Keeping Those Kitchen Appliances Humming

Because the kitchen is the room in most homes that gets the greatest use, it will require the most in repair and upkeep costs. Fortunately, there are many minor repair and maintenance tasks that you can do yourself to prevent problems, and save time and money when they do.

Faucet water pressure: Do you have good water pressure at the kitchen faucet? Very often, the water pressure will drop off at the sink when dirt and debris accumulate in the aerator, the small cylinder at the end of the spout.

To clean it, unscrew the aerator with a pair of pliers and carefully remove the screens inside. Clean the small bits of rust and dirt from the screens with an old toothbrush and then put everything back together and screw the aerator back onto the end of the spout.

Odds are that the pressure will be greatly improved. Follow this same procedure for bathroom faucets.

Gas burners that do not light: One of the greatest annoyances when you are cooking is to have to stop and light a gas burner on the stove because it does not light automatically, even though the pilot flame is burning. This is usually caused by dirt or food particles blocking the pilot orifices on the side of the burner.

To correct this, lift the top of the cook top, prop it up with the metal support arm near the front of the unit and locate the pilot light or “glow coil” used in newer models. It will usually be found halfway between the left or right burners.

Between the pilot light and the burner is a hollow tube, and on the side of the burner where the tube ends is a series of small holes about the size of a pencil point.

Those orifices must be kept clean for the gas to light automatically. To clean them, insert a fine wire or pin several times into each of them. While you are at it, it is a good idea to clean the pilot orifices on the other burners.

Oven door squeaks: A squeaky oven door has to be one of the worst sounds known to mankind. To get rid of it, spray WD-40 lubricant, available at any hardware store, into the hinge bracket holes on the door frame. Open and close the door a few times to work it in. Spray them again if needed.

Keep your refrigerator going: The refrigerator, perhaps the most important appliance in the home, is usually the most neglected from a maintenance standpoint.

A refrigerator works by removing heat from the inside and dispersing it to the outside through a series of coils and fins located either under or behind the box. The coils must be kept free of dust and debris for the refrigerator to work efficiently.

Therefore, it is imperative that the lower grill be removed or the refrigerator be pulled out from the wall and the coils be brushed or vacuumed at least twice a year. If you use a vacuum cleaner, insert the hose attachment as far as possible into the space under the box to remove as much dust as you can.

Dishwasher problems: The most common complaint about dishwashers is dishes not coming out clean enough, or coming out with spots. Before you call the serviceman for this problem, try these two suggestions:

First, make sure the water is hot enough. Check the temperature of the water with a meat or candy thermometer for two minutes. If it is less than 140 degrees, turn up your water heater’s temperature setting. Run the hot water at the kitchen sink until you see steam before you start the dishwasher. This will prevent cold water from entering the tub during the first cycle.

If the water temperature is not the problem, try changing to a liquid detergent. Very often in hard-water areas, such as California, powdered detergents do not dissolve properly, leaving soap deposits on glassware and dishes. Also, use an anti-spotting agent.

Another frequent complaint is excess water left in the tub as a result of a clog in the drain line. Food particles and debris will often lodge in the “air gap,” the chrome knob on the back ledge of most kitchen sinks. To correct this, lift off the chrome cap and unscrew or pry off the plastic lid underneath. The tube ends that you see should be free of any dirt or particles.

If you have a garbage disposer, check the drain inlet from the dishwasher into the disposer for blockage. Push a nail or large screw into the inlet hole on the side of the cutting chamber inside the disposer to remove any food particles, but be sure to shut off the power at the main service panel of your house first.

Garbage disposer: When a garbage disposer stops working, it is usually because the grinding mechanism has jammed with either a food particle or piece of glass or metal.

With the main power to the house shut off at the service panel, insert either a broom handle or disposer wrench (available at most hardware stores for about $5) into the cutting chamber. Force the cutting wheel to move back and forth until it moves freely. Remove whatever object was causing the jam before restarting the disposer.

If your disposer came with a Z-shape hex wrench, insert one end of the wrench into the hexagonal hole at the bottom of the motor. Turn the wrench back and forth until the cutting wheel moves freely.

Most people overuse their garbage disposers, resulting in drain stoppages at the kitchen sink. Even though the machine may be working perfectly, the pipes leading out of the kitchen may not be able to handle the volume of food particles the machine puts out.

To avoid drain problems, use the disposer for small bits of food that fall into the sink when cooking or washing dishes. Put the bulk of the food waste into the trash whenever possible.

If the disposer doesn’t get frequent use, it’s a good idea to turn it on at least once weekly to keep the parts lubricated. Pour an ounce of liquid soap into the machine while it is running, with the water on, to clean accumulated grease and reduce odors.

Caulking the sink and counter: Caulking is the material that forms a seal between the sink and the tile, between the countertop and the back splash, and around the faucet base. It is imperative that the caulking be maintained in good condition throughout the kitchen, and bathroom, too, to prevent leaks under the sink. Before you call a plumber for a leak, try recaulking with Dap Tub and Tile Caulk, available at most paint and hardware stores.

First, clean the old material so it is free of grease and soap residue. Cut the tip of the tube at a 45-degree angle at the point indicated on the tube. With consistent pressure, squeeze a line of caulk about 3/16” wide over the old caulking material.

Be careful to move the tube slowly but with consistent speed. When all the old material is covered, smooth the new material down with a wet finger. Wipe off any excess material with a tissue. Dap can also be used to replace missing grout between tiles and to re-glue loose tiles. Similar caulking materials are available in a varity of colors at most hardware stores.

It is not necessary to remove the old caulk, unless it is loose. The new material will bond better to the old material than it will to the sink or tile.

Cabinet door and drawer problems: Because of normal wear and tear, as well as shifting and settling of the building, most cabinet doors and drawers will need adjustment and repair eventually. If a door or drawer sticks or rubs when closing, check first to see that all the screws are tight. If the screws are secure, try lubricating any contact points with a thin coat of petroleum jelly.

If it still sticks, you will need to sand the contact points. Use coarse sandpaper folded over a small block of wood. Keep sanding and test fitting until the door or drawer closes smoothly. Make sure that none of the drawers are excessively heavy by redistributing items evenly among all the drawers.

For cabinet doors that do not stay closed, replace or reposition the catch. I recommend spring and roller type catches over magnetic catches because of their greater holding power.