Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Sunday, February 27, 2005

kenmore front-loading wrote:

I have a Kenmore front-loading washer I purchased in 2001. About two months ago we started noticing brown and black stains on the clothes. Upon further inspection, the boot around the door was disgusting so I replaced it. Two loads later, same issue, staining on the clothes that will not come out! I talked to another technician and to some one at Proctor and Gamble (we use Tide He) and they both said that there is a mold issue that lives around the outside tub. Problem occurs because we don't use enough hot water washes and/or bleach. This is both true. We mostly use warm water and rarely use bleach. When we do use bleach we use the color bleach. We tried using a hot wash with vinegar and also a hot wash with bleach, both without clothes. Seemed to work but three weeks later we've got the stains again! What is going on, Sensei? I have never seen this problem before, ever. ?????

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Message sent from IP: 68.189.93.14

Fun fact to know and tell: we've had this same washer (Gibson brand, same manufacturer, Frigidaire) for seven years and have never had a mold or smell problem of any kind. In fact, this washer has been trouble-free and we're a family of five, running it every day, sometimes three times in a day. No problems. Zero, zip, nada. We also leave the door wide open between uses so the washer can dry out.

Now, learn some of the Samurai's personal hygienic practices. I always use bleach on my skivvies (boxer shorts and white undershirts). It's a habit left over from my Navy days. If you're not bleaching your skivvies, you're wearing poopie germs on all your clothes and you are a dirty man. Remind me never to shake your hand if I ever meet you.

Here, now, I present Samurai's 14th Law of Appliance Repair: Nothing kills like chlorine.

Bleach: it's what's for dinner.

Social Security is in trouble. A reform is needed. But not the one suggested by the President. What is needed is a reform that reduces the role of government, not enlarges it. Here is an alternative, pro-free-market reform of Social Security that I suggest.

The end of Social Security would be the end of something that should never have been started in the first place. The root of the system is the philosophy of collectivism, in that it forces everyone into a giant stewpot as it were, in which individuals are compelled to support the parents and grandparents of total strangers, whether they want to or not, in exchange for themselves later on being compulsorily supported by the children and grandchildren of total strangers. [read more]

The plain fact is that those who think Social Security is a great and moral function of government are a simpering gaggle of collectivist weenies, stealing other people's money to pay for their own lack of financial planning. They are the great unwashed herd of Hunter S. Thompson's "generation of swine," unabashedly sucking the government teet as though this is perfectly acceptable behavior. They corrupt the "land of the free and the home of the brave" into the "land of the free-loaders and the home of the depraved." They are small-minded, venal thieves using lofty words like "social justice" in a pathetic attempt to disguise their corrupt character and moral decay. But lovers of Liberty see their true nature as depraved, sullen socialists. And they hate us for this.

"Social Security is what happens when Ponzi meets Marx."

-- Rollye James

By the way, if you're not listening to the Rollye James Show week nights from 10pm to 1am (Eastern Time), you're missing out on lots of pithy, intelligent talk. Rollye puts on a fun show and she's on XM channel 165 as well as a slew of terrestial broadcast stations. You can also listen live at her website. And now XM is running re-airs of her show on weekends, too.

Ok, now it's Whirlpool's turn for a recall...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Whirlpool(r) and Kenmore(r) brand dishwashers

Units: About 162,000

Manufacturer: Whirlpool Corporation, of Benton Harbor, Mich.

Hazard: An electrical defect within the dishwashers' wash motor wiring poses a risk of the motor overheating and possibly catching fire.

Incidents/Injuries: Whirlpool Corporation has received three reports of overheated wash motors. There are no reports of personal injury or property damage.

Description: The recalled products are Whirlpool(r) brand and Kenmore(r) brand (made by Whirlpool Corporation) under-the-counter, plastic tall tub dishwashers. The dishwashers come with black, white, biscuit, or stainless front panels. They have the following model and serial numbers located inside the tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening:

Brand: Whirlpool(r)
Product: Under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwashers
Model Number Begins With: DU1, DUL, GU1, GU2, GU6
Serial Number Range: FR2200000 to FR2499999

Brand: Kenmore(r)
Product: Under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwashers 665.143
Model Number Begins With: 665.160, 665.163, 665.170, 665.173
Serial Number Range: FR2200000 to FR4599999

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and through homebuilders nationwide from June 2004 through January 2005 for between $350 and $600.

