Whether your fridge isn’t keeping things cool or your oven doesn’t hit things up kitchen appliances can cause all kinds of problems. Find out what’s causing the issue and whether it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Knowing the average life expectancy of appliances and can help prevent surprises. But, if the problem is beyond your skill to troubleshoot and fix, you can always call a professional to tackle one or multiple appliance repairs.
Warm Fridge or Freezer
If your refrigerator or freezer is not staying cool, check that the doors are closing completely and that the seal is snug. Be sure to pay attention to warning lights. Note any unusual heat, drips or noises. An operating refrigerator condenser generates heat, but it should not be excessive.
Smelly Fridge or Freezer
This could be caused by food that has gone bad due to temperature control or neglect. Before you pitch the appliance out with the smelly or moldy food, wash the bins and shelves with dish soap, let the unit air out, and clean the evaporator. Adjust the interior temperatures to the optimum settings of 0 and 40 degrees F to prevent frost buildup, mold growth, or odors.
Under or Overcooking Oven
If food burns quickly in your oven or takes too long to cook, buy an oven thermometer to check temperature settings. The oven may only need recalibration rather than a replacement.
Microwave Doesn’t Heat Up
If your microwave isn’t heating up food the way it should, it could be the magnetron or other faulty mechanisms. Magnetrons can burn out when the microwave is turn on.You’ll most likely need to replace the part or unit entirely.
Microwave Plate Not Turning
If the plate doesn’t spin, your food could end up under- or unevenly cooked. clean the turntable and make sure it isn’t obstructed by large crumbs or stuck on debris. One possibility is that the motor is worn out. Thankfully, that’s an easy fix. Check for the manufacturer and model-specific parts and instructions.
Gas or Electric Cooktop Not Working
If your burners aren’t working, there are a couple of probable causes. Gas burner repair could be as simple as replacing spark ignitors. Electric Burna repair could be dealing with a broken surface element, child lock, or power surge burnout.