Appliance malfunctioning? Here’s how to troubleshoot and repair

Is the dryer taking longer than normal to dry your clothes? The vent hose may be clogged with lint. Pull the machine out from the wall and remove the metal clamps securing the hose to the unit and the exterior vent. Holding both ends upright, take the hose outside and shake it out. While outside, inspect the vent cover and clear any lint that’s built up on that as well. And don’t forget to clean the lint trap every time you use the machine.

Is your washing machine giving off a musty odour or do you see black mould starting to form on the rubber gasket inside the door of your front-loading machine? For top-loading machines, run an empty load with bleach. For front-loaders, use a sponge soaked in bleach (wear gloves) to wipe out the mold. Worst case scenario you’ll have to replace the gasket. To prevent build up in the future, wipe down the gasket and leave the door and the soap tray open after using the machine. This will allow air to circulate and dry out any remaining water.

Is your dishwasher leaving specks of debris or soapy film on your dishes? The filter at the base of the unit might be clogged. Dig out your owner’s manual to see how you access the filter for cleaning. Lost the manual? Google the make and model number and you should be able to find one online. Generally, you’ll need to remove both racks, disconnect the spray arms, and then either twist the filter out or remove some screws to access it first.

Is your toilet constantly running? There are a few possible causes. Take the lid off the tank to inspect. Possibility number one is that the handle or chain it’s attached to is getting caught on something inside the tank. Flush the toilet and if you see it catching, adjust the length of the chain or positioning of the internal lever. Another possibility is that you need to adjust the float cup. Use a screwdriver to raise or lower it until the water stops running. The other probable causes are a faulty fill tube or a leaking flapper valve. You can buy replacement parts that will include instructions on how to install them.

Is the water not flowing properly from your showerhead? You could have calcium build up from hard water. If your showerhead has soft plastic nobs where the spray comes out, simply rub your fingers along each with the water running to clean them out. For heavier clogs you’ll need to remove the showerhead and soak it in a calcium, lime, and rust cleaning product.

Are flare ups turning your burgers into scorched hockey pucks? You need to empty the drip tray and clean the grills and heat deflectors. Remove the grills and use your brush to scrape clean the underside. A painter’s spatula or an old butter knife are handy tools for cleaning the gunk out from between the grills. Next, scrape the heat deflectors clean. Finally, slide out the drip tray from the base of the grill and clear all the crud out of that.

Can’t get your barbecue to ignite? The electric starters that come with propane barbecues are notorious for dying an early death. Try replacing the battery. If that doesn’t work, you can buy a replacement starter, or just buy a lighter with a long nozzle designed to fit into the access hole in the face of the unit. If gas doesn’t seem to be flowing to the burners, spiders may have nested in the venturi tubes. You can buy a specialized brush for cleaning those out at any hardware store.

If your chainsaw won’t start, there are a few possible reasons why. For one, you might need to replace a corroded spark plug. Next up is a clogged carburetor. Remove and clean or replace that. Another option is replacing a clogged fuel filter. Finally, the recoil spring on the starter rope could be broken. Again, you can buy a replacement part for your make and model. Always use fresh fuel and add a stabilizer to it if you’ll be storing the chainsaw for an extended period of time.