Manufactured in: The dishwashers were manufactured in Findlay, Ohio, and the motors were manufactured in China.

Remedy: Consumers with one of these dishwashers should immediately stop using it, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, and inform all users of the dishwasher not to use it due to the risk of fire. Call Whirlpool Corporation to schedule a free, in-home repair. Please have the serial number and model number of the dishwasher available for the call. Please do not return the dishwasher to the retailer where it was purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take them back. If you own a Whirlpool(r) brand and Kenmore(r) brand under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwasher and have had service on your wash motor between August 2004 and January 2005, please call Whirlpool Corporation to determine if your unit is included in this recall and to schedule a free, in-home inspection.

Consumer Contact: Call Whirlpool Corporation toll free at (866) 769-7260 anytime, or go to the firm's Web site at repair.whirlpool.com

Saturday, February 26, 2005

So, your dishwasher is leaving gookus and slime all over your dishes? Or maybe it seems like it's just not cleaning as good as it used to. Before you run off and buy a new dishwasher and go through the hassle and expense of having it installed (or installing it yourself), take a minute and read this article because the chances are pretty good that it's a simple problem with an easy and inexpensive fix. I know, I know, I'm always telling you to read something. But, unfortunately, the written word is the most efficient medium for transmitting information on the internet. Ok, hang on for another episode of literary excellence in appliance repair.

Start with the simple checks listed below. Notice that the first item is to check the water fill level-- this is the most common cause for poor cleaning in your dishwasher.

• Check water level when the fill cycle has completed. Should be just under the heating element. If not, you may need to replace the water inlet valve.
• Check the water temperature. Should be 125 to 140°F.
• Check pump re-circulation. Listen: does it sound like it's spraying the water around with enough pressure?
• Check the spray arm and pump cover for splits or leaks.
• Check to make sure dishwasher is draining after each cycle. There should only be a little water in the bottom of the tub.
• Make sure the dishes are loaded properly, or dishwasher is not overloaded.
• Possibly try a different detergent. Some liquid-gels will bubble and a pump cannot pump bubbles. Make sure the detergent is fresh.

To check your dishwasher fill level, start it up using the cycle you normally use. Listen to the sounds: the first sound will probably be the dishwasher doing an initial pumpout. Then that will stop and the dishwasher will start filling. Lots of times, you can hear the water running. Give it a minute or two to fill. When it's done filling, the spray cycle will start. Open the door at this point and check the water level. There should be enough water in the tub to cover the bottom floor of the dishwasher. On many models, the water should just come up to the heating element. If there isn't enough water, you will have cleaning problems, guaranteed.

The most common cause for insufficient water fill is the water inlet valve, shown here to the left. Replace it. Don't freak out; this is a repair anyone can do with just a few basic tools. This repair rates two mugs on the SUDS-o-meter. And I have a folder full of email from people who considered themselves mechanically impaired who have successfully completed this and other much more difficult repairs with a little help from Fixitnow.com. Hey, that's what Samurai Appliance Repair Man is all about: helping you discover your inner Samurai.

Here's how to replace your dishwasher's water inlet valve:

1. Get your dishwasher's model number and enter it here to find and order the exact water inlet valve you need. Water inlet valves have different flow rates so be sure to get the right one for your machine.

2. If your new valve comes with any instructions, read 'em! If you're confused about something, ask me.

3. Turn off the water supply to the dishwasher. The shut off valve is usually under the kitchen sink or in the basement or crawlspace near the location of the dishwasher.

4. Remove the dishwasher's kickplates. The kickplates are usually secured with two to four screws at the upper and lower corners. Several examples are shown in the dishwasher section of the Appliantology Group.

5. Locate the water inlet valve, usually near the front of the dishwasher. You'll see two terminals on the valve with wires attached to them, a water supply line (usually copper tubing) from the house, and a rubber or plastic water feed tube going to the dishwasher.

6. Disconnect the water supply line from the valve by removing the brass compression nut holding it in place.

7. The water supply line is connected to a brass fitting on the valve, usually a 90 degree elbow fittting. Remove this fitting. If you can't get it out of the valve, go to the hardware store and buy another one for $0.78.

8. Remove the screws holding the valve to the dishwasher frame.

9. Remove the wires from the valve by grasping the metal terminal with needle nose pliers and pulling, working it back and forth if you need to. Do not pull on the wires themselves because you could detach them from the terminals.

