The Samurai has scoured both the Innernet AND the Outernet rounding up those perfect Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and Festivus gift ideas for that special Fixer Dude or Dudette in your life.  Click the photos for more info or to purchase.

Stay warm AND safe with this Pocket Air Check combustible gas leak detector. Works with Natural and LP gas.

Multimeter.  The indispensable tool for every DIYer.  Specs: Volts AC 750 , Volts DC 1000, Amps AC 10, Resistance max. (Ohms) 2M, Continuity, Temperature -4 °F to 2498° F, Display (Counts) 2,000, Operating Temperature 32° F to 74° F (0°C to 23°C), Fuse Protection mA: 0.2A/ 250V, Power 9 V Battery (included), Size 5.5″L x 3″W x 1.5″. Temp probe included.

Non-contact A/C voltage detector. Test for voltage without touching any bare wires. This detector works by sensing voltage through the wire’s insulation. Detector has an audible beeper and visible flashing light indicator.

3 in 1 tool for splicing wires. Has wire strippers for stripping off insulation from the wire. Crimpers for crimping solderless connectors and bolt cutters for cutting small bolts. High quality.

240 Volt 240 Volt outlet checkers for checking the outlets on electric ranges and dryers.

Dryer Vent Tester for testing the backpressure on a dryer vent.  Excessive backpressure is the single most common cause of overly long dryer times, repeatedly blowing thermal fuses and poor dryer performance.  A vent can be free of lint and still be bad!  Use this spiffy tool to check your dryer vent.  A must-have if you’re a pro in the trade.

Microwave leakage detector.

Refrigerator and freezer thermometer, temps from -20 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermometer face has special markings to show where food is safe and where it is at risk of spoilage.

The Kill-A-Watt Energy Usage Meter. This plug-in meter allows you to track total power consumption by hour, day, week, month, or year. Also displays Voltage (V), Line Frequency (Hz), and Power Factor (PF). 15 amp maximum. No batteries required. Accepts standard 110 volt plugs, 2 or 3 prong.

Freezer alarm, sounds if freezer temperature goes above 15 degrees.  Never lose expensive frozen foods again!

Gasohol tester.  Used to test the alcohol content in the fuel.

Polder 3 function thermometer: large LCD read out displays the temperature of food during cooking. Presettable HI/LOW and inside the range temperature alert. Timer: 24 hour count down and count-up. Clock: Real-time clock. Stainless steel probe. Temperature chart and battery included.

Glide n Guard floor protector for appliance moving.

Affresh HE Washer Cleaner Pack – Use once a month to keep your HE (high efficiency) washer clean and odor-free! 3 Power Puck tablets and 4 Grit Grabber cloths per box.

Affresh Dishwasher and Disposal Cleaner – 6 Tablets.

Glisten dishwasher cleaner

Refrigerator and freezer condenser coil cleaning brush with instructions. Also works great for dryer lint.

Solid-surface range element cleaner (Sponge no longer included).

Vacuum cleaner attachment for condenser and dryer cleaning – This long vacuum cleaner attachment will help to clean dust and lint build-up in and around your refrigerator condenser coils underneath the refrigerator and dryer lint in the area where the lint filter is inserted. Fits 1-1/4 inch vacuum hose.

Dryer vent cleaning brush. For 4″ diameter round ducts. 20 feet long.

Complete Ceramic Cooktop Care Kit – contains a 10 ounce Cooktop Cleaner to clean and polish all glass or ceramic cooktops. A 4 ounce bottle of Cooktop Protectant. Six small cooktop cleaning pads and one larger Cooktop Protectant applicator.

Stainless steel cleaner.

Gas grate cleaner.

Rust remover – Removes rust stains from clothes, dishes, glassware, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, painted surfaces, concrete and water softeners. 16-ounce bottle.

Related posts:

1. Appliance Tip of the Day: Dryers and Fires
2. Dryer Venting Diseases: Venterialsclorosis
3. Live Appliance Repair Help Gift Certificates

Appliantology Newsletter, August 2011: Appliances and Disasters

0. Introduction
1. Can I use my appliances during a disaster?
2. Does it hurt my appliances to run them or have them plugged in while the power is blinking on and off?
3. Can running my appliances off a generator damage them?
4. What about water?
5. How do I store food safely while the power is out?
6. Epilogue

### ### ### ###

0. Introduction

With Hurricane Irene rampaging up the East Coast and record-breaking earthquakes off the coast of Virginia (or a nuclear detonation in a sea bed bunker, depending on who you’re listening to), disaster prep seemed like the obvious topic du jour for this Special Irene Edition of *Appliantology*.

### ### ### ###

1. Can I use my appliances during a disaster?

Using appliances during a storm or other disaster can be risky to the appliance because of the power going on and off, voltage spikes (more on that below), trees falling on power lines, etc.

Even most gas appliances need electricity. For example, the spark module for your gas stove burners won’t work though the burners are still usable by manually lighting the gas, which is perfectly fine; it’s safe and doesn’t hurt the appliance. Just don’t use the gas stove to heat your house!

Most modern gas ovens with hot surface ignition require 120vac to heat up the ignitor and there’s no manual bypass for that so, without a power source, you won’t have an oven.

### ### ### ###

2. Does it hurt my appliances to run them or have them plugged in while the power is blinking on and off?

Absolutely! Every time that power blinks off and goes back on, it slams your appliances with transient voltage spikes. Depending on the severity of the spikes, these can fry control boards right away or slowly degrade them over time through a process called electronic rust. After getting slammed with a finite number of such spikes, the electronic control board(s) will eventually fail (at great expense and inconvenience to you).

To prevent this unhappy and completely avoidable scenario, any appliance with an electronic control board in it– which is most of ‘em today– should be plugged into a surge suppressor, not directly into the wall. Surge suppressors for common household 120vac outlets are inexpensive and you can get ‘em at your local hardware store. This will provide reasonable protection for all your 120vac appliances. Read more about surge protection for your appliances here… http://fixitnow.com/?p=1523

To protect your 240vac appliances with fancy control boards during a storm, such as an electric range with a digital display, you should switch off the circuit breaker to that appliance until the coast is clear.

### ### ### ###

3. Can running my appliances off a generator damage them?

If you haven’t purchased a generator by now, it’s probably too late for the Irene event. But in case you can (or already have a generator you’re planning to use), here are some fun facts to know and tell about using generators with appliances.

For appliances with electronic control boards– which is most appliances today– you should only use generators that produce a pure sine wave output.

Most generators produce a modified sine wave output, which is not a pure sine wave but more of a stylized square wave. This is fine for motors but not good for the AC-to-DC rectifiers in appliances. The modified sine wave messes with the rectifier, making it overheat and crank out off-spec voltages for the control board. The result is often burned out rectifiers and fried control boards.

Producing a pure sine wave output requires much more sophisticated circuitry in the inverter and usually only comes with more expensive, higher-end generators. It’s a big selling point, too, so if a generator doesn’t specifically say it’s a pure sine wave generator, then it’s safest to assume that it only puts out a modified sine wave.

