Troubleshooting
Here’s a few things you can try before booking a service call with us
Washing Machines
My washing machine is leaking
This could have a whole page of it’s own… but here’s a couple of quick fixes.
Firstly check the door seal for twists or rips but most of the time although it appears that the water is just pooling on the floor or perhaps dripping from the door it’s actually leaking from the soap drawer. You can run a few cycles with some paper towel taped just under the soap drawer to see if it get’s wet while the cycle is on. You’ll usually notice more towards the end of the cycle.
If your washing machine is leaking from the soap drawer the first thing to do is remove the drawer and clean it out, remove the blue syphon cap and clean around that area and through the tube. Don’t forget to give the top of the dispenser housing a good scrub as dirt here can cause the jets to force water forward causing the leak.
It’s also worth noting that recently we are getting an increase in call outs where liquid tablets are the cause of the leak. Liquid tablets on short cycles don’t have enough time for the detergent to be diluted and then during the spin cycle the suds come back up through the soap drawer. Try switching to powder and see if this resolves your issue.
If your washing machine isn’t leaking from the soap drawer and your door seal isn’t damaged it’s time to book a repair.
My washing machine has stopped full of water
This is often a blocked filter. Most washing machines have a small panel at the front that can be removed with a flat screw driver. Behind that panel you will see a small plastic cap that can be unscrewed and the blockage removed. Have a few towels handy as you will likely get some water escape when you remove the filter.
My washing machine won’t start a cycle
This is quite a common issue but can be caused by a number of things. Check that your door is fully closed and that no clothing is hanging out of the washing machine that could cause the door to be held open. Also look for a small key symbol or padlock in the display which could suggest that the childlock is active on your washing machine which would also prevent a cycle being started
My washing machine won’t complete the spin cycle
If the drum is turning slowly but never building up into a full spin then this is a sign of an unbalanced load. Usually you only have 1 item in the washing machine or a heavy item with smaller items. If this is the case then you should just need to add a few more items to the wash load and start a rinse and spin cycle.
If the drum isn’t turning at all then you will need to book a repair.
My washing machine smells
This is usually caused by using liquid based detergents (ie liquid tablets, liquid or gel) and a combination of cool washes. This causes mould to grow within the tank and door seal.
If your door seal is mouldy then this will need to be replaced but if it isn’t mouldy you can follow the advice below
Change your detergent to powder and do weekly hot washes. The easiest way to do this is to keep your towels separate to the rest of your washing and wash them on 60. This isn’t a quick fix as it taken time for the smell to appear so will take a little time for the smell to go away but rest assured this will improve the situation.
My washing machine won’t turn on
This is a favourite of ours. Check the switches on the wall above your work tops, all around the kitchen not just near the dishwasher. There is often a grid switch for the dishwasher, washing machine, fridge etc that has been turned off when somebody has pushed the microwave back or moved the fruit bowl.
Ovens
My oven won’t turn on
Does your oven have a clock? This fault is common after a power cut and when the clocks have changed. Your oven may be set to automatic. Have a look at the display and see if it is flashing or if there is a small A showing in the corner. If this is the case then your clock just needs to be set correctly and your oven should function as normal.
My oven isn’t heating up
This is likely a heating element fault. While this is the most common fault we get reported it isn’t by any means the easiest to resolve. Some ovens have just one element in the main oven but often ovens have 3 elements in the main oven and it can be difficult to ascertain which of these is at fault without electrical testing equipment.
We would recommend booking a repair if this is the fault with your oven
Refrigeration
My fridge isn’t cold but the freezer is fine
This is a very common fault – While your fridge freezer may be frost free there is a panel at the back of your freezer that you cannot see behind. When this area gets even just a small amount of ice around it the appliance cannot force the cold air from your freezer into the fridge.
This is easily fixed by defrosting your appliance. Turn it off at the mains or on the thermostat, keep both doors open and pop a couple of towels inside the freezer as you will likely get some water in the bottom as the appliance defrosts
Keep the appliance like this for at least 24 hours
Then turn the appliance back on and most of the time your problem will be resolved
The door isn’t staying closed/no vacuum
This can be a couple of things sometimes a faulty seal but more often the seal is broken by ice in the freezer or a bottle/pizza box etc holding the door open slightly in the fridge. Check for objects where you wouldn’t normally have them as well as checking that the seal on the door is intact.
My Fridge/Fridge Freezer isn’t cold
Can you hear the appliance running/humming? If you can’t hear the appliance making any noise at all then this could be a thermostat fault
If you can hear the appliance running all of the time but it still isn’t cooling effectively then this is often a system fault.
In either case you will need to book a repair with us to find the best solution
My freezer sounds like something is catching
This is quite a common fault. Behind the panel at the back of a freezer is a fan that forces air up into the fridge. This fan can get a build up of ice around it and that’s where the catching noise comes from.
This is easily fixed by defrosting your appliance. Turn it off at the mains or on the thermostat, keep both doors open and pop a couple of towels inside the freezer as you will likely get some water in the bottom as the appliance defrosts
Keep the appliance like this for at least 24 hours
Then turn the appliance back on and most of the time your problem will be resolved
There is water in the bottom of the fridge
Have a look at the back of your fridge and you should see a drain channel with a hole at the lowest point. This hole could have a small stick in it or sometimes nothing. Either way, if you wiggle the stick that’s there or poke something flexible like a cable tie down the hole this should clear the blockage and the water will drain onto a small tray on top of the compressor where it will then evaporate away.
Dishwashers
My dishwasher won’t turn on
This is a favourite of ours. Check the switches on the wall above your work tops, all around the kitchen not just near the dishwasher. There is often a grid switch for the dishwasher, washing machine, fridge etc that has been turned off when somebody has pushed the microwave back or moved the fruit bowl.
My dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly
Check for objects in the bottom of the dishwasher that could be stopping the spray arms moving freely, you’d be surprised how well a fork can blend in with the bottom of the dishwasher.
The tablet isn’t dissolving/the dishwasher is cold
This is usually a heat related issue or a PCB fault. Usually still repairable but we do recommend you arrange a service call on these situations
Defrost Advice
While your fridge freezer may be frost free there is a panel at the back of your freezer that you cannot see behind. When this area gets even just a small amount of ice around it the appliance cannot force the cold air from your freezer into the fridge.
This is easily fixed by defrosting your appliance. Turn it off at the mains or on the thermostat, keep both doors open and pop a couple of towels inside the freezer as you will likely get some water in the bottom as the appliance defrosts
Keep the appliance like this for at least 24 hours
Then turn the appliance back on and most of the time your problem will be resolved
