Frank's FixIt

08/09/2026

Have had an unusual number of calls recently for refrigerators that are not cooling properly. When you put food into your freezer, you need to leave an inch to 1 1/2 inches of space above the food for air to flow over the food. Also, there are external coils on all refrigerators. Some are on the bottom and others are in the back. They should be cleaned once a year for better performance and longevity. Vacuum as much as you can get to and use a leaf blower or shop vac on blow the clean the rest.

06/29/2026

If you try to contact me via phone, be aware that you need to wait 6 rings before being connected to the voicemail and my carrier does not permit me to change the number of rings.

06/15/2026

Mentioned this before but it is worth repeating. Check the coils on the outside unit of your air conditioner. You should be able to easily see through the small aluminum fins. It is sometimes easier to check them at night with a flashlight. Keeping them clean helps your air conditioner work more efficiently and will save on electricity. Some dirt can be washed out with a garden hose but do not use a pressure washer. Ideally, pick up a can or two of Frost King ACF19 Foam Coil Cleaner, 1.18 Pound on Amazon for $6.08. Follow the directions on the can.

03/26/2026

For those of you that get their water from the North Wales Water Authority. They are doing a water main flushing between March 30 to April 3rd. If you notice any brown water, do noy use the hot water until you flush out the cold water supply and I would suggest an outside spigot that does not have an aerator on it. If you use the hot water before cleaning the dirty water, you will add sediments to your hot water tank which could shorten the life of the tank, especially since many people that I ask do not realize that they should be draining some water periodically from their tank.

03/03/2026

Wanted to post this info to hopefully speed up the response for repairs. My son, Kevin, has taken over the business. I am acting in a support role in case he runs into any difficulties but so far, he has been doing better than I was expecting. His cell number is 215-290-5374. If you need to schedule a service call, it is best to text him a picture of the model tag, the issue and your contact info with general availability.

02/23/2026

For any of you that have a newer heater whose byproduct is steam, make sure to clear the snow from the exhaust outside. If the heater does not detect air movement, the heater will shut down.

12/09/2025

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11/07/2025

We are getting close to the end of grass cutting season so I thought that I would get this out. Either run your mower, leaf blower, chain saw, etc. until the gas tank/carburetor runs dry or add Stabilize to the gas. I prefer running it dry.

Also, test out your snow blower now especially if you forgot to run it dry at the end of the winter.

06/04/2025

Keep seeing a problem with top load washers that sense the weight of the clothes before starting the wash cycle. I was told that the EPA has regulated the amount of water a washer is permitted to use. This results in not enough water to properly wash your clothes.

Most sensing washers will fill three times before switching to the wash cycle. If you then pause the wash cycle and lift the lid, you will see that half of your clothes are sticking out of the water. These clothes only get wet through capillary action and do not get agitated.

The clothes should be floating in water when there is enough water. To achieve that result, you need to select the "Bulky" setting or on some models, the "deep water wash" feature.

I addition to properly cleaning your clothes, the agitation cycle will naturally balance your clothes in the tub so that when it changes to the spin cycle, your washer will not shake after the first 20 seconds of the spin cycle. Reducing the shaking will also save wear and tear on the gear case and support rods that help to stabilize the washer.

If these types of washers and been used too long with the incorrect water level, the support rods may be so worn that even with the correct amount of water, the washer may still shake. That repair is about $110 with me.

In the future, if looking for a new washer, I suggest buying one that lets you select the water level.

05/22/2025

This is not my usual type of post but thought it was important enough to share. I recently did an analysis on going solar and determined that, for me, it makes sense. I will break even in about 6 years, be helping the planet and add to my resale value. After 6 years, the system will eliminate most of my electric bill and as PECO prices increase, so do my savings.

My understanding is that the "Big Beautiful Bill" that just got approved last night will do away with the solar tax incentives. If I had not done the solar this year, that would have pushed my break-even point out much further and might have made me reconsider.

I would suggest that you do your own research to determine if your home's sun exposure makes sense for you. If you agree and would like to know which company I decided to go with, call me. If you then decide to go with the same company, they will pay me a referral fee of $500 for each referral which you could then start earning if you switch and refer others.