So, if you do not have a generator that produces a pure sine wave output, be careful to only run appliances that do not have the electronic control boards.

Oh, and one point of safety: don’t run your generator inside the house. I know, it sounds crazy to even say it but there are knuckleheads out there who do that kind of thing. Like this guy… http://fixitnow.com/?p=693

### ### ### ###

4. What about water?

Flood waters in urban areas are a lethal cocktail of sewage, petroleum products, and just about every kind of chemical you can imagine. Simple disinfection (e.g., boiling, chlorine drops, iodine drops, etc.) is woefully inadequate for this water. You can treat the water so it’s safe from pathogens and it can still be lethal because of the gasoline, mercury, or any one of thousands of other contaminants commonly found in urban Ameedika.

The other problem is that coastal flood waters will also be either salty or brackish which, in itself, renders the water undrinkable.

The best treatment for making flood waters potable is distillation. Reverse osmosis is the next best thing. If you can’t treat flood waters using either of these two methods, don’t drink it at all!

Bottled water is the best bet but there are logistical limitations on how much you can store.

### ### ### ###

5. How do I store food safely while the power is out?

I posted some information on food preservation and safety during disasters. You can read it here: http://fixitnow.com/?p=6515.

### ### ### ###

6. Epilogue

As we say in Fukushima, “Rots of ruck, GI!”

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

The Samurai School of Appliantology

http://appliantology.org

Find and Buy Appliance Parts

http://parts.fixitnow.com

Related posts:

1. Appliantology Newsletter for July-August-September 2005
2. #Appliantology Newsletter, April 2011: #Refrigerator and #IceMaker Maintenance
3. Appliantology Newsletter, Winter 2011

With Hurricane Irene and earthquakes cranking up along the East Coast and the ensuing power outages that are sure to follow, here’s some timely info on safely storing and handling food during weather emergencies and power outages.

We practice basic safe food handling in our daily lives, but obtaining and storing food safely becomes more challenging during a power outage or natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

Steps to Follow to Prepare for a Possible Weather Emergency:

Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.

Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F (Fahrenheit) or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below.

Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers after the power is out.

Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately-this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.

Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.

Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.

Group food together in the freezer—this helps the food stay cold longer.

Steps to Follow During and After the Weather Emergency:

Never taste a food to determine its safety!

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.

The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed).

Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below.

Obtain block ice or dry ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.

If the power has been out for several days, then check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below, the food is safe.

If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, then check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.

Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after 4 hours without power.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

SOURCE: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide/index.asp

Related posts:

1. Appliance Tip of the Day: Storing Flesh Meats Safely
2. Appliance Repair Revelation: The Cold Facts About Refrigerator Controls
3. How to Remove the Fresh Food Air Damper in the GE Arctica Pro Side-by-Side GSS23-GSS25-GSS27-PSS23-PSS27-PSS29-PSSS25 Refrigerator

Appliantology Newsletter, June 2011: Samurai’s Appliance Brand Recommendations

0. Introduction
1. Disclaimer of Affiliation
2. The Second Law of the Prophecy and the Golden Rule
3. The “Authorized Servicer” Racket
4. What about Kenmore?
5. The Four Prime Criteria™ and General Brand Recommendations
6. Notes and Observations on Specific Manufacturers
7. Recommendations by Type of Appliance
8. Epilogue

### ### ### ###

0. Introduction

One of the questions I get asked a lot on service calls and on the web is, “Which appliance brands do you recommend?” Or some variation on that theme such as, “Who makes the best dishwasher?” or “What’s the best brand of scrotum scrubber?”

So I thought to myself, I said, “Self, that’s a ding-dang doggone good idear for the June issue of Appliantology!” And the Lord did grin and the people did feast on fruit bats and orangutans and breakfast cereals…

Skip a bit, brothah.

### ### ### ###

1. Disclaimer of Affiliation

Right. So, since I’ll be talking about appliance brands and offering my opinion as a professional appliantologist on the good, the bad, and the butt-ugly, a disclaimer is in order. Hear ye:

In offering my professional opinions on appliance brands, I accepted no amount of money of any kind, neither shekel nor shilling, yen nor yuan, nor any Federal Reserve Note debt instruments masquerading as dollar units of value in consideration for my favorable opinion. My opinions are based upon my vast and considerable experience as an appliance samurai engaging in hand-to-machine combat in the field with machines that are no longer operating within their specified parameters or fulfilling their design function.

### ### ### ###

2. The Second Law of the Prophecy and the Golden Rule

Okay, with that bit of legal unpleasantness out of the way, let us proceed straightaway to the Second Law of the Prophecy ( http://fixitnow.com/?p=872 ): All machines break. Always keep this in mind when contemplating a new appliance purchase. Failure to consider repairability at the time of purchase is to guarantee heartbreak in the two to four years (industry average) when the appliance has its first malfunction and requires a repair.

And, brothers and sisters, let us always be mindful of the Golden Rule for buying appliances: Don’t pay so much for an appliance that you’re married to it. If the appliance suddenly requires an outrageously expensive part or has been a troublesome box of bolts requiring frequent repairs, you want the freedom to Deep Six that pig-dog and git you a new one. Well, how free will you feel to jettison said pig-dog if you’ve paid $4,000 for it? Marry a human, not an appliance.

### ### ### ###

3. The “Authorized Servicer” Racket

You also need to understand the “Authorized Servicer” racket. All this means is that an independent servicer, such as Joe Bob’s Appliance Repair Service, has signed a contract with a manufacturer agreeing to do their warranty work (i.e., fix their factory flub-ups) for a bargain-basement price, and in some cases, slave’s wages. Sometimes they get a half day or a day’s worth of training and some technical service info. The quid pro quo is that some manufacturer’s will only allow their authorized beeotches access to their tech sites and service bulletins.

In my opinion, this is tantamount to a form of blackmail and it does a great diservice to the customer. An all too common example is that someone has an appliance from a manufacturer who plays dirty like this (and I name names below) and they need a repair. The “Authorized” guy says he can’t get there for three weeks. And while the person’s regular repair guy can get there tomorrow, he declines the job because he doesn’t have access to the service info needed to fix the damn thing.

So, I ax you, mah bruvahs and sistahs, in whose best interest is it to restrict access to technical service information? You, the customer and end user, or the manufacturer with this medieval policy? Think on these things.

### ### ### ###

4. What about Kenmore?

Most people understand that there is no Kenmore factory in Malaysia or some place. The Kenmore “factory” is several floors on the Sears Tower where corporate bureaucrats beat up other corporate bureaucrats at manufacturing companies, like Whirlpool or Electrolux, to make their stuff for them and slap a Kenmore label on it.

Kenmore is nothing more than that– a label slapped on an appliance that someone else made. The real manufacturer is coded into the three digit model number prefix.

Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that. But it creates problems crossing over a Kenmore model number to the real manufacturer model number, which is needed to look up tech info like service manuals and bulletins. So it affects repairability.