10. Remove the water feed tube from the valve. You'll see a small hose clamp that you'll remove with a pair of pliers.

11. Reinstall the old brass fitting for the water supply line onto the new valve. Use Teflon tape around the threads to make a water-tight connection.

12. Ok, now just install the new valve in the reverse order of the way you removed it.

13. Turn on the dishwasher water supply and check for leaks.

14. Reinstall the kickplates, turn on the power, and run the dishwasher.

15. Pop a cold one and give yourself a pat on the back. Good job!

If you do end up buying a new dishwasher, this installation kit will make the job easier.

Recommended reading:

• Properly Loading a Dishwashwer
• Dishwasher Drainology
• Repair Revelations
• Common Problems
• Live Help

Click Here for Appliance Parts and Accessories

The theraputic effect of the drug ecstasy (MDMA) is in the news again. I posted previously about how ecstasy is being used to help Iraq War veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. The Bush Administration had no objections. Now, Harvard is researching the use of ecstasy to ease the anxiety of terminal cancer patients facing imminent death. But the Bush Administration objects to this research because it might "destigmatize a dangerous substance." Hey, don't blame me-- I voted Libertarian.

Harvard researchers are preparing for the first time in three decades to conduct human experiments using a psychedelic drug, a study that would seek to harness the mind-altering effects of the drug ecstasy to help ease the crushing psychic burdens faced by dying cancer patients. In the experiment, 12 terminal cancer patients would be given MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, to determine whether the drug helps alleviate their anxiety. The experiment seeks to establish a medical use for a drug whose abuse has been on the rise among some young people, who use it recreationally for its euphoric effects. A small but growing group of scientists contends the drug, administered in a controlled medical setting, can improve mental and emotional health. But critics, including some in the Bush administration, said the experiment may destigmatize a dangerous substance. [read more]

Eric Wojcik wrote:

Just bought a house; have no idea what I'm doing; does that white thing in the closet heat water? What if it's temperamental? How do I take control, oh Samurai Master?

_______________________________
Message sent from IP: 65.8.122.118

Since you didn't include a photo of the item in question, I used a proprietary technology developed here at Samurai Labs International to remotely view the contents of your closet. We were able to capture this image. You appear to be in immediate danger; hop on your tricycle and evacuate now!

Samurai Labs International: blurring the line between dreams and reality.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Has the once-venerable Dell slid into the slime pit or is this just another case of sour-grapes consumers using the lawsuit lottery to get rich quick?

Two Dell customers in California have sued the computer company in a class action suit. The plaintiffs allege that Dell didn't deliver the systems promised, and the suit also names CIT Bank, which handles credit agreements for Dell Financing, as well as Dell Financing itself. One plaintiff alleges that a laptop advertised for $599 and an $89 printer, cost her over $1,300. Another claims that Dell supplied two PCs of an inferior specification to that ordered. One of the two law firms representing the plaintiffs said it has investigated over a hundred complaints since August. The suit cites violation of two California state laws, the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and the Unruh Act. Law firms Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins in San Diego, and Jeffrey Keller in San Francisco will handle the litigation. Dell declined to comment. [read more]

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

F1 on a Magic Chef Range

Emily wrote:

Regarding the F1 Error Code on the Magic Chef Gas Range. I got this error code, did my online research and found that it was either the touch membrane or the ERC (I think in my case they cannot be disconnected from each other). I did the test and based on the results, concluded that the ERC was bad. So I ordered a $140 new ERC, installed it, and lo and behold -- it wasn't the ERC. I did more reading and based on your message from Jeff about his F1 error code on his Magic Chef, I decided to try the sensor ($40). It turned out to be the sensor after all. I just wonder why all the tables that show error codes for Magic Chef / Maytag gas ranges don't say that F1 can also be due to a bad sensor. Is there a way to give this feedback to Maytag so they will consider it and modify their chart? I am out $140 extra because of this.

Thanks

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Message sent from IP: 63.200.52.104

Ahh, Grasshoppah, the arcane art of deciphering range error codes is one that has eluded even experienced Appliantologists. I have even heard rumors that appliance manufacturers have competitions amongst themselves to see who can come up with the most diverse and confusing array of range fault codes. But let me address one important point you raised in your plaintive plea for wisdom: replacing parts that turn out to be good.

