Don’t panic and call a repair person – fix these common problems quickly and easily yourself!
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There is no debate (at least there shouldn’t be) that a gas cook-top is far superior to an electric cook top! However, one very common problem I have personally seen many times is a very simple fix.
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The problem: One of the burners won’t come on! Occasionally this can be a major repair issue, but more often the problem is very simple. With newer gas cook-tops there are three main pieces at the burner. The burner base, the burner cap, and the igniter. The igniter is what you will hear clicking when you turn on the burner. But what happens when the click isn’t followed by the “woosh” sound and the burner lighting? Typically it is as simple as the burner base or the burner cap being misaligned.
All you need to do is reposition the burner cap or the burner base correctly and “voila”, the burner lights as intended. Less frequent is an issue with the igniter being dirty or clogged. The igniter is the small ceramic nub that projects from the open side of the burner base. If it is clogged or dirty, you can clean it with a soft bristled toothbrush and warm water. Scrub or wipe gently, dry with a clean cloth, reassemble the burner base and cap, and give it a try. Usually works like a charm.
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The second kitchen appliance that is easier to fix than you might think is a garbage disposal. Specifically when the disposal jams and won’t operate. There are two simple solutions that often work (or don’t work) together.
When the disposal jams the motor will lock up and fail to turn. This can be fixed by using the allen wrench that came with you disposal. A good intaller will leave this under your sink, or perhaps taped to the side of the cabinet or disposal. Simply insert into the hole in the center of the bottom of the disposal and work it back and forth until it is free. Flip the switch and your disposal should be be humming along again.
The other issue associated with a disposal jam is the reset button, also located on the bottom of the disposal. This will click off as a protection measure to keep the disposal motor from overworking. Simply push the button in to reset, and it should work just fine.
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Hope these tips help you save some time, aggravation, and money!
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What do you want to know about DIY?
Do you have specific projects you would like to tackle? Not sure how to get started? Convinced that you won’t be able to get answers to your questions at the hardware store? Great! Tom wants to know.
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While this may sound like a good idea, if the only thing that your malfunctioning or broken oven needs is a $25 part that you can order and replace yourself, you’ll be losing money.
Wow its very help article for everyone, really like it.
It’s good to know that a broken burner can potentially be an easy fix. The fact that the burner base and cap may simply be misaligned is a relief. I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind if my burner has a problem in the future. Thanks for the tips!
I think it’s interesting that you say a garbage disposal is fairly easy to fix. I’ve always thought that it was a hard appliance to fix. More than anything, I get scared that I’ll cut my hand by fixing it. I am more comfortable with hiring someone to fix it instead of me.
Tom, there are some really good tips about repairing your appliances. There are so many things that can go wrong with them. Do you know how to figure what is broken on them? It might be a good idea to have a professional come and do the repair for me.
These are some helpful solutions to common fixes on appliances. I didn’t even know that you could fix the garbage disposal yourself! However, what if these suggestions don’t work? It seems like calling a professional would be the best choice after that.
Thanks for explaining how to fix a burner that won’t turn on. I was just having that problem with my stove last night when I was trying to make dinner. It’s good to know that all it takes to fix it is to reposition the burner cap correctly. That seems like an easy way to get it working again.
Recently one of the burners on my stove has been having a difficult time. I would really like to get it fixed, because whenever I try it just clicks and won’t start the flame. It sounds like the burner cap may just have been knocked off a little bit or has something on it. Later this week, I will be sure to look into this and see if it needs to be re-positioned or cleaned. If this doesn’t seem to work, then there might be a bigger problem with the stove, which I will need to figure out.
The tip for the garbage disposal will save me some time! I didn’t know that to do when it stopped but I know now to use the allen wrench! It was good to learn that you can re-position the cap on the problem burner on the stove and get it back to use. Thanks for the tips, my handy husband will love these!
You might just save me some time and money. I’m going to check out my burners a little more thoroughly and see if it has one of the problems you described. If it does, then this will be an easier day for me.
See, as nice as it is to know how to do these DIY appliance repairs, but I tend to prefer to get some repair services instead. That way I will know that things are going to be taken care of. Plus, I do not always trust myself to fix things like this, because I am prone to breaking things when I do. That is why I do not like trying to do these things myself.
As you mentioned, the engine in my disposal stopped working. You advice using an Allan wrench to fix it, however, I cannot find one. Are they sold at general appliance and repair stores? If possible, I would like to fix this myself, but I may have to end up calling a repair man if I cannot.
I’ve noticed that my burner has been having this issue. Sometimes it just takes a few tries before it actually works. I had no idea that the repair could be so easy. I’ll be sure to give that a shot and see if I can get it to run properly.
Knowing a few repair tips can do wonders for saving a bit of money. As mentioned, sometimes things require an expensive repair, but oftentimes these things can be resolved by a simple adjustment. It’s true that cleaning the burners on a stove is a good regular maintenance practice to make a habit. This can prevent a lot of potential problems. Thanks for the article!
I had a blender that was having some problems. I was able to take it apart and realized that the gears weren’t aligned properly. It was a simple fix and it works fine. Many small appliances can be fixed pretty easily on your own.
It’s good to know that garbage disposals are usually pretty easy to repair. My garbage disposal jams all of the time, so it’s helpful to know two solutions that could fix it. I didn’t know that I can fix it my working the bottom of the disposal with an allen wrench until it’s free. Knowing that there’s a reset button that can be found at the bottom of the disposal is also useful to know. I should look for the reset button for my disposal to see if it will work.