Here’s yet another reason why the Samurai loves Whirlpool: Service Matters Online. This ain’t no fluff site, this is hard core technical reference material directly from Whirlpool Corporation for Whirlpool owners. Kenmore appliances with model numbers beginning with 106, 110, 562, 665, and 198 are also manufactured by Whirlpool so this same information applies. Merry Christmas!

Uploaded a bunch of new repair photos in the washer repair photo gallery at the Appliantology group. Check ’em out.

The ancient and mystical technique for discharging a large-size or high voltage capacitor, such as a microwave oven capacitor or the motor start capacitor in a central air conditioning condensing unit, is illustrated here.

To test the capacitor, first make sure it’s discharged, as described above. If it ain’t, then you’re gonna ruin a perfectly good meter and you may shock your buns off, too. Using your meter, a good capacitor will test like this and a bad capacitor will test like this.

Now, grasshopper, go ye forth and conquer!

Thought y’all might be interested in this update that Rebecca sent me on the outcome of her washer repair ripoff dilemma:

In my not-so-humble opinion, Sears hasn’t redeemed anything! You should never have had to go through such an ordeal to get the service you hired them to do.

The Sears tech should never have charged you for the bogus repair in the first place. If he screwed up, or needed to order a different part, or was simply confused, he should have told you that up front and assured you that he was going to make it right.

I’m glad you stuck to your guns!

Samurai and Rebecca: 1, Sears: 0. BOOYAH!

The first line of defense for any mold and mildew prevention program is to make sure you have a dehumidifier installed and running in your basement. This will reduce the humidity in the basement and make the environment less hospitable to unwanted little nasties that can wreak havoc on carpet, wood, etc.

Next, I recommend using an air purifier which features both phyotohydroionization and electron generation, which work together to quietly and safely clean up to 3,000 square feet of air. The only product I know of that offers both of these features is the AirSource 3000. In scientific studies, the AirSource 3000 reduced mold and yeast counts by an average of 94% over a six-day period and bacteria counts were reduced by an average of 95%. We use two in our house: one for the upstair living area and in the basement (along with a dehumidifier). Since using the AirSource 3000, we have never had a mold, mildew or odor problem and allergic symptoms from pollen and pet dander disappeared. It’s a good investment for the health of any home. Learn more about the AirSource 3000 and buy yours today here.

Sounds to me like you may have a warranty issue with whoever serviced your washer. Any repair company worth their salt will warranty their work. If they didn’t fix the problem you hired them to fix, then they failed to provide the service you paid for, plain n’ simple. You don’t care that the whatchamahoosit was bad and they fixed that but they failed to also fix the thingamabob that was contributing to the same problem. As far as you’re concerned, you paid for your washer to be fixed, and it wasn’t.

Now, on the other hand, if they fixed the problem and it worked fine for a while and then something else went wrong and it crapped out again, that’s a different deal. That kind of thing happens and there’s no predicting it.

If you want to try fixing it yourself, use the repair forum at the Appliantology group. And be sure to include your model number.

Many grasshoppers often ask me, "Oh, most wise and beloved Samurai, which appliances use the most power and what can be done to make them more efficient?" To which I sagely reply, "Look, I’m Samurai Appliance Repair Man, not a friggin’ power meter. How ’bout you measure the power usage of your appliances yourself?" Yes, grasshopper, until recently, power consumption test instruments were very expensive. However, a new product, called the Kill-a-Watt meter can help you determine which appliance is hogging the most energy in your home.

Is your refrigerator running too much, or is your window air conditioner causing your electric bill to skyrocket? With the Kill-a-Watt meter, you can determine energy usage of any standard household appliance that plugs into a 110 volt outlet.

Refrigerators use a lot of power — between 300 and 500 watts while running. If the condenser coil is dirty, or the door gaskets are torn, they’ll use even more. Check the efficiency of your refrigerator and other appliances regularly, and clean or maintain them as needed to make sure they’re running as efficiently as possible.

You can also use the Kill-a-Watt meter to check computers, table lamps and most other devices that plug into standard wall receptacles. You’ll learn many devices, such as TVs and stereos, actually use energy when they’re turned off.

The Kill-a-Watt meter costs less than $30. This is a small price to pay to potentially save hundreds of dollars in electricity over time. Come git you one!

Hello, my precious grasshoppers. First, let me say how honored I am that you have chosen to spend a few minutes of your empty life with me here in this shrine to my own empty life. Come, let us combine our emptiness and together we shall create a huge sucking sound.

If you prefer to avoid reading any more of the drivel that you have just read, perhaps you could be better served with repair photographs. Your all-benevolent Samurai has warehoused hundreds of appliance repair photographs to assist you in your journey to appliance satori. Yes, it is true. Would you like to see them? Alright, they are listed below. Hare Krishna!

• Finding Your Model Number
• Making Basic Electrical Tests
• Refrigerators and Freezers
• Icemakers
• Washers
• Dryers
• Dishwashers
• Ranges, Ovens, Stoves
• Microwave Ovens

And checkout my more recent appliance repair pics.

I can’t tell you how many times grasshoppers ask me for help repairing their appliance and they either give me a bad model number or none at all. Without a valid model number, I can’t look up diagrams or find out anything about your appliance. If you can’t provide a good model number, don’t waste your time or mine typing out a question to email me or to post in the repair forum. So, here are the Ten Commandments for Reading Appliance Model Numbers:

1. Thou shalt read the model number directly off the manufacturer’s tag affixed to the appliance.

2. Thou shalt use these diagrams to help you locate the manufacturer’s tag if you are having trouble.

3. Thou shalt not offer up the excuse that the manufacturer’s tag could not be located on the appliance; yea verily, this is bullsheist that doth stinketh in my nostrils.

4. Thou shalt read the model number under the illumination of a flashlight.

5. Thou shalt not offer up the model number unless it was read under the illumination of a flashlight.

6. Thou shalt double and triple check the accuracy of the model number before offering it up.

7. Thou shalt not offer up a model number until its accuracy has been double and triple checked.

8. Thou shalt not offer up any model number found on any printed manuals associated with the appliance.

9. Thou shalt not omit the three digit number to the left of the decimal point in the model number for a Kenmore appliance.

10. Thou shalt offer up thy fermented praises to the United Samurai Beer Fund.

Here’s the list of the most energy-efficient appliances:

• Standard Refrigerators: Whirlpool 18.9 cf model number GR9SHKXKQ. Cost $879. Annual energy cost: $36.
• Large Refrigerators: Whirlpool 21.6 cf model number GR2SHTXKQ. Cost: $1,149. Annual energy cost: $39.
• Front-Loading Washers: Frigidaire Energy Star. Cost: $749. Annual energy cost: $21.
• Top-Loading Washers: Whirlpool Calypso model number GVW9959KQ. Cost: $943. Annual energy cost: $27.
• Dishwashers: Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer. Cost: $699 for single drawer model, $1,199 for double-drawer. Annual energy cost: $18.