In most cases, simple tests can be performed to positively show a part is bad. However, in the case of oven ERCs, this may not be so easy. Unless I have the actual tech sheet which definitively tells me what the error codes are, I must sometimes summon my awesome powers of deduction to discern whether or not the ERC is bad. In most cases, you can accomplish this by testing three things:

• Oven Sensor Resistance
• Door Latch Mechanism and Switches
• ERC Power Supply Voltage

If those check out, then you can conclude the problem is either in the touchpad or the ERC board itself. In some cases, as in your range, the ERC and touchpad are a single unit; in other models, they can be replaced separately.

What's that you say: all this sounds too complicated for you? There, there, my leetle Grasshopper, the Samurai has just what you need. Did you know that if you buy your appliance parts from my parts partner that you can return any part for any reason? Yes, and this includes electronic boards that you've already installed. Oui, Papa! So, go crazy and buy all the parts you think you'll need and then simply return the ones you don't for a refund. It gives a whole new justification for shotgun parts changing, don't you think?

Monday, February 21, 2005

Regardless of whether or not you agreed with Hunter S. Thompson's unique political opinions and diatribes, that old boy wrote some funny shi'ite! Later on, Gonzo, see you on the other side.

Hunter S. Thompson, the acerbic counterculture writer who popularized a new form of fictional journalism in books like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself Sunday night at his Aspen-area home, his son said. He was 67.

Thompson is credited with pioneering New Journalism - or, as he dubbed it, "gonzo journalism" - in which the writer made himself an essential component of the story. Much of his earliest work appeared in Rolling Stone magazine.

An acute observer of the decadence and depravity in American life, Thompson also wrote such collections "Generation of Swine" and "Songs of the Doomed." His first ever novel, "The Rum Diary," written in 1959, was first published in 1998.

Thompson was a counterculture icon at the height of the Watergate era, and once said Richard Nixon represented "that dark, venal, and incurably violent side of the American character."

The writer's compound in Woody Creek, not far from Aspen, was almost as legendary as Thompson. He prized peacocks and weapons; in 2000, he accidentally shot and slightly wounded his assistant, Deborah Fuller, trying to chase a bear off his property.

Born July 18, 1937, in Kentucky, Hunter Stocton Thompson served two years in the Air Force, where he was a newspaper sports editor. He later became a proud member of the National Rifle Association and almost was elected sheriff in Aspen in 1970 under the Freak Power Party banner. [read more]

If you have the supreme misfortune of owning a Maytag Neptune washer, sooner or later you're going to need to open the front to gain access to a couple of the more common fail items such as the door latch assembly, the tub boot, or the pump. Fortunately, this beast comes apart pretty easily... if you know the trick. Hey, this is appliance repair, it's all about tricks. And the Samurai is here to reveal these tricks unto thee, for it is written, "And ye shall know the tricks, and the tricks shall save you a service call fee."

I've put together a five-part illustrated disassembly for this washer, starting on this page. Just click the "next" link on each page to see the next step.

Ok, tear 'em up, Hoss.

Saturday, February 19, 2005

From our good friends at GE, bringing broken things to life:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: General Electric Built-in Dishwashers

Units: About 74,300

Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial of Louisville, Ky.

Hazard: These dishwashers have a connector that can short-circuit and overheat during normal use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: GE received 29 reports of connectors overheating, including one report of a fire that spread outside the dishwasher and caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The following models are included in this recall and were sold after January 20, 2004: GE dishwasher models GSD5500G, GSD5560G, GSD5800G, GSD5900G, GSD5960G, EDW3000G, and EDW3060G, with serial numbers with the first letter A through T and the second letter G, or the serial letters VF. The serial number is important as not all dishwashers with these model numbers are included in this recall. The model and serial number are located inside the door wall of the dishwasher.

Sold at: Appliance retail outlets and builder distributors nationwide from January 2004 through February 2005 for between $300 and $400.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the dishwasher and contact GE to arrange for their dishwashers to be repaired free of charge.

