Is the appliance properly powered?
It seems so obvious that we often don’t take the time to double-check. But simply moving the appliance could have caused the power cord to unplug itself or become loose. If the power cord is properly plugged in, look at the electrical panel: someone may have cut the power before doing some renovation work, or a power surge may have tripped a circuit breaker.
For a washing machine or dishwasher: check that the water supply pipes are connected correctly and that the valves are in the open position. This is the kind of oversight that can happen during major renovations or seasonal cleaning!
Are the controls working properly?
Through carelessness or by accident, hitting the wrong electronic or mechanical control can be enough to disrupt how an appliance functions.
- If the fridge or freezer feels too hot or too cold, check that the thermostat is at the recommended temperature.
- On an oven with electronic controls, pressing the wrong button may delay its activation for later (rather than turning on the timer).
- On a washer, dryer or dishwasher: are the dials or indicators set to some kind of strange cycle you’ve never used before?
- Some appliances have a Lock Mode, which is used to temporarily disable the electronic controls for cleaning purposes. Make sure you (or your children) didn’t activate it by mistake!
Is the door closed?
If something prevents the door of a freezer or fridge from closing tightly, the appliance will continually try to cool down to counteract the hot air that’s seeping in. The result: a layer of frost covering everything or maybe spoiled food. Other appliance features can be locked when the door is not perfectly closed, such as an oven’s self-clean cycle.
Are all parts firmly in place?
Make sure that any removable parts are firmly and tightly set in place. A typical case: after removing the spiral element from an electric range to clean it thoroughly, the part may have been only loosely reinserted.
Is an error code displayed?
Consult your user’s guide or do an online search by entering the error code, make and appliance model number (an alphanumeric code found on the data sheet). You’ll learn more about the nature of the problem and whether it’s something you could easily fix yourself (such as too much suds after being overly generous on soap) or a more serious problem requiring a technician’s visit.
Does the appliance need to be cleaned?
Regular maintenance of your appliances helps keep them working properly, extends their lifespan and reduces the risk of damage. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your oven thoroughly or vacuumed the coils of your fridge, maybe a quick cleaning could fix the issue?
Does it still not work after checking all of the above?
Unfortunately, it looks like your appliance really needs some professional help. Contact our team to schedule a technician’s visit!