### ### ### ###

5. The Four Prime Criteria™ and General Brand Recommendations

Having laid all that groundwork, you are now ready for me to reveal my Four Prime Criteria™ for selecting an appliance brand:

- Repairability: the appliance should be constructed in such a manner that it is easy to work on
- Reasonable markup on parts compared to the markup on similar parts from other manufacturers.
- Availability of parts meaning it has a widespread and robust parts distribution system as opposed to having to buy exclusively from the manufacturer or one of their “Authorized” dealers (and usually get screwed in the process).
- Access to technical info, the big bugaboo I ranted about above, which also ties into Repairability.

To help summarize this information, I’ve developed recommendations based on how well a manufacturer lives up to the Four Prime Criteria™:

Recommended- Meet all the criteria.
Recommended with reservations- Meet some of the criteria and may be worth considering e.g., get a great bargain price on one.
Not recommended- Meet none of the criteria, not recommended for purchase under any circumstances.

General Brand Recommendations (recommendations by appliance type are at the bottom)

Recommended:
LG, Dacor, Electrolux, Whirlpool / KitchenAid

Recommended with reservations:
Bosch

Not recommended:
GE, Samsung, Viking, Sub-Zero, Fisher-Paykel

### ### ### ###

6. Notes and Observations on Specific Manufacturers

LG: Free access to their tech site for professional appliantologists, an enlightened policy that generates good will among appliantologists and, in turn, good word of mouth to customers– a guerilla marketing tactic. Relatively new to the major appliance scene but their front-load washer is already proving to be one of the best.

Electrolux / Frigidaire: Excessive compressor failures in refrigerators. On their front load washers, they removed front panel access to drain pump to save $.50 per unit in production cost; greatly decreases Repairability. However, they allow free access to their tech site for professional servicers so kudos for that.

Whirlpool / KitchenAid: This manufacturer acquired Maytag and so owns the Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, and Magic Chef brands. Excessive tub bearing failure in front load washers. Allow access to their tech site for professional appliantologists but it’s NOT free; $500/year for non-authorized appliantologists; $250/year for authorized.

GE: Excessive markup on parts prices. Restrictive access to technical info.

Samsung: What were the engineers smoking when they designed the refrigerator ( http://clicky.me/samsung-fridges )? Restrictive access to technical service info, quasi-restrictive parts procurement.

Fisher-Paykel: Poor reliability on all products. Flimsy products all the way around. Restrictive parts procurement. Restrictive access to technical info.

Bosch / Thermador: Restrictive access to technical info. In the case of Thermador, overpriced products with a high failure rate and difficult to work on.

Dacor: Good but pricey products. Robust parts distribution. Open access to technical info. All American-built products.

Sub-Zero: Restrictive access to technical info. Restrictive parts procurement. Excessively high failure rate for the price paid. Sticker price is a marriage license.

Viking: Draconian about access to technical info. Have threatened lawsuits against servicers to keep their tech info off the web. Restrictive parts procurement. Very poor construction quality on all their in-house built stuff. This manufacturer fails all the criteria. People who buy this brand have been beguiled by vanity and marketing hype and have given zero thought to repair.

### ### ### ###

7. Recommendations by Type of Appliance

Here are my bottom line recommendations by type of appliance, listed in order of preference:

Front load washer: LG, Electrolux
Top load washer: Whirlpool direct drive (also sold as the Maytag Centennial washer)
Refrigerator: Any of the Whirlpool-built products, LG
Dryer: Whirlpool with lint filter in the top panel
Dishwasher: KitchenAid
Dishdrawer: KitchenAid by Fulgor
Oven/range/stove: Electrolux, Whirlpool, Dacor

### ### ### ###

8. Epilogue

I’m developing a graphical table to summarize all this info. Obviously, I’ve not included every appliance type or brand out there so there’s also plenty of room for this guide to grow in future updates.

Just a reminder, you can find whatever appliance part you need through the parts search box at my website. No harm in buying and trying with our 365-day, no-hassle return policy, even on electrical parts that were installed!

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

The Samurai School of Appliantology

http://appliantology.org

Find and Buy Appliance Parts

http://parts.fixitnow.com

Related posts:

1. Appliantology Newsletter for May/June 2005
2. Appliance Brand Recommendations
3. Mailbag: Appliance Brand Recommendations

Related posts:

1. Appliance Tip of the Day: Range Clock Fault Codes
2. Fault Codes for the Whirlpool Duet Sport Washer
3. Appliance Fault Codes by Brand and Appliance

Little Washer Girl wrote:

Just a quick note to say thank you for maintaining this website with all the publications necessary to diagnose and solve my washer problem AT NO COST. I didn’t even need a part, just an Allen wrench

Domo for your note! We strive to provide illumination to all seekers on the path of Appliance Repair– both DIYers and professional Appliantologists alike. Our mission is supported and sustained by your parts purchases through our site so please buy your parts through the links on any of our sites: Fixitnow.com, Appliantology.org, and ApplianceGuru.com. All parts purchased through our sites come with a one year guarantee. And you can help spread the word by liking our Facebook page, too.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

The Samurai School of Appliantology

http://appliantology.org

Find and Buy Appliance Parts

http://parts.fixitnow.com

Related posts:

1. Get FREE Appliance Repair Service Manuals on Request!
2. Free appliance repair help via Twitter
3. Appliance repair service manuals on request via Twitter… FREE!

Refrigerator and Ice Maker Maintenance

We’re trying out a new concept for a newsletter here in Samurai-land. In
addition to the quarterly (or so) full-blown newsletter with lots of
diverse information, we’re going to experiment with a monthly, shorter
issue that focuses on scheduled preventative maintenance tips for specific
appliances. Let us know whatcha think. If it’s not useful to you, then
please lemme know ‘cuz, if that’s the case, then I’d rather be out hiking
in the mountains instead of playing tippety-tap on the keyboard.

This being early Spring, we usually start getting lots of refrigerator and
ice maker service calls. Here are some things you can do that may help
avoid a service call on these cold appliances.

Refrigerator or stand-alone Freezer

Manual Defrost Refrigerator or Freezer

On manual-defrost refrigerator/freezers, check for frost build up in the
freezer. If there’s more than half an inch, it’s time for a defrosting.
Remove all the food, unplug the unit, and block open the door to let all
the frost melt. On upright units, this can make a wet mess on the floor so
put some towels down. On chest freezers, there will either be a drain or
all the water will collect in the bottom and can then be sponged out.

NEVER ever even think about using a putty knife or any kind of sharp metal
to scrape the frost off. It is very easy to puncture the evaporator and
ruin the refrigerator. Ain’t no going back from that one, Hoss.

Automatic Defrost Refrigerator or Freezer

On self-defrosting refrigerator/freezers, clean the drain pan underneath
the refrigerator that collects water (Some are not accessible. Don’t worry
if you can’t find yours). No need to go crazy, just wipe out the dog hair
and dried gookus so you don’t get a scum floatilla with stinkus when the
flood of condensate starts with the more humid weather.

