APPLIANCE CONSUMER TIPS

PRE-SERVICE CALL TIPS:

There is nothing more frustrating than having a service technician come to your home, turn a knob, collect your hard earned dollars and leave. It seems like you just paid for nothing, and you may even feel dumb! Don't feel that way, you're not dumb. You simply did what many of us do every day. I call it a careless oversight. Here is what you should do before calling a service technician:

Check the power to be sure the appliance is plugged in. If the appliance does not work at all, unplug it, and plug a lamp into the receptacle to check for power. If the lamp works, you know you have power to the appliance. Check the water supply to the appliance to make sure the water is turned on. Check your knobs, make sure the knobs are set properly for the cycle you are using. You will be surprised how many times I have found this to be the problem.

WASHERS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY DOES MY WASHER VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY?

WHAT'S WRONG WHEN I TURN MY MACHINE ON AND NOTHING HAPPENS?

Make sure your machine is plugged in. If the plug is loose in the receptacle try another receptacle, you could have a bad receptacle. Check the receptacle for power by plugging a lamp or some small appliance into the receptacle. If it works there is power. Make sure the water faucets are turned on. If the faucets are off, no water will enter the machine when the machine is turned on.

WHY DOES MY MACHINE LEAK IN THE SPIN CYCLE?

Check the drain port behind the machine. The drain port is where the water drains out (located between the two water supply faucets behind the machine). If water is backing up there call a plumber.

WHY ARE OIL STAINS OR SPOTS ON MY CLOTHES?

Be careful of the things you wash in your machine. Construction or mechanic clothes being washed improperly may cause grease or chemical residue to be left in the machine. Some machines are designed where oil from the transmission can leak from the upper seal and cause oil spots on the clothes, this will require a service technician.

WHY DOES MY MACHINE KNOCK WHEN IT IS WASHING?

Make sure the water level you select matches the load you place in the machine. A low water level with a full wash load can cause excessive strain on the transmission and cause it to knock.

WHY DOES MY MACHINE NOT SPIN DRY?

If you have a rubber drain hose, make sure there are no kinks in the hose.

The solutions listed above may save you a service call. If not and you live in the Atlanta area, here is a list of numbers you can call for service, or call an appliance service company in your area.

REFRIGERATORS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY IS THE REFRIGERATOR SECTION NOT GETTING COLD ENOUGH?

There are usually two controls in the refrigerator section of the refrigerator. One has an off position and the other does not. The control with the off position is the thermostat control and determines when the refrigerator cuts off. The other control, controls the air flow to the refrigerator section (from the freezer), and usually has letter markings. Improper setting of this control could cause temperature problems especially in the summer months. The door gasket could be worn or the door may need aligning.

WHY DOES WATER LEAK IN THE BOTTOM OF MY REFRIGERATOR?

This problem is usually caused by a clogged drain. The solutions listed above may save you a service call.

WHAT SHOULD THE TEMPERATURE BE IN MY REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER?

The temperature in the refrigerator should be 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the freezer should be 0+ or -5 degrees. It is a good idea to keep a thermometer in both the refrigerator and the freezer. With the thermometers, you will know when you are having a problem before it gets too serious. Now that you know what the temperatures should be you can eliminate that problem.

WHY WON'T MY DOOR CLOSE PROPERLY ON MY REFRIGERATOR?

Make sure there is nothing blocking the door way in the refrigerator. Nothing should protrude beyond the door shelves. I have found this to be the case on many service calls. Do not be too quick to buy door gaskets, especially if the gaskets are not torn. A door that is out of alignment will cause the door to not close properly. The solutions listed above may save you a service call.

WHY DOES MY ICE MAKER NOT MAKE ICE?

Make sure the water supply line to the ice maker is turned on. I have gone on many service calls to find the water was turned off to the ice maker for some reason or another. Make sure the water supply line, especially if its plastic, has not been pinched or kinked; especially if the refrigerator has been moved.

DISHWASHER - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY DOES MY DISHWASHER LEAK?

It is generally assumed that when a dishwasher leaks, the door gasket is bad. However, this is not always the case. There are two more common reasons for leaking that you can check before calling a repair company.

