Is your dishwasher acting up?
The dishwasher is one of the modern conveniences that we often take for granted - until it starts failing us and we realize how much easier it made our daily lives. If you have an annoying dishwasher, it's best not to put off the problem for the future. Instead, you can nip it in the bud by seeing if you can diagnose the problem and using some good old fashioned elbow grease. Here's how to fix an annoying dishwasher.
First it helps to understand how a dishwasher basically works. A dishwasher has a lot of water flowing in and out of it on a daily basis - first, it uses a heated water and detergent mix in order to complete a wash. This dirty water is then drained from the dishwasher. The dishes are then rinsed with water and a rinsing agent, and then this water is drained and the dishes are left to dry, often with heat added to the drying process. When you open up your dishwasher door again, you have a clean set of dishwasher and silverware waiting to be put away.
At least that's how it's supposed to work. If your dishwasher is having problems, empty it and take a look at some of the basic parts. For example, there is a water inlet valve which lets water in, a float that helps the dishwasher know when the water is high enough, and a motor which pushes water into a pump that sprays the dishes clean. If any of these parts look like they need to be replaced, replace them.
It helps to keep your dishwasher clean on a regular basis - dishwashers do have a lot of clean water going through them on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the dishwasher itself will be clean; only your dishes. Make sure your dishwasher is clean and try another load to see if it cleared out whatever might have been causing the problem.
If you're still having trouble with your dishwasher, consult an owner's manual (it's best to keep your owners' manuals in the same secure spot) and see if there's anything you can do. Replace what needs to be replaced. If you're stuck, call in a repairman and see if they know what the problem is - as you do, be sure to have them explain the problem to you in case it ever comes up again. Chances are that you'll learn something about your dishwasher that just may come in handy in the future.
Photo Credits: zenobia_joy
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 15, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances, kitchen
Be prepared for emergencies.
With winter just around the corner, now is the time to get your car ready for the possible dangers of running a car in the cold of winter. If your car shuts off and you find yourself stuck in the snow for a certain period of time, you'll need to make sure your basic needs are taken care of. You can do this by building a winter car kit. Here's how.
Have a way to contact the outside world. Always carry your cell phone with you into a car when you go driving, as you're never sure what might happen, and have some phone numbers of local authorities and AAA help programmed into your contacts list. You'll also want some way of contacting the outside world for help, which can include emergency lights - be sure you have emergency lights packed and that you'll be able to power them (this might include having the right batteries handy). Always have a flashlight with batteries handy, as well.
Keep a cooler full of food freshly stocked. Every month or so during the winter, include a "winter car kit" section on your groceries list - foods like nuts, granola, and dried fruit are calorically dense and don't take up a lot of space. After a month, buy the replacements for this food, and move the old food into your house so that you can eat them like any other food.
Keep plenty of water stocked. Water is also key - you can live a lot longer without food than you can with water, so be sure you have clean water ready to drink, and plenty of it stored somewhere in your car. You can keep it in a large cooler.
Have warm blankets and insulating materials handy. Sleeping bags are made for insulation, so include at least one in your car at all times during the winter. It won't hurt to have a couple of extra blankets - blankets that are designed to trap in serious heat, not blankets that are comfortable only around the home.
That should get you started for a winter car emergency. Remember that this article is about fixing an emergency before it happens - this is also know as prevention. In order to prevent your car from breaking down, keep it full of fuel, fresh oil when needed, and well-maintained. This will help your car function well in the winter.
Photo Credits: Joaaso
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 17, 2009 in
Car, How to Fix, Mechanic
How to Fix and Maintain Your Pool
Along with all the fun-in-the-sun and exciting splashes a backyard pool can offer come some responsibilities. A pool can be costly and difficult to maintain, especially if you've never managed a pool before. For many people, this is reason enough not to purchase a pool in the first place. But if you know how to manage your pool effectively, you can maintain a clean swimming pool all summer long. Here are four tips for accomplishing just that.
- Tip #1: Make a daily to-do list.
Part of maintaining a pool means going out on a daily basis and making sure that your pool is up to high standards for cleanliness and pH level. You want to check the pH level of your pool frequently in order to tell if it's maintaining balance. An unchecked pH of a pool can lead to erosion or even change the chemistry of the water. Needless to say, this is something serious you'll want to avoid, and you can make sure that your water is always safe and balanced by checking it on a daily basis. If a spontaneous party should ever occur - not that it will - you don't want to get caught with an unbalanced pool.
- Tip #2: Disinfect and sanitize frequently.
In order to keep your pool clean, you'll have to add chlorine or bromine - usually chlorine. The presence of chlorine will kill bacteria and other organic material growing in the pool - needless to say, this goes a long way in making sure that it doesn't become a mess. Make sure you find out the right amounts to add so that you don't make a pool uncomfortable for the people who will be swimming in it - once you get the hang of this, you won't have to think quite so hard.
- Tip #3: Frequently check your "skimmer basket."
Your skimmer basket will usually have debris around it - when you clear this debris out on a regular basis, you'll help maintain a constant flow of fresh and clean water around your pool. This is a great habit to add to your daily to-do list from Tip #1.
- Tip #4: Add a weekly to-do list of the less frequent routines.
Set aside a day - say every Saturday - in which you can tackle some less-frequent but equally-important routines. Skimming the surface for leaves, adding algaecide, shocking the water, and checking your filter are the types of routines you'll want to add on this weekly to-do list. You don't need to do these things every day, but you'll want to make sure you make a habit of them so that your pool is kept clean and fresh.
Photo Credits: peasap
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 22, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix
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