If you can manually advance the timer but it will only advance on its own every half hour or so, it is not broken. This is the normal operating procedure when the “delay start” option has been selected. This feature causes the timer to advance in increments, with some increments being a half hour. In fact, you can encounter 30 minute interval increments with the “normal wash,” “hot start” and “dry” cycles as well. GE recommends only being concerned about a broken timer if the timer does not move for a period greater than 30 minutes.

Blocked Detergent Cup

The timer will not advance if the detergent cup cannot open. One of the things that can cause the detergent cup to not open is that it is blocked. This can occur when you overload the dishwasher or place something large in the front of the dishwasher that leans on the detergent cup when the door is closed. You need to stop the dishwasher so that you can open it and rearrange the items inside. This gives you the chance to remove whatever is blocking the detergent cup. Once you have done this, the timer should advance if the cause was a blocked detergent cup.

Other Detergent Cup Problems

Your detergent cup may not be blocked, but still not opening and causing the timer to be stuck. You need to inspect the cup since something else is wrong with it. The way that the detergent cup works is that is has to be completely closed at the start of a cycle, almost completely open between the main wash and the final rinse of the cycle, and completely open at the end of the cycle. Stop the dishwasher and open it to do your inspection. Test the detergent cup by trying to open and close it while you manually rotate the timer. Once you do this, the detergent cup should open during the cycle and the timer advance properly.

Timer Bonded to Control Panel

When sticky substances get on the timer dial and and behind it, the result is that the timer will bond to the control panel. This commonly happens with substances like orange juice. The bonding makes it impossible for the timer to advance even if you are manually turning it while pushing it in. To solve this problem, you need to clean the sticky substance off the back of the timer. To do this, you must gently pull the timer knob away from the control panel so that you can clean it with a damp clean cloth. The timer knob is attached to the control panel and pulling with too much force can damage it. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, you can call an appliance service person.

Troubleshooting a Broken Timer on a GE Dishwasher is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

It can be a simple problem that is causing the washing machine to not complete the spin cycle, which means you may be able to avoid calling out a repair person.

Here are some troubleshooting tips:

Look to confirm that you have not lost power to the washer by checking the breaker box or fuse box. Reset any tripped breakers or replace a blown fuse.

Adjust the load of laundry in the washer if there was a loud noise before the washer stops. This means that the washer is not balanced. Redistributing the laundry in the washer tub will balance it so that it can spin. Close the washer lid completely to resume the wash cycle as the washer will not operate with the lid open.

Disconnect the washer from an extension cord, if you are using one. A washer cannot complete all of the wash cycle if it is plugged into an extension cord. Instead, connect the washer directly into the wall outlet. If you cannot do this for some reason, Kenmore recommends using a heavy-duty extension cord and taking care so that no water enters the plug.

My Kenmore Washing Machine 10092272100 Won’t Spin is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

As you use your gas dryer, you may experience problems with it such as it not running properly, not heating, not completing a full cycle and making odd noises.

When you have an issue with your Estate dryer, you can troubleshoot the problem on your own. Doing so may save you the expense of a service call on the appliance.

Here’s how to troubleshoot:

Open the dryer door to look inside the drum if any small objects are caught along the edges. This can be the cause of weird noises coming from the dryer. If the noise is a vibration noise, the machine may need leveled, which you can do by adjusting the legs. An overloaded dryer can also cause the vibration noise when the laundry gets balled up. Open the door and separate the laundry to fix. Dryers also make noises as part of the normal operation.

Close the dryer door firmly, if the dryer will not run. Make sure you have selected a cycle and pushed the “Start” button firmly. Other causes for the dryer not running are a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. These two things can also be responsible for a dryer not heating. If you have to replace the fuse, you must use a time-delay fuse for the dryer to work properly. A closed gas supply line valve can also cause the dryer to not heat.

Remove the lint screen and clean it off before each load of laundry to prevent drying times from being too long or from lint getting on the laundry. Other causes of the dryer not drying properly are fabric softener sheets blocking the grill, clogged exhaust vent, an overloaded dryer, the “air dry” cycle being selected and the dryer being housed in a room with a temperature below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Only use one fabric softener sheet per load. Remove some of the laundry from the dryer if it is overloaded. Select a cycle other than “air dry” if you want heat because the “air dry” cycle only uses room temperature air.

