Wednesday, June 20, 2012

How to Take Apart and Reassemble Your Major Appliance

Before you can get inside an appliance and figure out what in the world might be wrong, it is important to know how to correctly and safely take apart and reassemble it. Luckily, though large appliances may have vastly different functions, they are often held together in similar ways.

Prior to starting, there are a few crucial things to remember.

  • Unplug the appliance – working with a live appliance is a recipe for disaster. If you ever have to check something that involves returning power to the unit, plug it in, stand back, then turn it off before resuming work.
  • Keep track of your work – you don’t want to be left with a confusing mess of screws, bolts, and wires. Keep notes on where each component came from, and use containers to keep track of the small screws.
  • Label all wires – these can notoriously all look the same by the end of a repair.
  • Go piece by piece – not all repairs require full disassembly. If you think the malfunction may have occurred in a easily accessible spot, than start there and move on if the appliance is still not functioning correctly. 
1. Beginning 

Start with the most apparent points of connection, such as the knobs and fasteners. These may be screwed on, held with pins, spring clips, springs, or simply push-fit and can be removed by pulling. Fasteners may be hidden from view, but that does not mean that they cannot be disassembled. One common occurrence is the spring clip.


2. Getting Closer 

To remove a spring clip, use a putty knife and put the blade of the knife into the seam where the top panel hits the side panel. If you find an obstruction, this is most likely a spring clip. Push the blade directly against the clip, while pushing up on the top panel and it should pop out with ease.

Fasteners may also be hidden behind a variety of objects, such as a nameplate, logo, plug, or behind the appliance. Carefully remove the part that is hiding the fastener, and then remove the fastener itself. If something really seems like it is a force fit, gentle application of a heading pad may make the disassembly easier.

3. While It’s Apart

Once you have removed all panels and fasteners, take the opportunity of the opened appliance to vacuum the inside, lubricate any motors, and make sure electrical contacts are clean. You would be surprised how much a thorough cleaning can do. The most common problem in washing machines is a buildup of lint.

4. Reassembly

Finally, put together everything based on your detailed notes, and test the appliance to make sure it is in working order. If anything malfunctions or seems off, go back over your repair and make sure that all components are back exactly how you found them.

If the appliance still malfunctions, you may need to have a repair technician come take a look at your unit.

Occasionally, units will need to have parts replaced to bring them back to working order. If the part is no longer available for purchase, try CoreCentric Solutions’ Return for Repair service, or visit CoreCentric's eBay Store to breathe new life back into your old unit! Our fast turnaround time of 24-48 hours gets your oven back up and running in no time while avoiding a costly appliance replacement. Call 866-737-2244 for more information on our Return for Repair service.