An air conditioner that doesn’t actually cool the air in your home is next to useless. Find out what can cause this lack of cooling from your central air conditioning unit and how an air conditioning repair service can help.

Air conditioners are one of the best inventions of the modern age. Gone are the days of trying to stay cool with open windows and box fans. Now, we have the luxury of turning a dial or pressing a button to enjoy deliciously cool air even in the heat of summer–at least until something goes awry with the air unit. When your central air system stops working, it can feel like your whole world grinds to a halt. Find out what’s at fault when your central air system stops cooling and when you need to call your local air conditioning contractors to get things back on track.

There are several reasons why your central AC unit might not be cooling as it should. The airflow to the exterior condenser unit could be blocked, which means you need to clear all debris, such as tall grass or collected leaves, from the area. The condenser could also be dirty, which means you need to remove the condenser cover and clean the coils and condenser fins, or call a pro to do it for you. The evaporator coil, located inside by the main duct junction with the furnace, could also be dirty, which means you (or a pro) need to clean it. These are all tasks that you can handle on your own if you feel like you have the time and know-how to tackle them. If, however, none of these is the culprit, then you definitely need to call an air conditioner repair expert to find out what the problem is.

If you’ve ruled out dirt or blockages as the cause for your cooling problems, it could be that the refrigerant is low. The refrigerant is the coolant–usually Freon–that actually cools the air that’s cycled through the system. If there’s a problem with the refrigerant, this could be caused by a leak, or it could be that the correct amount of refrigerant was not added when your unit was installed. Either way, a professional air conditioning contractor needs to handle any refrigerant issues, as refrigerants are strictly regulated by the EPA.

If your refrigerant situation is fine, the culprit of your cooling problem could be a faulty compressor. The compressor is the part of the AC system that regulates the pressure between the evaporator coil and condenser coil so the cooling process can take place. If the compressor is on the fritz, due to either a mechanical or electrical failure, the whole system simply won’t work. Again, an appliance repair pro needs to be called to handle any issues with the compressor.

Air conditioners are wonderful when they work well. However, when your AC unit isn’t cooling things down as it should be, you may need to call a pro for expert air conditioning service.

Penny Jones is a homeowner and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, a provider of online local advertising.

Leaky fridge? Do-it-yourself refrigerator repair may do just the trick!

When you walk into your kitchen to find a puddle forming underneath your refrigerator, it can be quite alarming, especially if your fridge doesn’t have an ice maker or a water dispenser. In addition to creating a mess, a leaking refrigerator can cause damage to your home. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that you can take to address a leaky icebox that will save you time and money over calling a professional refrigerator repair service.

The first thing you should do upon finding a puddle of water on the kitchen floor is to make sure it’s actually coming from the refrigerator. This may seem silly, but there are more than a few people who have panicked over a broken refrigerator, only to find that the water was from a spill. There have even been cases where homeowners called in a refrigerator repair technician, who found nothing wrong with the appliance until he observed the customers’ young child walk through the kitchen and depress the lever for the water dispenser just for the fun of it. If you’ve got obvious signs of water dripping down the fridge door from the water and ice dispenser, or you have a puddle in the middle of the floor, a significant distance from your refrigerator, it’s a safe bet that the problem lies somewhere else.

Once you’re convinced that the problem lies within your refrigerator, you should check your water supply line, which will be connected to your fridge if you have an ice maker or water dispenser. The water supply line connects to the back of your refrigerator, so if there is a leak there, you should be able to see it by pulling the refrigerator out. Depending on the part that is leaking, you may be able to fix it with some simple refrigerator repairs by simply replacing the tubing or tightening the compression nuts near the inlet valve.

