The DRS News

  May  2002
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In this issue:

1)  Current Whirlpool safety recall details: *Fire Hazards*
2)  Those chirping noises in your dryer vent
3)  "Empty bucket syndrome" - Dehumidifier tuneup
4)  "Love starts on the kitchen floor" - refrig condensers

1) Whirlpool has been keeping us very busy lately with
two factory reworks you should be aware of. One involves
"Micro-hood combinations" (also called  "over-the-range" microwave
ovens), and another includes dehumidifiers bearing the Whirlpool,
Kenmore, and Comfortaire brand names.

The microwave ovens with the problem were manufactured
between 1/98 and 10/01, and have serial numbers beginning with XC. 
If this describes yours, please visit: http://www.repair.whirlpool.com
for further details before you use it again.  You may also register your
unit at the Whirlpool site. 

 

 

 

Both of these products have been deemed a fire hazard – a phrase
manufacturers rarely use - so if you own one of them, please unplug
it until it’s reworked.  Repair is quick, free, and adds an additional
year to your unit’s warranty.  Again, more details and pictures of the
units are posted on the Whirlpool website above.

2)  This time of year we always start to see bird nests in dryer vent hoods (usually House Wrens around here, most often House Sparrows in the city), and needless to say, this does little good for either the health of the birds or that of the dryer (not to mention the smoldering ruins that used to be the house!)   So take a quick walk outside and glance at where that dryer vent exits, OK?

OK, so is it tightly closed and bird-proof, or is there room for the little "winged mice" to chirp on in?  Older hoods, especially those with a single, large "flapper", are notorious for hanging partway open and allowing entry of those tiny dynamos with their piles of tinder.

If your vent hood doesn't appear to be reasonably airtight, I recommend the 3 or 4 louvered vent hoods, as they close tightly, provide low air resistance, look good, and last a good long time.

3)  Even if your dehumidifier is not being recalled, there are some things
you can do at this time of year to make it breathe easier and avoid "empty
bucket syndrome".  If your unit has a filter on the intake - usually in the
back -  this is a quick and easy piece of maintenance with a vacuum cleaner - or compressed air if the filter's removable and can be taken outside and blown out.

If yours is one of many that the manufacturer didn't feel like hanging a filter 
on, your job is a bit tougher.

I must advise at this point: only continue if you are the mechanically
inclined type, and the usual disclaimers are implied right here: don't
electrocute or otherwise harm yourself during this procedure (because
then you wouldn't be able to read this literary masterpiece every month)
- 'nuf said.

Ok, if you're comfortable pulling the cabinet off your dehumidifier, do just
that, and you'll probably see a lot of lint, especially in the condenser (the
second coil the air flows through).  Newer units are more likely to be heavily
clogged with this wonderful stuff due to the invention of "high efficiency"
coil technology, which allows them to completely restrict in just one summer 
season (Yes, it's a massive conspiracy, I know...).

Once the cabinet's off the idea is to remove the offending lint without hearing 
the dreaded "hissing" noise.  Vacuum cleaners or garden hoses are good 
tools for the job.  But guys, if you're married (and would like to remain so) 
it's probably best to take the dehumidifier outside if you use the hose method.
(If you wouldn't, you're on your own - there's probably another newsletter 
for you guys somewhere...<grin>)  Clean those coils, let the unit dry if you used 
water - (insert usual disclaimers here) - and you're almost ready for the 
'stickies'.  One last detail while you're in there, and before you reinstall the 
cabinet: if the fan motor on your unit has oil ports, do the motor a big favor 
and drop a dozen drops of non-detergent oil in them. If yours is a newer dehumidifier, never mind, your motor won't have oil ports.

4) OK, I saved the most fun for last. While we're on the subject of appliances 
breathing easier (do you sense a theme in this issue?), May's the absolute best 
time of year to take a quick look under your refrigerator, at least here in ol' 
Northern PA. By the way guys, if you really want to show her you love her, 
telling her I said *she's* supposed to do this won't cut it!  Get the flashlight, lay 
on the floor in front of the refrigerator, pull off the toe plate, look underneath and say something like, "ah, yes, just what I expected".  Then get out the vacuum cleaner and give that coil a good cleaning.  Crevice tool (the flat one, guys) and a long brush are the way to go. Be careful not to run the vac tool or brush into the fan blade - this is easy to do on some models. And needless to say, never, never do this when the unit's plugged in or when she's not home to see you do it!  I can't guarantee you'll hear her say "my hero!" or anything, but it sure doesn't hurt when we save the girls some dirty work once in a while.

OK, enough marriage counseling - I digress. There are still a few refrig's
out there with condensing coils hanging on the back of their cabinets, and if this 
describes yours, wonderful! You will never have the pleasure of doing what 
the rest of us get to do every year or two. (You can still lie on the kitchen floor 
and pretend to do something useful, but be sure she doesn't read this newsletter).

Seriously, a refrigerator can almost be heard whispering "thank you" after this 
is done (your electric company, however, will whisper something quite different 
because they just lost revenue).

Well, that's about it for this month. Thank you for taking the time to read this; 
I know it got a little long.  I hope it's been of some help to you. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve this little project (make it shorter?), 
or subjects you would like to see addressed in future issues, please feel free to 
email me anytime. My address is below.

May God continue to bless you, and may America turn and bless God again. 
It's her only hope.  2 Chronicles 7:14

Warmly,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
drs@sosbbs.com

Acts 4:12