APPLIANCE WOES

Yellow Pages

When the washing machine youbought last summer self-destructs,you go hunting for the warranty. Ithelps if you've set up a file for eachappliance and included the warranty,the sales receipt, and the owner'smanual. Read the warranty to see ifthe problem is covered—most warrantiesare for 1 year, but some specializedparts, like compressors ormotors, may be covered for a longerperiod. If you enjoy projects andwant to try fixing the problem yourself,visit RepairClinic.com forsome expert advice. If you decide tohave a pro handle the job and theappliance is still under warranty,make sure you use factory-authorizedrepair people; they can bill theappliance company directly. Checkthe or the manufacturer'sWeb site for a list of certifiedrepair technicians.