There are numerous detection devices available and choosing the right one to protect a particular area isn’t always easy. There is a whole range of circumstances to take into account — the size of the room, what’s in it, even how it is constructed, as well as what’s outside or even across the road.
You may need one or more types of detectors in any one area — for example, there are bound to be doors and windows to protect as well as the room itself. There may also be very large areas of glass, such as a patio door, draughts or heating, which may make it difficult to site certain types of detectors, and you may have pets in the house which will mean careful positioning and directing of the detection pattern. Read the rest of this entry »
There are no specific British Standards for control panels (or alarm devices themselves), although elements of BS 4737 relate to features found in alarm equipment. This is likely to change with the introduction of European Standards which will, for the first time, require individual components to meet levels of performance and construction.
It is very important to understand how an alarm system is operated if false alarms are to be avoided. To reduce this risk, manufacturers have been making instructions easier to follow and many panels now incorporate a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) giving plain English step- by-step instructions to guide users through the arming, resetting and disarming procedures. Read the rest of this entry »
Unplug the power cord or gas supply before servicing the clothes dryer. Move clothes dryer out from the wall. Exercise care when moving the dryer from its original position because the dryer legs can easily tear holes in your floor.
Remove screws to dryer top. Lift the top of the dryer by inserting a flat-blade screwdriver between the cabinet and the top of the dryer. Remove the screws that secure door switch to dryer front panel and discard the door switch. Read the rest of this entry »
Unplug the fridge power cord before servicing the fridge. Move the fridge out from the wall. Use extreme care when moving the fridge, because the fridge legs can tear or damage the floor.
Using hand tools, remove the screws on all four sides of the fridge or freezer doors so that you can remove and discard the defective gasket(s). Before removing the old gasket, note carefully how the gasket is installed, because the replacement gasket has to be installed in the same position as the defective gasket that is removed. Before installing the replacement gasket, heat the rubber with a home hair dryer set on low heat. This will make the rubber more flexible,’ and easier to install on the fridge or freezer door. Install the replacement door gasket by mounting the lip of the gasket under the retainer plate. Read the rest of this entry »
Other specific failure symptoms include: 1) Food not remaining at the desired temperature. 2) Fridge compressor does not cycle OFF.
If the compressor motor runs continuously in an attempt to keep the fridge cool but the cabinet is still not cool enough, you will have to find the component or failure that is restricting the cooling capacity of the fridge. Check the components in the order that they are listed below. Read the rest of this entry »
Specific symptoms include: 1) Food not remaining at the desired temperature. 2) Fridge cools intermittently. 3) Food in freezer section thaws out and then refreezes or is only partially frozen.
When a fridge has intermittent cooling, it is known as “spot cooling.” Spot cooling is a situation where the fridge does not cool the food adequately for a period of time and then mysteriously returns to proper operating order. The erratic behavior in the fridge is caused by one of two things: a defective defrost timer, or a moisture restriction. First, check the defrost timer. Read the rest of this entry »
Just because George Bush doesn’t give two hoots about global warming doesn’t mean you have to follow suit — do your bit for the environment and save power whenever you can — it is usually possible to do so without great personal inconvenience, and you will save money in the process.
In recent years, the microwave oven has become a very popular kitchen appliance. However, many misunderstandings about the safety aspects of cooking with microwaves have arisen. Perhaps an understanding of how this appliance works will dispel these fears and misconceptions.
Repair should always be carried out by a professional microwave engineer. The reasons for this are the danger of high voltages present within the appliance, the requirements of the intricate fail-safe doorinterlock system and the possibility of microwave leakage if parts are not correctly fitted or aligned according to manufacturer’s instructions. Read the rest of this entry »