Repair Stories
Real jobs we've done around the Tampa Bay area — what broke, how we found the problem, and how we fixed it.
LG Refrigerator Not Making Ice in Westchase: Cracked Ice Maker Replaced
An LG French door refrigerator in Westchase had stopped making ice, and water was coming out of the dispenser. The ice maker had cracked — and since LG doesn't sell its internal parts separately, the whole assembly had to be replaced.
Thomson Mini Fridge Compressor Seized in Palm Harbor
A small Thomson mini fridge in Palm Harbor was checked as a bonus item during a service call for the client's main refrigerator. The compressor hummed and drew current but never started — a seized compressor on a budget unit that isn't worth repairing.
Everstar Wine Cooler Not Working in Safety Harbor: A Loose Plug
An Everstar dual-zone wine cooler in Safety Harbor appeared to have no power at all. The unit itself turned out to be fine — the plug had simply worked its way out of the outlet behind it.
LG Range Oven Not Responding in Ozona, Palm Harbor: Child Lock Was On
A client in the Ozona neighborhood of Palm Harbor had an LG range with a working cooktop but an oven that wouldn't respond to any button at all. The diagnosis took no time — Child Lock was enabled, and it had gone unnoticed.
Sub-Zero Refrigerator Dispenser Turning On By Itself in Clearwater: Rats Got to the Cable
A Sub-Zero refrigerator in Clearwater had its dispenser turning on spontaneously — usually a display board or control board issue, but this time rats living in the house had chewed through the connecting cable itself.
KitchenAid Refrigerator Evaporator Leak in Safety Harbor: Tracking Down a Refrigerant Leak
A return visit to a KitchenAid Superba built-in refrigerator in Safety Harbor, previously repaired for a failed condenser fan. This time it had a refrigerant leak at the evaporator — one of the harder leaks to pin down — plus a long-deferred fix for the water dispenser and icemaker.
LG Refrigerator Compressor Replacement in Clearwater: Brazing and Flammable Refrigerant
A 6-year-old LG French-door refrigerator in Clearwater (model LFXS26596S) needed a full compressor replacement, with the part supplied by LG. The job meant cutting into a sealed system charged with flammable R600a refrigerant — brazing work that not every technician is set up to handle.
Samsung Dryer Not Heating in Westchase: A Blown Thermal Fuse
A Samsung dryer in Westchase wasn't heating. The cause was a blown thermal cutoff fuse — usually a sign the vent is restricted — replaced on the spot, with a recommendation to get the vent duct cleaned, especially the run through the roof.
Whirlpool Over-the-Range Microwave Won't Stay On in Safety Harbor: A Damaged Door Frame
A Whirlpool over-the-range microwave in Safety Harbor (model WMH78019HZ-1) wouldn't turn on. The cause was mechanical damage to the door frame that holds the touch control panel — and with that assembly unavailable from the manufacturer, replacing the whole unit made more sense than repairing it.
Bosch Dishwasher Intermittent E31 Error in Curlew Mobile Home Park, Palm Harbor
A regular client's Bosch dishwasher (model SHP78CP5N/22) at Curlew Mobile Home Park in Palm Harbor threw an E31 error only occasionally, with no clear pattern. The cause was a leak from under the zeolite drying container's gasket, letting gel-like residue build up near the float switch.
Maytag Dryer Repair in Brookfield, Palm Harbor: Same-Day Fix for a Busy Household
A client in the Brookfield neighborhood of Palm Harbor called on a Sunday with a dead Maytag dryer and a house full of kids who needed it running again fast. A failed heating element was the cause, replaced the same day.
Sub-Zero Refrigerator Repair in Davis Islands, Tampa: Dead After a Lightning Strike
A built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator in Davis Islands, Tampa was completely unresponsive after a power surge from a lightning strike — only the interior light still worked, with no compressor, fans, or display. A factory-ordered control board fixed it, though it took two days to arrive.
GE Dishwasher FTD Error in Westchase: A Pressure Sensor Fix
A GE dishwasher in Westchase (model GDF640HSM5SS) kept throwing an FTD drain error, draining for about a minute before faulting out even with no water inside. A failed water-level pressure sensor was the cause, replaced and tested the same visit.