Consumer Contact: Consumers should call GE at (800) 804-9802 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday to find out if their dishwasher is included in this recall, and to arrange for a free service call. For more information, consumers can log on to the GE Recall Information page at www.GEAppliances.com.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Lawmakers in the Montana House of Representatives collectively thumbed their noses at the federal government Monday by approving two bills exempting guns from federal regulations and driver's licenses from national standardization requirements. The bills by Reps. Diane Rice, R-Harrison, and Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, do different things but are driven by the same concern: the erosion of personal liberties by the federal government. [read more]

This action by the Montana House sets a dangerous precedent. Just imagine what could happen if more states started acting unilaterally to nullify federal law. We could end up with a federal government bound and gagged by the terms of the Constitution! No more Department of Education to keep the masses uniformly dumbed-down, no more federal funding for masterpieces such as the crucifix dipped in urine. No more Income Tax; we just cannot have this-- there's just no telling what people would do if they're allowed to keep more of their own money to spend as they see fit. Why, they might go buy guns, or something!

Mary Kay Letourneau plans to marry her former sixth-grade pupil with whom she had two children, months after her release from prison for raping him, according to an online bridal registry. Letourneau, 43, and Vili Fualaau, 22, set a wedding date of April 16, according to their registry at a department store. Letourneau served 7 1/2 years on a 1997 conviction for raping Fualaau. [read more]

I'm sure they'll be absolutely blissful but I just wanted to ensure their continued happiness. So I channelled the spirit of Rumpus to reveal to me what lay in store for them. Rumpus showed me a newspaper article from three years in the future. Here it is:

Mary Kay Letourneau, 46, was found beaten to death on her living room carpet today. Vili Fualaau, 25, her husband, was found kneeling beside the puddle, covered in blood and gently rocking back and forth, holding a bloodied baseball bat. Fualaau was taken into custody and police report that he was unable to speak for several hours. Police report that Fualaau came to his senses enough to make a sworn statement:

"I was, like, rolling a big fatty when she started bitching at me again like she does. I'm not sure what happened next, 'cuz, like, I saw myself beating her into a hairy, lumpy paste. Next thing I know, the police are taking me away. Like, wassup with that?"

Fualaau was Letourneau's former sixth-grade pupil. The two began having sexual relations when he was 12 and she was 35. Letourneau served 7 1/2 years on a 1997 conviction for raping Fualaau. The couple married after Letourneau completed serving her prison term.

"An East Feliciana Parish woman fired a bullet into the chest of a man who had broken into her farmhouse, then fought off his beating until the man died from the gunshot wound. Georgia Belle Sullivan says she was sleeping before dawn yesterday when her dogs' barking woke her up. She retrieved her gun, then saw a shadow move behind a line of chairs. She told authorities that's when a man lunged at her. She fired once at close range ... In the beating after the shooting, Sullivan suffered bruises to her face and elsewhere, and lacerations on her arms. Sullivan says the gun discharged several more times during the struggle. She says when Sanford realized he was hit, he told her his name, asked her not to shoot him again and he let her go." [read more]

They didn't say what kind of gun she used, but I can guaran-damn-tee you she wasn't using a 12 ga. shotgun. I have always maintained that the venerable 12 ga. with 00 buck shot is THE best weapon for home defense.

12-Gauge Encounter

Nightime intruder.
Grab the 12 gauge. Chink-chink.
Boom! Lights out, mofo.

A giant asteroid the size of three football pitches will make the closest flyby of Earth in recorded history for an object of its size, scientists said yesterday.

It will pass between the Earth and the Moon and will even come closer than the orbit of many telecommunications satellites, although astronomers insisted that there was little chance of a collision with the massive rock. [read more]

But what if they're wrong...

Ok, sign me up...

"American soldiers traumatised by fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are to be offered the drug ecstasy to help free them of flashbacks and recurring nightmares. The US food and drug administration has given the go-ahead for the soldiers to be included in an experiment to see if MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, can treat post-traumatic stress disorder." [read more]

Thursday, February 17, 2005

For most Bosch's, this sequence will turn off the incessant end-of-cycle signal. If it doesn't work on yours, consult the tech sheet in your dishwasher (co-located with the schematic):

• Open door, push and hold Delicate/Econo button, then turn the dishwasher on while holding Delicate/Econo button.
• Release Delicate/Econo button.
• If module beeps, then end of cycle tone is on. Press Delicate/Econo button to disable tone.
• If module doesn’t beep after button is pressed, then tone is disabled.
• Turn off dishwasher to save selection.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

rosehillworks wrote:

I am thinking about buying a new washer and dryer instead of repairing my kenmore frontloader set. Is there a brand worth buying that will last awhile before dying. I am a family of six and really need a dependable washer and dryer set.

