An AC that wasn't cooling in Winnetka: frost after the filter drier gave the restriction away
A Winnetka AC wasn't cooling. Frost on the copper after the filter drier, and none before it, showed a restriction. We pumped down and replaced the drier.
Technician guides
Appliance Repair Blog — LA Guides & Troubleshooting
Straightforward guidance from working technicians: what things cost, what to try yourself, and when to call.
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Blower motors packed with dust: an AC in Northridge that quit on long runs, and a burned-out motor in Bel Air
An AC in Northridge ran fine whenever we came out, then quit after long runs. Its blower motor was packed with dust. In Bel Air, a dusty motor burned out.
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What salt air did to a Carrier condenser in Redondo Beach
A Carrier side-discharge condenser near the ocean in Redondo Beach: a ruined coil, a fan that fell apart and rust all over. What salt air does to an AC.
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An overheating AC in Granada Hills: before and after a condenser coil cleaning
A Granada Hills AC was overheating and cooling very poorly in July heat. Its condenser coil was caked with dust. Before and after a chemical cleaning.
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A burned-out condenser fan motor in the Hollywood Hills: the capacitor failed first
An AC in the Hollywood Hills wasn't cooling. The condenser fan motor had burned out after its capacitor failed. How that happens and what to watch for.
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An evaporator coil packed with dust in Century City: the filter hadn't been changed
On a Century City maintenance visit, the evaporator coil was packed with dust because the air filter hadn't been changed. Here's how we cleaned it.
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An empty Fujitsu multi-zone mini-split in West Hollywood, and why ducted systems like it leak so often
A Fujitsu multi-zone mini-split with ducted ceiling units in West Hollywood was empty. We tested it, found and repaired the leak, evacuated and recharged it.
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A furnace igniter that wouldn't start in Porter Ranch: the igniter was good, the control board wasn't
An attic furnace in Porter Ranch wouldn't start its igniter, yet the igniter itself was good. A new control board got the system working normally again.
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A gas oven in Chatsworth that wouldn't heat, or took very long to: we replaced the igniter
A gas oven in Chatsworth wouldn't heat, or took very long to. We replaced the igniter. Here's how a weak igniter can glow and still keep the gas valve shut.
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A gas water heater in Sherman Oaks flashing an error: the chamber sensor's resistance had drifted
A gas water heater in Sherman Oaks flashed an error at its gas control valve. The chamber sensor's resistance had drifted, and a new sensor fixed it.
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An empty geothermal heat pump in Hollywood: we found the leak with nitrogen and brazed it on the spot
A ClimateMaster water-source heat pump in Hollywood was empty. We found the leak inside with nitrogen, brazed it on the spot and recharged it. It ran at once.
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A new Goodman system in Pacific Palisades lost its condenser fan motor about a month in
About a month after a new Goodman system was installed in Pacific Palisades, its condenser fan motor failed. We replaced it under the parts warranty.
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A Goodman furnace in Burbank that couldn't sense its flame: the control board was the fault
A Goodman furnace in Burbank wasn't sensing its flame. The sensor is just a metal rod, so with it and its wiring ruled out, the control board was the fault.
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Water through the ceiling in Valley Village: a cracked drain pan in a fairly new Goodman package unit
Water was running from the ceiling under a fairly new Goodman package unit in Valley Village. Its plastic drain pan had a huge crack. Here's what it took.
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A Lennox compressor burnout in Brentwood, and the stuck TXV behind it
A Lennox system in Brentwood burned out its compressor. With the new one running, suction pressure stayed far too low: the TXV was stuck closed.
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A Lennox furnace in Woodland Hills: control board or variable-speed blower motor?
Board or variable-speed blower motor? On a Lennox furnace in Woodland Hills, an ECM tester ran the motor on its own and showed the motor had failed.
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A mini-split in San Fernando that didn't cool: the flare nuts were only hand-tight
A two-zone mini-split in San Fernando didn't cool after the owners moved in. The flare nuts at the outdoor unit were only hand-tight. Here's what we did.
