Refrigerator Door Seals Replacement | http://www.western-appliance.com

Refrigerator Door Seals Diagnosis and Repair
Refrigerator door seals may be one of the most misunderstood parts of the refrigerator.  Ask a layman or do-it-yourselfer about why his refrigerator is not functioning or warming properly and the first thing he may say after “I don’t work on compressors” is “but let’s check the door seals."   The door seals rarely go bad or have a problem over the lifetime of the refrigerator.  The only door seals I’ve seen go bad are when dogs or cats chew or sharpen their claws on them, or kids that like to climb or hang on the refrigerator door.  A really bad door seal problem is most likely to show up as a defrost problem or frost buildup on the interior of the freezer.  This is due to humid air getting into the refrigerator.
Door seals are magnetically held to the door frame to keep the doors closed.  Unless the seal is shredded or you can physically see a gap between the seal and the door frame with the door closed, there is no reason to suspect a door seal problem.
To replace the refrigerator door seal, you should have a nut driver of the proper size.  A cordless drill-driver is better choice.  A magnetic tip will prevent you from going crazy trying to hold the driver, the screw and the seal at the same time and allow you to complete the job faster.  There are lots of screws holding the seal on so be prepared.  Remove the screws from no more than two sides at a time.  One side at a time is better.  The idea is to prevent the plastic inner door liner from drifting around.  If you have to re align it, it can be a long, frustrating process.  The new seal will fit in the same way as the old one came out.
You are much more likely to have a door alignment issue or warping.  There’s not much you can do with a badly warped refrigerator door except to try to warp it, or bend it, back into shape or replace it.
With the door closed, measure the gap around it, top and bottom, left and right.  Check if the door edges and the refrigerator edges are parallel.  If the measurements indicate that the door is badly out of alignment, re align it by loosening the hinges slightly and shifting the door around.  It may take a few tries to get it aligned properly.
Remove anything that might be obstructing the door seals.  Sometimes the kick plate or drawer will get in the way.  If it’s metal, you may be able to bend it slightly to solve your problem.
For more information on this appliance repair articles please visit our website.  For Appliance Repair needs in the Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Kuna, Star areas please visit our homepage or call us at 208-599-1086.

Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho | Dishwasher Not Cleaning

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Dishwasher preventative and maintenance tips that can extend the life of your dishwasher and help prevent unnecessary repairs. Below you will find some of my best recommendations for proper dishwasher operation.

Make sure that the dishwasher's is installed level. This is very important and a reliable and experienced installer should know how to install this properly. For the homeowner however, please pay special attention during installation. A properly leveled dishwasher will prevent the racks from falling forward as you're loading dishes and will also allow proper drainage.

Make sure the drain hose is properly routed to the air-gap. If there is no "air gap" mounted on the sink then it must be routed and mounted to the top of the underside of countertop before routing to the garbage disposal drain port. This will prevent food particles from entering the drain hose which will eventually form a clog.

Add a cup of white vinegar through the dishwasher to remove residue and odors. Do this at least once per month. You can also add a dishwasher detergent additive to achieve the same results.

Always run hot water in the kitchen sink before starting the dishwasher. This will purge the hot water line and allow hot water to enter the dishwasher at first cycle. The water entering the dishwasher should be 140 F to properly clean the dishes and to prevent food buildup and soap scum. Most dishwashers have an interior heater element which is not of high enough wattage to heat cold water to the proper cleaning temperature.

Clean the door gaskets regularly with a soap solution to remove all food debris and hard water deposits. Rinse and dry. This area is especially important for cleaning since a proper seal is important to prevent leaks.

Clean and inspect the spray arm holes, lower and upper. Remove any food particles, plastics, or toothpicks that may have lodged there. Tweezers or needle-nose pliers may help to remove such items.
Make sure you do not overload your dishwasher. If the spray arm jets are obstructed by plates or other dishes then the dishes will not be cleaned properly. You may also get spray directed to the areas near the door seal and cause leakage.

Do not add more than the recommended amount of detergent. Excessive detergent will cause suds which will seep out door cracks and cause leakage. It may also cause unwanted damage to hardwood or vinyl flooring.

Add detergent additive such as LemonShine to remove unwanted hard water buildup and help cleaning. Phosphates are being phased out of all dishwasher detergent so additional cleaning power may be necessary.

Always use the "heated dry" option on the dishwasher. Most major brand dishwashers including Whirlpool, Kenmore, GE, Frigidaire, and Maytag will have this option. Wet dishes and a wet damp area such as the inside of tub, does not allow enough air flow to prevent mildew buildup. Eventually unwanted mildew and mold will build up on the inside of the sump components and also on the inside walls of the tub.

Article was written by Rich C. of Appliance Repair Meridian Idaho Western Appliance. We repair washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, ranges, washing machines, cooktops, and most major appliances. We repair the following appliance brands: Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, GE, Frigidaire, Sears, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Roper, Magic Chef, Amana, Hotpoint, and more. We provide appliance repair in Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Star, and Kuna Idaho. For immediate appliance repair help please visit http://www.western-appliance.com
208-599-1086