Appliance Tips & Blog

Dryer Safety • Approx. 4 min read

How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent in Central Kentucky?

In a lot of Central Kentucky homes I visit, the dryer isn’t heating “like it used to” – and the first problem isn’t the heater, it’s airflow. A clogged vent can be a fire risk and a power hog long before the dryer actually dies.

Typical cleaning schedule for most homes

Standard use (a few loads a week): Every 12 months
Heavy use (large family, daily loads): Every 6–9 months
Long vent runs or multiple elbows: Lean closer to the 6-month side

Warning signs I see on calls around Lebanon, Bardstown, and Springfield

Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry
The top or front of the dryer feels very hot to the touch
A burning or “hot lint” smell during or after the cycle
Visible lint buildup on the outside vent hood

Why you shouldn’t ignore it

A restricted vent makes the dryer run hotter and longer. That’s harder on the motor, heater, and safety thermostats, and it constantly bakes lint in the vent line. In the worst cases, it becomes a genuine fire hazard.

If you’re in Marion, Nelson, Washington, Larue, or Hardin County and your dryer is slowing down, it’s usually cheaper to clean the vent and catch problems early than to run it until something fails.

Refrigerators • Approx. 5 min read

7 Signs Your Fridge Needs a Professional Repair (Before You Lose Food)

A warm fridge doesn’t always fail overnight. Most of the time, it gives you a few days or weeks of warning if you know what to look for. Here are the signs I watch for on jobs around Central Kentucky.

Common early warning signs

Milk and leftovers spoiling faster than they used to
Freezer is rock solid but the fresh food section is warm
Fans getting noticeably louder or cycling constantly
Frost building up on the back wall or around the ice chute
Water under crispers or a sheet of ice on the freezer floor
Temperatures swinging up and down even after you adjust settings
Compressor running almost non-stop

Quick checks you can safely do yourself

Make sure nothing is blocking the vents between freezer and fridge
Check that doors are closing all the way and gaskets aren’t torn
Listen for the evaporator fan running inside the freezer

When to stop guessing and call a tech

If food temperature is questionable, don’t gamble on it. Once you’re tossing groceries or moving things to coolers, it’s usually cheaper in the long run to have a proper diagnostic done instead of trying random fixes.

In areas like Lebanon, Bardstown, Springfield, Hodgenville, and Elizabethtown, I see the same failure patterns over and over. A clean diagnostic visit gives you straight options: repair it, nurse it, or plan for replacement.

Washer Tips • Approx. 5 min read

Front-Load vs Top-Load Washer Problems: What I See Most on Central Kentucky Service Calls

Both styles can be good machines, but they fail in different ways. Here’s what usually brings me out to a home, and what you can watch for before things get bad.

Front-load washer issues I’m called for most

Door boot (gray rubber gasket) growing mold or tearing
Drain pump clogs from coins, hairpins, or small clothing
Off-balance spin with heavy loads like towels or blankets
Bearing failures that start as a low rumble and end as a roar

Top-load washer problems I see all the time

Units not agitating because of worn dogs or couplers
No spin due to lid switch or lid lock issues
Shaking or walking across the floor from leveling or suspension
Older machines rusting out around the basket or frame

Which style is “better” for Central Kentucky homes?

It really comes down to how you use it. Front-loaders are easier on clothes and use less water, but they need regular cleaning and lighter, more balanced loads. Traditional top-loaders are more forgiving, but some newer models can be rough on fabrics.

If your washer in Marion, Nelson, Washington, Larue, or Hardin County is already shaking, leaking, or getting loud, that’s usually the right time for a clean diagnostic instead of waiting for a full breakdown.

Dryers • Approx. 4 min read

Gas vs Electric Dryer Not Heating: Simple Checks Before You Call

A no-heat dryer doesn’t always mean an expensive part. Sometimes it’s power, settings, or airflow. There are a few safe checks you can make before you schedule a visit.

For electric dryers

Confirm the breaker is fully on – many use a double breaker
If it tumbles but doesn’t heat, one leg of power might be out
Check that you’re not on an “air fluff” or “no heat” setting

For gas dryers

Make sure the gas shutoff to the dryer is open
Listen for the igniter glowing or clicking attempts to light
Watch for short bursts of heat that cut out quickly – a sign of airflow or safety issues

When to stop and let a tech handle it

Anything involving live voltage, gas line work, or internal components should be left to someone with the right tools and meter. I see a lot of DIY repairs where one part was replaced, but the root cause — like vent restriction — was never fixed.

If you’re in Central Kentucky and the dryer is tumbling with no heat, I can track down whether it’s a heater, igniter, thermostat, control issue, or just an airflow problem and give you a straight answer on whether it’s worth repairing.

Planning • Approx. 5 min read

Repair vs Replace: How I Advise Lebanon & Bardstown Homeowners

Not every appliance should be repaired. On some jobs, I flat-out tell people they’d be better off putting that money toward a new unit. Here’s the general thinking I use on calls.

Questions I’m asking while I diagnose

How old is the unit compared to typical life expectancy?
Is this the first major failure or one of many?
Are parts still readily available at a fair price?
Is there hidden damage (rust, wiring, sealed system issues)?

Rough guidelines I share with customers

If the repair is more than ~50% of replacement cost on an older unit, I’ll usually recommend replacement.
For newer units (under 5 years), a solid repair often makes sense.
For built-ins or specialty setups, repair can still be the better play even at a higher percentage.