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An old R-22 AC in Van Nuys lost its charge where two copper lines rubbed through
An old R-22 AC in Van Nuys lost all its refrigerant where two copper lines rubbed through. We brazed it, pressure-tested the repair, evacuated and recharged.
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A Samsung freezer that stopped freezing in Chatsworth: the condenser coil was buried in dust
A Samsung freezer in Chatsworth stopped freezing in hot weather, then seemed to recover. Its condenser coil was buried in dust. Before and after cleaning.
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New light bulbs for a Sub-Zero refrigerator in Venice
We replaced the light bulbs in a Sub-Zero refrigerator in Venice. What the photo shows, which bulbs Sub-Zero lists, and why a new bulb can stay dark.
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A window AC freezing up in Sun Valley, and why the customer decided to replace it
Frost on a window AC's copper tubes while the blower runs points to low charge or a restriction. A Sun Valley case, and why the customer chose a new unit.
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A Bosch dishwasher leak traced to the diverter motor
A Bosch dishwasher was leaking. The water came from the diverter motor under the tub; we replaced it and the leak stopped. What the photo shows, what to check.
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Bosch dishwasher drain error: the pump was fine, a piece of glass was in the way
A Bosch dishwasher took too long to drain and showed an error. The pump was fine: a piece of glass and debris were blocking the drain. Cleaning it fixed it.
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A frozen packaged AC unit at a medical clinic
A rooftop packaged AC unit at a medical clinic froze. We thawed it, added refrigerant and put in a new filter. What the photos show and what staff can check.
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Maytag washer low water flow error: weak cold fill and a new inlet valve
A Maytag washer showed a low water flow error. In diagnostic mode the cold water came in weakly. A new inlet valve fixed it. What to check before you call.
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A Whirlpool that stopped making ice: the ice maker wouldn't enter test mode
A Whirlpool side-by-side stopped making ice, and its ice maker wouldn't enter test mode. A new OEM ice maker dropped its first ice within about an hour or two.
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Whirlpool refrigerator stopped cooling: a fan motor that only ran when pushed
A Whirlpool side-by-side stopped cooling. Its evaporator fan motor would start when pushed by hand, then quit. We defrosted the coil and replaced the motor.
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A window air conditioner that shut off the moment it started
A window air conditioner shut off as soon as it was switched on: the protection device in its plug had tripped. What that plug does and what to do if it trips.
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A York condenser that wouldn't shut off: the contactor's contacts had welded
A York AC condenser kept running and wouldn't turn off. A tap on the contactor released it: the contacts had welded together. We replaced the contactor.
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A musty Daikin mini-split in Granada Hills: dust on the blower wheel, mold in the drain pan
A Daikin mini-split in Granada Hills smelled musty. The blower wheel had dried dust; the mold was in the drain pan. See how we foam-cleaned and rinsed it.
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LG washer won't drain? An OE error and a failed drain pump
An LG washer showed OE and wouldn't drain. See the old and replacement pumps, what the comparison means, and what to check before replacing parts.
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Glass-door cooler in Torrance: the coil froze solid because a stuck relay wouldn't let the compressor stop
A glass-door cooler in Torrance froze its coil solid. A stuck relay in the controller kept the compressor running nonstop, with no defrost at all.
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Santa Monica heat pump out of refrigerant: the service valve wasn't bad, just cranked too tight
A heat pump in Santa Monica lost all its refrigerant. The leak was at the suction service valve, and the fix wasn't a new valve. It was cranked too tight.
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KitchenAid Built-In Refrigerator Not Cooling: Three Blinks on the Inverter Board and a Compressor That Would Not Start
A built-in KitchenAid refrigerator in Los Angeles stopped cooling. The inverter board flashed three blinks and the compressor never started. Here is the fix.
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Why this Samsung refrigerator kept icing up
Ice returned after a recent defrost. See the upper-evaporator repair, the 15W heater used, and what we checked on this Samsung refrigerator.
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GE refrigerator light on but not cooling: What we found on the control board
A GE Profile had a working light and a blank display. See the swollen capacitors, rebuilt control board, and startup checks from this repair.