Level the gas dryer by adjusting the legs if your drying cycles are too short. This is usually due to the wet laundry not making contact with the sensor strips because the dryer is not level.

Estate Gas Dryer Troubleshooting is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

Instead of trying to find a closet that can hold the boxes, you can repurpose them.

Leaving the boxes built allows you to take your storage boxes and turn them into tables.

You can create a coffee table, a bedside table or a table or everyone to gather around.

The box tables do not have to replace current tables, but can be used in addition to other tables you may have.

Make A Bedside Table Out of A Box

Fill a box to make it sturdy, if it is not already filled.

Tape the flaps together on the box.

Add a piece of wood or safety glass to the top of the box. This should be the same size as the box top.

Cover the box with fabric or a tablecloth, if you want to completely cover the box. Or, paint the along the corners of the box to create fake legs and then paint the wood on top of the box. It will look like a table when you are done.

Make A Coffee Table Out of A Box

Fill the boxes so that they are sturdy, if they are not already filled.

Place some of the boxes in a row on the the floor.

Put a piece of safety glass on top of the box to make an instead coffee table in your living room.

Make A Card Table, Craft Table or Dining Table Out of A Box

Fill your largest box to get it sturdy, if it is not already filled.

Tape together the flaps so they will stay down.

Put a table cloth over the box and put some chairs around it.

How To Turn Storage Boxes Into Tables is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

Prepare your soil for planting by adding peat moss, compost or commercial multi-purpose soil to the ground. This gets your yard ready for new plants.

Look at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map on the U.S. National Arboretum website if you are not sure what plants will grow in your region. Once you know your hardiness zone, you can look on potential plants for a tag that states what zone they grow best in.

Add shrubs and lavender to line any walkways you have in the backyard. Make identical plantings along each side of the walkway.

Plant roses, shrubs and small flowers around any structures in the yard, such as a gazebo. Or you can create a flower bed around the perimeter of the structure. If you are worried about the plants getting enough water, choose plants that do not need much. Plants that grow well with little water include shasta daisies, lamb’s ears, echinacea, yarrow and lavender.   If you have any trellises or gates, plant roses and any climbing plants that grow well in your region.

Group plantings around any trees in your yard. This results in falling leaves creating natural mulch as well as making it easier for when you mow your lawn. If you are concerned about difficulty when mowing, keep the plants at tree bases and in rounded flower beds. Rounded beds are easier to mow around that square or rectangle beds. As your group plants together, do not over crowd too many in one space or they will compete for water and nutrients.

Put taller plants in the back of the yard so that you will be able to see the smaller plants. For example, if you have a gated or fenced yard, keep the taller plants, such as tulips, closer to the fence while keeping smaller plants, such as pansies, in the front. Group plants together that are higher maintenance. For instance, if you have some plants that require more frequent watering, put them together so that you will not over water your other plants when trying to water the ones that need a lot of water.

Include some non-plant features in the yard so that it will not be bare in the cooler months. Use things such as rocks, fountains and benches if space permits.

How to Decorate a Backyard With Plants is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

If so, you must ripen seeds from your current crop.

If you take seeds that are not yet ripe, they will not be fully developed.

As a result, when you plant the seeds you will not see any growth for your labor.

Ripened seeds are typically your viable, healthy seeds, which are the ones to harvest.

With a little attention, you can ripe your own seeds.

Maintain your flowers, vegetables or other planted item so that they continue to grow as they normally do. You cannot collect ripened seeds from dead plants or from plants that have not reach the proper ripeness.

Wait for flowers to bloom, fruit to appear or vegetables to appear. The amount of time this take varies depending on the plant.

Water the plant regularly so that the fruits, vegetables or flowers continue to grow and mature.

Watch the seed pod for changes. It will begin to dry and change colors. On things such as flowers, the pods will wither and turn brown usually.

If you are ripening seeds in a vegetable or fruit that has seeds on the inside, you will notice the skin start to wither and wrinkle.

Once this happens, your seeds are fully ripened.

How to Ripen Seeds is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

A wood stove can be used as an alternative heating source to lower your heating bills or just to have in the event of a power outage in your area.