Even if your refrigerator doesn’t have a water/ice dispenser (and thus no water supply), you may still experience leaks due to condensation or melting ice. If you notice a puddle coming from underneath your refrigerator, it can likely be traced to the drip pan at the bottom of the unit. Water from the refrigerator drips into this pan where it evaporates. If your refrigerator is tilted, however, the water could spill out onto the floor. The answer to this problem is another fairly simple refrigeration repair: leveling the fridge. The refrigerator should be completely level from side to side, and tilted slightly toward the back. If necessary, you can pull off the front kickplate or grille and turn the adjustment screws with a screwdriver to raise or lower the front corners of the refrigerator until it is tilted properly.

Leaks occurring inside the refrigerator compartment or underneath the freezer are often caused by a clogged drain tube. Fortunately, this is another refrigerator repair that you can perform on your own. To begin, remove the cover panel in your freezer. You may have to pry off the screw covers with a putty knife, and then remove the screws, depending on the refrigerator model. Clear out any excess ice buildup using a hairdryer and some towels. Then, use a tube to blow into the drain hole, clearing it of any debris. Before replacing the cover panel, pour some water into the drain tube to make sure it is draining properly.

These simple refrigerator repairs should keep your floor dry and restore your refrigerator to its proper working condition with minimal effort. If you can’t find the source of the leak, or your refrigerator continues to leak after you’ve gone through these steps, it may be time to call in the pros. Your local appliance repair service should be able to answer any questions that you may have.

Penny Jones is a DIY appliance repair enthusiast and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, bringing affordable online advertising to local businesses.

Next to your refrigerator, your washing machine is perhaps the most important appliance in your home in terms of comfort, convenience, and utility. However, considering how frequently you use your washer on a weekly basis, it’s crucial that you know how to handle a washing machine repair should the need for one ever arise.

Having a fully functional washer-dryer setup in your home is a luxury that more and more homeowners are able to enjoy. Whether you have your front-loading units stacked on top of each other or your two top-loading models placed side by side, you’ll find an incomparable amount of convenience right inside your household laundry room. Driving to and from a laundromat every time you need clean clothes doesn’t seem like it would be that much of a pain, but once you’ve experienced the comfort of doing a few loads of laundry at your own leisure right at home, it will certainly be painful to go back. That’s why it’s absolutely essential for you to educate yourself about all of a washing machine’s major parts and functions, so that you’ll be able to identify any unusual behavior and perform the appropriate washing machine repairs right away.

Front- and top-loading models have different compositions, but all of the major components are the same. Regardless of which make or model you own, you’ll first need to identify the key washing machine parts that are at the source of a problem if you want to complete an effective washer-dryer repair. While it may not be necessary for an average layperson to familiarize him- or herself with all of the tiny nuances of washing machine operation, it’s definitely a good idea to study up on the basic components. Those include:

• Water level switch
• Temperature control switch
• Timer
• Washer top
• Lid switch
• Water injector fill hose
• Water inlet valve
• Fabric softener dispenser
• Lint filter
• Agitator
• Inner and outer tubs
• Drive motor
• Transmission
• Pump
• Drive pulley
• Pump belt

The above list is not exhaustive, but it’s a great starting point. Washing machine repair is by no means a simple task, but it becomes a lot more manageable for the average homeowner when you’re at least somewhat familiar with the parts that you’re looking at. Take a minute to look over the owner’s manual that you received when you purchased your current unit; there should be a complete diagram with all of the parts labeled. If you misplaced the manual or can’t locate a helpful diagram, there are countless online resources that can help you with your DIY repair by allowing you to look up your exact model specifications and helping you identify exactly which parts may be at the root of your washer’s malfunction.

If, however, you’re having trouble putting your finger on exactly what the problem with your machine is, it can be nearly impossible to devise an appropriate washing machine repair plan. In that case, you have three options: 1.) Put up with the problem and hope that it goes away; 2.) Get rid of the malfunctioning unit and purchase a brand-new one; or 3.) Find a washer and dryer repair technician who can help you diagnose and treat the problem. Obviously, there are pros and cons for each of the scenarios outlined, so it will be up to you to consider your budgetary constraints and any other important factors before making a decision.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure that you’re making an informed decision. Whether you opt to try your hand at DIY Maytag washing machine repair or you choose to scrap the old, worn-out unit in favor of a shinier model, it’s your responsibility as a consumer to educate yourself about all of the available options.