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KitchenAid Dishwasher Fills and Drains but Won't Spray: Circulation Pump Seized by Detergent Pods
A KitchenAid dishwasher in Los Angeles filled and drained but the spray arms never turned. The circulation pump was seized by undissolved detergent pods.
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KitchenAid Built-In Refrigerator Not Freezing: Finding and Replacing a Leaking Evaporator Coil
A built-in KitchenAid refrigerator in the Los Angeles area stopped freezing. We found a refrigerant leak on the aluminum evaporator and replaced the coil.
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Water Leaking From the Ceiling: A Rooftop Unit With No Filter, a Choked Coil and a Blocked Drain
A physical therapy clinic in Los Angeles had water dripping from the ceiling. The rooftop unit had no air filter, a choked evaporator coil and a blocked drain.
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Lennox Package Unit Frozen Solid: We Brazed the Coil on the Roof
A frozen coil and a punctured copper tube on a Lennox rooftop package unit in Los Angeles. Brazed on-site, vacuum to 270 microns, cooling restored.
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Brand-new system, no refrigerant: the Teflon tape mistake
A brand-new HVAC system in Torrance lost its entire refrigerant charge after the installer used plumbing Teflon tape on the flare fittings.
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A burned board, and a replacement that wasn't plug-and-play
A commercial TempStar dishwasher at a restaurant inside a Los Angeles movie theater had a burned control board. The universal replacement wasn't plug-and-play.
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Three systems down in one garage, three different problems
Three HVAC systems down at one Downtown LA restaurant: a drain-line problem, a failed capacitor and a refrigerant leak. One garage ceiling, three repairs.
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One head down, and the remote already knew why
One head on a Daikin mini split quit and the remote read J9. Most thermistors measured 28,000 ohms. One read 500. That comparison found the bad sensor.
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The rack wasn't turning, and the pump wasn't why
A bar glasswasher ran water but the rack wouldn't turn. The motor drew current and sat still: seized gearbox. Two part numbers and the $1,100 repair math.
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Three faults in one condenser, one call
A backyard condenser lost its second compressor. The valve that killed both was still in the system, and the contactor was stuck too. American Standard, LA.
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A mini-split leak that came down to one rubber ring
A Hollywood condo's ducted mini-split was losing R410A at a fitting hidden in the ceiling. We cut it out, brazed the line, and pulled a vacuum. Los Angeles.
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A Viking Refrigerator That Wouldn't Hold Its Charge
A Viking built-in refrigerator kept losing refrigerant after a recharge. We traced the leak to the evaporator and replaced the coil. Los Angeles.
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A Nearly New Washer, a Door Gasket Full of Mold
A nearly new LG WashTower needed a new door boot: the gasket was full of mold from a door kept shut after every cycle. The fix, and the habit that prevents it.
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The Walk-In Cooler That Froze Solid Twice
A bakery walk-in froze solid twice: setpoint far too low, no defrost cycle, a misleading sensor reading. Steam thaw and correct settings fixed it. Los Angeles.
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An Oven Stuck at 200°F and a Control Board Nobody Makes Anymore
A Fisher & Paykel DCS wall oven stalled at 200°F. The control board is discontinued — a component-level relay repair saved the oven. Los Angeles.
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Something Killed This Compressor Before the Warranty Replaced It
A rooftop condensing unit's compressor burned out completely. The warranty covered the part; the stuck TXV behind the failure is the real story.
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A KitchenAid Dispenser That Wouldn't Stop — and Why the Last Repair Didn't Hold
A built-in KitchenAid kept pouring water onto the kitchen floor. Why the dispenser control panel corrodes, and why OEM parts matter — a real Los Angeles repair.
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A 20-Year-Old Sub-Zero Stopped Cooling. Here's the Repair Most Techs Won't Touch
A 20-year-old built-in Sub-Zero lost all its refrigerant. How we found two leaks, hand-bent new copper and recharged the system by weight, in Los Angeles.