Clean the refrigerator cooling fan and the condenser coils. The coils are
underneath the refrigerator. They are usually black and look like a series
of small tubes and “fins” connecting the tubes. Order a refrigerator
condenser brush to make the job easier: http://fixitnow.com/?p=6234

Check the door seals to be sure they are sealing properly against the frame
of the refrigerator/freezer. While you can get by with weak seals during
the colder, dryer winter months, they’ll let in lots of heat and moisture
during the humid, warm summer months and cause all kinda weird problems
inside the box. Do the Federal Reserve Note test: take your favorite
Federal Reserve Note and close the door on it, then give it a tug. Should
require some tension to pull it out. If not, that’s a weak spot in the
gasket. Do this all the way around the both doors.

If the gaskets are torn, or don’t seal properly, the refrigerator or
freezer may not cool properly. You may also start seeing frost formations
in weird locations inside the beer compartment or the freezer. This
problem is worse when the weather is warmer and more humid. Clean the
gaskets and frame with warm soapy water so they don’t stick to the frame.

Inspect the back wall of the freezer for any frost build up. It’s not
normal to have any frost on the back wall or floor of a self-defrosting
appliance. The presence of frost is normally an indication the
self-defrosting system has a problem. You can remove the back wall inside
the freezer to get some eyeballs on the evaporator coil. This page will
help you interpret what you see: http://fixitnow.com/?p=6036

For help troubleshooting warm refrigerator problems, use our warm
refrigerator flowchart: http://fixitnow.com/?p=4296

Ice Maker

If you have a built-in ice/water filter, replace the filter approximately
every six months. If you don’t have a water filter, and you find your ice
tastes bad and/or smells funny, use a “taste and odor” water filter on the
incoming water supply line. A universal water filter will fix ya right up.

We carry filters for all refrigerator brands and models:

http://fixitnow.com/?p=4102

If you don’t have an icemaker, consider installing one now before the
Department of Energy outlaws them. No chit, Mon, they’re really moving to
do exactly that, see this topic at the Samurai School of Appliantology for
more info:

http://appliantology.org/topic/30729-doe-to-ban-ice-makers/

Many people don’t realize that virtually all refrigerators are set up to
easily accept an add-on icemaker. Many refrigerators have a tag inside the
freezer at the back that gives a kit number indicating exactly what kind of
icemaker will fit in that refrigerator. We carry add-on icemaker kits that
fit virtually every refrigerator/freezer on the market, most are
conveniently laid out for you on this page:

http://appliancepartsresource.com/ice_maker_accessories.php

If you’re having a problem with your refrigerator, freezer, or ice maker,
come get free help from the appliantological masters in the Samurai School
of Appliantology:

http://appliantology.org

Kanpai!

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

Related posts:

1. Appliantology Newsletter, May 2011: The Case of the Leaking Refrigerator
2. April #appliance maintenance calendar: equipment for #refrigerators, #freezers, and #icemakers
3. Appliantology Newsletter for April 2005

If you’re trying to get repair help in the Samurai School of Appliantology or you need to find and order parts for your appliance, snow blower, or lawn mower, you gotsta have the full and correct model number. The photos and videos on this page will help you find it.

Related posts:

1. How to Find Appliance Parts Without Having to Know Much
2. GE Washer Model Number S22OOYOWW Schematic
3. Kenmore (GE) Cook Top Model Number 911.44002990 Schematic

No harm in buying and trying! Electrical parts? Out of stock parts? No problem! Get a free replacement or your money back if you return a part within one full year. This is the best return policy in the industry and applies to all parts purchased through any of the Repairclinic banners and links at all Samurai appliance repair websites: www.appliantology.org, www.fixitnow.com, www.applianceguru.com, and fixitnow.posterous.com.

Related posts:

1. RepairClinic.com Announces 365 Day Return Policy
2. Used Appliance Parts Exchange in the Appliance Parts Junkyard
3. Get Your LG Appliance Parts Right Here at Your Local Online Appliance Repair Shop

Appliantology Newsletter, Winter 2011

0. Introduction
1. It’s the exciting dishwasher issue!
2. Uncommonly delicious parts return policy
3. New merit apprenticeship program
4. Samurai News®
5. Mrs. Samurai’s dojo
6. Story time
7. Hillstomping update
8. Domo!

### ### ### ###

0. Introduction

From deep within the bowels of frozen Yankeeland, in the foothills of the White Mountains and finally dug out from under 13 feet of fresh, pristine global warming, it’s another steamy issue of Appliantology. Movin’ on…

### ### ### ###

1. It’s the exciting dishwasher issue!

This is the issue you’ve all been laying awake at night for, checking the inbox on your iPhone every hour, suffering irritability with your spouse and fatigue at work. Now, the wait is over. Yes, my brothers and sisters, just in time for that visit from your mother-in-law, I bring you _Appliantology: The Dishwasher Issue_.

Here are some recent pearls of dishwasher wisdom I’ve cast since the last issue of Appliantology:

Cheat sheet for whupping up on the “Clean light blinking 7 times” problem in Whirlpool and Kitchenaid dishwashers – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5842

Putting a GE Monogram dishwasher with membrane control pad into Test Mode – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5834

GE Profile dishwasher making a high-pitched squealing noise from control board – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5826

Special repair trick for LG dishwashers with slow or no drain problem – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5654

Maytag dishwasher MDBH955AWB: He’s dead, Jim – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5579

KitchenAid Dishwasher KUDI24SE — No power – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5568

Dishwashers and hard water: getting the best possible results – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5536

A fantastic photo essay detailing the disassembly of the motor-pump on the new Bosch Ascenta dishwashers, an Internet premiere exclusive! – http://fixitnow.com/?p=5403

All dishwasher repair posts – http://fixitnow.com/category/appliance-repair-posts/dishwasher-repair/

### ### ### ###

2. Uncommonly delicious parts return policy

OMG, so you know my crazy parts partner has finally gone off the deep end. Yeah, they’re like teutally giving a 365-day, no-hassle return policy on ALL appliance parts, even electronic parts that have already been installed! Is that nuts? Ya sure, ya betcha! So they’re like teutally taking the risk out of DIY appliance repair.

Look, I can help you troubleshoot your appliance and I can usually get you right to the problem. But the fact is that you’re out there somewhere and and I’m up here in Yankeeland; it just ain’t the same thing as being right there at the appliance, listening to it, smelling it, feeling it, tasting it… yes, appliance repair is a full contact sport!

Well, to level the playing field, my crazy parts partner is offering an unheard of return policy: return parts for a full year with no hassle. Just use the parts search box in the sidebar at Fixitnow.com ( http://fixitnow.com ) or the parts search box at the top of Appliantology.org ( http://appliantology.org ) or any of the appliance parts banners or links on those sites to buy parts.

Read more about this insane return policy here: http://fixitnow.com/?p=5777

### ### ### ###

3. New merit apprenticeship program

Here at Samurai International Headquarters, we are impassioned supporters of meritocracy. Any meritocracy. As far as we’re concerned, the more the meritier… or something like that. As someone who speaks 17 self-invented languages fluently, it is difficult gearing down to this guttural gum-smacking that you Ameedeekans call “Engrish.”