Penny Jones is an online marketing specialist for Prospect Genius, an SEO company that offers affordable advertising solutions to local service providers.

You rely on your dryer to speed up your weekly chores, and when it stops working, you can be left high and not dry. Some dryer problems can be solved with a DIY fix, while others require the expertise of a dryer repair professional.

Is your dryer not actually drying your clothes? Is it failing to heat, or not turning on at all? Any of these issues can turn the already time-consuming task of doing your family’s laundry into a multiday affair, as you’ll have to hang up or lay out all of those wet clothes and wait for them to air-dry. Before you call in an appliance repair professional to diagnose and fix the problem, consider whether it’s something you can resolve yourself. Two common dryer issues can be easily fixed by a DIY novice, whereas more serious problems will require the skill and knowledge of a repair expert.

Dirty or Clogged Dryer Vent

Many dryer failures result from improper ventilation. If the hot, moist air is unable to escape from the dryer, your clothes will still be damp or even wet at the end of the cycle. A clogged dryer vent can also lead to increased noise as the dryer runs. Beyond the effects on your clothes and your eardrums, poor dryer ventilation can actually damage the machine itself, causing the heating mechanism to fail prematurely. A dryer vent that is blocked or clogged with lint is also a fire hazard.

You can avoid these problems by making sure to clean out your lint filter before each load. If your dryer is failing to dry your clothes or is taking extra time to get everything dry, your first step should be to clean out the vents. If the problem is severe, you can bring in a professional dryer vent cleaning service to thoroughly clean the unit. In general, clean out your dryer’s entire ventilation system at least once a year.

Dryer Won’t Start

If your dryer won’t turn on at all, there might be an electrical issue you can fix yourself. Before you pick up the phone to call a dryer repair specialist, check the dryer’s plug to make sure it’s securely in the outlet. If it is, and the dryer still won’t turn on, it’s time to check your circuit breaker.

An electrical circuit can get overloaded if you’re asking for more power than it can provide. In such a case, the circuit breaker will trip, or turn off, to protect your home from a power surge or fire hazard. If the breaker attached to your laundry room or washer/dryer area has tripped, flip it back on. If the dryer still won’t start, contact your local appliance repair service.

The best way to ensure your dryer’s longevity is to take steps to help it perform properly in the first place—think prevention, rather than repair. If you keep the venting system clean and ensure that the unit is plugged into a circuit that provides the appropriate level of electricity, you’ve conquered two major causes of dryer malfunction. However, even well-maintained appliances can break down over time. If neither of these do-it-yourself fixes works, call in a reliable appliance repair technician to get your unit back to optimum performance.

Penny Jones is a home improvement specialist and a senior Internet marketing strategist for Prospect Genius, a leader in SEO advertising.

You have a doctor to call for illnesses, a mechanic to call for car trouble, and a dentist to call for toothaches. So how is it, that with a houseful of modern-day appliances you depend on around the clock, you don’t have a clue who to call when one of them breaks down? It’s time you added a local appliance repair specialist to that indispensable list.

Here’s a challenge for you. If you had five minutes to pick your five favorite household appliances, which ones would you include? Or, maybe the better question is, which ones would you exclude? Certainly not your microwave with its one-touch system for making popcorn and melting butter. And don’t even think about omitting your clothes dryer with the piles and piles of laundry your family produces in a single week. So, what’s it gonna be, the refrigerator, the dishwasher, the oven? Bzzzzz. Sorry, you’re out of time.

The reality is it’s hard to live without any of those housekeeping helpers you count on from dawn to dusk. That’s why when one of your home appliances goes on the blink, you need to be ready with a reliable appliance repair service just a speed dial away. So do your homework now, while all of your machinery is fully up and running and you actually have a moment to spare. Do not wait until you’re up to your ankles in leaking water or facing the possibility of hundreds of dollars worth of spoiled food.

