Appliance Repair

[Greg]

I know CF is way better at this than I, but I think this deserves it's own thread.

Last week we got a mystery message on our dryer that said F 01. The quick fix of unplugging and plugging the dryer,  did not work. Instead I bought myself a power control board for a zillion dollars and will be replacing that today. Looks pretty simple. Only two tools for the process. And the part is on the top of the dryer. I thought for sure I was going to be made to crawl.

[Greg]

It never works out.

I bought the wrong part. I have the old part and I am shipping to get it refurbished. It's about $60 cheaper than buying the new part.

I also get to see how much the return feel be on the wrong part I bought. I hope it is just the cost of shipping.

[cranefly]

I almost started this thread when the fridge died.  But so many things were dying that I didn't know what umbrella term to use.  "Appliance" sounds good.

One of the rules of buying appliance parts:  If it doesn't make you crawl, it's the wrong part.

Okay, that's a really lame banality.

I've fixed our dryer a couple of times.  Once, when it stopped heating.  Again, when the big belt that makes the whole thing spin broke.

I've fixed the washer a couple of times.  Once, when it wouldn't cycle (an infinite slosh).  Again, when there was a leak in the bottom requiring a replacement part (that was not a fun disassembly/reassembly).

LCF really wants a new washer and dryer.  But I'd rather take that step after we move.  Right now we're scheduled to move ... who knows when.

Good luck with your dryer.

[Greg]

Whew. Time to wash clothes.

I found out that it's cheaper to get the part repaired than to buy a whole new part. And I could get it done in a week, rather than wait for three weeks to have it delivered.

Oh, sweet summer child. The turn around on the repair wasn't as fast they advertised and there was a hurricane in the middle of the country which screwed up deliver. It took about ten days to get the part back. We spent one weekend drying our clothes on the shower curtain rod. I was roundly castigated by tQ for my poor drying regimen. My thinking was at least I'll have shirts.

[cranefly]

Have you considered putting up a clothesline?  Or would that just tempt the quadrupeds?

[Greg]

Are you mad? This is the 21st Century.

I did consider putting up one in the garage. But I got a horrified look from tQ at the thought

[Drunk Monk]

Are you mad? This is the 21st Century.

1st world problem.

[King Bob]

If you know what part you need, there's an appliance parts store on the Alameda just East of Race St.

Since you're going to Sunnyvale.

[cranefly]

If you know what part you need, there's an appliance parts store on the Alameda just East of Race St.

Since you're going to Sunnyvale.

That's where we got the PTC start relay to fix the refrigerator recently.

[cranefly]

Is a hot water heater an appliance?

Yes, because I'm posting here.

So the hot water heater started grumbling and growling every time it started heating up water.  That means there's an accumulation of sentiment in the bottom.  For most people it's sediment.  But for us, we have an Emotion III water heater, so it builds up sentimrent.

Anyway, I researched on the web how to properly address this problem, and everyone and their grandma had their own take.  They all involve draining, or partially draining, the tank to clear out the sludge.  But one professional claimed it wasn't worth it, and even recommmended taking out the anode (!!!) because it didn't do anything useful.  All mentioned a risk of the drain valve at the bottom leaking afterward, requiring replacement.  The replacement looked scary, maybe requiring special wrenches, etc.  Anyway, I got scared off.

But recently we talked to LCF's sister and her husband John, and John pressed me to go ahead with this maintenance.

So I did, two days ago.   I emptied the whole tank, did some 20-second flushes afterward with the cold intake, and after about 5 of these the water coming out changed from the color of the St. Joe river (in Indiana where I grew up) after a hard rain to pristine or close to it.

Then I closed the drain valve (no leak!), filled her up, and all seems well.  Not definite but I don't think I've heard any grumblings lately.

There's a whole lot of steps to this procedure, by the way, and I've oversimplified.  But nothing that involves crawling.  The worst of it was waiting for it to drain.  Fifteen minutes, people said.  No, more like an hour.

Anyway, all seems well for now.

[King Bob]

I had to do that several times for our old one. The water would come out clear, but you could see bits of mineral deposits in it. Our drain outlet had a screw tap like a faucet attached to it. I guess the plumber who installed it knew the water here is very hard. And it was in an outside closet which made it easier - no crawling, just bending a little. We went tankless when we had the HVAC replaced. The new furnace was too big to fit the water heater back in the closet.

[Drunk Monk]

Did it drain blood?























Still too soon? Sorry.

[cranefly]

Our kitchen door to the outside badly needs a new storm door.  The current storm door is ancient and with tattered screen, and no glass for it in winter.  I've tracked down what I need, but was wondering if it would fit in the Prius.  Searching the web for 2005 Prius cargo space is pretty much useless.  16.1 cubic feet doesn't tell you much.

I did some other searches, and found one tantalizing photo in a Prius thread.

Told ya it would fit! 30”x80” door, and the hatch closed!

I don't know what version Prius it is, and the door I need is 32"x80", which is 2 inches wider.

Trying to decide if I want to try it.  I'd likely have to go alone, and unbox it in the parking lot before tryin to fit it.

The charge for delivery is about $65.

[Greg]

Doors don't usually come in boxes.

[Drunk Monk]

If it's not urgent, it'd probably fit in my CRV. But I won't have the availability to help you until after the holidays...