Most Common Appliance Problems and Repairs

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Every year the investigation inquiry team can Consumer Reports gets tens of thousands of responses from our members nearly problems they’ve had with their kitchen and laundry appliances. can our most offer surveys, we collected news above more than 381,000 kitchen and laundry appliances purchased among 2008 and 2018.

Here are the most commonly reported question areas—let’s bark them complaints—from finicky fridges ought wishy-washy washing machines.

Our team of reporters also reached out ought machine mend pros across the masses ought discover out which parts most frequently fail. bark on “What Breaks” can each region below, and "A large Break" though a exhibition can repairs you wish your machine never needs.

Through our reporting we picked up a little tips above stupid repairs you can carry out yourself ought preserve some money above service calls.

Refrigerators

Biggest Complaints
17 percent: No water (or ice) coming out of dispenser
13 percent: Icemaker won’t invent ice
7 percent: Buildup of ice can the fridge
6 percent: Water leaking
5 percent: Refrigerator no cooling
5 percent: Broken or faulty supervise panel or circuit board
4 percent: Not keeping provisions cold
3 percent: Blocked drain or outlet
3 percent: Broken or faulty compressor

What Breaks
Icemaker: This appliance-within-an-appliance draws water into comparable ice molds. Once cubes form, the molds are heated or twisted ought free the ice from the molds, and a transparent arm ejects them into a container ought exist dispensed above demand.
Evaporator fan motor: Moves stand above evaporator coils, allowing refrigerant ought absorb heat.
Thermostat: Regulates temperature can fresh-food and freezer compartments.

A Pro’s Perspective
“Icemaker failures eat often been a problem, except during now nearly total refrigerators are sold with one,” says Dean Landers, principal of Landers Appliance, a mend service can the Baltimore area. That method shops bark on more icemaker repairs—or requests though them. “We used ought exist able ought mend icemakers,” Landers says. “Now everything is molded, flimsy, and cast, making it inherent ought substitute the total unit.”

A bad Break
“Compressors are the middle of a refrigeration system,” says Landers. Replacing one method removing the refrigerant following rigid federal guidelines, using a blow torch ought quotation the failed unit, soldering can the new one, and recharging the system. “It is extremely dear ought carry out this repair,” he says.

Ranges

Biggest Complaints from CR Members
6 percent: Oven no heating up effectively
6 percent: Burners (gas) or cooktop elements (electric) no igniting or heating up
5 percent: Ignition breaking or no working properly (gas models)
2 percent: Broken knobs
2 percent: Broken supervise panel button(s)

What Breaks
Ignition system: In gas ranges, this sequence of components generates a spark ought gleam the gas.
Oven bake element: Produces fever though bake, roast, and broil functions can an electrical oven.
Oven temperature sensor: Regulates temperature though both gas and electrical ovens.
Burner: Controls the evenness and figure of the flame above a gas range.

A Pro’s Perspective
“There’s a fate consumers can carry out themselves ought patch marginal problems with their ranges,” says Paul Berry, owner of Mr. machine of San Antonio. And it starts with cleaning. accept the ignition system: if you can however hear it clicking when you become the knob, it can fair exist blocked by residue from a boil-over or other debris. Burners can also obtain clogged with food—you’ll notice a weak flame. though both parts, Berry says, “scrub out any litter using dish soap and hot water.”

Dishwashers

Biggest Complaints
11 percent: Not cleaning properly
9 percent: Not drying properly
7 percent: Not draining properly
7 percent: Control panel breaking or no working properly
6 percent: Water leaking
5 percent: Dish rack(s) breaking

What Breaks
Inlet valve: Controls the flow of water into the dishwasher.
Wash arm: Sends rippling streams of water into dish racks though washing and rinsing cycles.
Drain pump: Removes foul wash and rinse water from the dishwasher, pumping it into the drain.
Circulation pump: Forces water out of spray wepon and onto foul dishes.

A Pro’s Perspective
You’re no going ought notice most dishwasher problems accurate away, according ought Chris Zeisler, technical service supervisor can RepairClinic.com, an online clearinghouse though machine parts and do-it-yourself videos. “[Your dishwasher] will slowly no wash well until it gets ought the point where you’re fed up and wondering what’s going on,” he says.

A bad Break
The impeller is the divide of the pump that generates the water stress inherent ought invent the spray wepon spin. It can obtain damaged if a seed, pit, or fraction of cup gets into the pump. “You used to expectation ought oration that because immediately because possible,” says Zeisler. That’s because it can direct ought water leaking into the apparatus and out onto your floor. How will you know your impeller is damaged? You’ll hear a loud growling.

Over-the-Range (OTR) Microwaves

Biggest Complaints
5 percent: Buttons above supervise panel breaking or no working properly
4 percent: Excessive noise
4 percent: Failing ought fever provisions adequately
4 percent: Door no locking or closing properly
2 percent: Turntable no turning
2 percent: Exhaust fan no venting properly

What Breaks
Door latches: Redundant latches invent it impossible though the microwave ought flow when the gate is vacant or ajar.
Turntable tray: Rotates provisions though flat heating.
Exhaust fan: Draws cooking fumes across the filters.
Control panel: Operates heating functions.
Magnetron: Creates the microwaves.
Grease filter: Though it doesn’t technically break, this divide gets gunked with grease, preventing it from drawing cooking fumes out of your kitchen.

A Pro’s Perspective
“Anything wrong with the microwave gate is potentially a safety concern, because it can free potentially harmful microwaves,” Zeisler says.

Washers

Biggest Complaints
14 percent: Appearance of mold (front-loaders)
6 percent: Drum no spinning properly or can all
5 percent: Machine failing ought drain
4 percent: Dials, buttons, supervise panel breaking or no working
3 percent: Water leaking

What Breaks
Door or cover switch: Keeps the drum from spinning until the gate or cover is closed.
Drain pump: Removes water from the drum.
Tub bearings: They include the tub and permit it ought rotate smoothly.

A Pro’s Perspective
“Fix any squealing or knocking sounds because immediately because possible,” says Wayne Archer, a technical skillful can Sears family Services, which conducts more than 7 million machine repairs per year. “Continued employ will only effect more wound and a higher mend bill.”

A bad Break
“The electrical supervise board—the brain of the machine—and the apparatus are the most dear parts ought replace,” says Enrique Espinoza Jr., service manager can Nebraska family Appliance, a mend service can Omaha. The supervise board communicates with sensors that lay water volume and temperature, wash time, and drum speed. “It’s can supervise of everything,” Espinoza says. Replacing one isn’t cheap, hence you’ll shortage ought factor can how much you paid though the machine, how old it is, and how much a new reproduction used to cost.

Dryers

Biggest Complaints
10 percent: Clothes no drying
7 percent: Faulty drum rollers, belt, and/or motor

What Breaks
Thermal fuse: Keeps the machine from overheating.
Heating element: A line coil can an electrical dryer or a burner can a gas dryer.
Drum seal: A continual fraction of felt nearly the margin of the drum that allows it ought rotate cabin controlling airflow.

A Pro’s Perspective
“There are same little dryer problems that can’t exist fixed—it’s uncommon ought eat ought completely substitute the unit,” says Archer can Sears family Services.

Editor's Note: This composition also appeared can the August 2019 melody of Consumer Reports magazine.