charlesochoa

[charlesochoa]

Whirlpool dryer repair

This week I worked on an old Whirlpool gas dryer. It’s an old model, its model number identifications and such being lost to time except for a wiring diagram which I have with me. The problem started when it was a weak start of heat. Meaning, it wasn’t heating as often as it should. The problem got so bad you had to put the clothes for two cycles before it was completely dry.

After some troubleshooting, I found that the issue was something within the ignition system. Parts to repair the ignition system is cheap. In case you need to know, the ignition system in a gas dryer works by sending a signal to two ceramic gas coils to release gas into the dryer flame duct, where a pilot/starter heats up to an immense degree, heating the gas within the duct where a flame happens. Then, the flame sensor on one side of the flame duct detects the proper temperature and signals that the flame is stable. This heats goes up a duct back into the dryer drum and that is what allows your clothes to be dried.

I found all the parts for $30 plus tax so I bought a whole kit: flame sensor, pilot/starter, gas coils, and fuse. After taking apart the dryer, I managed to find the places where the parts go, they’re all in a cluster on the left side of the dryer, so I made sure to replace everything and put back everything together. After a test cycle to see it works, I closed it well and got it back in place.

One thing you need to make sure when you do this is to reconnect everything back the way it was, including the door sensor. Otherwise your dryer won’t start. I forgot to put it in but once I troubleshot and figured I had forgotten it, I took it back out and plugged it in. Now I can say I have a proper dryer back up running at home.

#dryer repair #clothes dryer #whirlpool #dryers #ignition dryer repair

[charlesochoa]

Advertising locally

So, I have been advertising for about a week now. Here's the results of my campaigns

Campaigns on Facebook - 2 for $20 each. Result: One comment. No calls. No appointments.

Campaign on Craigslist - 1 ad for $5. Result: two calls.

For now, I will focus on Craigslist and other local classifieds, see if that pays off more than Facebook or more generalized searches.

[charlesochoa]

Trying to come back to writing is hard.

You try to keep up a schedule of business. Suddenly you realize you need to make money and so you give in and go get a job. This new job has been keeping you busy, tired, and without much time to actually update your life or work on your side businesses.

This has happened to me several times now. I am trying to kick that habit and make healthier habits regarding my relationship with my businesses and work.

One of the hardest challenges is to keep yourself active and keep going despite everything that is going on around you: Family, friends, work, watering your little plants and trying to make them grow into sturdy trees. That's more or less how it feels to manage a business even as small as a one person operation. That's not including all the extra work my dad's death left behind which I still have to do.

All in all, it is exhausting, but someone has to do it. Question is am I ready for it all? Maybe, we will see.