Thanks,
Helen

(Posted in the Appliantology Group repair forum)

A good question and one I get asked a lot during service calls. It's also hard to find unbiased information on this topic. Like Terry said, forget about Consumer Reports-- they are either a scam organization or just plain stupid, I haven't figured out which. Here, I'll talk about the cheap top loaders that everyone likes to buy; in a subsequent post, I'll talk about two of the best washers on the market today: the Staber and the Whirlpool Duet.

First off, you have to accept that the days of getting ~15 trouble-free years of service from a new appliance are long gone. On average, expect to do repairs every two to four years, no matter which brand you buy. What varies among the brands is the frequency and expense of the repairs. And, no, it's not an evil plot by the manufacturers. Think about it: you can buy a new washer, dryer, refrigerator, whatever, for about the same number of dollars that you would have paid 15 years ago. Meanwhile, during that period, inflation has increased (so the dollar buys less), manufacturer's costs have increased (materials, labor, insurance, worker's comp., etc.), yet, magically, you can still buy that appliance for the same number of Federal Reserve Notes! How is this possible?

Because it's not the same quality appliance that you would have purchased 15 years ago. "Aha! So they deliberately build them flimsier so they'll fail more!" Nah, nothing nearly so exotic. The real story is a mundane matter of the manufacturers having to build appliances that people will buy, that people can afford to buy. If you had the opportunity to buy an appliance of the same quality and workmanship that you could have gotten 15 years ago with today's dollars, you'd pay at least four to five times as much for that appliance.

Ok then. So the good news is that you can buy a new appliance for the same number of Federal Reserve Notes as it would have cost you 15 years ago. The bad news is that there's a hidden cost of ownership in that you'll be doing repairs every two to four years. But then, that's why God gave us Fixitnow.com and the Appliantology Group!

Now, on to brands. In general, Whirlpool brands seem to provide the best overall value, meaning the best optimization of price and reliability. This is not to say they're trouble-free, no-siree-Bob, not by a long-shot. You'll still be doing repairs on 'em about every two to four years. But, in general, the repairs will be comparatively minor. For example, after three years, you may need to replace the drive coupler or the lid switch on a Whirlpool direct-drive top-loading washer-- both of these are simple repairs that rate at most two mugs on the SUDS-o-meter. On the other hand, in the same three year period, you could be replacing the transmission or some other major drive component in a Maytag or GE top-loading washer. Even if such a repair is covered by warranty, you have to deal with the whole fuss of getting warranty service which, in some areas, could take weeks.

I've also found that, as a company, Whirlpool is very easy to deal with. They tend to go the extra mile to take care of the customer. They make warranty parts procurement easy, even for the consumer. And they make technical information readily available, a particularly enlightened paradigm when other manufacturers seem to go out of their way to make it difficult for independent servicers to obtain technical service information on their products. GE is especially bad in this regard. Speaking of GE...

Avoid GE appliances and all GE brands. They charge a premium for their products yet their repair frequency is as much or more than other brands. And the repair will cost you more because GE parts can cost two to three times more than comparable parts for other brands; it's not like they're better parts, either-- GE just charges more for 'em. Why? 'Cuz they can. Appliance techs often joke that GE stands for Greedy Electric. But, sadly, the real joke is on the schlumps who buy GE appliances.

Another sad joke is Maytag. This once-venerable maker of the standard-bearer of appliance reliability has taken a page from the GE playbook: make cheap junk and sell the hell out of 'em. The recent class-action settlement for the Neptune washer is one visible example. The only Maytag-brand appliances that I like anymore are the Maytag-branded dryer and the Maytag- or Magic Chef-branded gas ranges. Avoid the highly over-rated Jenn-Air brand-- it's just overpriced junk.

Frigidaire (often pronounced Frigg-i-daire by technicians working on their equipment) makes about the same quality product it always has: mediocre. If someone held a gun to my head and made me pick from either GE, Maytag, or Friggidaire, I suppose I'd choke down my bile and take the Friggidaire. The worst part about the Friggidaire is working on them. Friggs require a high degree of manual dexterity for some repairs, especially on their washing machines. These machines seem like they were designed to be worked on by extra-terrestrial technicians who have a third arm sprouting out of their chest. And from the customer's standpoint, Frigidaire is a real pain in the pooper to deal with-- unlike Whirlpool, they won't send out needed warranty parts directly to a consumer to make their own arrangements for the repair.