Check the spray arm at the bottom of the dishwasher and make sure the arm is not blocked. Silverware can sometimes fall through the silverware basket and block the spray arm preventing it from rotating. When this happens, water can spray directly on the door causing the dishwasher to leak. The bottom line here is to make sure nothing gets below the dish racks that can block the spray arm, and prevent it from rotating. The type of detergent you use in your dishwasher can cause you problems if you are not careful. Liquid detergent is very concentrated, and if not used with caution, can cause the dishwasher to leak.

WHY ARE MY GLASSES SPOTTED?

Check the silverware basket, make sure none of the silverware is blocking the spray arm and preventing the arm from rotating. You should also make sure no pot handles extend below the dishwasher rack causing the spray arm to be blocked. You must be careful how you arrange your pots in the dishwasher. I have made many service calls to find out that the upper spray tower was blocked, which prevented the water from reaching the glasses properly.

WHY DOES MY DETERGENT DISPENSER CUP NOT OPEN PROPERLY?

The dispenser cup will not open properly if the detergent is not being rinsed properly from it. This may be due to conditions discussed in the previous problem. Since sprayed water coming from the spray arm during the wash cycle must clear the detergent from the dispenser.

OVENS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY DOES MY SURFACE UNIT GET RED HOT EVEN THOUGH IT IS SET ON LOW?

The switch to that burner is probably defective you should call a service technician.

WHY DOES MY SURFACE UNIT INDICATOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN THOUGH ALL OF MY SURFACE SWITCHES ARE OFF?

Each switch has a indicator circuit that goes through the switch and connects to the indicator light. If the indicator circuit in any one of the four switches does not open when the switch is turned off, the indicator light will stay on. You should call a repairman to diagnose and replace the defective switch.

WHY WON'T MY OVEN COME ON?

There are two common reasons why the oven fails to come on:

Check the clock to make sure it is set to manual after time baking or if you suspect it has been moved. If others use the oven, ask if anyone moved the clock. I have gone to many homes and found that the clock needed resetting. The bake element may be burned out .

WHY IS MY OVEN TEMPERATURE OFF BY 50 - 100 DEGREES?

Check your temperature knob. If the knob has excess play, replace the knob. If this fails call a technician.

The solutions listed above may save you a service call. If not and you live in the Atlanta area, here is a list of numbers you can call for service, or call an appliance service company in your area.

WARNING :

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR YOUR ELECTRIC RANGE IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN. ELECTRIC RANGES CARRY HIGH VOLTAGE AND DRAWS HIGH CURRENT AROUND 15 TO 20 AMPS. ON THE AVERAGE IT ONLY TAKES 3 AMPS TO KILL YOU!

BURNERS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

WHY WON'T THE BURNERS ON MY RANGE IGNITE PROPERLY AFTER CLEANING THEM?

Water may have gotten into the burner orifice holes during cleaning. Dry the burners thoroughly before reinstalling them or allow them time to air dry before using them.

WHY DO THE BURNERS ON MY RANGE CONTINUE TO TICK EVEN WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF?

Water may have gotten into one of the micro switches and shorted it out. If this happens, the circuit to the spark module control will be closed even though the burner is turned off. Disconnect the power to the cook top and give the cook top a few hours (3-4 hours for starters) to dry out the switches. Then plug it in and try again, if this does not work, call a service technician.

WHY DOES MY OVEN SMELL LIKE GAS WHEN I TURN IT ON AND DOES NOT HEAT PROPERLY?

The most common cause of this problem is a dirty burner assembly. Call a service technician for service. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE BURNERS YOURSELF!

WHY DO I GET A BANG WHEN I TURN MY OVEN ON?

The most common cause of this problem is a dirty burner assembly. Call a service technician for service. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE BURNERS YOURSELF!

The solutions listed above may save you a service call. If not and you live in the Atlanta area, here is a list of numbers you can call for service, or call an appliance service company in your area.

CAUTION:

GAS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. PLEASE CALL A QUALIFIED REPAIR SERVICE FOR ADJUSTMENTS OR REPAIRS.

ELECTRIC RANGES - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY DOES MY SURFACE UNIT GET RED HOT EVEN THOUGH IT IS SET ON LOW?

The switch to that burner is probably defective you should call a service technician.

WHY DOES MY SURFACE UNIT INDICATOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN THOUGH ALL OF MY SURFACE SWITCHES ARE OFF?

