What To Do When Cold Water Is Not Working In A Washing Machine
If your cold water isn't working in your washer, the clothes in your laundry could struggle and shrink. Here's what to do before calling the professionals.
Read MoreJames Clark
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Hunker uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding home improvement and design, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert takes and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By James Clark
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How To Repair Torn Rubber
Fixing torn rubber is easy with rubber repair tape or rubber repair glue. Learn how to quickly repair cracked or torn rubber with one of these affordable, easy-to-use products.
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How To Troubleshoot A Staple Gun
A bent or out-of-place staple can render a staple gun temporarily useless until you clear the problem. Open the tool, remove all visible staples and look for stray staples blocking the path of the rest of the staples. Remove problem pieces with needlenose pliers to unjam the staple gun.
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How To Remove Burglar Bars
Learn how to remove burglar bars from home windows without causing property damage. Burglar bars are often screwed into masonry or cement, or the screws have rusted so firmly that care must be taken to prevent damaging the windowframe or allowing water to seep into the holes where the bars are installed.
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How To Bypass The Thermostat For A Refrigerator That Is Not Cooling
Refrigerators contain a built-in thermostat with a control inside the appliance for adjusting the temperature. The wheel or knob control is typically situated inside the refrigerator at the back, while the thermostat is within the appliance cabinet behind the control.
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How To Take Apart Sterilite Drawers
Sterilite manufactures plastic storage units with pull-out drawers in a variety of sizes. The storage units snap together in a few minutes with interlocking parts and can be disassembled just as quickly. No tools are required to put together or dismantle Sterilite drawers and storage components.
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How To Troubleshoot The Blower On My Gas Fireplace Inserts
Some gas fireplace inserts are equipped with a blower motor to direct warm air into the room. The blower motor supplements the heat produced by the gas burners by pushing air with a fan. The blower is typically wired to the thermostat to activate when the fire reaches a certain temperature.
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How To Check The Furnace Gas Valve With A Multimeter
Furnace gas valves are wired to an electronic component known as a solenoid, which receives signals from the thermostat control. This causes the gas valve to widen or narrow in front of the pilot light to respond to changes in building temperature.
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How To Troubleshoot A Gas Barbecue Grill That Doesn't Light After A Rain
A gas barbecue that does not light after the rain may have a wet igniter, clogged burners from water and grease getting into the ports, or the fuel supply may have simply run out during the last cookout. Gas grills are relatively simple appliances with minimal mechanical parts.
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How To Troubleshoot The Water Not Heating Up On A Bosch Dishwasher
Bosch dishwashers draw hot water from the household tank and use a heating element inside the appliance to sustain water temperature. The element also activates during the powered dry cycle to dry dishes faster and reduce spotting.
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How To Clean A GE Potscrubber Dishwasher Filter
The GE Potscrubber is a discontinued line of dishwashers that use a filter screen in the interior bottom of the appliance to block food debris from entering the pump and potentially clogging the kitchen drain.
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How To Fix A Squeaky Door On A Dishwasher
A squeaking sound when a dishwasher door opens or closes is typically the result of metal or plastic parts rubbing together. The hinges on virtually all dishwashers move vertically into and out of the left and right sides of the appliance at the base of the door.
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How To Enter The Diagnostic Mode On A Frigidaire Refrigerator
Frigidaire refrigerators are equipped with an electronic control panel to adjust various settings on the appliance, including the temperature in the refrigerator and the freezer.
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How To Figure Out What Size Chuck Key Fits My Craftsman Drill
Craftsman is the brand name for a line of tools sold by Sears, including power drills. A power drill has a chuck on the front which adjusts with a chuck key to hold drill bits of varying sizes. The round key has serrated teeth like a gear. The key fits into the key lock on the side of the drill chuck.
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Adjusting The Gas-To-Air Ratio On A Heat-N-Glow Fireplace
The gas-to-air ratio on a Heat-n-Glo fireplace determines flame intensity and color over and around the faux logs used to simulate a real, wood-burning fire. This mixture of air and fuel adjusts by turning the valve inside the control panel of the fireplace.
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How To Get Scratches Off Washing Machines
Many washing machines are coated with an epoxy-enamel paint for a smooth, durable finish. Sharp objects raked across the appliance can leave scratches, a common problem when moving the washing machine.
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How To Hide Cables In Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding helps cut the time and expense of maintaining your home's exterior but the siding can also be used to conceal certain types of cable. For example, coaxial cable for satellite or cable television service can be hidden under vinyl siding for a cleaner appearance.
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How To Charge A Traeger
The Traeger smoker uses an electric heating element to burn pellets of compressed wood, creating aromatic smoke to cook and flavor meat. Pellets are available in a variety of wood types, such as hickory, mesquite and apple.
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How To Convert A Weber BBQ Into A Fire Pit
Over time, your old Weber BBQ may lose its shine or perhaps show signs of rust. Maybe you just bought a new grill, but wonder if there might be some life left in that Weber kettle grill.
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How To Work A Fireplace In An Apartment
A fireplace in your apartment can help save on heating bills during the winter while providing a relaxing focal point in your living room or den. Viewing and listening to a crackling fire can be a pleasant way to unwind.
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How To Remove Dye From Concrete
Spilled dye on concrete creates a clean-up challenge. The coarse and porous surface of concrete is difficult to scrub, while dye by its very design is tenacious and resistant to fading. The solution involves a combination of mineral spirits and spraying the concrete surface with a power washer.
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How To Cap A Copper Refrigerator Water Line
If you plan to disconnect and remove your ice maker either for repairs or permanently to make more freezer room, capping the line that supplies water to the freezer helps prevent leaks.
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How To Connect And Disconnect An Electric Oven
Electric ovens have different power requirements than the other appliances in your kitchen, such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave. The latter run on 120-volt circuits, but your electric oven requires 220 to 240 volts, the same power consumption as an electric clothes dryer.
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How To Light A Propane Heater
Propane heaters connect to a tank of liquid propane (LP) fuel with a hose and regulator to manage the gas pressure. Although heaters come in different sizes, with varying features and heating capacities, the units start in essentially the same way. An electric ignition system offers push-button lighting.
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How To Mix Different Ohm Speakers
An ohm is a measurement of electricity impedance that a device such as a stereo speaker will put up to resist current flow. The higher the ohm rating, the more power that is needed to drive the speaker. Amplifiers and audio receivers deliver the power to drive your speaker system.
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Dryer Smells Like Smoke
The smell of smoke coming from a clothes dryer typically means clothing lint has become trapped in the exhaust vent, the lint screen or within the vent hose itself. Hot air from the dryer can quickly raise the temperature of lint, causing it to smoke and smolder.
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How To Remove A Gas Grill
Gas grills typically use either natural or liquid propane (LP) gas for fuel. Both grill types connect to the gas supply with a flexible hose terminating on each end with rotating brass connectors. Grills that use LP tanks are also equipped with a regulator to control the pressure of the gas to the grill burners.
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