The DRSNews August 2003 Hello Homeclinic'ers, Welcome to your current issue of the DRSNews! This newsletter is sent monthly, and only by request. If you enjoy it, tell your friends about it. They can subscribe by simply emailing us : drs@xxxxxxxxxx with 'SubscribeDRSN' as the Subject & their first name in the text. You're subscribed as: homeclinic@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of this message. My goal is to supply you with useful appliance information, $-saving DIY tips, an occasional encouraging word, and maybe even a smile from time to time. I've wanted to do something like this for our friends for many years, and am blessed to have the opportunity! Thanks for subscribing! - Dave Harnish, Dave's Repair Service, New Albany, PA Email: drs@xxxxxxxxxx Phone: 570-363-2404 *************************************** In this issue: 1) 'The Power of Eights' - Brightening Dull Digital Displays 2) Fast and Simple Window A/C System Diagnosis 3) Your Refrigerator And 'HHH' Weather - Quick Tips 1) Every once in a while we see a fluorescent digital display that's grown really dim and hard to see, most often in a microwave oven controller. In many cases it's just those digits, or parts of them, on the left side. And there's a quick fix that you might find useful. Displays often need to be disassembled and cleaned to correct this - our homebrew window cleaner works well for the purpose - but it's not an easy job. But if yours isn't as bright as it used to be (be nice - we're gettin' old & sensitive!), especially those seldom used segments of digits on the left, try this. Simply enter '8888' (assuming a 4-digit display) and let it sit that way for the better part of a day. This will 'burn off' impurities that have accumulated on the little-used segments/digits, and the results can be dramatic. Not something you'll see often, but worth a try. Note this doesn't apply to LCD displays, but only fluorescents, whose digits actually glow. 2) Back in March we talked about easy diagnosis of home refrigeration systems using the frost pattern on the evaporator coil. We warned against allowing anyone to poke a hole in the system to attach gauges, etc, to 'check the system', because it's simply unnecessary. This also applies to window air conditioning units, with only a slight difference. If you think yours may have a system problem (leak or restriction, etc), just run it 15-20 minutes and inspect the evaporator (cold) coil. Instead of an even pattern of frost, as in refrigerators, you're hoping to see a nice, even coating of water droplets over the entire coil. This can be hard to see on some units and at some humidity levels. But it's a lot easier to check if you can gain access to the copper return bends at the coil ends, where the moisture shows up much better than in the coil's fins. If the condensation pattern's covering the entire coil, and even the larger suction line headed back to the compressor, breathe easier - the expensive stuff's OK! If there's only a partial condensation coating, or part of the coil's frosted and the rest dry - ouch! You probably have a system problem. I'd still disassemble and double-check that the condenser isn't clogged with dirt, but the above usually tells us it's gonna be expensive! This time of year many of the complaints we get on the smaller units come from sizing errors, so I thought it might be a good idea to reprint our handy-dandy 'rule of thumb' sizing guide: Sq Ft Approx BTUh capacity required 100 3500-4500 200 5000-5500 300 6500-7000 400 7500-8000 500 8500-9500 600 9500-10.5k 700 11k-12k 800 12k-13k 900 13k-14k 1000 14k-15k 1500 19k-21k 1800 22k-24k 2000 23k-25.5k (These figures assume an occupied space above the ceiling; add about ½ size if the ceiling is insulated under an attic, and add a full size if the ceiling is non-insulated. Also, add at least one size if the cooled area includes a kitchen) 3) Here are a couple of quick tips to help keep your refrigerator purring happily along in August's heat, haze, and humidity: Keeping the condenser clean is probably the most life prolonging kindness you can give your refrigerator, and the trusty wet-vac and a long brush make it quick and painless. See the 5/02 DRSNews for more. (BTW, we're hoping to have DRSNews back-issues and article indexes available online soon, but in the meantime, let me know if you'd like to re-read any previous issues, or the article index, and we'll be happy to send them. The Ebook grows ever nearer to completion, but these busy summer months do slow progress down a bit) If you've noticed the fan motor in your freezer section running noisier than usual, or if it's been making any intermittent 'squealing' noises that you've been blaming on the cat, now's the time to replace it (the motor, not the cat... well, yeah, maybe the cat too... <grin>) Fan motor bearings that are failing or badly worn will often 'rattle' and slow the fan down, and when they become 'terminal', they'll often start to squeal - not what you want to hear in July or August. That one little fan motor is responsible for circulating air through both the refrigerator and freezer compartments. And if it's running at all slow, as they say on Hatch Hill when the dog starts to 'bear-bark' in the wee hours, 'better git up an' do somethin' 'bout that 'fore it gits ugly.' And it's surprising how much difference just cleaning those tiny fan blades can make in airflow. It's noticeable immediately if the blade was very dirty. It's really amazing how filthy they can get, running inside a clean freezer! Well, that's about it for this issue. Thanks for allowing me into your inbox again this month. I hope you enjoy reading this little project half as much as I enjoy writing it for you. What great friends we're making through this great medium! Thanks for all your encouragement, guys! We really appreciate you! May the Lord richly bless you & yours, and may He continue to have mercy on America. Warmly, Dave Harnish Dave's Repair Service New Albany, PA drs@xxxxxxxxxx (570) 363-2404 *************************************** 'Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.' - Psa. 32:2 *************************************** The 'Best of the Best' List: 'Retire in 5 Years, NOT 5 Decades' (That's not 'Hype') Don't Miss the FREE 30-Minute Online Seminar: www.QuickRetirementSeminar.com/26556 Spam Terminator - FINALLY! Our Spam's Under Control! Is Yours? http://BlockSpamNow.com/r/6998 There's GOLD in All That Ebay Traffic! http://hop.clickbank.net/?birdguy/silentsale *************************************** The DRSNews is sent by 'opt-in' request only. Your name and email address are held in strictest confidentiality and are never shared with anyone. 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