Problem guides
Appliance problems, explained
What to check safely yourself, what usually causes the fault, and when to stop and call. Written by the people who do the repairs.
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Refrigerators & freezers
Fridge not coolingThe light comes on, maybe the freezer is still cold, but milk is going warm. Most cases come down to airflow,…Fridge leaking waterWhere the water appears tells you most of the story: under the crisper drawers, on the floor at the front, or…Freezer not freezingIce cream that turns soft, or frozen food that is thawing at the edges. The cause is different for a…Ice maker not making iceBefore blaming the ice maker itself, rule out the water supply and the freezer temperature. Both are behind a…Refrigerator too cold or freezing foodFrozen lettuce and icy milk usually come from a setting, an air-flow problem near the vent, or a damper stuck…Refrigerator making noiseFridges make normal sounds: gurgling refrigerant, cracking ice and the ice maker filling. Grinding, loud…Refrigerator running constantlyNewer variable-speed fridges run for long stretches by design. A fridge that never stops and still isn't cold…Frost build-up in fridge or freezerFrost-free fridges shouldn't collect frost. Where the frost forms tells you whether it is a door seal letting…Fridge water dispenser not workingIf ice is still being made, the supply is fine and the problem is at the dispenser. If both stopped, check…Refrigerator clickingA click every few minutes from the bottom back, with the fridge getting warm, is usually the compressor…
Washers
Washer not drainingA tub full of grey water is alarming, but this is one of the most fixable washer faults. Most of the time…Washer not spinningClothes come out soaked. Sometimes it is just how the load sat in the drum; sometimes it is a belt, a lid…Washer leakingTiming matters: a leak while it fills, while it washes, or while it drains each point to different…Front-load washer door won't openFront-loaders lock the door while there is water in the drum or the drum is moving. A door that stays locked…Washer shaking, walking or unbalancedSome shaking at high spin is normal. Violent shaking, a washer that moves across the floor, or repeated…Washer loud noise during spinA roar like a jet engine on spin is the classic sign of worn tub bearings. Other noises have cheaper causes,…Washer not filling with waterIf the washer hums but no water comes in, or it trickles, the problem is usually on the water side before it…Washer smells musty or mouldyFront-loaders in particular trap moisture in the door seal and sump. Most smells clear with cleaning and…Washer won't startStart with power and the door or lid. A surprising share of 'dead washer' calls are a locked control panel or…Washer stops mid-cycleWhere it stops matters: stopping with water in the drum points to draining, stopping during fill points to…Top-load washer not agitatingIf the tub fills and then nothing moves, or the motor runs while the agitator stays still, the drive parts…
Dryers
Dryer not heatingThe drum turns, the timer counts down, and the clothes come out as wet as they went in. The cause is usually…Dryer takes too long to dryIf the dryer heats but loads still take forever, the problem is usually the air path rather than the dryer…Dryer won't start or drum won't turnTwo different faults with similar symptoms. A dryer that does nothing is usually power, the door switch or a…Dryer squealing or squeakingA high-pitched squeal that rises and falls with the drum is almost always a worn moving part in the drive…Dryer thumping or bangingA rhythmic thump usually means a support part has a flat spot or has worn through. Occasional bangs are often…Dryer grinding or scrapingGrinding is the noise to take seriously: something metal is rubbing, and running it longer usually makes the…Dryer shuts off mid-cycleA dryer that runs for a while and then stops is often protecting itself from heat. The other common cause is…Dryer overheating or burning smellTreat this as a safety problem first. Lint is very flammable, and a dryer that runs too hot usually has a…Dryer vent cloggedA blocked vent makes every load take longer, wears out heating parts early and raises the fire risk. It is…Dryer door won't stay shut or dryer won't start with door closedIf the dryer won't start unless you hold the door, or the door pops open, the latch or the door switch is the…Dryer won't stop or overdriesA dryer that runs long after the clothes are dry usually has a timer or sensor problem, which wastes energy…
Dishwashers
Dishwasher not drainingA small puddle of clean water in the sump is normal on many models. A pool of dirty water after a full cycle…Dishwasher not cleaning dishesBefore assuming a fault, check the basics that every technician checks first: water temperature, the filter,…Dishwasher leakingLeaks from the front are usually the door or too much soap. Leaks from underneath can be a hose, a pump or…Dishwasher won't startLights on but no cycle, or nothing at all: start with the door, the lock and the…Dishwasher not dryingMany modern dishwashers dry by condensation, so plastics stay damp by design. Dishes that are all soaked…Dishwasher not fillingIf you hear the dishwasher trying to start but no water rushes in, check the supply and the float before the…Dishwasher smells badMost smells come from trapped food in the filter and sump, or water sitting in a drain hose that loops the…Dishwasher door won't latchIf the door won't catch, the dishwasher won't run. The latch, the strike or a rack in the way are the usual…Dishwasher noisyA spray arm hitting a dish rattles; a grinding hum usually means something is in the…
Ovens, ranges & cooktops
Oven not heatingElectric and gas ovens fail in different ways, so start by noting which you have and whether the problem is…Gas burner won't light or keeps clickingMost burner problems on a gas range are about the spark reaching the gas: moisture, spills or misaligned…Oven temperature wrongRecipes burning or underbaking? Measure before assuming a fault: oven dials and displays can be offset by…Oven door locked after self-cleanOvens lock the door during self-clean and until they cool. A door that stays locked hours later usually has a…Electric stove burner not heatingCoil and glass cooktop elements fail in a few predictable ways, and the switch behind the knob is as common a…Induction cooktop not detecting the panInduction only works with magnetic cookware. If the cookware is right, the fault is in the zone's…Oven or range not turning onNo display, no clock, nothing: start with the power supply. A range uses a double breaker, and half can…
Commercial equipment
Walk-in cooler not holding temperatureFor a restaurant or store, a warm walk-in is lost stock by the hour. These checks take a few minutes and help…Commercial ice machine not making iceIce machines are sensitive to water quality, airflow and cleaning. Many service calls come down to scale and…Commercial dish machine not reaching temperatureHigh-temperature machines rely on a booster heater for the final rinse; low-temperature machines rely on…Reach-in cooler not coolingUnder-counter and reach-in units in busy kitchens run hot and dusty. Condenser cleaning and door gaskets…Commercial fryer not heatingGas fryers depend on a pilot or ignition system and a safety valve; electric fryers on elements and a…Commercial oven not heatingConvection ovens need both heat and a working fan; a fan fault can look like a heating…