In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast we start by discussing a question about ice makers not making ice and then get into some recent projects in our “What are ya doing lately” segment.

Ice maker machine not making ice

We received this question from a fan named Mary

Do you have any recommendations on getting the ice machine on our Kenmore side-by-side working again?

Well, when we recorded this episode we didn’t have any more details.

Mary – The problem is often that the defrost cycle doesn’t defrost enough to sufficiently melt ice buildup in the water inlet tube. I have heard some people recommend to put all your stuff from the refrigerator and freezer, put it into coolers, unplug the appliance, and then let it warm up, above freezing, for a couple of hours or over night. This thawing process will fix your ice maker IF the problem is a frozen supply line. Some others will use a hair dryer to warm up just the frozen spot. The problem with the hair dryer is you need to figure out where the freeze is! The manual defrost process is pretty simple and it doesn’t cost you anything to try. If everything mechanically and electrically seems sound then give it a shot.

What else could it be? There is an arm that shuts the ice maker on and off. That arm could be stuck in the off position, push it down and you may be in business. Other problems may be more involved such as bad motors or circuitry.

Mary – send us some more information on your problem (comment on this post) and we will try to help you troubleshoot further.

This project involved "building a box" around some pipes for a radiator on the floor above. A traditional 2x wall was built, drywall and then trim.

What are you doing lately?

Brian

Brian recently completed an aeration project. Renting an aerator is a great way to improve the health of your lawn. When done in conjunction with over seeding you give your lawn a great jump on a healthy next growing season.

Paul

Paul also did some aeration and over seeding. The Handyguys then discussed a project they did for a local pre-school. It involved boxing in unsightly pipes and matching new trim to old in a 100-year-old Victorian.

Related shows:

1. GE Refrigerator Not Cooling Troubleshooting and Repair
2. Modern Appliances Stink, Quality Of New Appliances
3. Accessorizing a lawn tractor video – Aeration, hauling, bagging and more

The Handyguys discuss why modern appliances suck stink and briefly discuss how to fix a whirlpool GS6SHEXNL00 side by side refrigerator.

The Handyguys are NOT appliance repairmen

First off – The Handyuys are NOT appliance repair guys. We are just a couple of handy homeowners who have attempted a couple appliance repairs ourselves. Please don’t call us to come out and repair your appliances. We don’t know everything about all appliances. If its a common issue we have have seen it and can give you some advice but generally we will tell you to continue your research elsewhere. Google is your friend. Try googling a model number. If you got here because of a google search then maybe this info will be useful.

Ranting about modern appliances

The Handyguys rant about whats wrong with modern appliances. So, why do modern appliances stink? More water cleans dishes better, more water gets cloths cleaner, more powerful motors last longer but use a little more energy.  Does it really use less water and energy when you need to run your dishwasher twice because it didn’t get your dishes clean the first time? Same with your clothes washer. If your clothes smell musty and you need to do that extra rinse or a full second wash does that really contribute to being green? It certainly contributes to frustration.

Brian then discusses his front loading clothes washer. It vibrates like crazy. Yes its level and balanced. The repair guys has been out three or four times to replace parts that have been broken due to the vibration but he cant fix the cause of the vibration. The manufacture says my house isn’t build strong enough!!! Hmm, the house is built above code and the floor has been reinforced just to prove its not the house. The manufacture says it should be on concrete and I should move it to the basement or garage and out of the laundry room. Crazyness. This was a very expensive washer from a top manufacturer. Bosch, if you are reading this feel free to respond and prove to us that new appliances DON’T suck stink.

Repairing a Whirlpool Gold GS6SHEXNL00 refrigerator

The Handyguys discuss how to fix a Whirlpool Gold side by side GS6SHEXNL00 side by side refrigerator. We will be posting a video soon. What were the symptoms? No controls, light wouldn’t work. When the bulb was removed everything worked. Some other people have similar issues with this series of refrigerators. Fortunately its an easy fix. Essentially it involves replacing a circuit board. The board is in the bottom of the fridge and accessed from the back. We describe the process in the podcast but the video will show you all the steps.

Defrost or not to defrost

Does it ever make sense to not buy a frost free freezer? YES. Yet another modern “convenience” that causes freezer burn and hard ice cream. Listen to the podcast to find out why.

Related shows:

1. Whirlpool Refrigerator Repair
2. Troubleshooting Ice Maker Not Making Ice And Lawn Aeration
3. GE Refrigerator Not Cooling Troubleshooting and Repair

Handyguy Paul Takes apart his Dishwasher to clean out the basin.

The Handyguys planned to tackle two issues in this episode. They began with Paul’s Dishwasher problems and hoped to talk about the Handyguy’s electrical toolkit. However, the dishwasher took up the entire episode and the electrical toolkit discussion got pushed back to another show (ok… we sometimes record these episodes out-of-order so the electrical toolkit discussion was published with episode #70).