Each switch has an indicator circuit that goes through the switch and connects to the indicator light. If the indicator circuit in any one of the four switches does not open when the switch is turned off, the indicator light will stay on. You should call a repairman to diagnose and replace the defective switch.

WHY WON'T MY OVEN COME ON?

There are two common reasons why the oven fails to come on:

Check the clock to make sure it is set to manual after time baking or if you suspect it has been moved. If others use the oven, ask if anyone moved the clock. I have gone to many homes and found that the clock needed resetting. The bake element may be burned out.

WHY IS MY OVEN TEMPERATURE OFF BY 50 - 100 DEGREES?

Check your temperature knob. If the knob has excess play, replace the knob. If this fails call a technician.

The solutions listed above may save you a service call. If not and you live in the Atlanta area, here is a list of numbers you can call for service, or call an appliance service company in your area.

WARNING:

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR YOUR ELECTRIC RANGE IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN. ELECTRIC RANGES CARRY HIGH VOLTAGE AND DRAWS HIGH CURRENT AROUND 15 TO 20 AMPS. ON THE AVERAGE IT ONLY TAKES 3 AMPS TO KILL YOU!

APPLIANCE TIPS:

My dishwasher won't drain.
If your dishwasher won't drain try starting it over again. If this doesn't work call the office.

My dishwasher is not gettines clean.
This could be caused by overloading. Try taking some of the dishes out and do not cover the power tower cleaner located in the center of the dishwasher. If you put too many pots and pans on the bottom rack the water won't be able to get to the dishes on the top rack.

My refrigerator is not getting cold enough. Make sure that the thermostat has not been turned down and the door is shutting all the way.

ELECTRICAL TIPS:

My power is off.
The first thing you should check is the breakers. If that doesn't work call the office.

My A/C or Heat isn't working.
Same as above you should check the breakers first. Some units also have a switch located on the wall next to them that if in the off position will cut all power to the heater and A/C.

My lights aren't working.
If the problem isn't the breakers it could be the light bulb. Some light bulbs can be bad when you get them and may not last very long.

PLUMBING TIPS:

My toilet is stopped up.
Have you tried unstopping the toilet with a plunger? If you do not own a plunger you can purchase one from any hardware store.

My tub or sink is stopped up.
You can use a plunger to unstop a sink. If you have double sink you will need to put the stopper in one side while you plunge.

When a tub is stopped up it's usually caused by hair stuck in the top of the drain. If this happens you can pull the hair out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

The water in my sink or tub won't shut off.

If the water in your sink, tub, or toilet won't shut off you will have to call the office to have it fixed. But you can shut the water off by turning the cutoff valve, located under the sink or behind the toilet, clockwise until the water stops running.

SMOKE DETECTORS:

We inspect all smoke detectors when you move in and when we perform winter safety checks. During the year, you are required to inspect the detector by State Law to insure it functions properly. If it is chirping, you need to change the battery. Periodically test the unit by pressing on the button on the bottom of the unit and insuring that a loud buzz is emitted by the unit.

ELECTRICAL

Circuit breaker trips: A circuit breaker or GFI (ground fault interrupter) shuts off because of a direct short, or overloading the line on the breaker or GFI. Usually, the breaker trips due to an overload. No, you cannot run computers, heaters, curling irons, and a stereo at the same time and not trip a breaker. When this happens, turn off all appliances that are attached to the circuit (you can deduce this by identifying the items that went off). Then, physically reset the tripped breaker. Carefully turn on a reasonable number of appliances. If this fails to work, please call us and we will check out the breaker. If the circuit is in a bathroom, you must reset the GFI (ground fault interrupter). This is a special plug with a couple of buttons that prevent you from being electrocuted when working around water. Just press in the reset plug after turning off appliances. As with a circuit breaker, call us if this procedure does not work.

Light Bulbs: Turn off light switch before changing a light. Replace incandescent bulbs with 60 Watt incandescent bulbs or fluorescent screw in replacements only. Bulbs over 60 Watts may damage the wiring and this will be charged back to you if there is damage to our property. If you need to change a fluorescent tube, call us and we will replace it free of charge. We do not want you to hurt yourself changing a fluorescent tube.

