to insure the patience's only receives the best care. 

    Isn't it great to know that  if you or me or a family member should should ever need to make use of this Hospital that they are aiming for Excellence.

    How is the hygienic conditions in your laundry room at home?

    Regards





    Provincial Hospital is Cool

    Appliance Repairs in Port Elizabeth


    Recent repairs and upgrades to Provincial Hospital Cooling systems has left the Hospital running cool.


    Cool-room Compressors been Charged and Serviced 

    Huge Air-movement  plant down in the basement

    Old compressor still working fine 

    Basement piping looks like a screen-saver

    Basement pumps doing their jobs with out anybody knowing
    Old control panel (out of commision)


    Dora Nqinza Hospital Decontaminates

    Dora Nqinza Hopital has Decontaminated and Improved its air-movement in the new trauma section. They have pulled out all plugs to make air movement in  the trauma area clean and fresh.
    Air supply room with exhaust on top


    Blower motor in air supply room

    Main Blower with triple belts


    Inside Air movement room outside vents and old filters

    Old dirty filters removed from Air Movement supply room
    Dirty Filters at secondary section
    Secondary Filter Section inside Roof


    Air Movement Ducting with downers feeding in trauma area ceiling 


    Service holes cut to service inside ducting


    More air supply ducting in Dora Nqinza Hospital ceiling

    Maize of ducting in the roof at Dora

    Air extracting unit in the roof 

    Big air extraction unit in ceiling to remove contaminated air