Check the water level.
Sometimes, it's more frustrating to see a machine that's partially working rather than one that is totally broken. This is especially true of the novice do-it-yourselfer, who knows that they're close to having the solution but isn't quite sure what to do next. If you're having this kind of problem with your washing machine tub, which won't fill up with enough water for your laundry, your troubles will be over in just a few minutes.
To understand exactly why a washing machine tub might not fill with a proper amount of water, it will help to know how machines "know" when they have enough water in the first place. Devices like dishwashers have level detectors that let the machine know that there's a sufficient amount of water in the machine. The washing machine has a water level switch, as well.
Note: Before you start working on this problem, be sure that your washing machine is disconnected from your electrical power. For all of your plugged-in appliances, it's best to avoid these kinds of problems simply by unplugging them before you begin.
The way a water level switch often works in a washing machine is relatively simple: the more water there is in the machine, the more the air pressure builds up. The water level detector keeps tabs on this air pressure and knows when the water is built up to a sufficient height. When your machine isn't filling with enough water, a problem with the water level switch can often be the culprit.
In order to make sure that your water level switch is working effectively, you'll want to test it (of course, the power to your washing machine should be disconnected!). Here's a good guide to testing your water level switch that will help you understand how the switch works and how to test it.
If you are still having problems with your switch, there's a possibility you might need to call in a repairman or have the part simply replaced. If you believe it needs to be replaced, it might be a good idea to contact the manufacturer and find out the part that you'll need.
After you've made the adjustments and hopefully fixed your washing machine, plug it back in and try it out. How is the water level now? If you're still having problems, you'll have to check other parts of your machine. Again: disconnect before tinkering!
Photo Credits: jim212jim
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 10, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Laundry Room, appliances
Got a dry lawn?
Sure, you can read plenty of do-it-yourself articles that focus on home improvement and fixing different appliances and fixtures in your house, but what if your lawn is the thing that needs repair? If you've just gone through a dry month and need your lawn to go from brown to green in a hurry, this post is for you. We'll take a look at some tips and techniques for getting your lawn looking, well, alive again.
- First, be sure what the source of the problem is. If you're not sure that it's the dry weather that's making your lawn brown, you'll want to figure out if it's a shortage of water or an abundance of hungry insects that's making your lawn go brown. If your lawn is brown in patches, there's a good chance that it's something other than the dryness - or at least not the dryness totally - that's effecting your lawn. If your entire front and backyard are both brown, you're probably looking at simple dryness. Hint: a good way to test this is to take out a clump of your lawn and look for the roots. If the roots are eaten up, you have bugs to blame. If not, the weather is probably the factor.
- Next, you'll want to make sure you apply the appropriate amount of water to your lawn. Look up your individual grass type or at least climate and try to find out the typical amount of water your grass needs to look green. You don't want to under-water your grass, but you don't want to over-water it either. Note: making sure you water your grass the proper amount doesn't necessarily mean that you'll want to conserve water. It seemly means that you'll want to find the right amount of water for your grass type - it might be high or low.
- Finally, you'll want to make sure you have strong blades of grass with strong roots. This is achieved by mowing your lawn with a high setting, meaning that you'll leave tall blades of grass. Why? The shorter the blades, the less need they have for strong roots to provide them with strength and nutrients. If you have longer blades of grass on a regular basis, the roots will grow strong and give your grass blades a healthy, attractive look. Remember that the more roots there are, the more water they'll need.
Photo Credits: Bill Hails
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Posted by Fix Handyman on September 28, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Landscaper, Lawn
Save money fix it yourself.
For anyone who's ever seen a dish washer or washing machine break down, the struggle of man vs. technology can seem like a mighty one. This is particularly true if you don't have a lot of experience in working with appliances or other around-the-home machinery. In those cases, you're often at the mercy of the contractor's schedule. If waiting for a repairman to "get around to it" isn't in the cards for you, you'll want to fix your own appliances. There's good news: doing so will help you save money. But you need to figure it out first.
First, make sure you keep all of your owner's manuals in one safe place, usually in a storage box somewhere in your basement or attic. If you don't have an owner's manual for the appliance that broke down, you can still try to find one online, or see if there's a phone number printed on the side of an appliance that might be able to help. The owner's manual is there for a reason: the problem isn't that it doesn't help, but that many people forget to use it.
You can also conduct an online search to do your own research into the appliance. There are some Web sites out there that will be able to show a diagram of the appliance you're working with, and even tell you where you might find some replacement parts.
Fixing a machine usually requires two steps: diagnosis and repair/replacement. The hard part is diagnosis: if you don't understand the inner workings of a machine, you probably won't be able to figure out why your washing machine won't drain or why your dish washer has gone haywire. That's why owner's manuals can come in handy, offering blueprint-like guides to the inner workings of each appliance.
Once you've diagnosed a problem, you have to see if it's fixable or not. If you can snap something back into alignment or flip a switch that shouldn't have been unflipped, repairs will be relatively easy. But if parts have worn down beyond repair, you'll have to order a new replacement part. Don't fret; this is something that the repairman would have had to have done anyway. Figure out the name of the part and call some hardware stores in your area to figure out if you've found the right one. Then you can simply pick it up, along with anything else you might need to purchase.
Photo Credits: ztephen
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 24, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances
Replace that broken fridge handle quickly and easily.
Around the house, the refrigerator is probably one of the appliances we take most for granted. It keeps our food fresh for days, keeps liquids cool, and the freezer can store foods for months. If you have a broken refrigerator handle, you've already experienced what it's like when this appliance doesn't work like it usually does. You probably have one thought: "I need to get this fixed immediately!" Though the handle breaking can be a minor inconvenience, it's something you'll want to taken care of. Here's how to fix it yourself.