LG Front-Load Washer Won't Power On in East Lake Woodlands, Palm Harbor: A Control Board Fix
An LG front-load washer in the East Lake Woodlands neighborhood of Palm Harbor wouldn't power on, with a relay clicking on and off inside. Chronic electronics issues on this LG design pointed straight to the control board, diagnosed and replaced the same day.
Sub-Zero Refrigerator Not Freezing in Tarpon Springs: A Failed Evaporator Fan
A built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator in Tarpon Springs was cooling poorly, with the freezer not holding temperature. A failed evaporator fan motor was the cause, replaced the same visit despite one of the more awkward compartments to get into and out of.
Reviving a Flood-Damaged Atosa Ice Machine: A Personal Project
Bought as a non-working 'for parts' unit off Facebook Marketplace, this Atosa undercounter ice machine turned out to have flood damage to everything low in the cabinet. New control board, condenser fans, and start relay later, it's back in service — this time in our own garage.
GE Dishwasher Display Issue and Refrigerator Handle Fix in Los Prados, Safety Harbor
A longtime client in the Los Prados neighborhood of Safety Harbor called about her GE dishwasher's display turning on by itself. Since she barely uses the dishwasher, she opted to have it de-energized and the water shut off rather than repaired — plus a quick fix for a loose GE refrigerator handle.
GE Profile Refrigerator Leak in Largo: A Frozen Defrost Drain
A longtime client in Largo noticed her GE Profile French-door refrigerator leaking onto her wood floors and assumed it was coming from somewhere in the back. The real source was a frozen defrost drain in the freezer, backing meltwater out instead of down the drain.
Amana Washer Repair in Oldsmar: Replacing a Faulty Whirlpool Control Board
An Amana top-load washer in Oldsmar kept stopping mid-cycle and draining nonstop, or finishing the cycle and still draining — a known control board failure on this Whirlpool-built platform.
Frigidaire Dishwasher Repair Near Sleepy Hollow, Dunedin: A Worn Circulation Pump
A regular client's 7-year-old Frigidaire dishwasher near Sleepy Hollow in Dunedin had gotten unusually loud. A worn circulation pump was the cause, replaced on the spot.
GE Dishwasher Repair in Palm Harbor: Dead Drain Pump
A GE dishwasher in Palm Harbor wouldn't drain at the end of its cycle. A failed drain pump was the cause, replaced and tested the same day.
GE Dryer Repair in Paradise Park, Largo: A Snapped Drive Belt
A regular client's GE dryer (model GTD42EASJ2WW) in the Paradise Park community in Largo had a snapped drive belt, fixed same-day with a bonus cleaning while it was open.
GE Upright Freezer in Trinity: A 23-Year-Old Compressor Start Device Giving Out
A longtime Trinity client's 23-year-old GE upright freezer had a compressor that wouldn't reliably start, traced to a failing start device. Repairable, but with a full freezer of food and a unit that old, she chose to replace it instead.
GE Refrigerator Repair in Clearwater Beach: Second Opinion Finds the Real Problem
A returning Clearwater Beach client had another technician diagnose a GE refrigerator (model PSF26NGTA WW) with a bad fan motor and bimetal sensor. A re-diagnosis found the real cause: a cracked glass defrost heater.
GE Wall Oven in Tarpon Springs: Not the Oven, a Bad Breaker
New homeowners in Tarpon Springs had a GE wall oven (model JK5000SF3SS) that worked fine at inspection but wouldn't turn on after closing — traced to a missing power leg from a defective breaker, not the oven itself.
GE Washer Repair in Palm Harbor: A DIY Knob Fix Gone Sideways
A regular Palm Harbor client's GE washer had its temperature knob fall off. A well-meaning attempt to push it back on shoved the switch itself into the control panel — a quick fix, and since it was our own client, just a service call.
GE Front-Load Washer Repair in Safety Harbor: Seized Drain Pump
A GE front-load washer in Safety Harbor finished its wash cycle but couldn't drain to move into rinse — a seized drain pump motor, overheated and stuck, was the cause.
Kenmore Washer Diagnosis in Clearwater: A Control Board Failure and a Landlord's Call
A Kenmore washer (model 110.20362813) in a Clearwater rental property kept draining continuously after finishing its cycle — a classic control board failure. The landlord opted to replace the unit rather than repair it.