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Every Quote Started With 'Well, It's a Commercial Unit…' — What a Rooftop Blower Motor Replacement Actually Involves
A nail salon's rooftop AC died and every quote said 'it's commercial.' What the repair really takes — motor, sheave, belt, coil — and how to spot fair pricing.
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Three Units Said UH, One Said A5: How a Brand-New Daikin Mini Split Told Us Exactly What Its Installers Got Wrong
A brand-new 4-zone Daikin ran fine on day one, then locked out with UH and A5 codes. The installers had crossed the wiring — and the fix took no rewiring.
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The Control Board Wasn't Dead — It Was Cracked: How a Pharmacy Got Its Heat Back Without a $400 Part
A pharmacy rooftop unit flashed 'high limit switch open.' Every switch tested fine — the real fault was cracked solder on the board. Repair beat a $400 swap.
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This Dryer Went 15 Years Without Maintenance — and It Had Already Started to Burn
We opened a dryer that hadn't been serviced in 15 years and found lint scorched black — it had started to burn. What annual dryer maintenance really involves.
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LG Refrigerator Not Cooling? Inside a Real Compressor Replacement in Santa Monica
How we diagnosed and replaced the failed compressor in an LG LFX25991ST that quit cooling in Santa Monica, and why a $1,300 repair beat a new fridge.
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Old R22 AC With a Leaking Condenser Coil — Why You Can't Just Replace the Outdoor Unit
An old R22 AC came in completely empty. We traced the leak to the condenser coil — here's why a leaking R22 system needs a matched new unit, not a top-off.
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Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes: E15, E24, E22, E09 and What They Mean
What Bosch dishwasher error codes E15, E24, E22, E09 and E18 mean — causes, DIY checks, Bosch's E15 advice, and LA repair costs. Call (213) 205-2055.
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How to Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils (and Why LA Heat Makes It Critical)
Step-by-step guide to cleaning front and rear refrigerator condenser coils — including Sub-Zero grille units — and why LA heat makes it critical.
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LG Washer Error Codes Explained: IE, OE, UE, dE, FE, LE
What LG washer codes IE, OE, UE, dE, FE and LE mean, likely causes, DIY checks to try first, and when to call a tech. Front-load and top-load. By Epic Star.
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Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working: Causes & Fixes
Samsung French-door ice maker freezing over or not making ice? Review likely causes, model-specific guidance, and when to arrange diagnosis.
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How Much Does Appliance Repair Cost in Los Angeles? (2026 Guide)
What appliance repair actually costs in Los Angeles in 2026: fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, oven. Price ranges by issue and brand tier.
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Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? 5 Causes, Including LA Hard Water
Dishwasher leaving residue or not cleaning? In LA, hard-water scale is a common cause. 5 causes, what to try yourself, and when to call a pro.
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Dryer Not Heating? 4 Causes — Plus a Fire-Safety Check You Must Do
Dryer runs but won't heat? 4 common causes for gas and electric dryers, plus a critical fire-safety check most people skip. From LA technicians.
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Oven Not Heating? Causes, Costs, and What to Try First
Oven won't heat or won't reach temperature? Causes for gas vs. electric ovens, plus Wolf/Viking/Thermador specifics. From LA technicians.
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Refrigerator Not Cooling? 7 Causes and What to Do Next
If your refrigerator stopped cooling, here are 7 common causes — from condenser coils to compressor failure — and how to tell which one you're facing.
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Repair or Replace? An Honest Framework for Appliance Decisions
The honest framework for deciding whether to repair or replace your refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, or oven. Age curves, brand tier, and the real math.
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Sub-Zero Repair Cost Estimates and Quote Factors
Estimated Sub-Zero repair cost factors by issue and model series. A diagnosis confirms the fault, parts, access, and written quote.
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Washer Not Draining? 5 Causes and What to Do Next
Washer won't drain water? 5 common causes, safe DIY steps to try, and when to call a professional. By Epic Star technicians.
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When Should You Replace Your Refrigerator? (2026 Honest Guide)
When does it make sense to replace your refrigerator vs. repair? Age curves by brand tier, warning signs, energy savings math. From working LA technicians.