So what is the problem with Paul’s dishwasher that is worth talking so long about? Well, no one likes an expensive dishwasher that has problems doing the one thing it is supposed to do. Cleaning Dishes! Handyguy Paul’s wife was not happy about this arrangement. Upon removing glasses from the dishwasher each morning, she was finding them covered in a cloudy white film. Typically this is due to hard water and is prevented with a rinse aid product. In this situation, rinse aid was not addressing the problem.

To make matters worse, the dishes on the top rack were also not being cleaned very well. In fact, it appeared that the upper spray arm above the top rack was not spraying much of any water onto the dishes.

So what was the solution to the white haze (or is it etching?) on the glasses? And how do you fix these problems. You can find the answer by listening to our podcast or watching our little video. Or how about both? Check it out.

In addition, the Handyguys discuss other common dishwasher problems.

While you are here, check out the Handyguys recent trip to Husqvarna to test some chain saws and outdoor equipment:

Thanks to erento for sponsoring this post – Whatever the magnitude or complexity of the project you wish to undertake, online tool hire will provide you necessary tools and equipment.

Related shows:

1. Foamy faucets, cloudy dishes, frog tape giveaway, toilet troubles and bad gas cans
2. Ideal Water Pressure, Fixing A Damaged Wall And V-Jaw Pliers
3. Modern Appliances Stink, Quality Of New Appliances

The Handyguys discuss DIY appliance repair resources. In this episode Brian stops Paul from going too deep into his DIY washing machine repair without doing a little more research on the Internet.  Listen for the full story.

What Kind of Appliance Parts Can I Buy Online?

If you are planning any do it yourself appliance repair projects then you are likely shopping around for the best place to purchase your replacement appliance parts. Traditionally, some appliance parts were carried at your local hardware store or appliance store. If the store didn’t have what you were looking for then you could special order the parts that you needed. Often, that was expensive and the parts could take some time to come in leaving you without a working refrigerator, washer, dishwasher or other useful appliance.

Today there is another option. There are now internet websites that carry a large selection of parts for your household appliances. The best part about shopping internet websites is the large selection of parts that they carry and can ship to you immediately.

Below is a sampling of some common parts that are carried by online replacement stores.

• Washer parts: Pumps, Couplings, Agitator Kits, Knobs, Valves, Motors, Switches, Belts, Hoses and Gears
• Dryer parts: Heating Elements, Lint Filters, Belts and Rollers, Thermal Fuses, Thermostats and Blower Wheels
• Refrigerator parts: Water Valves, Defrost Heaters, Thermostats, Defrost Controls and Timers, Shelves, Drawers and Bins, Doors, Handles, Door Gaskets, Compressors and Relays
• Oven parts: Igniters, Bake and Broil Elements, Knobs, Grates, Drip Bowls, Burners, Valves and Thermostats
• Dishwasher parts: Dish racks and Baskets, Rollers, Wash Spray Arms, Gaskets, Door Seals, Pumps and Valves

These parts are carried for a large variety of manufacturers, like Whirlpool Parts, and many appliance models. It is worth checking an online appliance store if you have an appliance that is hard to find or older than 10 years since the online store might have the part that you need and save you the expense of replacing the entire appliance.

Although online replacement stores carry large amounts of inventory, it is still very simple to find the exact part that you need. Many websites allow you to search by appliance model number, replacement part number or description.

So, if you have an appliance that needs repair it is worth trying to find the part that you need at one of the online appliance stores that carry many parts.

The Handyguys talk about AppliancePartsPros.com
A few key features of  AppliancePartsPros.com are

• Live Help available on site via Live Chat, Toll Free Lines, or Email
• Very Fast Shipping with over 91% of in-stock orders delivered the next day
• Low Price Guarantee
• Over 1 million appliance parts in-stock
• Repair Forum available for those DIY’ers who need a little extra help.  The forum has thousands of questions and answers by professional repair technicians sorted by appliance type.
• Detailed model breakdowns and photos for help finding the correct part.  Example…http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=256714
• Experienced Staff with years of appliance parts knowledge
• They carry parts for all the major brands including Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, GE, Fridgidaire, and more.  They also carry parts for the high-end, harder to find brands like Bosch, Dacor, Thermadore, and more.
• Website allows to search by Model Number, Part Description, or Part Number

The Handyguys would like to thank AppliancePartsPros.com for sponsoring this episode.

Related shows:

1. Modern Appliances Stink, Quality Of New Appliances
2. Water Heater Repairs and Basic Maintenance
3. Energy Star Fraud And Basement Egress Requirements