So, anyone who contributes good repair content can earn an upgrade from Grasshopper to Merit Apprentice in the repair forums.

Apprentices at the Samurai School of Appliantology ( www.appliantology.org ) enjoy many perks over Grasshoppers:

- request service manuals in the Appliance Service Manual Request forum;
- access the other forums besides just the Kitchen and Laundry forums;
- edit your own posts;
- send and receive private messages (PMs) which can include links to service manuals;
- download/upload/view the thousands of illustrative and illuminating attachments;
- post replies to other topics that you didn’t start.

To be an Apprentice, you can either subscribe to one of the Apprenticeship programs (Basic, Annual, or Permapprenticehip) or you can earn it. Yep, all of us here at Samurai International Headquarters are tickled to the point of incontinence to announce our new Merit Apprenticeship program where you can earn your apprenticeship through a quid pro quo kind of a deal. It made a big splash. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)

Here’s the deal: if you contribute original repair material suitable enough to be featured on Fixitnow.com you will be awarded a Merit Apprenticeship. An example of this would be a series of photos of an appliance repair you did with captions that explain what’s going on. The common way a Grasshopper will earn his (or her) Merit Apprenticeship is by posting photos of his craftsmanship in the Samurai School ( www.appliantology.org ) as the culmination of their forum topic, kind of like a Master’s thesis. The criteria is this: could another Grasshopper come along later and gain crucial insight into doing the repair from your original photos and commentary? If yes, then *ding-ding-ding!* you win the Golden Calf. But since a grumpy old dude with a shiny face melted down our last golden calf, you’ll have to settle for a Merit Apprenticeship.

### ### ### ###

4. Samurai News®

>> I’ve been experimenting with offering help via texting. It’s been great for answering quickie questions, helping folks find information at my site, and resolving site log-in problems. Because of the limiting and kludgy nature of texting, if someone needs more detailed troubleshooting and repair help, I’ll refer them to the Samurai School. But texting can be a good way to get started. Or maybe you just wanna reach out and say, “Konnichiwa, Samurai-san! Anata wa buto des, na?” Bring it: 603-505-8460.

>> The new home of the Samurai appliance repair forums, a.k.a., the Samurai School of Appliantology ( www.appliantology.org ), is rockin’ along. Stop by and say hey. If you’re a professional appliance repair tech, email me and let me know, tell me a little about your background, and you’ll get upgraded to Master Appliantologist at the forums.

>> Well, after being on Flickr for over five years, I’m being evicted. Seems that someone complained to Flickr about some of my appliance repair photos having the text, “Buy appliance parts at parts.fixitnow.com” imprinted on them. They thought it was too commercial on how-to appliance repair photos and diagrams that I was giving away for FREE. Yep, some people will even complain about something when it’s free. And Flickr agreed with them.

So I’ve moved all my photos to Smugmug.com ( http://appliantology.smugmug.com/ ) which, as it turns out, is a superior image hosting service anyway and they don’t have a neo-marxist hangup about someone promoting their website or bidness through their photos. But it also means I need to change the photo links embedded in over 400 posts at my blog, Fixitnow.com, from Flickr to Smugmug. Oy!

BTW, if you want to try out Smugmug, here’s my referral link to signup for a free trial: https://secure.smugmug.com/signup.mg?Coupon=wA98wSm1iMAKM . If you do decide you like ‘em and sign up for a permanent account, I’ll earn a $10 referral credit to use toward my account renewal. Domo!

### ### ### ###

5. Mrs. Samurai’s dojo

Take a little respite from your appliance repair concerns in Mrs. Samurai’s dojo. Come on in and make yourself at home, and I’ll serve up some tasty tidbits on other aspects of home living, such as some of the Samurai’s favorite recipes.

Everybody from Popeye to your mama has been telling you to eat more greens because they’re so good for you. But the leafy greens aren’t always popular with folks, especially kids, because they think they are gross in some way. Here is an awesome recipe either for the greens nay-sayers, or those who just want a different way to cook ‘em than what they’ve been doing. My kids fight over these.

Krispy Kale

What you’ll need:

Kale – either one really big bunch or two smaller (see note)
Extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt

large bowl
a couple of large baking sheets
2 wire cooling racks that fit on top of the baking sheets (see note)

What to do:

Preheat your oven to 350 deg.

Tear the kale leaves off of their stems. They should be torn roughly the size of tortilla chips. Rinse and dry them as much as possible (a salad spinner works perfectly).

In a large bowl, toss the kale with a pretty good-size drizzle of olive oil and some salt, then spread it evenly on the wire racks placed on top of the baking sheets. Bake for about 15 minutes until nice and crispy. The leaves will darken somewhat. Enjoy right away!

Serves about 4-6 as a side dish.

Note: this recipe only seems to work with kale and its curly leaves. Any of the flat-leaved greens don’t crisp up properly. Also, be sure to use the wire racks – if you put the kale directly on the baking sheets, you would have to turn all the pieces halfway through the cooking to avoid sogginess – tedious!

### ### ### ###

6. Story time

Lance DeMoi and the Blood Wand

A short story by Stephen Brown

[Lance DeMoi, the top agent of the Department of Paranormal Investigation and Research, is sent on a mission in England where a mysterious group of vampires have threatened to use an ancient artifact against the living. Lance must venture through a dark and menacing forest to stop them, where he will meet both new friends and new enemies. If he does not find and destroy the relic in time, then all of the UK could fall under a vampiric shadow. But will Lance be able to defeat the chief vampire before it is too late?]

Lance DeMoi leaned against a bulkhead in the plane; he could feel the vibrations of the engines on his back. DPIR agents milled about the plane, carrying out different tasks. Lance’s handler, Agent Grey, walked over to where he was sitting.

“DeMoi, you know the mission, you know who to kill, and to retrieve the Blood Wand. You’ll be dropped in this forest,” Grey pulled out a map. “Here, a few miles south of London, the vampire colony is nested here, in some ruins of a faerie fort. We need you to execute this quickly DeMoi – we believe they are on some ceremonial schedule – get the Wand before sunrise.”

Lance nodded sleepily; it was 11:30 PM. He had drunk two cups of coffee, but he was still tired.

“Getting fatigued in my old age,” Lance mumbled.

“Oh please,” Grey sighed as he walked away.

The plane reached London, a great sea of lights in the early morning darkness. Lance pulled on his parachute and proceeded to the hatch. Grey ambled over.

“Parachute?” The handler asked.

“Check.”

“Headset?”

“Check.”

“Extra headset?”

(krk)”Check. Over.”(krk).

“Array of stakes?”

Lance slapped his belt, jangling the stakes together.

“Revolver with silver bullets?”

“Shiny.” Lance pulled out his revolver and cocked it.

“All right, Jason open the hatch,” said Grey. The agent by the door opened it; a blast of cold, morning air smacked Lance in the face, and his ears were filled with the roaring of the engine and the wind. He braced himself against the doorway, his face turning slightly green; heights had always bothered him.