With the increased complexity of today’s household appliances, it’s never been more important to have an appliance specialist you can trust for refrigerator repair, oven repair, microwave repair, and more. According to the Associated Press and SaferProducts.gov, a year-old database where consumers can go to report problems with everyday household products, kitchen appliances in particular have become a common source of complaints. In fact, since the site was started in March 2011, more than 850 complaints have been posted regarding appliance fires. Just pick up the March 2012 issue of Consumer Reports and you’ll find a frightening piece on the growing dangers of fires from faulty dishwashers, fridges, ranges, and more.

It seems as home appliances have become more and more sophisticated over the years, the chances of something going wrong have multiplied as well. Homeowners have even reported over-the-range microwaves turning on by themselves and wiring becoming overheated from refrigerators and dishwashers. So never dismiss a sign that trouble may be brewing. At the slightest indication of a problem, contact your appliance repair company and schedule a maintenance check.

Of course, with many appliance repairs, the answer could be as simple as changing out a single part. That’s why it’s a good idea to depend on an appliance repair service that includes a well-stocked appliance parts store. You don’t want your fridge or your washer to be out of commission one minute longer than is absolutely necessary because your repair person doesn’t have the part you need. And whatever kind of part you need, from axles and bearings to hoses and valves, it’s always best to use only high-quality products designed for that specific application.

So don’t make appliance breakdowns any harder than they have to be. Ensure the safe, long-lasting performance of all your household favorites with a trusted appliance repair service at your beck and call. Many local appliance repair companies are available 24 hours in the case of an emergency. Find the phone number of one of them and add it to your list of contacts today.

A senior Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, Penny Jones writes about home improvement issues and effective SEO advertising for local businesses.

If you’re putting off air conditioner repairs because you’re anxious about repair costs, think again. Postponing minor repairs can mean having to deal with bigger problems in the future.

If you’ve gotten used to an air conditioning system that’s not working at 100%, make this the year you call in an air conditioner repair technician to get it fixed. Small problems can eventually turn into larger ones—meaning more expensive repairs or even requiring unit replacement. Meanwhile, a broken, inefficient unit may actually be costing you more in terms of utility bills. Beyond all of that, the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to stop working entirely in the heat of summer, leaving you to sweat while you resolve the situation.

Decrease in Performance

Does your air conditioner seem to be working extra hard to provide you with cold air? Do you have to crank it up to full blast just to get a fraction of the cooling power you got when the unit was brand new? It can be tempting to postpone repairs in this case, because after all, you are still getting some cool air. But at what cost? You’re likely consuming more electricity while getting less effective cooling. Additionally, whatever is causing the decrease in performance is likely to continue deteriorating over time. You can grant your air conditioner a stay of execution by bringing in an air conditioner repair technician to assess the situation. Repairs may only be a matter of replacing a single component—which is far less expensive than purchasing a new air conditioning system.

Unusual Noises

When any appliance starts making noises it’s never made before, especially if the noises continue for a period of time or even get worse, you can benefit from calling in an appliance repair technician. Your air conditioner is no exception. Even if it seems to be operating at full performance, a buzzing, clunking, or vibrating noise from within the air conditioning unit is a sign that something isn’t right. Pay attention to the noise—what it sounds like, when it happens, where it’s coming from—so that you can accurately describe it to the air conditioning contractor you’ve hired. As with performance issues, the underlying problem behind an unusual noise can worsen over time but may be able to be fixed with a single replacement part.

Leaks

The biggest questions when dealing with a leaking air conditioner are “What kind of fluid is leaking?” and “Where is the leak coming from?” The different variables at play—for instance, you might see water or refrigerant leakage—can indicate different types of air conditioner problems. Instead of just wiping up the mess or sticking a towel under the unit, bring in an air conditioning service technician to diagnose the root problem. Note, however, that air conditioners are subject to condensation as moist air passes across the cooling coil. Some water on the unit is to be expected in humid weather; a puddle or stream of fluid exiting the unit is a more serious matter.

