The DRSNews, November 2005: GFI's and Gas Ranges, How to Clear Dishwasher Oversudsing

The DRSNews
November 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!

By Subscription Only
© 2005 Dave’s Repair Service, All Rights Reserved

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A Special Welcome to all my new subscribers!

In this issue:

1) GFI Receptacles and Gas Ranges - Incompatible!
2) Clear Dishwasher Over-Sudsing With Your Cheese Grater

1) In our last issue, we talked about some of the pros and
cons of GFI (ground fault interrupt) circuits when connected
to appliances, especially dishwashers.

I recently ran into another 'con' that you should be aware
of, especially if you own or are installing a gas range.

This one never occurred to me, but the instructor at our
semi-annual Whirlpool training school pointed it out last
week. Seems he'd run into it the 'hard way' in a brand new
apartment complex with dozens of new ranges plugged into
GFI's - and none of them worked!

I haven't seen this yet, but I know I will and I'll bet you will
too, sooner or later.

If your gas range's top burners are spark-ignited - and nearly
all of them are today - the high voltage spark that's generated
by the solid state module is routed to ground. Guess what a
GFI 'thinks' of that?! You're right - they hate it, and can trip
very quickly, shutting down the range.

So, we live and we continually learn! Don't connect your gas
range to a GFI, or a circuit under GFI protection.

(If you happen to have one of the 'old reliable', older ranges
that uses pilot flames, you can disregard this - they'll work fine,
even when the power's off)

2) Ever used hand-washing detergent in your dishwasher by
mistake? Didn't do it a second time, right? <grin>

(I once had a situation where a dear elderly soul filled her
dishwasher's rinse aid dispenser with Dawn® detergent, and
it took me two trips and two cleanups to realize it!)

The quantity of soapsuds produced by just a tiny amount of hand
wash detergent is amazing! Even leaving some behind when
pre-cleaning dishes can cause suds problems when the machine's
run.

To clear that tubful of foam, first grab the ol' Wet-vac and vacuum
out the worst of it. Then start the dishwasher, let it fill with
water, open the door, and drop in a tablespoon of vegetable oil and
a small handful of Ivory® soap shavings that you've gotten from
running a bar of Ivory across a cheese grater, and let the machine
wash for a few minutes. This may have to repeated, but it's a fast
way to get this job done (Remember to wash the cheese grater
thoroughly before using it on your cheese!)

I'm sure you already know this, but detergents formulated for
dishwasher use include a dozen or so different components, but all
are designed to be 'low-sudsing' and won't cause this problem.

The 'bottom line' is, never use detergents intended for hand washing
in your dishwasher (or you'll be scrambling to find this copy of the
DRSNews!)

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Thanks again for inviting me into your inbox!

As always, if you have any topics you’d like to see discussed
in an online article, let me know and I’ll do my best to oblige.
And don't forget those testimonials! Many thanks if you've
already sent yours in! I'm posting them just as fast as I can!

God bless you,

Dave Harnish
Dave’s Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
www.DavesRepair.com

''I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of
the United States, and also those who are at sea and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe
the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving
and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the
Heavens.'' - President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863
(entire proclamation:
http://www.classicallibrary.org/lincoln/thanksgiving.htm )

Psalm 107:1

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