Kelly's Korner - Smoke on the Water...

Hey, All,

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...and fire in the sky!  And, man, is it everywhere!  I don't know how it is in your part of the country, but it seems like the whole western part of the US is on fire.  Portland was inundated this weekend by massive smoke from the forest fires burning in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.  Everything was bathed in an eerie glow from the sun filtering through it all and it smelled like an old campfire outside.  Sunrises were pretty awesome and the moon Saturday night was a bright orange all night.

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                                                                      Now what does this have to do with appliances?  Well, some appliances filter the same air you breath - mostly air conditioners, but your refrigerator and dryer circulate air also.  There isn't much you can do for the refrigerator or dryer, but if the smoke is heavy in your area, check your filters frequently.  Even if you can't see indiviual ashes, they are there and can clog your filters pretty fast.  If you have someone in the house with allergies, asthma or other breathing difficulties, making sure these filters stay clean is imperative.

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Our massive thanks to all the people that are out there fighting these fires and trying to keep our homes safe.  And our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes.  As for everyone else - please be mindful of the parched conditions out there - just the smallest spark can set off a blaze.  So watch your cigarettes, barbeques and anything else that can get hot enough to touch off all the dry foliage out there.  Most of all - be safe!

Have a great week!

Wednesday Weekly Stock: Refrigerator Parts

Every week at W.L. May we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look into the world of refrigerator parts.

FF8.5HBK1

The "heart" of a refrigeration system is the compressor. A compressor is used to compress the gaseous refrigerant. The process of compression raises the temperature of the gas.The gas is then pumped into a condenser coil, where the heat will will transfer off the coils. This week we are featuring a 740BTU 1/4HP R-134 compressor from Embraco. The part number is FF8.5HBK1.

65109

The compressed refrigerant makes the coils hot. To move the hot air away from the coils to allow further heat transfer a fan is used. For many years, and across many models, a 2 watt motor in a cast iron body was used. Packard offers their clockwise universal replacement as part 65109.

WR60X10220

On newer GE refrigerators, a 9 watt c-frame motor is used for the condenser fan motor. The part number for that motor is WR60x10220.

5303918277

Now that we have covered some of the pieces that make it cold, lets put some of that cold to use. On most Electrolux products made since 2001 the same replacement icemaker is called for. Sometimes labeled as part number IM115, we have it in stock under the Electrolux part number 5303918277.

4318047

The icemaker needs water to do its job. That is where the water valve enters the picture. Most modern machines have ice and water through the door. For those machines a dual valve is called for. For refrigerators that do not have ice and water through the door, or has an add-on icemaker, a single coil valve is called for. For Whirlpool refrigerators, the single coil refrigerator valve is part 4318047.

WR02X11330

Back in April we told you about the 5/16 x 5/16 water line connector from GE. It is a size we still get regular calls for. If you would like to stock this part ask your account representative for part number WR02x11330.

4318165

Often, when we get requests for water line couplers, the requester describes the coupler as being'"down near the hinge". Remembering that brings to mind another part located near the hinge. Lower refrigerator door hinges have these little pieces called riser cams or door closers that actually cause the door to raise up and tilt just enough to let gravity help with.

Whirlpool makes a nice kit for their models that includes enough parts to fix the riser cams on both doors. That make sense because if one side is wearing out the other side is likely not far behind. By installing the parts in the kit on both doors you are proactively preventing a possible call back caused by the other doors risers failing. Part number for the kit is 4318165.

WR9X330DS

A symptom of a door not closing properly is frost build up in the freezer. Another cause can be a problem with the defrost system. Older refrigerators would frost up in the freezer and required periodic defrosting to avoid the whole freezer compartment turning into a giant ice cube.  Modern refrigerators avoid that issue with the use of a heater that warms ups periodically to prevent frost build up.

Although many of the newest models control defrost timing using a computer board, older defrost heater were turned on based on a defrost timer that activated the element and then turns it off. There are still a lot of those units around. The GE part WR9x330DS activates the heater for 24 minutes every 6 hours. This style of timer was not only used on GE, HP and RCA refrigerators, but it frequently is a fit in models made by other manufacturers as well.