Fortunately, repairing a refrigerator handle is an easy thing. Why's that? Because the simplest way to do it is simply to replace the door handle itself. And in order to accomplish this, you'll follow a few, simple steps.
First, you'll want to get rid of the old door handle. Presumably, you've left this handle on. Identify the areas on the handle that are attached to the refrigerator via screws, and then loosen the screws. Make sure to keep those screws in case you need to use them with your new refrigerator handle. Even if you buy the exact model of refrigerator handle from the manufacturer, there's no guarantee that they'll include the right screws you need. Rather than go through the trouble of finding new ones, simply save the old ones! (This is unless, of course, the screws were the problem in the first place).
Next, it's time to install the new handle. Line it up with the matching holes and twist in the top screw - this will allow the refrigerator handle to hang. Don't necessarily tighten this screw right away, as you'll want some flexibility for later. Next, twist in the bottom screw to near tightness with some flexibility. Now, use the flexibility of the new handle's position to align it correctly with the refrigerator. Tighten the top screw and then the bottom one. Voila!
Often times, repairs like this can be as simple as going online and ordering the right parts. Some manufacturers will even replace broken parts for free - some will do this while requiring that you send them the old part. In either case, make sure to explore your options and take care of this right away: don't let your house deteriorate. You never know when a guest might show up unexpectedly and try to open your refrigerator.
Photo Credits: Avoir Chaud
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 10, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances, kitchen
How to Save Space In Your Bathroom
Let's face it: when most people build houses, having a luxurious, gigantic bathroom or series of bathrooms isn't always the highest priority. For most people, building a house is about efficiency: and setting aside square footage simply to have more tiles near the toilet isn't the way to achieve that. Others might disagree and say that a good bathroom is worth the expense, but if you want to have an open bathroom and efficiency, you'll probably want to learn how to save space.
Bathrooms can be a bit clumsy and small - if you want to squeeze as much ambiance in them as you can, it's time to learn how to save space where you can. That's why this article will tell you exactly how to achieve that.
- Install over-the-door towel bars.
Making room for the towel bar (or even a towel cabinet, in some cases) can be a little difficult. If your walls are close together, you might want to look elsewhere to hang your towels: on the door itself. Hanging your towels on the door will potentially put a little distance between your towels and your shower, but that doesn't mean you can't simply pick up a towel on your towel bar and place it near the shower. These towel bars can be easy to mount; just make sure that your floors aren't slippery when you walk from door to shower!
- Think vertically.
When we think about space, we usually think in two-dimensional terms: the floor goes north, south, east, and west. But what about up and down? You can create more efficiency by looking at the different things you can stack in your bathroom. Do you have too many appliances scattered on your counter? Buy a mini-cabinet that stores them upward, creating more available countertop space. A combination bath/shower is also efficient, which is why many people love to have those installed in their bathrooms, as well.
- What can you remove?
Sometimes, efficiency isn't about adding more; it's about cutting the fat. If you've been putting up with a bathroom that has cabinets way out in space, you might simply consider removing them and replacing them with more efficient, space-saving cabinets. Look around your bathroom and ask yourself what else you can remove: towel bars, shelves, and unnecessary decorations come to mind.
Remember that saving space in your bathroom isn't always about physics; it's about what you can imagine. Try to keep your mind open, see new perspectives, and ask yourself what you would do to save space if someone forced you to do it. You might find that the new efficiency helps you in the long run.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 5, 2009 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix
Five Ideas for Remodeling Your Kitchen
Whenever a spouse brings up the possibility of fixing up the kitchen, it's usually the other spouse's job to think about the money (hint: I'm on the money thinking side). After all, remodeling anything your home probably won't be a cheap situation, especially the more ambitious your plans are. But if you really want to fix a kitchen and make some necessary repairs while upgrading a room's look, there may be no avoiding it.
Don't forget that fixing a kitchen can increase the value of your home if you plan on moving to a larger home in the near future. That's just one of the reasons you'll want to remodel your kitchen, but if your heart's already set on it and you're not sure you have the cash, don't fret. This article will tell you five ways that you can remodel your kitchen while slashing the prices.
- Change the wallpaper or paint the walls.
Perhaps one of the quickest and cheapest ways to change the overall look of your kitchen is to look past the cabinets, countertops, and appliances, and to the wall itself: is the wallpaper dragging the rest of the room down? Does the color contrast in all the wrong ways with its environment? It might be time to either try new wallpaper or give it a new paint job. Make sure you consult with someone to be sure you're picking a color that will improve it, not do further damage to the ambiance.
- Update your countertops.
Countertops take up a lot of the space in the kitchen, and making sure that they're top-of-the-line can be a great bonus for kitchen lovers. Expensive stone countertops can make the entire kitchen seem more expensive without breaking the bank.
- Modernize your appliances.
If your kitchen is clean and looks good, maybe it's time to modernize the appliances you're actually using. Even if you plan on showing your house to prospective buyers who won't be taking your appliances, the better your kitchen looks, the more perceived value your home will have. Besides, since you get to keep the appliances and use them, it works better for you.
- Redo the cabinets.
Perhaps the first place most people look in the kitchen is to the cabinets: old dusty wood can be replaced by new, strong timber. It's not an easy project but if you tackle it yourself, you may be able to save a few bucks.
- The floors!
Although the floors will be under your feet 100% of the time, they can still have a dramatic impact on how the rest of the room looks. If you can't figure out anything else to do with your kitchen, maybe you should stop looking around and simply look down at your feet.
Photo Credits: brianc
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 16, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
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