Then lots of people ask, "Ok, well, what about Kenmore? Is that a good brand?" Well, who makes Kenmore? If you bothered to click that link, you'd have seen that everyone makes Kenmore... except Kenmore. Y'see, the only thing Kenmore makes is money. There ain't no Kenmore factory in Malaysia or anywhere else. In the old days, all Kenmore appliances were made by Whirlpool exclusively. But not so any longer. So, if you buy a Kenmore, you don't really know what you're getting. The other problem with Kenmore is that you're stuck dealing with Sears to resolve warranty issues since Kenmore takes over the product warranty from the manufacturer. Running a do-it-yourself appliance repair website, I hear all kinda sordid stories about people getting ripped-off or jerked-around. This one about a Kenmore refrigerator in Florida has got to be one of the all-time classics.

Recommended Reading:

• How Long Should Appliances Last?
• How Much is a New One?
• Washing Machine Shootout: The Staber vs. Whirlpool Duet

Monday, February 07, 2005

I just got one of those cool web cams, you know, those X-10's that you see in popup ads everywhere you go on the web? Yeah, one o' those. Well, I finally broke down and bought one. It was easy to set up and seems to work pretty well. I have it set up here on top of my monitor, taking pictures while I'm working. Here, check out the latest shot from the live Samurai Web Cam.

See you later.

Everyday, Samurai Appliance Repair Man helps thousands of people fix their own appliances. Why, here's a recent testimonial from a satisfied do-it-yourselfer:

"When my Scrotum Scrubber 2000® broke, I went into a pure, blind panic. The manufacturer, Scrotilia Corporation, was going to charge me $115 for the repair with a turn-around time of more than four weeks! In desperation, I searched the web and found Samurai Appliance Repair Man and, boy, am I ever glad I did! The Samurai helped me diagnose the problem and figure out what part I needed for my Scrotum Scrubber®. I bought the part through an online vendor and was happily scrubbing away in just a few days. Domo arigato, Samurai-san!"

What can the Samurai help you fix today?

Sunday, February 06, 2005

There has been a heated debate for some time now in our area (New London, New Hampshire) over what to do about an aging, over-crowded middle school for our school district. Many are pushing hard for a large, expensive, central facility in the center of the district; others want two smaller schools at either end. Here is my contribution to the debate, submitted as a letter to our local newspaper. I imagine it was unappreciated by most, but this is an issue that needs to be discussed in every town.

-- Mrs. Samurai

The Middle School issue is heating up once more! But I think there is an important aspect missing in the debate. Before we potentially commit a huge amount of financial resources to a building, we should step back and look at the larger issue of public schooling - because there is a small but growing debate about its effectiveness that should influence the decision we as a community make now.

There is overwhelming evidence that public schooling has not been a successful experiment and should be dramatically altered, if not phased out entirely. I feel a little like the kid who claimed the emperor had no clothes in saying that because it is such an accepted institution in our country. But did you know that until the mid-1800's there was no compulsory schooling and yet evidence shows that the non-slave population in that time was nearly completely literate - including a large number of indentured servants? However, since compulsory government schooling began, literacy has steadily declined. In fact, over the span of the 20th century, functional illiteracy (unable to read or write a simple message) doubled to around 20%. No doubt you've all heard other grim statistics, and no matter how much more money or brand-new facilities we throw at the problem, it's only getting worse.

So, our country had an early educational system which basically centered around family choice and free-market schools. You may argue that if things were so great, why did public schools even get started? The short answer is that by the mid-1800's a lot of powerful people were getting nervous about the possibility of lower-class uprisings ("Red Scares") as well as the large influx of immigrants with their strange customs and religions (such as Catholicism!). What better way to exert influence over people than for the government to be in charge of education? Before you think I'm some kind of conspiracy nut, you should know that in Massachusetts, where this all began, the idea of compulsory government education was so abhorrent to most citizens, so against the ideals of our free society, that there was resistance from about 80% of the population and even armed uprisings in some communities. It took a few decades before the militias finally forced the last of the families to comply.