Protection of computers and expensive electronics: Use a surge protector with quick clamping time. This is a surge protector designed to quickly detect a surge or poor line cleaner with bleach and a lot of hard work will restore the tub and shower units to acceptable condition. The best way to avoid the mess and hard work is to wipe the tub and shower out after each use. Body oils, soap and conditioners cause the discoloration on the fiberglass. By simply wiping out the tub and shower walls, the buildup never starts.

Bathtubs draining slow: Usually this is caused by a buildup of soap and hair. Plunging sometimes works, but first you should use a wire (a coat hanger is ideal!). Use a pair of pliers and bend a slight hook on the end of the wire. Push it into the drain, pushing and pulling to dislodge the clog of hair. The wire should go in at least 18 inches.

Sink clogs: The double sinks most apartments have utilize plumbing that has a very small diameter union where the two drains join. This is after the disposal outlet, and the wrong kinds of food will clog it necessitating a service call at your expense. To prevent this, NEVER place artichokes, carrots, potato peels, and other vegetables that are fibrous. Small change and beer caps do not get along with disposals either and will cause a clog.

Sink Disposal Jams: If the disposal jams and stops running, turn off the switch. Then, remove all of the debris you can from the disposal with your hand. Use a flashlight to attempt to locate the reason for the blockage. Common items that jam disposals are olive pits, peach pits, coins, broken glass, and fish tank rocks. After removing the items, try to turn the disposal by hand. If it will not turn, call your manager and we will supply a disposal wrench free of charge for your use. This wrench is placed in the bottom of the disposal in the center of the unit and allows you to turn the spindle in either direction. If you are able to free the spindle, be sure to reset the disposal reset switch on the bottom of the disposal. Then, you can try to turn on the disposal. If these procedures do not work, please call in a work order.

Sink leaks under the counter: The under sink plumbing is fragile, and you must take care to not disturb it when storing items under the sink. If you do, a leak can easily be caused. If this happens, please call us immediately so we can address the issue. Until we arrive to repair the sink drain, please put a bucket or pan under the leaking area to prevent damage or water accumulation that could cause mold or mildew.

Toilet cleaning and maintenance: A chlorine tablet purchased at the market will take care of organics that might leave your toilet dirty looking. These products, however, do not address hard water stains. The only way to clean these stains is with a pumice stick or an abrasive cleanser.

Toilet Clog FAQ: the number 1 cause of toilet clogs is due to flushing an excessive amount of toilet tissue at one time. The waste line under the toilet has a pipe size of 3” and it is possible for this line to easily clog if too much toilet paper is used at one time.

Toilet clogs: We will loan you a plunger. Carefully place the plunger against the toilet drain, obtain a good seal, and plunge several times. Hopefully the water level will drop. If this does not work after several attempts, let us know and we will auger the toilet, and if all else fails, we will contact our plumber.

Toilet keeps running: The water valve that fills the toilet or the toilet flapper is worn out or the chain is bound up. Remove the toilet tank lid and look inside and make sure the chain is not bound up. If the chain is hanging loose and is not bound, you probably have a bad flapper valve. In the event of a bad flapper valve, please put in a work order and we will repair your toilet. This will save thousands of gallons of water, so be sure to call us as soon as you notice this.

Toilet overflows without warning: This could mean a mainline clog. Contact your upstairs neighbors immediately and ask them not to use their toilets, sinks, bathtubs, showers, washer or dishwasher. Then, call the emergency number immediately and we will handle the problem immediately.

Toilet Overflows: Shut off the water supply immediately! Kneel down and you will find the shutoff to the left of the toilet against the wall. Turn this valve clockwise to shut off the water. The rising water in the bowl should stop.

Toilet takes a long time to fill: The valve is not open all the way or the valve is calcified or clogged with debris from the water system. Be certain that the valve is all of the way open, turn it counterclockwise until it stops. If this does not remedy your problem, just put in a work order and we will repair the problem.

TELEPHONE AND INTERNET

Telephone FAQ: We provide one workable phone line per apartment, and most apartments can accommodate more lines. When you order service, call us if you have no dial tone. If it is the first line, we will address the issue to insure you have a working circuit in your apartment. For additional lines, we will work with you to help you save money on additional wiring. The phone company is VERY expensive and we want to help you save money.