An Introduction to Kitchen Appliances

As a society we've come to rely heavily upon major household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. It isn't until they stop working that we realize just how important they are to daily life. Fortunately, most major appliances run repair-free for a long time, but every once in a while one will break down.

Calling in a repairperson can be expensive--before you do, it's always nice to know that the problem isn't something that you could fix yourself in a few minutes. Beyond simple maintenance, however, there are not many repairs you can make yourself unless you are a skilled do-it-yourselfer and have the right tools.

When you buy new appliances, purchase ones that have a record of reliability, which you can determine by checking consumer reporting magazines. Be sure your new appliance has a strong warranty--there's nothing like having your broken washer repaired at "no charge."

Before you begin any repairs on an appliance, check the owner's manual. If you can't find the manual for a particular appliance, try contacting the manufacturer on the Web and requesting a new one for your make and model.

If an appliance doesn't work, first be sure that it's plugged in. Also check the circuit breaker or fuse that serves the appliance's circuit and make sure that it hasn't flipped or blown. You can check to see if the receptacle is energized by plugging in something that works--a small lamp or a circuit tester.

Also check you owner's manual to see if the appliance itself has an overload fuse or reset switch. If it does, check to see if it needs to be reset.

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