Alas, now we take it as a given that the government will have a complete monopoly on the education of our young people. This in a country where almost any other product or service is subject to the forces of the free market. We can go to the store and choose from a variety of good-quality and reasonably priced ball-point pens, but when it comes to the education of our children we are forced to pay more and more for schools that are increasingly failing to produce well-rounded and well-educated children. Even though we are "free" to homeschool or send our kids to private school, our choices are pretty limited and our taxes are still going to the government schools.

I don't have room here to really address another problem with institutional schooling - the harmful effects of keeping children segregated with their own peers and a handful of adults for such a huge chunk of their childhood. Of course, schools aren't the only thing wrong with our children's environment. For various reasons there has been a gradual decline in the life of the family and community, especially due to the influence of television and other electronic media. But whether schools are a cause or a symptom, we will never be able to restore some of what's been lost without dramatically changing the way we view education and acknowledge the importance of having children spend less time in an institutional setting and more time in the community and with family.

So how does all of this relate to our current debate? This is a huge issue, and even if the majority of citizens agreed with my position, how we could get from where we are now to a free-market system of education is obviously beyond the scope of this letter. My point is that if a financial commitment is made now to a large central facility, then for generations to come the future of schools in this area will not be up for debate. Even if, as I suspect, people increasingly question the method of institutional schooling we've been experimenting with, we would be stuck - too many resources would be tied up in that building to try a system that offers more freedom and choices to the families in our communities.

Finding those appliance parts you need just got a whole lot easier, Budrow. Now, you can find the part you need right here, right now using this spiffy new form:

Go ahead, try it out with your own appliance brand and model number. You won't break nothin'; in fact, you'll quickly find that part you need to fix something!

Already have the part number and just need to order the ding-dang part taco-pronto? We-l-l-l, we gotcha covered there, too, Hoss. Check this bad boy out:

Oh yeah, it's slick and it's quick. Take it for a test drive. Let's suppose you need a new ignitor for your gas range and you happen to know the part number is 12400035 (this is the part number for the Maytag ignitor kit, which works great in most ovens, regardless of brand). Well, go ahead and enter in that part number, 12400035, above and, walla!, there it be, bigger n' life. It works with any part number-- I haven't been able to stump it yet!

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be placing these spiffy new parts look-up tools into strategic spots throughout the website to make it so convenient to buy parts that hopefully we'll increase parts sales here at Fixitnow.com.

People often ask me, "Oh, thrice-blessed Samurai, how can you offer such an incredible website with all this free repair help?" The answer is simple: parts sales. The thing that made me realize I need to make parts ordering easier and more obvious is because lots of times I'll be helping someone in online chat figger out what's wrong with their appliance and they ax me, "Ok, do you know where I can buy the part?" Meanwhile, there's a big ol' "Buy Appliance Parts Here!" link staring 'em right in their eyes!

I never understood how people could use a reading-intensive medium like the internet and yet they don't read. I dunno, too many words or something. Why can't Johnny read? 'Cuz Johnny went to gubmint schools. Y'see, I know I'm safe in saying that some of my users are functionally illiterate because I know that most of 'em won't even bother reading this anyway. They've long ago skimmed on to the next purdy picture, or called me on the toll-free hotline to find the answer that was right in front of 'em on the very page they had open in their browser... but didn't bother reading it. One day, websites will all be equipped with Peter Jennings talking heads and then we won't have to be bothered reading a bunch o' gobbledy-gook no mo'.

Come git me, Mother, I'm through.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Appliance Wisdom

Appliance Repair Revelation, The Secrets of Household Electricity... REVEALED!

Samurai Appliance Repair Apprenticeship Training

Appliantology 3000® Microchip Implant Now Available

Mailbag: Whirlpool/Kenmore Direct Drive Washer Suspension Springs

Mailbag: Whirlpool/Kenmore Calypso CE Error

Mailbag: Making Simple Repairs Complicated

Mailbag: Removing Mineral Deposits from a Dishwasher

Whirlpool Taking Over Fisher & Paykel?

Kitty in the Microwave

New Member Settings for the Appliantology Group

Appliantology Repair Forum: Glitch or Hack?

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

The Government Program that Saved Us from the Jungle

New and Improved Sounds at Fixitnow.com

The Samurai Gets Stabbed in the Back

Louie and the Samurai Reproductive Units

Post Back Surgery Update

Obituary: Common Sense. Died 24/7/1960 in America's Heart, USA

Appliantology Newsletter for December 2004