DIY: Tackle Home Appliance Fixes You Can Do Yourself with Confidence!

It’s common for appliances to malfunction or fail – but that doesn’t mean you have to call in a professional for repairs. Instead, you can save yourself time and money by being proactive and taking on simple appliance repair tasks yourself. Whether you’re looking to fix the dryer, blender, oven, stovetop, or refrigerator, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at 5 easy appliance repairs you can do yourself.

Dryers are a must-have in any homes, so it’s no surprise that they experience their fair share of issues. A common problem is overheating, and this can generally be addressed by cleaning out the lint buildup. To ensure that no clogs are present, remove the dryer’s lint screen and clean out any build-up beneath it. Additionally, pull out the machine and remove the dryer hose, and make sure it’s empty all the way through. Will you’re disconnecting the hose, also take the time to clean out the vent which connects from the inside to the outside of your home.

If the door on your dryer randomly opens and closes, your first move should be to check the teeth at the top of the door. They might be broken or not making a proper connection, which is an inexpensive fix – all you need to do is order new parts and replace them. Additionally, check the hinges as they may have become bent, causing the door to more easily pop open during tumbling. Replacing the bent hinges should solve the issue.

If you’re trying to make a smoothie and your blender isn’t cutting it, you may need to replace the blades. This is a simple repair that requires little more than a screwdriver and a bit of patience. To start, remove the unit that holds the blades from the bottom of the blender and then remove the existing screws. After that, you can replace them with the new blades and screw the unit back together.

Ovens can be a bit tricky to diagnose but, in some cases, it’s a simple one or more elements that are causing the malfunction. If so, the easy fix is to order a new part and, once you’ve received it, turn off the power to your appliance and then remove the old element. After that you can replace it with the new one.

Stovetops don’t have it easy either, and it’s common for electric burners to malfunction. The good news is that this is an easy repair that requires you to pull out the old burner and replace it with the new one. Make sure that the parts match your stove model and, as always, be extra mindful of safety when you’re working on the appliance.

Finally, refrigerators and freezers often experience issues with accumulated frost. This is often due to a faulty seal, which can easily be addressed by ordering a new seal. When it arrives, gently peel off the old seal and firmly seat the new seal in place. You may want to also take the opportunity to defrost and clean your freezer or refrigerator, as this will help you tell whether the new seal solved the ice accumulation problem.

If your refrigerator or freezer has a screw-in light bulb, you’ll just need to buy a new bulb from your home improvement store and screw it in no problem. With newer models, however, it’s a bit more complex as it can be expensive and complicated to replace the lighting mechanism as an entire unit. One potential work-around is to use a motion-sensed rechargeable magnetic strip light, which can be mounted on the inside top of the fridge and comes on when the door opens.

Finally, if your appliances doors aren’t working the way they should, you may need to switch up the direction. With most models, simply remove the door and hardware, flip them over, and mount them on the other side. Be sure to check online or your product’s manual to ensure you use the right type of hardware depending on whether you need a ‘left’ or ‘right’ fit.

Overall, there are a variety of simple appliance repairs that you can do yourself and save money in the long run. Just remember to take the utmost care when working on any appliance and to thoroughly read through the product’s manual and available online tutorials before beginning a repair task. With a little bit of knowledge and know-how, you’ll be amazed how quickly and easy you can get your appliances up and running again.