When an air conditioner is struggling to do its job, it’s almost always better to call in a repair professional than to wait until things get worse. An air conditioner expert can advise you on your best option—which may, in some instances, be to purchase a new, more energy-efficient unit. As summer approaches, ensure that your home stays cool and comfortable without breaking the bank by resolving to deal with small repair issues before they grow out of control.

Penny Jones is a homeowner and a senior Internet marketing strategist at Prospect Genius, a leader in local online advertising.

You rely on your clothes dryer to help you manage your regular routine, so when it malfunctions or breaks down, the inconvenience can be profound. In some cases, simple troubleshooting is all that is required to get your dryer running again, while other issues are more complex and require the expertise of a dryer repair specialist.

We’ve all been there at least once. You’ve got a ton of tasks to attend to, and laundry is at the top of your list. You figure, “why not kill two birds with one stone?,” so you load up the dryer, set the timer, and go off to attend to your other responsibilities. Forty-five minutes later, you’re back in the laundry room only to be faced with a pile of cold, damp clothing. Few things are as frustrating. If your dryer is malfunctioning, it can put a serious crimp in your daily routine. Who has the time to lug loads of laundry back and forth from the laundromat, or to wait for clothes to line dry? The good news is that there are a number of simple steps that you can take to restore your dryer to full functionality without costing you a fortune!

The first step when it comes to any type of appliance repair is to determine what exactly is causing the issue. Does the dryer start? Does it heat up and tumble? Are the clothes taking too long to try? The answers to these questions will help you target the source of the problem. Here are some easy troubleshooting steps:

• Make sure the dryer is plugged in–Sure, it may seem like common sense, but dryer performance complaints that end by plugging the cord into the outlet are more common than you’d think.
• Check for and replace any blown fuses–Depending on the age and model, your dryer can use a lot of power. This can lead to blown fuses and tripped circuits, especially in homes with older electrical systems. It should be relatively easy to replace the fuse or reset the breaker, but if the issue repeats itself, you should contact a professional electrician.
• Clean the lint trap–If your clothes are taking a long time to dry, a full lint trap may be the culprit. If the lint trap is full, air can not circulate properly in the dryer, and the machine is forced to work longer than necessary to dry your clothes. A clogged lint filter can also cause the dryer to overheat, putting your appliance at risk for a fire. To avoid potential hazards and keep your dryer working at optimal levels, it is important to clean the lint filter immediately following each load.
• Check the dryer hose and exhaust vent–If your lint trap is clean, and the clothes are still taking a long time to dry, you may need to clean the dryer hose and exhaust vent. Over time, lint can accumulate, blocking the hose or preventing the exhaust trap from opening. You can use a vacuum and/or a long-handled bristle brush to clean out any excess lint buildup.

If all else fails, check your dryer repair manual. Most dryer manufacturers include a list of common troubleshooting steps and dryer repair issues. Your repair manual may also include part numbers and descriptions for commonly replaced parts, such as belts and knobs. In addition, most dryer repair manuals break down the steps for proper maintenance such as vent cleaning and electrical specifications, so you can keep your dryer working in its best possible condition.

If you’re unable to determine the source of the problem yourself, it may be time to call your local washer/dryer repair company. Many appliance repair technicians have extensive training and experience performing clothes dryer repairs, and they may have access to model-specific parts that aren’t easy to find elsewhere. More extensive repairs such as issues involving the electric circuitry within a unit, or gas dryer repair, may be too dangerous for an amateur job, so consult with a professional for your safety. With many major appliance repair companies offering free estimates, or waiving service fees with a completed repair, professional dryer repairs don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Shop around to find your best value.

Whether you choose to tackle a dryer repair yourself, or you decide to go with the pros, clothes dryer repair doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With proper maintenance and repair service, your dryer should serve you well for years to come!

Penny Jones is a home improvement guru and a senior Internet marketing strategist for Prospect Genius, a leader in SEO advertising.