Major Appliance Repair

Why major appliance repair in a PC column? Well the Internet can help you solve major appliance repair problems. In my case I repaired an electric range, and a washing machine. Now mind you, being a nerd makes you fearless when it comes to fixing almost anything. With the help of the Internet I determined the most effective course of action when it came to all appliance repairs.

My most successful venture was repairing my electric range. The first step was to search the Internet for a replacement range. Much to my surprise, a simple old electric range costs from $600 for the cheapest to over $1,200. It did not seem that I paid that much when I purchased this range, but I must have! Such prices quickly drove me to alternative #2, range repair. What can there be to repairing a range? Just unplug it first (It uses 220 volts so unplugging is a must). Electrical connections use colored wires and push on or bolt on connectors. You draw pictures or take photos with your digital camera when you disassemble so you can remember how to reassemble. So I was good to go.

Several sites sell appliance repair parts and provide appliance repair help. These sites are:

http://www.pcappliancerepair.com – cheapest prices

http://www.repairclinic.com - information and parts

http://www.easyapplianceparts.com – information and parts with good prices

All sites had help identifying my appliance model number (mine was a GE model JBP77GV3 ) and the parts needed. All these sites provided parts at about a 30% lower cost than the parts from GE. At these sites you could probably order all the parts and build your own range if you wanted.

Soon I found that troubleshooting the problem was more difficult than diagnosing a PC problem. When the range was turned-off, the oven remained on. The oven only turned off when the range was unplugged. Even when the wires were disconnected, the oven remained on. Upon detailed examination, I discovered (after burning my finger) that the oven heating element was a wire inside a metal tube. The inside wire heated the tube when electricity flowed through it. In my case the inside wire somehow contacted the outside metal tube and shorted out so that electricity constantly flowed and heated the oven. The first part cost less than $30. It was easily replaced by unbolting and bolting in the replacement. Delivery at the cheapest rate required 3 working days. Unfortunately, the heating element was not the only casualty. Apparently the oven control had fried as well. So ordering this part for an added $91 completed the repair. It was easily unbolted, the knob and the face plate were pried off and attached with minor modification to the new control unit. Wiring was explained in the directions accompanying the control unit, but one wire color was different and the wire connectors were in different positions. It was an easy guess as to where the odd wire was connected. This saved the price of a new range or the cost of a repair person (my guess is $150).

In the case of my clothes washer, the first repair was for plastic parts that broke on the outside. These were readily available, cheap and easily installed. However, the second failure was catastrophic. A Google search revealed that the failure was so common that it prompted a class action law suit against Maytag the manufacturer. Replacement was the best option. My refrigerator ice dispenser control also failed. The part was available. However, the unit was under warranty service. The repair technician replaced the old part, but the problem remained. Upon a subsequent visit it was determined to be a non-replaceable short in the refrigerator wiring was the root of the problem and a new refrigerator was the only solution.

In all cases the sites listed above and a Google search helped determine the most effective course of action. So when it comes to appliance repair, the Internet is your friend.