Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Home, Cottage or Land Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-12-2014, 03:54 PM   #1
uschisk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NH and Mark Island
Posts: 63
Thanks: 36
Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Default Appliance repair on an island?

Hi, looking for suggestions from islanders re:appliance repair. We have an old propane dryer (12ish years old) which we brought to our camp. It worked perfectly for 4 years, then last fall it stopped heating. So, we need to either fix it or replace it, ideally whichever is most economical. In our regular house, it seems any appliance repair person comes first, then orders parts, and returns to fix it. With 2 island trips, that will add up.
How have others had their appliances repaired? Do you have recommendations for someone willing to come to island homes?
thanks in advance - island living is always an adventure!!
uschisk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2014, 05:05 PM   #2
HellRaZoR004
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Litchfield/Gilford
Posts: 828
Thanks: 233
Thanked 224 Times in 131 Posts
Default

Do a quick google search on the appliance and see if anyone else has had issues and what it took to fix it. It may be very easy to replace a broken/faulty part yourself.

For instance, I had a thermostat go bad on my oven a couple years ago. I ordered the part for $20 and replaced it in 10 minutes.

That's where I would start.
HellRaZoR004 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to HellRaZoR004 For This Useful Post:
TheProfessor (06-12-2014), uschisk (06-13-2014)
Old 06-12-2014, 06:45 PM   #3
Lakeboater
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 391
Thanks: 20
Thanked 130 Times in 93 Posts
Default Thermocouple

With a gas dryer not heating the first thing I would check would be the thermocouple. Usually a cheap part.
Lakeboater is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Lakeboater For This Useful Post:
uschisk (06-13-2014)
Old 06-12-2014, 08:32 PM   #4
codeman671
Senior Member
 
codeman671's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,345
Thanks: 206
Thanked 759 Times in 443 Posts
Default

We had an appliance company out of the wolfeboro area come out to do a fridge once. 2 trips.

As previously mentioned do a search, they are really not that complicated. Check out appliancepartspros.com. There is troubleshooting tips and pros that can help. They carry parts for everything with schematics online. I buy any replacement parts that I need through them.
codeman671 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to codeman671 For This Useful Post:
uschisk (06-13-2014)
Old 06-13-2014, 07:10 AM   #5
uschisk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NH and Mark Island
Posts: 63
Thanks: 36
Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Default Thanks

Thank you all for the suggestions! That is exactly what I did a few years ago when the washer was leaking, and it has been fine since I fixed it, but I was a bit more intimidated by the gas dryer. I will give it a try! Now if only I would have been smart enough to keep the dryer model number at home....
uschisk is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 06-13-2014, 09:34 AM   #6
chocophile
Senior Member
 
chocophile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: 19-Mile Bay
Posts: 109
Thanks: 14
Thanked 30 Times in 13 Posts
Default Call Crown Appliance with Model Number

I've had Keith from Crown Appliance repair two different dryers and a fridge. He is very good.

Get the exact model number and serial number, and call with a detailed description of the problem. Keith arrived with two parts for our dryer; after troubleshooting he discovered what the problem was and one of the parts was all we needed.

His rates are reasonable. I know he works on island appliances because he told me they are some of the oldest appliances he works on since it's hard to transport new ones.

Good luck!
chocophile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-13-2014, 11:28 AM   #7
DickR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 734
Thanks: 4
Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts
Default

With a gas dryer, you have the burner assembly, fed by the gas line, with a valve next to the assembly. This is located usually in front, behind a small removable panel; pull the top side edges to swing the panel down.

You will find an electrical connection to an igniter, and downstream of that will be some sort of flame detection device (thermocouple, or perhaps IR sensor). When you turn on the dryer, power to the igniter will be switched on, and it will glow red hot within seconds. Think of it as a glow plug in a model airplane engine. When the downstream sensor verifies that the igniter did indeed get hot, the gas valve is turned on, and the igniter touches off the gas. If the detector later determines that the flame has gone out, the valve is closed.

Most likely either the igniter or the sensor has failed. I'd bet on the igniter first, and it's easy to remove and inspect. They can be fragile and easily broken. Look along the metal coil that gets hot when power is applied, and you may see a thin break in it.
DickR is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.21130 seconds