“Afraid of heights? Even after all these years?” Grey smirked as he started to walk away.

“Aren’t you going to wish me luck?”

Grey grunted.

“I’m so lucky to have you as my handler.” And with that, he jumped from the plane, into the night and the forest below.

Read the rest of Part 1 of this story here:

http://dpirfiles.blogspot.com/2011/02/lance-demoi-and-blood-wand-part-1.html

### ### ### ###

7. Hillstomping update

An Appliantology newsletter just wouldn’t be complete without a hillstomping update. Thankfully, all this global warming has brought tremendous amounts of snowfall and record cold temps, so the winter hiking in the White Mountains has been outstanding this year. The best one so far, though, was the recent hike the Oz Man (my semper fi canine hiking partner) and I did up Mts. Methodius and Elijah in the Northern Saints range (some people still call these by their old political names of Mts. Madison and Adams in the northern presidential range).

Turn your speakers up and click full screen mode to get the full effect of the slideshow. Kick back and enjoy!

http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=obuTyVFB&a_id=5027731

### ### ### ###

8. Domo!

Finally, I want to shout out a big fat “DOMO!” to all the fine Master Appliantologists who help answer questions in the repair forums. We learn from each other and we freely share our knowledge with all seekers as a totally free-will, voluntary love-offering to you. If one of these fine Masters helped you with your repair and saved you some coin, let ‘em know!

