FAQs

Commonly Asked Appliance Repair Questions

Every week, our technicians at Nairobi Repair Center field the same handful of questions from homes and businesses across Nairobi — why a fridge is leaking, why a cooker won’t ignite, why a TV won’t turn on. Below, we’ve gathered 40 of the most common questions we hear across washing machines, refrigerators, cookers, ovens, dishwashers, tumble dryers, water dispensers, and TVs, with straightforward answers from our repair team. If your issue isn’t listed here, call or WhatsApp us on 0746 801 984 and we’ll walk you through it.

Washing Machines

1. Why is my washing machine not spinning? This is usually a worn drive belt, a faulty motor, or an unbalanced load triggering the safety sensor. A technician can identify the exact cause within minutes of inspection.

2. Why does my washing machine leak water from the bottom? Leaks commonly come from a damaged door seal, a loose hose connection, or a cracked pump. We test each of these in sequence to find the source.

3. Why is my washing machine making loud banging noises? Loud banging during the spin cycle is often caused by worn drum bearings or an object trapped between the drum and the outer tub.

4. Why won’t my washing machine drain? A clogged drain pump filter or a blocked hose is the most frequent cause. This is one of the quicker repairs we handle on-site.

5. Why does my washing machine stop mid-cycle? This can point to a faulty door lock, a failing control board, or overheating. We run a diagnostic cycle to isolate the fault.

Refrigerators

6. Why is my fridge not cooling properly? Common causes include a dusty condenser coil, a failing thermostat, or low refrigerant. We check all three during a standard fridge diagnostic.

7. Why is there water pooling under my fridge? This is typically a blocked defrost drain line, which we can clear quickly without needing to move the fridge far from its position.

8. Why is my fridge running constantly without cycling off? A worn door seal, a dirty condenser, or a failing compressor relay usually causes this. Continuous running also raises your electricity bill.

9. Why is my freezer building up excessive frost? Excess frost points to a faulty defrost heater, timer, or thermostat — parts we replace as part of routine fridge repair.

10. Why is my fridge making a buzzing or clicking noise? This often signals a compressor or fan motor under strain, and it’s worth having checked before the noise develops into a full breakdown.

Cookers

11. Why won’t my gas cooker ignite? A blocked burner, a faulty ignition switch, or a gas supply issue are the usual suspects. We check gas flow and ignition components together for safety.

12. Why is my electric cooker’s hotplate not heating? This is generally a burnt-out heating element or a faulty control switch, both of which we can replace on-site.

13. Why does my gas cooker smell of gas even when off? This needs immediate attention — it usually means a leaking connection or valve, and we recommend switching off the gas supply until a technician inspects it.

14. Why is my cooker’s flame uneven or weak? An uneven flame often comes from a partially blocked burner jet or low gas pressure, both straightforward to diagnose and fix.

15. Why won’t my cooker’s oven light stay on? This is commonly a faulty door switch or a failing thermostat sensor, which we test as part of a full cooker service.

Ovens

16. Why is my oven not heating up at all? A blown heating element or a tripped thermal fuse is the most frequent culprit, and both are replaceable parts.

17. Why does my oven heat unevenly? Uneven heating often traces back to a faulty fan motor or a miscalibrated thermostat, especially in fan-assisted ovens.

18. Why does my oven take too long to preheat? This can mean a weakening heating element or door seal that’s letting heat escape during preheating.

19. Why won’t my oven door close properly? A warped door seal or damaged hinge is usually responsible, and it affects both cooking performance and safety.

20. Why does my oven trip the circuit breaker? This points to a short circuit, often in the heating element or wiring, and should be inspected before the oven is used again.

Dishwashers

21. Why is my dishwasher not draining? A clogged filter, blocked drain hose, or faulty pump are the most common reasons, and are usually quick to clear.

22. Why are my dishes coming out dirty after a full cycle? This is often a clogged spray arm, worn wash pump, or the wrong detergent amount for your water hardness.

23. Why is my dishwasher leaking onto the floor? Leaks typically come from a worn door seal, a cracked hose, or an overfilled detergent dispenser.

24. Why won’t my dishwasher start? A faulty door latch, blown fuse, or failed control board are the usual causes we check first.

25. Why does my dishwasher smell bad? Trapped food debris in the filter or drain is the most common cause, and a deep clean paired with a filter check usually resolves it.

Tumble Dryers

26. Why is my tumble dryer not heating? A blown thermal fuse or a faulty heating element are the most likely causes, both of which are replaceable in a single visit.

27. Why does my tumble dryer take multiple cycles to dry clothes? This is often caused by a blocked lint filter or vent, which restricts airflow and reduces drying efficiency.

28. Why is my tumble dryer making a loud squealing noise? Worn drum belts or bearings typically cause this, and left unaddressed, can lead to belt failure.

29. Why does my tumble dryer keep stopping mid-cycle? Overheating due to a blocked vent, or a faulty door sensor, are the two most common triggers.

30. Why does my tumble dryer smell of burning? This needs prompt attention — it can indicate lint buildup near the heating element, which is a fire risk if ignored.

Water Dispensers

31. Why is my water dispenser not cooling water? A faulty cooling compressor or a low refrigerant level are the usual causes, similar to a small-scale fridge issue.

32. Why is my water dispenser not heating water? This generally points to a failed heating element or a tripped thermal cutoff switch inside the unit.

33. Why is my water dispenser leaking from the base? Leaks are often due to a cracked internal reservoir or a loose tubing connection that has come apart over time.

34. Why does my water dispenser make a gurgling noise? This is usually air trapped in the water line, especially after a bottle change, and often resolves after a check of the intake valve.

35. Why does my water dispenser’s water taste odd? This is typically due to a dispenser that hasn’t been cleaned internally in a while, and we offer full internal sanitising as part of our service.

TVs

36. Why won’t my TV turn on at all? A faulty power supply board or a failed capacitor inside the unit is the most common reason for a TV that won’t power on.

37. Why does my TV have no picture but I can hear sound? This usually points to a backlight or panel fault, which we diagnose by opening the unit and testing each component.

38. Why does my TV screen have lines or flickering? Loose ribbon cables or a failing display panel typically cause this, and the fix depends on which component has failed.

39. Why does my TV randomly switch off on its own? This can be caused by overheating internal components or a failing power board, both of which we test under load.

40. Why is there no sound coming from my TV? A faulty speaker, damaged audio board, or an incorrect internal setting are the most common causes, and we check all three during diagnosis.

Book a Repair with Nairobi Repair Center

Whatever appliance is giving you trouble — from a washing machine that won’t spin to a TV that won’t switch on — Nairobi Repair Center’s technicians handle diagnosis and repair across all these categories and more, for homes and businesses throughout Nairobi. Call or WhatsApp us on 0746 801 984, or email info@nairobirepair.co.ke, to book a visit or ask a question we haven’t covered here.