Appliance Repair Caroll Gardens
Imagine this. You walk into the kitchen or bathroom and, as you have done thousands of times before, you reach for the handle of the faucet and turn on the water. Have you noticed anything? Probably not. The water flows; you turn it off and go on your way. Because you use the faucet everyday, what you don't notice is that gradually the internal parts of the faucet gain a buildup of minerals from the water, and the parts wear. The internal parts become stiffer and the handle becomes more difficult to move. Imagine it as arthritis in your faucet joints.
You can save a lot by repairing your faucet yourself. Don't be afraid of plumbing. With a few common tools and some guidance, even the novice can accomplish the task and become a hero to your spouse or friend. Following, I have listed a few simple steps to help you repair a single lever faucet. This article only covers the repair of a one-lever faucet because the steps to repair this faucet are unique, and I do not have the space to explain how to fix a multi-lever faucet.
Please read the entire article before beginning the repair process. You can refer to the steps once you have started the repair to refresh your memory.
Steps to repair a single lever faucet
1) Determine the brand and type faucet you are repairing. If you can locate the brand imprint, that will help you a lot. There are over 100 different brands and makes of faucets, and most of them take different parts. If you can't find a name on the faucet, a great help is a digital camera. Take a picture of the faucet and show the picture to the plumbing supply store clerk. Odds are, when an experienced clerk sees the picture, he or she will know immediately what brand it is.
2) Once you have the brand of the faucet or a picture, you can buy the repair parts. You can either go to the big box type stores or a local hardware; they each have their own particular strong points. Describe the symptoms of the sick faucet to the clerk. Is the handle difficult to move? Does the faucet leak water around the base of the spout? (Kitchen faucets are notorious for this.) The clerk will know what parts to give you, and you may not have to return to the store multiple times because you are missing the right parts. If you are repairing a Moen brand faucet, it is a good idea to purchase a "puller" tool to remove the old cartridge. There are different types of cartridge removal tool. You can choose from a plastic model that is inexpensive or a metal one that is more expensive. For the homeowner, the cheaper plastic one should work just fine. You can accomplish the faucet repair without one, but using the removal tool makes life a LOT easier. When I am making repairs, saving a few pennies on parts is the least important thing to me. I would rather shop at a store that stocks a variety of high-quality parts and has knowledgeable and helpful staff.
3) TURN THE WATER OFF TO THE FAUCET. Did I stress this enough? Turn off the water before you disassemble the tap. There are usually small valves in the back of the sink cabinet. They can be brown or chrome. If you are like every other American I have ever worked for, the sink cabinet will be packed full and those valves will be buried under every kind of cleaning and shampoo bottle imaginable. Toss in a hair dryer, makeup, spare soap and toothpaste and...well, you get the idea. Find the valves by digging through the debris. If the valves are difficult to turn, you may need to turn off the water at the main shut-off valve of the house. If you need help in finding the main water valve, check out the article on how to do this at my website.
4) Once the water is off, close the drain stopper on the sink. This little trick was taught me by another plumber over 30 years ago. The reason for this? The reason for this is that you will most likely drop a small gasket or screw while disassembling the tap. The closed stopper will prevent the small part from going down the drain. Brilliant. You can find detailed illustrations of the parts and the disassembly of the faucet on the manufacturer's website.
5) Remove handle. There is often a removable plastic lid which covers the handle screw. Remove the Good Old Appliance Service lid by prying it off. Some handles are attached with a set screw at the side of handle, not the top. With a little investigation, you should be able to tell.
6) Once the handle is removed you will see some type of device which secures the replaceable parts in place. Sometimes this is a horseshoe shaped metal clip that slides out. Sometimes it's a round cap with a threaded hole that unscrews. Remove the retaining clip or cap.
(Some brands of faucets have a surrounding sheath that encircles the horseshoe clip. This tube needs to be removed first, and then the horseshoe shaped ring can be slid out. To remove the sheath either it is designed to unscrew or to be pulled off by grasping with pliers and pulling toward you. After the sheath is removed grasp the tab of the horseshoe clip with pliers and carefully slid it out by pulling it to the side. These parts should be easy to remove.
7) Now, you should see a plastic or brass cartridge that can be removed by pulling it out. This is the time to use the removal tool if this is a Moen tap. Follow the instructions on the tool packaging. Be careful not to damage the faucet body itself during this process. Some faucet brands use a brass or plastic ball instead of a cartridge. This part can be removed by lifting or pulling it out. You should see two small rubber springs and seats under the round ball. Remove them. Remove them.
It is a good idea, once the old cartridge or parts have been removed, to use a torch and look inside the faucet to see where the old part was. You can see any debris or broken pieces from the old cartridge. If so, remove it with needle nose pliers.
9) You can now install the new parts and work your way backwards through the steps as you reassemble the faucet, remembering to replace all retaining clips and rings. If you have any spare parts, take the faucet apart and find out where they belong before turning on the water. Take your time, and you'll be fine
This is the most crucial step. After the faucet is reassembled, the water is back on and you have tested it to make sure it works well, show off your work to your spouse or friends. Watch their reactions when they are amazed at how well it works. Now YOU are the hero and not the plumber that you would have paid to make the repair.
The author does not accept any responsibility for the work performed by his readers. The plumbing repair articles are meant to be a helpful general guide for the homeowner.
Sunbeam electric mattress pad is one of the best choices when it comes to increasing comfort during cold winter seasons. This mattress pad distributes heat evenly over your mattress, so you feel comfortable and warm even without blankets.
These pads are fitted and placed on top of the primary mattress. There are electric circuits inside responsible for the distribution of heat. It comes with a handheld controller that allows consumers to easily access its temperature settings. But because of its electric functions, faults and failures are likely to happen.
How to fix your Sunbeam electric mattress pad
Step 1: Check the pad first if its heating performance has been compromised. Folding it three times is the best way to achieve this. You can then feel the circuit in the pad. Use your hands to check if the cord is properly connected to the module of the mattress topper. Make sure it is not loose. After checking the connection, plug it into the outlet. Turn it up to the highest setting. If it doesn't produce heat after a few minutes, it means something is wrong with your mattress topper. You may also want to check if the outlet is working properly. Plug another appliance to the outlet and test it if it is working properly.
Step 2: The pad will not produce heat when the power is out. You may have to restart the pad to test its heat-producing ability. Turn it off and unplug it. Repeat Step 1.
Step 3: Check the plug if one of the blades are damaged or twisted. Usually, this is the cause of the problem. The blades must be straight. Make sure the blades fit the outlet perfectly. Some people jam the plug into the outlet, even if it doesn't fit. Call an electrician to set up a new outlet close to your bed. Make sure the fit is just right so you don't force the plug and damage the pad.
Unplug and turn off your mattress topper when you aren't using it. This will prevent the cords from deteriorating quickly. If the mattress does not heat up after seven minutes, turn it off right away. It means the cord came off from the module or the plug is not working properly.