Disclaimer

General information only

Everything on runsagain.com is published in good faith for general information. It isn’t professional, technical, electrical, plumbing or legal advice, and reading a guide doesn’t create any professional relationship between us. Appliances vary between brands, models, years and countries, and so do homes, water supplies, wiring and local rules. Use the guides as a starting point, and check the details that matter with your manual or the manufacturer before you act on them.

I don’t know your appliance, your skills or the condition of your home, so you’re responsible for deciding whether a check or repair is safe for you to carry out. If you’re unsure at any point, stop and ask a qualified technician. Stopping halfway is always better than forcing a part or guessing.

Your safety comes first

Home appliances combine mains electricity, water, heat, pressure and heavy moving parts. Every RunsAgain guide opens with a safety box, and these rules apply to every guide on the site:

• Disconnect the power. Unplug the appliance, or switch it off at the circuit breaker, before you remove any panel, cover or filter beyond those meant for everyday cleaning. Switching it off at the control panel isn’t enough.
• Turn off the water. Close the supply taps (faucets) before you disconnect hoses, and keep towels and a shallow tray ready, because hoses and filters hold water.
• Let it cool and release pressure. Wait for heating elements, motors and drain water to cool. Never force open a pressure cooker, or a washing machine door that’s still locked.
• Never bypass a safety device. Door locks, thermal fuses, pressure switches and overflow sensors exist to prevent fires, floods and injuries. Don’t bridge, remove or disable them, even “just to test”.
• Beware of stored charge. Some appliances, including mini split outdoor units and microwaves, contain capacitors that can hold a dangerous charge after they’re unplugged. RunsAgain guides don’t ask you to open these parts.
• Lift safely. Washing machines and refrigerators are heavy and can tip over. Get help to move them, and keep children and pets away while you work.
• Protect yourself. Gloves protect against sharp metal edges inside cabinets, and safety glasses help when you work with cleaning chemicals. Never mix cleaning products, especially bleach with vinegar or ammonia.

Jobs that need a licensed professional

Some repairs are dangerous, illegal for untrained people, or both, depending on where you live. RunsAgain doesn’t publish step-by-step instructions for them, and when a fault leads there, the guide tells you to stop:

• Refrigerant work. Topping up, recovering or recharging refrigerant in refrigerators, freezers and mini splits needs certification in many countries, for example EPA Section 608 certification in the United States, F-gas certification in the UK and the EU, and a refrigerant handling licence from ARCtick in Australia.
• Gas appliances and connections. In the UK, anyone who works on gas appliances must be on the Gas Safe Register, and most other countries also require a licensed gas fitter. If you smell gas, follow the emergency advice below.
• Fixed mains wiring. New circuits, sockets (outlets), hard-wired connections and work inside your consumer unit (breaker panel) are for a qualified electrician, and may need certification or a permit under local rules.
• Sealed and pressurised parts. Pressure cooker safety valves, gaskets and lids should be replaced only with genuine parts that the manufacturer specifies. Never modify a pressure cooker’s lid or valves.

Warranties and manufacturer support

If your appliance is under warranty, contact the manufacturer or the retailer before you try any repair beyond basic cleaning and the checks in your manual. A repair under warranty usually costs you nothing, and opening a cabinet, removing panels or fitting non-genuine parts can give a manufacturer a reason to refuse a claim. Consumer laws in many countries limit when a warranty can be refused, but the rules differ, and it’s easier to avoid a dispute than to win one.

Many manufacturers also run free support lines and publish their own troubleshooting guides and videos. Each RunsAgain guide links to the relevant manufacturer pages, and they’re worth checking for your exact model.

Your model may be different

Guides describe the most common designs and the checks that apply to most machines. Your appliance may have a different layout, a different error code system or a part in a different place, especially if it was made for another country. Front-loaders and top-loaders, for example, drain and lock in different ways, and the same brand can use different error codes in different regions.

Find your model number before you start. It’s usually on a label inside the door rim, under the lid, on the back panel or inside the fridge compartment, and the contact page lists where to look on each type of appliance. Use the number to download the manual from the manufacturer’s website, and follow the manual wherever it differs from a RunsAgain guide.

How guides are researched

Guides are based on research: manufacturers’ manuals, support pages and service information, which each guide lists in its sources. When a step comes from my own experience with an appliance, the guide says so. I can’t test every model I mention, and manufacturers change their designs, so details can go out of date. Guides are reviewed and updated, and the “Updated” date at the top of each guide shows when it was last checked.

Error codes and electrical tests

Error code meanings in RunsAgain guides come from manufacturers’ documentation, but codes vary between models, model years and regions, so always confirm a code with your manual or the manufacturer’s website. Where a guide mentions a multimeter test, carry it out only with the appliance unplugged, and only if you’re confident using the meter. Testing live circuits is a job for a technician.

Parts, prices and products

Prices, part numbers and availability change often. Any price on the site is approximate and was checked when the guide was written or updated. Confirm that a part fits your model number, and check the current price, warranty and return policy with the seller before you buy. A purchase is an agreement between you and the seller, so problems with delivery, defects or returns need to be raised with them.

Some links on RunsAgain may become affiliate links in future, and the site may show ads. The affiliate disclosure explains how that will work and why it never changes which fix comes first.

Comments and reader tips

Readers sometimes share their own fixes in the comments. They can be helpful, but they’re the commenter’s own opinion, and I can’t check every one. A tip in the comments isn’t a RunsAgain recommendation, and I’ll remove comments that suggest unsafe work.

Links to other websites

Guides link to manufacturers, parts retailers and other websites. I don’t control those sites and I’m not responsible for their content, products, prices or privacy practices. A link isn’t an endorsement of everything on the linked site.

Trademarks

Brand names, product names and logos mentioned on RunsAgain, such as Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Bosch, Electrolux and Instant Pot, belong to their owners. RunsAgain is independent and isn’t affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any manufacturer. Brand names are used only to show which appliances a guide applies to.

In an emergency

Don’t follow a guide, or wait for an email reply, if any of these happen:

• You smell gas. Don’t switch anything on or off and don’t use a naked flame. Open the windows, leave the building and call your gas emergency number from outside.
• You see smoke, sparks or flames, or smell burning. If you can do it safely, switch off the power at the circuit breaker. Leave the building and call the emergency services.
• Water has reached sockets, plugs or wiring. Don’t touch the appliance or the water. Switch off the power at the breaker if you can reach it without standing in water, then call an electrician.
• Someone has had an electric shock. Don’t touch them until the power is off. Call the emergency services straight away.

Limitation of liability

To the extent the law allows, RunsAgain and I aren’t liable for any loss, damage or injury that comes from using this website or acting on its content, including damage to appliances, property or warranties. Nothing in this disclaimer limits any liability that can’t be limited by law, or any rights you have as a consumer where you live.

Corrections and contact

If you spot a mistake, an unsafe step or something out of date, please tell me. Email hello@runsagain.com with the page link and what you found, or use the contact form. Safety corrections are checked first, usually within 24 hours, and a corrected guide shows a new “Updated” date. You can also read the privacy policy and the affiliate disclosure.