ML45, ML50, ML55, ML60

As a safety measure and for those times when the heater gets things warm faster than the defrost timer specifies, a defrost thermostat, also known as a defrost terminator, will interrupt the heater. These thermostats are fairly common and fairly universal. Supco offers replacements at a variety of temperature points. The most common range from 45-60 degrees. ML45 is a 45 degree cut out, ML50 cuts out at 50 degrees and so on, with ML55 and ML60 covering 55 and 60 degrees representatively.

Wednesday Weekly Stock:Cooling Products

Every week at W.L. May we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look into the world of cooling products.

Summer has arrived and we have been hearing from folks all over the Western United States talking about high temperatures and general heat related misery. Fortunately, in our modern world, we have several  appliances that can help us to beat the heat. Trouble is, when it gets so hot the appliance has to work harder.

Harder working appliances are more prone to failure. This is great news for the service industry as lots of repairs are required. It's not so great news when it is YOUR appliance that fails, leaving you in the heat. We at W.L. May know how important it is to get those cooling products back online ASAP. That's why we stock a wide variety of parts for cooling products. When the mercury is rising we don't want to make you wait.

WP94X10041

In addition to cooling the air, an air conditioner is good for moving air. Air blown across cold evaporator coils cools the room while warm air is drawn from the condenser coils and out into the already warm outer air. In many GE window air conditioner the condenser fan that moves air across those condenser coils is part number WP94X10041, and we have it in stock.

WJ85X10041

With all of that air flowing across the coils, it only makes sense for there to be a filter to catch airborne particulates before they get caught up in the coils, reducing efficiency. Again we feature a common GE window air conditioner part, filter # WJ85x10041.

60461N

Another item that can generate calls when the weather gets hot is the icemaker. Most modern refrigerators that have icemakers also have a water filter inside the cabinet. Older refrigerators also need to use a water filter, but for those units, the filter is not usually built in. An in-line water filter is used for those models that fits directly into the inlet line. The filter we feature this week is a 10" filter that has a capacity of 1500 gallons, which should be about 6 months. This filter addresses taste and odor. Our part number is 60461N,

W10190935

Once the water gets past that filter and into the refrigerator, it's time to make some ice. Problems with the ice maker can mean no ice, and that can mean a service call. In my personal experience, most technicians prefer to replace the whole ice maker if possible. However, sometimes the choice is made to rebuild the icemaker. It can be a less expensive proposition from a "cost of parts" point of view, however unless you are quick, the time in labor involved may end up leaving the cost the same to the home owner. If you are going to rebuild an icemaker, the motor module that drives the ejection of ice is a common need. Whirlpool has a module that is used an a great number of their icemakers. We stock it under the Whirlpool part number W10190935.

W10503278

Even if you were to opt out of repairing or replacing a faulty icemaker, you could still make ice the old fashioned way by using an ice tray. That is, of course, if the refrigerator is cold enough to keep things frozen. If your refrigerator is not cold enough, then fixing the icemaker still wouldn't get you ice. Lack of cold can be caused by the refrigeration system or it could be caused by control problem. A large number of recent Whirlpool models use the same computer board, not only to control cool but also to control defrosting. It is definitely part worth stocking.

Whirlpool calls this board a "Jazz" board. I have never heard why they call it that, but I always picture an engineer designing this board wondering what to call it. I imagining him thinking, "it is a cold control, but it also controls defrosting and all that jazz-I know, I shall call it a jazz board!" Well, however they came up with the name, it is a popular piece, we stock it, and you can order it as part W10503278.

61005988

I mentioned that the Jazz board addresses the function of a defrost timer on machines that have a jazz board.  Not all refrigerators have a board that controls cooling temperature as well as defrost. Some refrigerators utilize aboard specifically dedicated to the defrost function. These are known as ADC (adaptive defrost control) or adaptive defrost boards. These are seen most often on Whirlpool products, including Maytag and Amana. Some Frigidaires also use the adaptive defrost board. A common Whirlpool ADC is part 61005988.

