Your kitchen is the hub of your home – where you cook, entertain, help with school assignments, and care for your family. With so much going on in one space, it’s normal for appliances, plumbing and fixtures to need repairs and special attention over the years. Here are some common kitchen problems and advice on fixing them, from our Fort Worth real estate agents.
Problem #1: Fridge or Freezer Isn’t Keeping Food Cold
If food is going off faster than usual, frozen items aren’t solid and drinks aren’t as cold as they usually are, then your fridge or freezer isn’t working as it should. First, check your temperature settings – they may have been adjusted by accident or set to a lower temperature if you are experiencing very hot weather.
Secondly, close the doors firmly and see if there are any gaps in the soft rubber seal around the door. If the seal gets old or damaged, then it won’t hold the cool air in properly. You’ll also notice there’s no resistance when you tug a door open, because the seal isn’t able to create that gentle vacuum that holds in the cold. Luckily, this is an easy and inexpensive repair.
Lastly, look out for leaks, drips or odd noises – this may indicate that your condenser requires repairs.
Problem #2: Smelly Fridge or Freezer
If food has spilled or gone off in your fridge or freezer, the smell can be terrible! First, turn off your unit and throw out any spoiled or rotten food. Then remove all shelving and bins from the unit. Clean these thoroughly with washing liquid or antibacterial soap. While you do this, let the unit stand open. Clean the inside of the unit thoroughly with washing liquid or antibacterial soap. Once dry, replace all the bins and shelves and set the temperature according to the manual. If you are still worried about smell, place an open container of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in the fridge to absorb any remaining smells.
Problem #3: Inconsistent Oven Temperatures
It can be frustrating when your oven starts burning or undercooking food, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready to be dumped.
First, buy an oven thermometer (they are widely available and cheap too) and set your oven to the temperature you’d cook at. Once the oven has reached that temperature, leave it for a few minutes and check the oven thermometer to see if the temperature is accurate. If it isn’t, it may just need a quick recalibration by a qualified electrician.
Problem #4: Dripping Faucet
This is probably the most common household repair job around the world! A dripping faucet is incredibly annoying and wasteful – and luckily, they’re also an easy thing to fix.
Firstly, turn off your water supply to that faucet. Unscrew the faucet screen (where the water spurts or sprays out) and clean it thoroughly. Then replace all the washers (small plastic or rubber rings) with the same size washers from your local plumbing supply. This should stop all your leaks.
If it doesn’t, check your drain lines and plumbing pipes inside the cabinet under the sink. Any sign of water or mold indicates a leak lower down that a plumber can repair quickly – before it damages your cabinets.
Problem #5: Garbage Disposal Not Working
If you’re struggling with getting your garbage disposal to work, start by pressing the reset button and trying again. If it’s still not working, get a handful of ice blocks from the freezer and send them down the disposal.
If that still doesn’t work, then you may have a piece of cutlery or food that is blocking the disposal. First, unplug the disposal so that it is fully turned off and look down the disposal with a torch to see if you can spot the issue. Then reach in with a slim pair of tongs or needle nose pliers to remove the object.
Problem #6: Dishwasher Leaving Dishes Dirty
There are a couple of reasons why your dishes can still be dirty after running them through the dishwasher. The most common reason is that the filter in the dishwasher is clogged with old food particles, so just removing that and cleaning it, then running a full cycle on the empty machine and cleaning the filter again should fix the issue.
Make sure to scrape dishes clean before loading your dishwasher to prevent this from happening again. If the issue is that your glasses and dishes have watermarks, your detergent or water supply could be the problem. Try a new detergent for hard water, use a rinse aid, or consider installing a water softening system. This may be a good investment, as hard water will wear out your appliances faster and can affect the condition of your clothing and linen.
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