ACtechGUY
appl.tech.29501
BrntToast
Budget Appliance Repair
certified tech group 51
denrayr
DIAMOND GAZZA
dkpd1581
DurhamAppliance
john63
kdog
KurtiusInterupptus
LLAMBERT
Moostafa
nickfixit
RegUS_PatOff
ROBBYRIG
SANTA
Southern Appliance
Strathy
Toranaga
Tronicsmasta
Trying to help

~~~fini~~~

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

Parts==> http://parts.fixitnow.com
Forums==> http://appliantology.org
Facebook==> http://facebook.com/fixitnowsamurai
Twitter==> http://twitter.com/fixitnowsamurai
Newsletter==> http://newsletter.fixitnow.com
SMS==> 603-505-8460

Related posts:

1. Appliantology Newsletter, Winter 2006
2. Appliantology Newsletter, August 2011: Appliances and Disasters
3. #Appliantology Newsletter, April 2011: #Refrigerator and #IceMaker Maintenance

RepairClinic.com raises the stakes in today’s highly competitive online appliance and outdoor power equipment parts industry with their new and unparalleled parts-return policy: 365 Days. Period.™ This is, by far, the best parts-return policy in the appliance and outdoor power equipment industry.

365 Days. Period.™ simply means RepairClinic.com customers can return any part or any product for any reason within 365 days from the date of purchase. This includes electrically installed, electronic, special order, and out of stock parts. This is a giant leap forward from the current industry standard return policy of 30 days.

“Our new return policy is another way we provide exceptional service to our customers,” said Chris Hall, president. “365 Days. Period.™ allows RepairClinic.com customers the freedom to implement our long standing policy of “No harm in buying and trying” where a customer can buy a part, try it, and return it if it doesn’t work: no questions asked.”

To use the 365 Days. Period.™ return policy, customers simply fill out the printed return form that comes with the part with the model and serial numbers of the appliance then return it for a refund or a free replacement. When RepairClinic.com receives the returned part, a credit will be issued for the price of the part, including any applicable taxes. Shipping is non-refundable unless RepairClinic.com made an error in the shipment.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

Parts==> http://parts.fixitnow.com
Forums==> http://appliantology.org
Facebook==> http://facebook.com/fixitnowsamurai
Twitter==> http://twitter.com/fixitnowsamurai
Newsletter==> http://newsletter.fixitnow.com
SMS==> 603-505-8460

Related posts:

1. Return policy on appliance parts purchased through all Samurai Appliance Repair Websites: 365 Days. Period.™
2. RepairClinic launches new state-of-the art website with a new parts search engine and expanded product line
3. RepairClinic Earns the Coveted Intergalactic Samurai-Approved Certification

After the stunning success of the Repair Manuals via Twitter experiment started a couple weeks ago (see http://fixitnow.com/?p=5395), I am bloated with pleasure to announce that we are expanding the program to include all appliance repair help. Just tweet your most intimate appliance repair questions to @FixitnowSamurai and he’ll reply ASAP via Twitter. Here’s how:

1. Get a Twitter account (if you don’t already have one), it’s FREE: http://twitter.com
2. Tweet me your appliance repair questions– just start your message with “@fixitnowsamurai”
3. You don’t need to follow me on Twitter unless you want a repair manual. Read more: http://fixitnow.com/?p=5395. But if you’d like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so here==> http://www.twitter.com/FixitnowSamurai

Most questions can probably be successfully handled via Twitter. If it’s not a problem amenable to the Twitter venue– for example, needs photos, videos, diagrams to explain or answer– then I’ll let you know and we can take it up in the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums==> http://applianceguru.com

Related posts:

1. Appliance repair service manuals on request via Twitter… FREE!
2. Samurai’s Daily Twitter Pearls for 2009-04-08
3. Hot Appliance Repair Tips on Twitter

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, RepairClinic.com launched a new state-of-the-art website to provide customers with the highest quality service. This new site features, among other innovations, a new part-search engine loaded with additional part information; a more refined, but customer-friendly checkout process; and expanded product lines.

RepairClinic.com new product lines include outdoor power equipment, and vacuum cleaners. They offer both OEM and after-market parts for 24 brands of walk-behind lawn mowers, riding lawn mowers, zero turn radius (ZTR) lawn mowers, and small engines. They are also offering an entire inventory of OEM replacement parts and accessories for seven brands of vacuum cleaners.

New Features of RepairClinic.com:

Part Replacement Videos
RepairClinic.com has revolutionized the do-it-yourself world by producing step-by-step, high-definition part-replacement videos. Each video demonstrates complete disassembly, part replacement, and reassembly of the appliance. If a part-replacement video is available, a video icon will appear below the part description. We currently offer over 100 part-replacement videos and are producing over 40 new videos each month.

Search No Further
RepairClinic.com newly enhanced “Shop for Parts” search engine is unlike any other in the appliance-parts industry today: it unites customers with their parts more quickly and easily than ever before. The part selections are titled more clearly for easier identification and there inventory of parts are re-categorized for more accurate search results. Searches can be generated from menus or keywords, and customers can select or deselect search criteria at any time and in any order; generating a new set of results each time.

It’s All In the Details
Identifying parts is made easier with there “Part Detail” page which gives clear and precise part descriptions and displays larger part images. Most part images appear on a 1-square-inch grid, and can be viewed at twice their size for a more detailed view of the part. Many parts also have a “RepairGuru® Tip” offering additional helpful information about the part. They assign a skill-level rank to many parts: “one wrench” means an easy repair; “four wrenches” means a difficult repair and may need a repair technician.

Location, Location, Location
Providing a model number generates the most accurate result when searching for a part. RepairClinic.com exclusive “Model Number Identification” videos help customers identify the product’s model-number tag and its location on the product. Each video displays a rotating 3-D computer-generated illustration of the product showing clear views of possible tag locations. Also available for quick reference are static 3-D illustrations of each product for possible tag locations.

The Buck Stops Here
RepairClinic.com new and innovative checkout process allows customers to view, modify, and complete their order with ease. They have combined all of the checkout information onto one page to simplify the process. Customers complete each section, and review their order before submission to prevent any errors. A clear, concise order-confirmation page appears for printing for the customers’ records.

No Need For a Bloodhound
Tracking an order is now available directly from there website. Customers click on “Order Tracking” from any page on the website, “Log In” to their account, and click on the order number they want to track. Customers will view the ship date, shipment method, and the tracking number linked to the carrier. Customers can still contact “Customer Service” for order information, but online access is now much quicker and easier.

Related posts:

1. Spiffy New Parts Search Engine from RepairClinic
2. RepairClinic.com Announces 365 Day Return Policy
3. Yet Another Reason to Avoid GE Appliances: Ripoff Parts Prices

Lynn wrote:

I am trying to communicate with Tom Johnston concerning my washer problem.

He sent a text msg. saying the answer is “locked” but I could not unlock it. Please send an email.

Lynn

Oh dear, oh my, you have our website, Fixitnow.com, confused with another website with a deceptively similar name. We never “lock” answers so we never need to send you a text message to “unlock” them. Nor do we charge for personal repair help in our repair forum which is at ApplianceGuru.com.

We’re the good guys; next time you need appliance repair help, just search for, “samurai appliance,” and you’ll find us.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Related posts:

1. Announcing Fixitnow.com Appliance Repair Radio
2. Unlocking the Appliance of Love
3. Fixitnow.com Reloaded: Your Favorite Appliance Repair Weapon of Mass Instruction Now Goes to Eleven

Appliantology Newsletter, Fall 2010

0. Introduction
1. New appliance repair posts
2. There are blogs, and then there are forums
3. Website enhancements
4. Scribd document stash
5. Samurai the twit
6. Repair manuals on request… free
7. Facebook
8. Hillstomping update
9. Domo!

### ### ### ###

0. Introduction

Like Autumn leaves wafting to the ground, another issue of Appliantology falls into your inbox. Movin’ on…

### ### ### ###

1. New appliance repair posts

It’s been a busy three months since the last Appliantology newsletter. I’ve cranked out over 300 new pearls of appliantological wisdom since June at Fixitnow.com. Most deal with specific problems in all sorts of brands, models, and types of major appliances. But a few are of more general interest or apply to common appliance problems. Here are some highlights:

Diagnosing Dishwasher Door Leaks http://fixitnow.com/?p=4311

Diagnostic Flowcharts for GE Refrigerators With a Muthaboard http://fixitnow.com/?p=4309

Warm Refrigerator Troubleshooting Flowchart http://fixitnow.com/?p=4296

Diagnosing and Repairing Spin and Agitate Problems in a Whirlpool / Kenmore Direct Drive Washer http://fixitnow.com/?p=4272

Handling Hard Water and Mineral Buildup in Today’s Dishwashers http://fixitnow.com/?p=4260

Estimating Home Appliance Energy Use http://fixitnow.com/?p=4251

Coping with Phosphate-free Dishwashing Detergents http://fixitnow.com/?p=4454

### ### ### ###

2. There are blogs, and then there are forums

Fixitnow.com is a blog, where I write posts and registered users can post comments or followup questions. Our forums, on the other hand, are at ApplianceGuru.com. This is where registered users can initiate questions and receive help from myself or other techs. You must register separately at both- one registration does not cross over to the other. Please do – it’s free and I wanna hear from you!

### ### ### ###

3. Website enhancements

I got rid of that stuffy, cramped three-column layout and went to a simple two-column design. This gives a bigger content area and less junk. Have a look and lemme know whatcha think: http://fixitnow.com