833697

Finally, week we feature an item that has been around seemingly forever. The Whirlpool 2 Watt condenser motor is fairly universal for most refrigerators needing a 2 watt condenser motor. Definitely worth stocking, Part number 833697.

We are also featuring a few thermostats and thermistors for refrigerators this week. For all of your refrigeration part needs call us here at W.L. May.

Kelly's Korner - Hot Town, Summer in the City

Hey, All,

It is only the end of June and we have been getting some really warm weather here in Portland.  While we didn't get the 103 degrees they were forecasting this weekend, it was still 90 something, overcast, with humidity at the sauna level.  And the rest of the summer is looking just as uncomfortable.

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Now, I may be weird but summer is my least favorite season of the year.  I don't do well in the heat and my poor pets aren't too happy either.  So what do I do to help alleviate some of the discomfort (I don't have central air)?  First of all, if I can't get to a pool, river or lake and stay home, I make sure I have lots of water (iced tea for me) around for my pets.  I set out extra bowls of water and drop ice cubes in it to keep it cool.  I also have a big box fan to blow air on me and move it around the living room.  I also have a spray bottle with water to spray both me and the furballs.

Once temps in the house reach about 80, I will put my ferrets in the big dog kennel with food, water and an old flannel sheet for them to curl up in and move them to the basement.  It stays blessedly cool down there - my boys practically live down there in the summer.  The cats and the grand-dog are either down there, too, or else the cats have found a cool hidey hole outside.

Once the sun goes down, I open up the house - doors and windows to catch any stray breeze, and leave them open all night.  When I get up in the morning, I close everything back up to keep the cool in and go through the same routine.  The two smaller bedrooms now have window A/C units but I just open up my windows at night and unplug the heater on my bed and sleep just fine.

Now, if you can't afford to install whole house air conditioning and all stores are sold out of window units (the windows in my front room don't open so I can't put window unit in - one more thing in the list of honey-dos on my house!) there have been some very innovating ideas out on the Web for do-it-yourself A/C units.  I am not recommending them, but some of them do look pretty interesting and if they work - hey, there's a plus for you.

If you have any other ways to keep cool, let me know - it's going to be a looooong summer!

Have a great week and a safe and sane 4th!

Kelly's Korner - Keeping your cool.

Hey, All,

I don't know about you, but I live in the Pacific Northwest because I like the rain - weird, huh?  It seems that this summer has been hotter than ever and I can't wait for some cooler weather and some rain.  Air conditioning is not something standard in the homes here as it is in other parts of the country.

So what do you do to beat the heat?  Heading to the coast every night after work is not an option, and while there are plenty of rivers and lakes around, getting there after work leaves little time to enjoy before dark sets in.

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If  you have air conditiong of any kind - whole house, heat pump or window shakers - a few basics of maintenance will help keep your cool.  Check your filters - these being clogged by dust, hair and whatever will reduce the efficiency and make your unit run harder and head it towards failure.

If your unit is outside, remove any grass, weeds, leaves or anything that may be restricting air flow.  If you haven't already, scheduling a maintenance call might be in order.  The air conditioning companies are usually pretty booked during heat waves taking care of emergencies so you may have to wait several days.  Might be a good idea to schedule yearly checkups on your heating and cooling systems so you don't forget and run into trouble.  Ask your tech what basic things you can do to keep things running.

And if you don't have A/C?  Well, there are some ingenious ideas out there on the internet - I saw one the other day using a 5-gallon bucket, ice and a fan - hmmm...personally, I don't have A/C and I rely on a plastic wading pool, wet clothes and fans.  But, whatever your method is of keeping cool during the heat, have a great summer!

Have a great week!

PS:  Don't forget the pets!  Keep them in a cool location and make sure they have plenty of clean, cool water - throw a couple of ice cubes in when you are refilling your own beverage!