KitchenAid Dishwasher in Salem Square, Palm Harbor: A Decade-Idle Unit Won't Start
A KitchenAid dishwasher (model KUDS30IXSS6) sitting unused for ten years in a Salem Square, Palm Harbor home being sold wouldn't start. Every mechanical component tested fine — only the user interface board needs replacing.
KitchenAid Superba 42 Refrigerator Repair in Safety Harbor: A 30-Year-Old Unit Running Warm
A roughly 30-year-old KitchenAid Superba 42 built-in refrigerator in Safety Harbor was running warm in both the fridge and freezer, with a dead icemaker and water dispenser. A failed condenser fan motor was the real cause.
LG Front-Load Washer Repair in East Lake Woodlands, Oldsmar: A Leak and a Loose Shock Absorber
An LG front-load washer in the East Lake Woodlands neighborhood of Oldsmar was leaking water. A torn door boot, spotted on inspection, was the cause — and a detached shock absorber, likely from being moved, turned up when we came back to install the part.
Samsung Refrigerator Repair in Boot Ranch: Fridge Section Not Cooling
A Samsung French door refrigerator for a longtime Boot Ranch client had the fresh food section sitting around 70°F — a well-known ice buildup issue on this design that we see and fix regularly.
Samsung Washer Repair in On Top of the World, Clearwater: Stuck Spin-Rinse Loop
An older Samsung washer at On Top of the World in Clearwater wouldn't finish its spin cycle — it kept refilling, re-rinsing, and trying to spin again in an endless loop. Worn suspension rods were the cause.
Samsung Washer Repair Near Regis Circle, Palm Harbor: A Stuck Water Valve Flooded the Garage
A Samsung top-load washer near Regis Circle in Palm Harbor overfilled past the drum and kept taking on water even unplugged — a water inlet valve stuck open, not an electronics problem.
Samsung Front-Load Washer in Safety Harbor: Insect Damage and an Honest Recommendation
A Samsung front-load washer in Safety Harbor wouldn't start and cycled its display on and off on its own. The cause was insect damage to the display/control board — and the repair cost didn't make sense on this aging machine.
Commercial Ice Machine Repair in Palm Harbor: Fixing a Bad Bin Level Reed Switch
A Sion OCU-130 commercial icemaker in Palm Harbor wouldn't run because it thought the bin was always full — the fix was a damaged reed switch inside the bin level sensor.
Sub-Zero Refrigerator Repair in Westchase: A Dispenser That Turns Itself On
A Sub-Zero refrigerator (model BI-48SD/S/TH) for a longtime Westchase client had its water and ice dispenser randomly activating on its own — a known issue that required replacing the dispenser and display board set.
THOR Gas Range Repair in Clearwater Beach: Oven Running 100°F Cold
A THOR gas range in Clearwater Beach was baking about 100°F below the set temperature — a failed electromechanical oven thermostat, with no calibration adjustment available on this model, meant the part had to be replaced.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Icemaker Repair in Palm Harbor: Jammed Mid-Cycle
A Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator (model WRS325SDHW05) in Palm Harbor had its icemaker jam partway through a cycle and stop ejecting ice. A broken internal gear meant the icemaker module needed replacing.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Repair in Dunedin: A Frozen Coil and a Dead Defrost Heater Circuit
A Whirlpool refrigerator (model WRS315SDHZ08) at an apartment complex near Honeymoon Island in Dunedin had the fresh food section running near 65°F with a fully iced-over evaporator coil — traced to a control board not sending power to the defrost heater.
Whirlpool Washer Repair in Eniswood, Palm Harbor: Worn Cam and Shifter
A regular client's Whirlpool top-load washer in the Eniswood neighborhood of Palm Harbor made intermittent noise. Diagnostic mode traced it to a worn cam and a shifter that wasn't fully switching — both replaced, problem solved.
Thermador Built-In Refrigerator Repair in Palm Harbor: Saving a 2006 Unit
A refrigerant leak through the evaporator on a 2006 Thermador built-in refrigerator (model KBUDT4270A02) in Palm Harbor — how we found the leak with nitrogen and gave the unit a full sealed-system refresh.