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Refrigerator Making a Loud Noise? Here's What It Means

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 A fridge is supposed to hum quietly in the background, not announce itself every few minutes with a buzz, click, or rattle loud enough to notice from another room. Before you start worrying about a dying compressor, know that most fridge noises come down to a handful of common, often harmless causes. Here's how to tell them apart. 1. Condenser fan hitting debris If you're hearing a rattling or buzzing sound coming from underneath or behind the fridge, the condenser fan may be spinning and hitting a buildup of dust, pet hair, or a small object that's fallen back there. Unplug the fridge, pull it out, and check the fan (usually near the compressor) for anything caught in the blades. 2. Evaporator fan noise (from inside the freezer) A high-pitched buzzing or whirring sound coming from inside the freezer compartment is usually the evaporator fan, and a bit of noise here is actually normal. But a noise that's gotten noticeably louder or has an added rattle often means th...
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Oven Not Heating? 8 Things to Check

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You preheat the oven, wait the usual amount of time, and it's still cold, or barely warm, when it should be ready to go. Sometimes it's obvious right away, other times you only notice halfway through cooking when nothing seems to be browning. Here are the 8 most common causes, starting with the easiest to check. 1. Igniter has failed (gas ovens) This is the number one cause in gas ovens. The igniter glows to ignite the gas, and if it's weak or failed, it may glow but never get hot enough to light the burner, or not glow at all. If you can see the igniter (usually at the back of the oven floor) and it's not glowing orange when the oven's on, it likely needs replacing. 2. Heating element has burned out (electric ovens) On electric ovens, look at the bake element at the bottom of the oven while it's heating. A working element glows red-orange fairly evenly. If it doesn't glow at all, or you can see a visible break or blister in the coil, it's burned out...
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Dishwasher Not Draining? 7 Things to Check

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 Opening the dishwasher after a cycle and finding a pool of dirty water sitting at the bottom is one of the most common dishwasher complaints out there. The good news is that it's usually something you can sort out yourself in about fifteen minutes. Here's what to check, in order. 1. Clogged filter This is the number one cause by a wide margin. Most dishwashers have a removable filter at the bottom of the tub, underneath the lower spray arm. Food particles, labels, and general grime build up over time, and once it's clogged enough, water can't drain through it. Pull it out and rinse it thoroughly, using an old toothbrush on anything caked on. 2. Debris blocking the drain pump Underneath the filter, there's usually a small chamber where the drain pump sits. Glass shards, fruit stickers, bits of broken plastic — these are classic culprits that slip past the filter and jam the pump's impeller. With the dishwasher unplugged, check this area and clear out anything...
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Dryer Not Drying Clothes? 8 Things to Check

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 The dryer runs its full cycle, beeps to let you know it's done, and you pull out clothes that are still damp, sometimes barely warmer than when you put them in. It's one of the more frustrating appliance issues because the machine seems to be working — it's just not actually drying anything. Here are the 8 most common reasons this happens. 1. Clogged lint filter This is the number one cause, by a wide margin. A lint filter packed with buildup blocks airflow almost completely, and without airflow, a dryer simply can't remove moisture no matter how long it runs. Clean it before every single load   not once a month, every load. 2. Clogged exhaust vent Beyond the filter, the vent hose running from the dryer to the outside of your home can accumulate lint over time, especially if it's long, has multiple bends, or hasn't been cleaned in years. A clogged vent is actually a fire hazard as well as a drying problem, so this one's worth checking even if drying see...
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Washing Machine Door Won't Open? Here's What to Do

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The cycle's finished, you go to grab your laundry, and the door just won't budge. It's one of the more panic-inducing washer problems, especially if you've got clothes you need right now, but the causes are almost always straightforward, and there's a safe way to handle it even in the moment. 1. The door lock hasn't released yet (this is normal) Front-loading washers use a heat-activated door lock mechanism that sometimes takes a couple of minutes to cool down and release after the cycle ends, especially after a hot wash. Before assuming anything's wrong, just wait 2-3 minutes after the cycle finishes and try again. 2. There's still water in the drum Most washers won't unlock the door if there's standing water inside, as a safety measure. If your machine didn't drain properly (check our article on drainage issues if this is the case), the door staying locked is actually doing its job. Run a drain or spin cycle again, or manually drain the...
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Washing Machine Not Filling With Water? 7 Possible Causes

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 You start the cycle, wait for that familiar sound of water rushing in, and... nothing. The drum just sits there, dry, while the machine seems to be running through its motions with no water in sight. It's an odd one because everything else about the machine seems fine — it's just not filling. Here's what's usually going on. 1. Water supply valves are closed or barely open This sounds almost too simple, but it's the most common cause by far. Check the hot and cold water valves behind the machine (usually small taps on the wall) and make sure they're fully open. It's especially common after moving the machine for cleaning and forgetting to fully reopen the valves afterward. 2. Kinked or blocked supply hoses If the valves are open but water still isn't coming through, check the supply hoses themselves for kinks or bends, especially if the machine's been pushed back against the wall recently. 3. Clogged inlet filters Most washing machines have sma...
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Washing Machine Stuck on One Cycle? Here's What to Check

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 You start a load, walk away, and come back an hour later to find the machine sitting there, stuck on the exact same point in the cycle it was at when you left. No progress, no error beeping, just... stuck. It's a frustrating one because it doesn't always come with an obvious clue about what's wrong. Here's how to work through it. 1. The machine is waiting on something it needs Before assuming a fault, rule out the boring explanations first. Many washers pause and wait if the door isn't fully latched, if they're mid-way through detecting the load size, or if they're paused for an additive dispenser (fabric softener, bleach) to release at the right moment. Give it a few extra minutes before assuming it's actually stuck. 2. Door lock isn't engaging Front-loaders in particular won't move past certain points in the cycle unless the door lock sensor confirms the door is sealed. If something's blocking the door from closing fully — a stray sock...
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