CONSIDERING DIY?

Technically yes, but we'd strongly advise against it in most cases. Oven elements are connected to mains 240V power. In Australia, any work on fixed electrical wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. While the element itself plugs in, accessing it often requires disassembling parts of the oven that are connected to live circuits.

More practically: if you order the wrong element, you risk damage to the oven. If you disturb a connection, you risk voiding your insurance if there's ever a fire. For the cost of a fixed-price repair, it's simply not worth the risk.

Oven door hinge problems are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed DIY jobs. A door that won't close properly is almost always a broken or worn hinge — not a seal issue. Attempting to force the door, wedge it shut, or ignore it can crack the glass, which is expensive to replace.

Door hinges on most European ovens (Smeg, Ilve, Blanco) require specific tools to remove and reassemble without cracking the inner glass. Adelaide Oven Repairs charges a fixed price for door hinge replacement and carries hinges for most major brands on the van.

Yes — this is one of the few genuinely DIY-friendly oven jobs. Make sure the oven is switched off at the wall and completely cooled. Oven bulbs are typically 25W, 40W or 15W halogen or incandescent, rated to 300°C. Standard household bulbs will blow almost immediately in an oven.

Buy a replacement from an appliance spare parts supplier — not a hardware store. Take the old bulb with you or note the oven brand and model number.

In most cases, repair is the better financial decision — and the more sustainable one. A quality European oven that costs $1,500–$3,000 new can be repaired for a fraction of that cost. A broken element, faulty thermostat or worn hinges doesn't mean the oven is dead.

The exception is when multiple major components fail simultaneously, or when the appliance is so old that parts are no longer available (NLA). Adelaide Oven Repairs will always give you an honest assessment of whether repair is economical before quoting — and if it isn't, they'll tell you.

Before calling anyone, try these in order:

• Clean the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher (most people never do this)
• Check and clean the spray arm holes — food debris often blocks them
• Check you're using the correct detergent and rinse aid is topped up
• Run a hot dishwasher cleaner cycle (e.g. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner)
• Check the water temperature — dishwashers need hot water to clean properly

If none of these fix it, the issue is likely a pump, wash motor, or water inlet valve — all of which require a professional.

Depends where it's leaking from. A leaking door seal is potentially DIY-friendly if you can identify the correct replacement part and have some patience. However, leaks from underneath the machine almost always indicate a pump seal failure, inlet valve fault, or cracked hose — none of which should be DIY'd.

Water damage to cabinetry is expensive. If you're not certain of the source, turn off the machine at the wall and call a professional. A small repair call-out is much cheaper than replacing damaged kitchen cabinetry.

Sometimes. The most common cause of a washing machine not draining is a blocked pump filter — and cleaning it is absolutely a DIY job. On most machines the pump filter is accessible behind a small panel at the front bottom of the machine. Put a towel down first — water will come out.

If cleaning the filter doesn't fix it, the drain pump itself may have failed, or there could be a blockage in the drain hose. Both require a professional.

Loud banging during the spin cycle usually means the machine is unbalanced or overloaded — not a fault. Stop the cycle, redistribute the load, and try again.

A grinding, scraping, or rumbling noise during any part of the cycle is more serious. This typically indicates worn drum bearings — a professional repair. Ignoring it will lead to complete bearing failure and potentially a damaged drum shaft, which turns a moderate repair into a very expensive one.

A high-pitched whine or squealing is often a worn motor brush or belt — again, professional territory.

No. In South Australia — and across all of Australia — it is illegal for anyone without a Gas Contractor licence to repair, service, or modify gas appliances. This is not a technicality. Incorrectly repaired gas appliances can leak carbon monoxide, cause fires, or explode.

All gas oven and cooktop repairs in our network are handled by Peter Dineen, our licensed Gas Contractor (Licence PGE 177525). There are no exceptions to this rule.

If you can smell gas, act immediately:

• Do not turn any light switches or electrical switches on or off
• Do not use your phone inside the building
• Open all windows and doors
• Turn off the gas at the meter if you know how and it is safe to do so
• Leave the building
• Call the emergency gas line: 1800 GAS GAS (1800 427 427)

Do not re-enter the building until it has been cleared by a gas technician.

Technically yes — there are YouTube videos showing how to do it and it doesn't involve any electrical work. However, there are a few things to be aware of:

• The original KitchenAid grease was not food-safe. The replacement food-safe grease doesn't lubricate as well.
• Getting the right quantity and distribution of grease in the gearbox is important. Too much or too little causes problems.
• If you disturb anything else while in there, you may create a new problem.

If you're mechanically confident, a grease change is within DIY range. If you're not, or if there are other issues, drop it into our Panorama workshop — Paul has been doing this since the 1980s.

This is the most common KitchenAid damage we see — and it's almost always a damaged worm gear. A spatula, spoon, or other object caught by the planetary action puts extreme shock load through the worm gear, which is designed to fail first (it's a sacrificial part, protecting the rest of the mechanism).

The good news is worm gear replacement is a routine repair and Paul holds these in stock. The bad news is it's not a DIY job — it requires disassembly of the gearbox and reassembly with the correct torque and grease.

Almost certainly yes, if the appliance is still under manufacturer's warranty. Any repair or modification by an unlicensed person will void most manufacturer warranties. This includes opening the appliance, replacing any parts, or attempting any electrical work.

If your appliance is in warranty, contact the manufacturer or their authorised service agent. Adelaide Appliance Gallery is a licensed warranty agent for Miele, Asko, Siemens, Bosch and Laura Star.

For genuine manufacturer parts in Adelaide:

• Adelaide Oven Repairs — stocks a wide range of oven parts and can supply parts with or without fitting. See their spare parts page at adelaideovenrepairs.com.au/spare-parts/
• Adelaide Appliance Gallery — stocks dishwasher, washing machine and dryer parts at their St Peters showroom
• E&S Trading — large appliance spare parts retailer in Adelaide
• Appliances Online Parts — online retailer with broad range

Always have your appliance's model number handy — it's usually on a sticker inside the door or on the back of the machine. Never order parts based on brand name alone; model-specific parts vary significantly.

A rough guide: if the repair cost is less than 50% of the replacement cost of an equivalent appliance, repair is almost always the better financial and environmental choice.

For premium European brands (Smeg, Ilve, Miele, Bosch, AEG) this calculation almost always favours repair — a quality oven that cost $2,000 can often be repaired for $280–$400. The build quality of these appliances means they can last 20–30 years with occasional maintenance.

For entry-level appliances that cost $400–$600 new, the calculation is closer. If a $500 washing machine needs a $350 repair, replacement may make more sense — but factor in the time and inconvenience of sourcing and installing a new appliance.

Our specialists will always give you an honest assessment before quoting. If a repair isn't economical, we'll tell you — we'd rather you trust us long-term than feel pressured into an uneconomical repair.