What's in here?
Over time, and thousands of openings of the freezer, we expect that that the freezer light will pop on whenever we open the door. When it doesn't, we're thrown for a quick loop. But, be honest: how many of you really fix that freezer light the moment you notice that it's not working? Some people put it off. Well, if you're reading this article, there's a chance you didn't put it off, so kudos! Let's teach you how to fix a freezer light with as little stress as possible.
The first thing you'll want to do is to check the bulb itself. Oftentimes you simply will have to replace the freezer bulb in order to get the light working again. Be sure that you have the right kind of freezer bulb.
When you do replace a freezer bulb, be sure that you unplug it from the electricity running into it. Safety first! You'll want to avoid electricity whenever possible, even if you've replaced a light bulb before. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, be sure that you have the right bulb for your freezer model to ensure that the bulb works correctly and safely. Note that some freezer light bulbs might require that you remove a cover in order to get to the bulb.
If replacing the bulb didn't help things, it's time to check your freezer's door switch. This switch is what triggers the light bulb, and if it's not working effectively, it might not be the bulb that's causing the lack of light! The switch often works by using the door being closed as a way to keep it off, meaning that whenever the door is open, the light bulb will be on.
Again, be sure that your freezer is disconnected from electrical power. Once you're sure this is the case, you can go into the switch by removing its casing - if it's not screwed in, be careful in removing it, or have someone who's experienced in this sort of thing remove it.
Once you've exposed the switch and its wires, you'll want to consult these directions for further instructions on what to do, and what to replace once you've found that there is any error with your freezer light switch.
When in doubt, call a repairman to handle these things for you, as you don't want to compromise your safety.
Photo Credits: Robert Couse-Baker
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 12, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances, kitchen
Oven repairs.
When your oven's broken, you know it right away. A broken oven isn't something that can wait for the winter - when you need something cooked, you need it cooked for tonight's dinner! That means that your repairs can't wait, and neither should you: that's why this article will give you a quick summary on how to repair a broken oven and how to address some of the most frequent problems that arise.
The first thing to consider is the oven type itself. Most ovens will either be an oven run by gas or by electricity. If you've cooked before, you should probably have an idea of which one it is, but if you're new to the place and haven't had the time to investigate, now is the time to double-check. Do you have an electric oven or a gas oven?
Once you know the type of oven you have, it's important to understand the type of problems these different types frequently face. For example, a gas oven will usually have problems that effect the ignition of the gas or the supply of the gas. IMPORTANT NOTE: With gas stoves, make sure there are no leaks. If you're not sure, you'll want to call in a professional.
The other most frequent oven type, the electric oven, has its own typical problems. When it comes to these electric appliances, you'll usually encounter your problem with the heating devices located within the oven itself. If you really want to find out what's wrong with your electric oven, be sure to be careful that you don't touch anything that is charged. It's best to be extra cautious when working with either a gas or an electric oven.
Once you've made sure that the gas and electricity to your oven are turned off, you'll be able to finally make some repairs. The first thing to do to fix your broken oven is actually to take the oven apart. If you've never worked with an oven before, you'll want to keep detailed notes about how you took the oven apart so that you can put it back together again.
Huh? Take the oven apart? You heard me right. As you take the oven apart, you should be able to find the problem, if you haven't already. Taking the oven apart will help you to identify the problem, and either fix it or identify the need for a replacement. In doing so, you'll also learn about how your oven works for future reference.
Photo Credits: SuperFantastic
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 12, 2009 in
appliances, home repair, kitchen
Fix both plug burners and direct-wired burners.
"Oh, great." Your electric stove burner is out. You were going to pan-fry a delicious dinner for yourself, but your lack of mechanical prowess has thrown a wrench in your evening plans. What should you do? Call the landlord? Call a repairman? Do anything except try to fix it yourself? If you're cautious and have a little knowledge of mechanical safety, you can actually try to fix your own electric stove. Here's how.
First, there are two types of burners on electric stoves: plug burners and direct-wired burners. Let's look at each specific type.
Plug Burners
Your first goal in fixing your stove will be to determine where the problem is. The power cord that comes with a plug burner can actually help with this diagnosis, since you can try to change your power source. Try plugging in your electrical cord to a different outlet to see if you're able to get power from there. If not, there's a good chance that your problem comes with your cord or burner itself.
With the power off, make sure to examine the stove and see where anything might be going wrong. If you can see run-down pieces of equipment or other breakage, make a note of which part you'll need to replace.
Direct-Wired Burners
With problem diagnosis as your first priority, you're going to want to find out where the error is. With direct-wired burners, you'll probably want to open the two insulator clips. Again, make sure the power is off and disconnected from an electrical source when you do anything serious with electricity. If you're in doubt about your abilities, simply contact a professional, or at least someone who knows more about electric stoves than you do.
When you open these clips, you gain access to the wires feeding your burner - you might want to test this with another stove to see if it's working properly. If the other stove won't work with these wires, then you have an idea of where the problem is.
Remember to be extremely careful when working with electrical wiring, and that you have no contact with electrical parts that are connected and powered on. If necessary, simply turn power back on when you need to see if another stove will turn on, and do so only when you're safely distant.
Although you could learn something from exploring the inner workings of your stove, don't go digging in your electric stove burner when it's broken if you have no experience with it. If you're in an apartment, you'll want to contact a landlord. You can also try contacting a repairman if you live in a private home.
Photo Credits: Travelin' Librarian
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 25, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Stove, kitchen
Three Tips for Fixing a Lamp
When it comes to the type of lighting a lamp offers, we know that the mechanics working behind the scenes aren't exactly worthy of rocket science. But that doesn't mean someone who's inexperienced with electrical wiring and light fixtures will know what's happening inside a lamp, either. If you feel that it's time for you to take it into your own hands and fix a lamp, these three tips will help you safely and securely accomplish just that.
- Tip #1: Make sure the lamp is unplugged.
Sounds like common sense, right? Some people don't necessarily follow this tip. The lamp should be unplugged at all times when you're trying to repair it. This doesn't simply mean that it should be set to "off." It doesn't mean that the power going into the outlet powering the lamp is off, either. The plug should be out so that there is zero possibility of electricity going into the lamp before you work with it. This is the kind of silly lesson you don't want to learn the hard way, so do yourself a favor and make sure that you start at Tip #1 and unplug the lamp.
- Tip #2: Make sure you have the proper equipment.
There's only a limited variety of tools that you'll ever be using to repair a lamp, so making sure that you have them ready to go isn't a big challenge. With that said, however, you'll still want to know which tools to use should the need ever arise. Tools like screwdrivers and wire strippers, and materials like electrical tape often come in handy when you're fixing a lamp.
What will you use these tools for? Your screwdriver will be needed to loosen screws throughout the lamp, including the socket attachment. The socket can often be the source of problems with a lamp so this is a tool you'll want to make sure you have handy.
- Tip #3: Know your lamp.
The best thing you can do in order to repair a lamp is to know more about it. This isn't the type of situation where you necessarily want to go in poking around before you learn about how to fix the lamp. Instead, you'll want to make sure you know the relationship between the socket, wires, and bulb. Knowing how your lamp works will help you not only diagnose the problem with a broken lamp, but help you fix it when you decide to go in.
Fixing lamps doesn't have to be difficult - if you're smart and prepared, you can make sure that you don't have to buy a new one. Just make sure that you follow some basic safety rules before proceeding.
Photo Credits: Leonid Mamchenkov
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 27, 2009 in
Electrician, How to Fix
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