Big Lar's Appliance Repair

09/17/2023

We would like to thank ALL of our customers for voting us #1 this year '2023' in APPLIANCE REPAIR in the Pantagraph's Readers' Choice Awards! None of this would have been possible without ALL of our fantastic Big Lar Appliance Repair customers!!!

11/29/2019

This little guy was able to short out the condenser motor/fan, the start/run capacitor to the compressor and the electronic control board! Needless to say, my customer is on his way to find a black Friday deal on a new refrigerator!

09/11/2019

08/22/2019

REPAIR or REPLACE:

I'm asked frequently by customers for guidance on whether to repair or replace an appliance!

The general rule I've always shared has been if it costs 50% or less then the cost of a new appliance then get the appliance repaired. If the cost of the repair is greater then 50% then replace the appliance.

Some other considerations:
1) How old is the appliance?
2) Did the appliance come with the house you purchased? If so, this may influence your decision more towards the approach of having it repaired.
3) Does it have other issues like rust, water scaling, mineral and calcium deposits?
4) Does the machine run loud, loud spin out if it's a washer, etc.
5) Do you have an electric range and would like to switch to a new gas range? Is this your opportunity to do just that?
6) Overall, do you like the machine or would you prefer something different?

Big Lar's Appliance Repair: 309-431-1396

08/10/2019

Customer concern:
The freezer was holding the correct temperature but the refrigerator side was hovering around 45-50 degrees! The evaporator fan was unable to circulate cold air from the coils in the freezer to the refrigerator side because ice was covering the evaporator coils.

Problem resolution:
The defrost heater had no continuity and the temperature sensor in the freezer was not providing an accurate temperature back to the control board!

Pictures:
1) Evaporator Coils are coverd in frost and ice!
2) After 5 Minutes of the Defrost Heater bypassed.
3) After 10 Minutes of the Defrost Heater bypassed.
4) After 15 Minutes of the Defrost Heater bypassed. Everything is back to normal in the refrigerator!

Very Happy Customer!

07/26/2019

I would like to thank ALL of my customers as Big Lar's Appliance Repair was given honorable mention in the Pantagraph's Best of Readers' Choice Bloomington/Normal for BEST APPLIANCE SERVICE!

05/18/2019

Myth: New appliances only last 7-10 years. They just don't make them like they used too.

Truth:
Many appliances last 11-25 years when they are maintained regularly and not abused. The only time it makes sense to buy a new appliance is if the repair is going to cost greater then 50% of a brand new appliance.

Major surgery like a bearing, motor, transmission or bad compressor usually warrant new purchases.

However, repairs like belts, fuses, drum rollers, tensioner pulleys, evaporator motors, condensor motors, thermostats, start/run capacitors, overload relays, igniters, heating elements, switches, pumps and valves are always worth fixing. I even find great deals on control dials, control boards and control panels and can usually beat Dick Van Dyke's and Sherman's by hundreds on their repair guestimates. I call them guestimates because the estimate usually doesn't even mention the right part that needs repaired. Always get a second opinion before buying new.

Fact:
The 7-10 year appliance life myth has been perpetuated through marketing and advertising for companies that sell brand new appliances. Dick Van Dyke's and Sherman's are not in business to repair appliances, the margins are too small for their appetites. Their business model is built around the 100-200% mark up on appliances and selling extended warranties that only cover the parts that have a 5-10% risk of going out in 3-5 years. An extended warranty typically adds 25-35% profit to new appliances. The only time you should buy an extended warranty is if you are going to use a residential machine commercially. Or if you have a habit of overstuffing your washer/dryer and taxing your motor/transmission.

The Real Skinny: It is always worth getting a second opinion for a nominal fee from myself or Gary's Appliance Repair (I've worked with Gary for many years and he's very competent).

Big Lar's Appliance Repair: 309-431-1396

05/11/2019

Customer complaint: The bottom freezer rack was iced in and wouldn't budge. In addition, lots of water on the floor whenever the defrost cycle would run.

Solution: Unclog the defrost drain under the evaporator coils and clean out a sheet of ice that was 16 inches wide and 8 inches tall in the back of the freezer. This is the biggest ice damn I've ever removed out of a freezer!

05/07/2019

Oven Bake Igniters:

I recommend OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts for oven Igniters. This helps to avoid the wiring/melting issue experienced today! The customer had purchased a universal oven igniter a year ago and connected using a wiring harness adapter. The pictures can tell the rest of the story! Not only did the universal igniter melt the harnesses adapter but it also started creating small explosions when the oven would start heating up!

05/06/2019

Customer concern: Dryer was taking 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to dry! Medium temperature at 88-92 degrees now and high temperature is 95-99 degrees! Perfect! Excellent air flow in the backyard now!