The beer fridge in the garage that occasionally gives you a small shock

I was reading Popular Mechanic’s “11 Shocking Home Electrical Safety Tips” when I came across this one:

The beer fridge in the garage that occasionally gives you a small shock

Cause: Many an old refrigerator will have a tiny leakage current because of
worn-out insulation on its internal wiring, especially if it has a defrost circuit.
This phenomenon is well-known and can even be quite dangerous when the refrigerator is
placed on an electrically conductive concrete floor, especially a floor that's damp with condensation.

Solution: Replace the refrigerator with a new energy-conserving model.

I can’t say that this has ever happened to me, but it might help some folks out there.

Related Links

Refrigerator Parts in Canada

Garage Refrigerator Kit

CBC provides radio band for new technology to help home appliances save energy

By Peter Rakobowchuk (CP) – Jan 8, 2010
The CBC and Toronto-based e-Radio-Inc. have unveiled a new technology that harnesses the power of FM radio to activate household appliances at energy-saving times of the day.

The made-in-Canada technology uses a micro-chip receiver which is installed in a home appliance to receive FM signals.

"That's what's inside a programmable thermostat, inside a dishwasher, inside a dryer," Jackson Wang, the CEO of e-Radio, said in an interview Friday.

"It's a remote-control device that can switch them on and off."

Read this entire article at

Kenmore Dishwasher, no longer works after loud noise

Question: I have a Kenmore UltraWash Quiet Guard Deluxe dishwasher, model number 665.13723k601. Over the past couple of weeks it started making a loud noise every time it was used. Then the other day it stopped working. Would anyone know what part I should replace (pump or motor?).

Answer: If it just quit entirely you may have blown the fuse on the board. The part number is W10258275 but you are still going to need to replace either the chopper assembly, part number 8268383 (see photo)or the motor, part number 8534942 to alleviate your noise problem.

You can test the motor to see if that is the problem, but you will need a voltage meter to do so. You will have to check to see if there is incoming power to the motor to determine if it is defective. I do not know if the manufacturer provided an ohm reading on your motor windings in the service pack (should be located behind your lowest kick-panel). You will need the schematic to see which wires need to be tested for voltage to the motor.

More Help: Kenmore Dishwasher Repair Help

Kenmore Dishwasher Parts that ship to Canada

BC Hydro Power Smart Appliance Rebate Program ends in March

Time is running out on the BC Hydro Power Smart Appliance Rebate Program which ends March 31, 2010.

BC Hydro customers and residential customers of the City of New Westminster have until the March deadline to mail in their appliance rebate forms in order to receive up to $50 back from the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR labeled clothes washer or refrigerator and $25 back from the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR labeled freezer.

Visit http://www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/appliance_rebates.html to fill out a rebate form or for more information.

If you are looking for help buying the most energy-efficient clothes washer, refrigerator or freezer, visit the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website at www.cee1.org for a handy PDF print out listing of energy efficiency appliances by brand and model number.

What if you cannot afford to buy a new appliance? There are still ways you can save money with your old appliances, here are a few tips:

• When using your oven's self-cleaning cycle, use it right after you have already cooked a meal, that way you are not heating up a cold oven.
• Wash your clothes in cold water, use an indoor clothes line or hanger to line dry most of your laundry items.
• Clean the coils on the back or underneath your refrigerator for greater energy savings.
• Make sure your dishwasher is full before you turn it on. Use only the air dry setting instead of heated air dry.

For more energy saving and appliance maintenance tips, visit apwagner.ca.

Goldstar and Comfort-Aire dehumidifiers recalled due to fire hazard

Consumers should immediately shop using the following recalled Goldstar and Comfort-Aire 30-pint portable dehumidifiers due to a fire and burn risk involving a malfunction in the unit’s compressor.



Manufactured by LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Co., of China, the company has received 11 reports of property damage incidents allegedly involving the dehumidifiers including arcing, heat, smoke, including four fires that spread to the building structure and involved significant smoke/water damage. No injuries have been reported.

The dehumidifiers are white with a red shut-off button, controls for fan speed and humidity control and a front-loading water bucket. “Goldstar” or “Comfort-Aire” is printed on the front. The model and serial numbers are printed on the interior of the dehumidifiers and can be viewed after the water bucket is removed.

Check the chart below to see if your dehumidifier is being recalled:



Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dehumidifier, and contact LG to determine if it is included in the recall and return it to an authorized LG service center for a free repair.

For additional information, contact LG toll-free at (877) 220-0479 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. CT on Saturday for the location of an authorized LG service center for the repair, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.30pintdehumidifierrecall.com

The dehumidifiers were sold across Canada and the U.S. from January 2007 through June 2008 at Home Depot, Walmart, and Heat Controller Inc. for between $140 and $150.

GE Profile Dishwasher does not drain

Question: At the end of the dishwasher cycle, my GE Profile Dishwasher, model number gsd5940d00ss, has one to two inches of water left in the bottom of the dishwasher. What is causing this?

Answer: Check for a restriction in the pump, drain hose or where the drain hose connects under the sink. Check the drain hose for kinks too.

The dishwasher drains on a timed cycle. If the water is being restricted, the dishwasher runs out of time before it can get all the water out.

If the drain line isn’t clogged or kinked this part is most likely causing your problem

http://www.apwagner.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=165100

To check it, remove the screen/filter in the back of the tub. Once done you will see the part I am talking about, remove it (it simply unscrews). This part has a plunger on a spring. When you press up on the plunger it should completely stop up the hole in the top of the part and if not, replace it.

GE Dishwasher Parts in Canada

Banish foul smells from your dishwasher

New Affresh™ Dishwasher Cleaner is your once-a-month solution for smelly Dishwasher Odors.

Simply add an Affresh tablet to your dishwasher and Affresh will penetrate and dissolve any foul odors from your dishwasher, leaving your dishwasher smelling fresh for up to a month. Each package contains 6 tablets and is recommended by such notable dishwasher makers as Amana, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Whirlpool.

Order Affresh™ Dishwasher Cleaner in Canada through APWagner.ca.