We’ve gone mobile! Now you can have Fixitnow.com to go. I’ve added mobile capability to the site so it’s user-friendly for most cell phones. And there’s a special feature just for mobile users. Read more: http://fixitnow.com/?p=5353

I’m starting to build a collection of wiring diagrams, tech sheets, and schematics. As I get ‘em, I upload them to the site and make them searchable to all, free of charge, always. Special domo to Sublime Master appl.tech.29501 for sending me mucho diagrams. If you have any tech sheets or schematics in good condition and you’d like to be part of this project, please email them to me so I can add them to the growing library. You can also fax them to me at 866-315-4504.

I know it can be confusing to navigate a new website so I’ve added a new orientation page that gives a quick run-down on how to use the site: http://fixitnow.com/Nm

### ### ### ###

4. Scribd document stash

I’ve been steadily building a stash of various appliance repair PDFs on Scribd, all free and available for download. You may have seen posts at Fixitnow.com with embedded documents in a scrollable, re-sizable viewer. Those are docs in my Scribd stash. I’ve got ‘em grouped by appliance type so it’s pretty easy to paw through and find what you’re looking for. Here are the links to the various collections:

Dryers: http://scr.bi/bhCHbO

Dishwashers: http://scr.bi/cRTnoa

Washing Machines: http://scr.bi/969u2L

Ranges/Ovens/Stoves: http://scr.bi/bghQxs

Ice Makers: http://scr.bi/9mSl8w

Refrigerators: http://scr.bi/cLqYqz

### ### ### ###

5. Samurai the twit

I had given up on Twitter a few months back and just ran the RSS feed for the forum into my Twitter profile. After several months of that, I’ve rediscovered Twitter as a highly convenient venue for blasting out hand-picked pearls of appliantological wisdom gleaned from the repair forums, ApplianceGuru.com, and beyond. I also tweet out new posts from my blog site, Fixitnow.com.

I end up doing about half a dozen or so tweets a day. Here’s the link to my Twitter profile which you can follow to get the pearls I’m continually casting:

http://twitter.com/fixitnowsamurai

I’ve found that one of the best uses of Twitter is for short communications with you. Whether it’s a quick appliance repair question or you’re having trouble finding something at my site or using the repair forum, Twitter is perfect for this. When you send me an @ message on Twitter– a message that begins with “@FixitnowSamurai”– I see it and can reply right away. This is superior to email because:

1) It’s brief! Twitter messages are limited to 140 characters. I get tons of email, lots of it looong rambling, hard-to-follow sagas of broken appliances. If I were to give all the email the attention they need, I wouldn’t get anything else done. Twitter forces brevity. With brevity comes clarity. Or, in pseudo-Latin, “E brevitas, claritas.”

2) No bounced emails. Another reason I hate replying to appliance repair questions via email is because sometimes people have a bad email address filled in on their return email. I can’t tell you the number of times I would stop what I was doing, take the time to compose a thoughtful reply to an email only to have it bounce. Argh!

3) The conversation is public so others can benefit from the exchange.

4) @fixitnowsamurai messages are pushed right to my iPhone and go into a special stack so they don’t get lost in the daily crush of email.

### ### ### ###

6. Repair manuals on request… free

Aside from getting my appliance repair tweets (and the occasional tweet about other stuff), one of the big reasons you’ll want to follow me is to get repair manuals.

It is one of the Samurai’s greatest joys in life to assist his precious Grasshoppers and Apprentices in their journey to Appliance Nirvana™. If you need a service manual for your insolent appliance, just ax me!

Service manuals on request via Twitter: http://fixitnow.com/?p=5395

### ### ### ###

7. Facebook

I only post select things at my Facebook page because the “etiquette” there is a little different than on Twitter. I average less than one post a day. But Facebook is more interactive and there’s usually more comments and back and forth. The really annoying thing about Facebook pages is that there is no notification whatsoever on new wall posts or new comments to posts; I have to go in and look for what’s new. Since when is Facebook shy about notifying you for *anything*?

But it would be awesome if you’d “like” my Facebook page. Then hopefully your friends will see that you liked it and they’ll come check it out and, well, you know, that whole sick viral thing gets going: http://facebook.com/fixitnowsamurai

### ### ### ###

8. Hillstomping update

An Appliantology newsletter just would not be complete without a hillstomping update!

I’ve done lots of hiking since my last newsletter but here are three selected slideshows that I think you’ll enjoy. If you’re at your desktop computer, turn your speakers up to hear the music and get the full experience. If you’re on your phone, the photos will render mobile-friendly but you won’t get the music. Either way, enjoy!

Magical Sunset on Old Bridal Path: http://bit.ly/bc5TSo

Mt. Niphon (Jefferson) and Awesome Sunset on the Gulfside Trail: http://bit.ly/98d13D

North and South Kinsman with Mah Boyz: http://bit.ly/9Nws4a

### ### ### ###

9. Domo!

Thanks for your support! Whether you buy your appliance parts thru the parts links at Fixitnow.com or ApplianceGuru.com, click the Google ads on the sites, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter, I want you to know that we really and sincerely appreciate your support. Our sites exist because of and for you.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

### ### ### ###

P.S. A word on Twitter clients

There’s a bewildering assortment of Twitter clients out there for every conceivable device and it can be confoosing to figure out which one to choose. I’ve used just about all of ‘em and can offer you my opinion on the best Twitter clients by application, just Google them to find them more:

iPhone: SimplyTweet
iPad: Twittelator
iMac or other desktop: Chromed Bird, an extension for Google Chrome (best browser)

You may have a different opinion; that’s fine, use whatever works for you. I offer my opinion for those who have no experience with Twitter and aren’t sure how to get started.

### ### ### ~~~ fini ~~~ ### ### ###

Related posts:

1. Appliantology Newsletter, Fall 2008
2. Appliantology Newsletter, Fall 2007
3. Appliantology Newsletter, Fall 2006

Yvonne wrote:

Please do not charge me for any more advice other than that received today. I can’t afford to be charge more than the initial $24.

You have us confoosed with another website; we didn’t charge you $24 for advice. How do I know? Because we give out appliance repair advice for FREE all day long at the Samurai School of Appliantology!

Oh, I know– we’re insane! How do we make money givin’ it all away? Volume.

But we also do marital counseling for we charge a small fee. Are you and your husband gettin’ along okay, darlin’?

I’m here all week. Tell your friends. Thankya vrry much. [that's my best online Elvis impersonation]

Samurai Appliance Repair Man

http://fixitnow.com

Parts==> http://parts.fixitnow.com
Forums==> http://applianceguru.com
Facebook==> http://facebook.fixitnow.com
Twitter==> http://twitter.fixitnow.com
Newsletter==> http://newsletter.fixitnow.com

Related posts:

1. Special repair trick for LG dishwashers with slow or no drain problem
2. Grand Opening of our new Carbon-neutral Samurai Appliance Repair Facility
3. Free appliance repair help via Twitter

This is a shameless and experimental Twitter promotional campaign. Here’s how it works:

● Go to Twitter.com. If you have an account, log in; otherwise, create a free new account.

● Follow me on Twitter; my Twitter username is @fixitnowsamurai. This is important because if you don’t follow me, I can’t get the manual to you as explained below. Here’s my Twitter page: http://twitter.com/fixitnowsamurai

● Send a tweet to @fixitnowsamurai requesting the service manual you need. Just send one tweet– don’t worry, I’ll get it. Be sure to include your complete model number; no model number, incomplete model number, bad model number = no manual. Model number help here: http://fixitnow.com/wp/2003/05/22/appliance-tip-of-the-day-the-ten-commandments-for-reading-appliance-model-numbers/ NOTE:Sending multiple, repetitive tweets is unnecessary, obnoxious, and will delay getting a manual.

● If I have the manual (and I usually do), I’ll send you the download link via direct message on Twitter.

That’s it!

We’ll see how this works out. If it turns into a big headache for you or me, that’ll be the end of this brave new ‘spearmint. But I’m hoping this will turn out to be one of those synergistic, symbiotic kinda deals. If this works out, I have other plans in mind that I think you’ll like.

Related posts:

1. Get FREE Appliance Repair Service Manuals on Request!
2. Free appliance repair help via Twitter
3. Hot Appliance Repair Tips on Twitter

The 5th Law of the Prophecy, “Electronics and wet appliances do not mix.” Can I hear an, “Amen?” http://j.mp/cNxrLf

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1. Daily Summary of Samurai’s Tweets, 2010-09-17
2. Appliantopia: The Prophecy of the Man-Machine
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“John Guest” fittings is the name given to the seemingly magical fittings that hold a plastic tube in place without, apparently, anything. Even though the plastic tube is holding water at 60 psi (or more) pressure, the fitting holds the tube securely in place without a single drop of leakage.

How does this happen?

No one knows.

And no one cares, you just want to be able to remove the stupid tube when you need to like, say, to replace the water inlet valve on your fridge, or remove the water filter housing.

Now, for the first time ever in the history of the Universe, this ancient and mystical knowledge is revealed to you free of charge! Many a fine appliance warrior has died protecting this esoteric wisdom so please don’t profane their memory by using your new-found knowledge for nefarious purposes. This picture reveals the ancient secret of removing plastic tubing from the magical John Guest fittings:

When you re-install the tubing into the John Guest fitting, just be sure to push it in all the way. If you had to cut the tubing that’ll go into the fitting, make sure the cut is nice n’ flat, not sloped.

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.

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1. Repairing a water tube embedded inside the freezer door foam insulation of a GE refrigerator
2. Mailbag: Clearing a Plugged Condensate Drain Tube in a Refrigerator
3. Icemaker Fill Tube Freezing

Who made your Kenmore appliance? Use this magical Kenmore model number decoder to find out. http://flic.kr/p/8zYtZh

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1. Who Made My Kenmore? Use the …
2. Who Made my Kenmore?
3. Daily Summary of Samurai’s Tweets, 2010-09-11