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Why the Cost of Appliance Repairs Keeps Going Up
Chart from TorontoGasPrices.com.Customers are often quite surprised by the cost of hiring an appliance professional to work in their home. I can sympathize. I feel the same way every time I have to bring someone into my home to upgrade or repair something. The truth of the matter is that costs keep going up. The above chart shows the changes in fuel costs since early 2009. As you can see, my fuel costs alone have gone up over 50%. But that is not the whole story. Every company in the repair supply chain has also seen their fuel costs go up over 50%. They transfer that cost to me … and I, in turn, transfer it to you. In the end, it is you the consumer that is hit hardest.
Tax changes are also costing consumers more. In July, Ontario Premier McGuinty combined the GST (Goods and Services Tax) with the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) to create the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax.) This should have been a neutral change … except it was not. Gasoline used to only have the GST added to it at a rate of 7%. Now it has the HST added at a rate of 13%. This tax increase comes directly out of the pocket of small (and large) business owners … again, we in turn, pass those costs onto you the consumer.
The consumer is at the bottom of tax pile. While I am a service supplier, I am also a consumer – so I totally understand the frustration that people feel when they see their basic cost of living continuously going up. I will always do everything that I can to help keep repair costs low, but much of the cost is directly out of my control. We all are paying more for pretty much everything these days.
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The Washing Machine is the Epitome of Human Advancement?
I never really thought about this before … but the invention of the washing machine may very well have been the tipping point that brought humanity into the modern age. What then took so much time and energy now literally takes an hour a week (or less) to complete. Energy savings and time savings … halmarks of modern society? Maybe.
BTW – have you ever tried washing your jeans by hand? I’ll bet not…
Here is a great article and video that talks about how washing machines have changed our society. Why The Washing Machine Pushed Humanity Forward.
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Tub Bearing Leak on a Duet
This is the worst leaking tub bearing leak I’ve ever seen. Each load leaves pools of black water on the floor. We will be replacing the rear outer tub and inner basket.
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Blown MCU Boards in Whirlpool Duet Washers
EDIT: I received the following comment from David which may explain the ‘soapy’ looking residue. “As an engineer that works at a place that builds up circuit boards for other companies, I can say that the ‘soapy’ residue looks more like the end result of typical board wash at the end of an assembly line. The wash is meant to make the the solder flux inert. Different types of flux are easier or more difficult to remove completely.”
Original Post:
I’m seeing more and more of these Duets with funky MCU (motor control unit) boards. Often the washer will not even lock – just gives 3 beeps. When you disconnect the MCU at the CCU then at least the door will lock and you know you have a MCU problem. In this case, when I pulled the board out of the plastic housing, you can see that there has been soapy condensation dripping down the back of this board. I will keep checking these as I replace them to see if this soap residue is common to all these. FTR – this customer did have HE detergent in the laundry room. That does not mean they’ve always been using it, but right now they are.
EDIT Aug 15/11: Here is another one. You can see the soapy drip trail heading right at the burnt out spot on the board.
EDIT Aug 15/11: Here is another one.Edit Sept 30/11: Another one. Multiple trails of soap residue.
Edit May 8/13: More residue trails.
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The $90 Stocking
My very next call! A beautiful Whirlpool Duet washer not draining. Pulled this lovely black ladies stocking out of the drain pump. $90 later and the washer is back in working order and everything (including stockings) are back where they should be. A big thank you to the inventor of ladies stockings!
Do you see a trend forming here?
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The $90 Hairpin
I love hairpins almost as much as I love loose change. This one was stuck in the drain pump of a front loading Inglis washer. $90 later and everything is back in order and where everything should be. Thank you hairpin inventor.
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Empty The Pockets When Loading Your Washer
Here is another example of why you should always empty the pants pockets when loading your washing machine. This pump is from a rather expensive Whirlpool Cabrio clothes washer. See the little hole where the hose stem joins the body of the pump on the 1st photo? That was caused by the penny that was in the pump (see it sitting there in the 2nd photo.) The drain pump kicked that penny hard enough to punch a hole in the body of the pump. A $250 repair and a flooded basement later and the customer can do laundry again.
BTW – this unit was on the main floor of the house, so when it flooded it also ruined a section of the ceiling in the basement.
Empty the pockets folks – or keep my number handy, you’re gonna need me.
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Whirlpool Washer not Spinning
First time I’ve see this. This is a Whirlpool design Maytag washer. Model MTW5920TW0. The customer complaint was that is was not spinning and was making a funny noise. I came here expecting to find a broken motor coupler – wrong! This is a testament to how tough the new style motor couplers are. The shaft of the motor was worn completely round inside the coupler. In the picture, you can see a good coupler with flat sides in the left. The motor shaft and the old coupler on the right are completely round.
New motor and coupler and she’s as good as new.
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Whirlpool OTR Microwave Turns On or Off by Itself
This control board came from a microwave that would occasionally turn itself on by itself. I don’t think the mag was actually firing, but the fan was coming on. It would also occasionally make a high pitched electronic whining sound. Traced it to the control board. This is the old control board – check out the corrosion on the back. Never heard back, so it definitely fixed the problem.
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Kitchen Aid Dishwasher Not Draining
Here’s a hint for all you tech’s and DYI’ers out there.If you have a Whirlpool or Kitchen Aid dishwasher that is either not draining or draining slow … and you’ve checked all the regular culprits for this problem (blocked drain hose at sink stack, crushed or collapsed hose, plugged sump, etc.), then you need to check the backflow check-valve in the hose itself.
The valve is a little rubber flapper and is located inside the hose just before the 90 deg elbow where the drain hose fits onto the bottom of the sump/pump.
If you use a flashlight and backlight it, you should see it flap open when the drain pump starts. It will look like a little black circle sitting on the side of the drain hose.
If junk gets stuck up behind it, the flap can be prevented form opening all the way. Also, if the flap gets lodged into the opening instead of resting on the face, it will not open up all the way.
In the video, you can clearly see it moving slightly as the water rushes by it – that is what you should be seeing.