Why a good diagnostic matters

The whole point of the diagnostic visit is to get real numbers in front of you: what it will cost to fix, what’s likely to fail next based on condition, and whether your money is better spent on repair or replacement.

Whether you’re in Lebanon, Bardstown, Springfield, or out on a rural route, the goal is the same: give you enough information to make a smart decision, not pressure you into one option.

Dishwashers • Approx. 4 min read

Why Your Dishwasher Isn’t Draining (and When to Call a Tech)

A little water in the bottom of the dishwasher after a cycle can be normal. A pool of dirty water that never leaves is not. Here’s what I see most often in Central Kentucky homes.

Common causes of a no-drain dishwasher

Clogged filter or debris in the sump area
Blocked or kinked drain hose under the sink
Garbage disposal knockout plug never removed
Failed drain pump or something stuck in the impeller

Safe checks you can make

Clean the filter and visible debris in the bottom of the tub
Look under the sink at the hose routing and connection
If a disposal was recently installed, confirm the knockout plug was removed

When it’s time for a visit

If the pump is humming but not moving water, or tripping the breaker, it’s time to have it properly opened up. Forcing it to run over and over with a blockage can burn out components that were still salvageable.

I see this regularly in Lebanon, Bardstown, and the surrounding small towns. A focused visit usually beats guessing and replacing random parts.

Laundry • Approx. 4 min read

The Real Cost of Ignoring Strange Noises from Your Washer or Dryer

Most loud machines didn’t start that way. The noise crept in little by little, and everyone just turned the TV up. By the time I get the call, damage is usually worse than it had to be.

Noises that should never be ignored

Deep grinding or metal-on-metal scraping during spin
High-pitched squeals that last through most of the cycle
Thumping that doesn’t stop after the load evens out
Dryers squeaking in the first few minutes of every run

What those sounds often turn into

Washer bearing jobs instead of simple suspension fixes
Burned-through dryer drum support rollers and shafts
Cracked spider arms on front-load washers
Heat damage to belts and motor pulleys

Why catching it early is cheaper in Central Kentucky

In our area, parts availability and shipping time matter. Smaller repairs caught early are faster to turn around and cheaper overall. Waiting until something fails completely can move you from a “quick fix” into “might not be worth it” territory.

If your laundry room in Marion, Nelson, Washington, Larue, or Hardin County has gotten louder over the last few months, that’s the time to schedule a look – not when it finally quits.

Scheduling • Approx. 3 min read

Why Evening and Weekend Appliance Repair Works Better for Central Kentucky Families

Most people I serve can’t just take a random weekday off work for a four-hour arrival window. That’s why Nugent’s is built around evenings and weekends instead of strict 9–5.

How this schedule actually helps

You don’t have to burn vacation time for a service call
You’re more likely to be home when I arrive and finish
Kids, pets, and work schedules are easier to work around
It fits shift workers and tradesmen better than strict daytime slots

What “emergency only” Sundays mean

Sunday is officially OFF for standard calls. That said, there are times where a no-cool refrigerator or a genuinely urgent situation needs attention. Those are handled as emergency calls at emergency rates, and scheduled as capacity allows.

If you’re in Central Kentucky and need appliance repair that fits real-life schedules, that’s exactly what this business is set up for.

Ovens & Ranges • Approx. 4 min read

What to Do When Your Oven Won’t Hold Temperature Before a Holiday Meal

Half my oven calls come in right before a holiday, birthday, or big family dinner. The oven has been drifting for months, but it only becomes a crisis when 20 people are on the way.

Fast checks you can make

Use an inexpensive oven thermometer to see how far off it really is
Give it a full 20–30 minutes to preheat before judging the temp
Check whether the issue is bake only, broil only, or both

Common causes I see in Central Kentucky homes

Failed bake elements on electric units
Weak or inconsistent igniters on gas ovens
Temperature sensors drifting out of range
Control boards not responding correctly to feedback

How to plan repairs around big events

If you know a major gathering is coming up, don’t wait until the week before to see if the oven is okay. Run a test meal a couple of weeks ahead. If it undercooks, overcooks, or never seems right, that gives enough time for a diagnostic and any parts that might need to be ordered.

I regularly help families in Lebanon, Bardstown, Springfield, and surrounding areas get ovens ready before holidays. A quick test now can save a lot of stress later.

How It Works • Approx. 4 min read

What to Expect from a Professional Appliance Diagnostic Visit in Central Kentucky

A good diagnostic is more than “taking a quick look.” It’s where you get real answers and real numbers so you can decide what to do next. Here’s how I handle it on Nugent’s Appliance Repair calls.

What happens during the visit

Confirm the complaint: what the unit is doing (or not doing)
Run the appliance through key functions or test modes where available
Check common failure points for that brand and model
Verify power, water, gas, and basic installation issues

What you get before I leave

A plain-language explanation of what failed or what is failing
A written estimate for repair, including parts and labor
Honest feedback on whether the repair makes sense based on age and condition

Why this matters more than random part-swapping

Swapping parts based on internet guesses or anecdotes can burn through your budget without fixing the actual problem. A focused diagnostic visit saves money by cutting straight to the failure and letting you choose repair or replacement with real information.

Whether you’re in Marion, Nelson, Washington, Larue, or Hardin County, the process is the same: clear diagnostics, straight options, and no games.