Wood stoves come in a variety of sizes and makes, with cast iron stoves listed as common type of stove on Hearth Wiki.

Visit your local county courthouse to speak with a building official.

You need to find out if there are specific building codes in your locality that relate to wood stoves.

Usually you need to apply for a building permit in the office and some states even require an inspection once you get the stove installed.

According to Hearth Wiki, Massachusetts and some other states require a carbon monoxide detector as part of the installation.

Ask the seller for the year or model of the used wood stove that you are interested in purchasing.

According to WoodStove.org, older used wood stoves that were made before 1979 may work fine but may not have all of the safety measures implemented that you would find in a more recently manufactured wood stove.

No set year model is recommended as the best though.

Look for a used wood stove that meets your needs.

For instance, if you want the stove for heating your home then you should look for a cast iron stove instead of a soapstone stove because it heats faster.

Eliminate stoves that are too big or too small from your search.

For instance, if you need to heat a large area, you need a stove capable of doing that, such as a 50,000 BTUs stove, and you can eliminate all small stoves.

Arrange for movers to assist you in getting a used wood stove to your home, once you are ready to buy a used wood stove.

Wood stoves are heavy and depending on the weight, you may need special equipment to move the stove.

When you contact movers in your area for help, let them know what you are moving and ask if they can move the stove.

You can find local area movers on the Movers.com website.

Avoid stoves with heavy flaking rust or a whitish color on the metal as these are signs of metal fatigue.

How To Buy A Used Wood Stove is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

Gather Your Materials

To begin your compost bin, you’ll need only a few basic materials: Packing skids, 4” screws, a drill, chicken wire, a staple gun and hinges.

How to Do It

Get three to five skids. You can purchase the skids, but many factories and stores will give them to you for free if they have no use for them and want to get rid of them.

Stand three of the skids up together so that they create square without a front. Alternately, create a four-pallet compost bin by laying one skid on the ground and standing three skids up around it so that you create a box shape with a bottom, but no front and no top. A four-skid compost bin with a bottom will allow more air to move through the compost, speeding up the composting process. Use three to four inch screws to connect the skids to each other. Place at least two screws at each end of each skid to make sure they are held tightly together and can withstand wind and other harsh weather.

Attach chicken-wire to the inside walls of the compost bin using a staple gun to reinforce the bin, and make a door for the bin out of a fifth shipping pallet or an old screen door if you want to enclose the bin completely. This may be worthwhile if you have small kids or animals that may get into your compost pile. Attach the skid or door to the front of the box with hinges so that it can easily be opened.

Create a base for the compost pile inside the bin, either on top of the bottom skid if you have made a bin with a floor or directly on the dirt inside the bin if you made a three-skid structure. Mulch, sawdust and dried leaves are all goo compost bases. Add food scraps and other organic materials as they become available just as you do with a normal compost pile.

How to Build a Compost Bin with Skids is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

Yard Sale Supply List:

• pocket apron or money belt
• calculator
• cash in small bills
• 50 plastic grocery bags for purchases
• newspaper or bubblewrap for fragile items
• boxes
• bookcases and racks to display your items
• full-length mirror if you’re selling clothes
• notebook
• garment racks
• painter’s tape to affix signs and prices
• extension cord for testing electronics, if you’re selling any
• thick cardboard for signs
• Sharpie
• colored price stickers and tags
• tablecloths to make display tables look nicer
• drinks/snacks for shoppers
• radio for nice background music

Yard Sale Supply List is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living

Go through your house to gather up everything that you want to include in your yard sale. Don’t forget things like sports equipment and kitchenware that you may want to sell.

Pick a date on a weekend from April through September – but make sure you do not pick a holiday weekend.

Call your local city hall a week before your planned yard sale to make sure you do not need a permit. If you plan on posting signs on telephone poles, you can ask if it is legal.

Buy an ad to advertise your yard sale in your local newspaper that will run on the Friday before your yard sale. In your ad, be sure to list the time, the location and the types of items you will have in your yard sale. List brand names, such as Pottery Barn items, and any quality items, such as a treadmill. Make sure that your ad also says “must sell everything!”

Price items low enough to sell, but high enough for room to bargain. You can always drop the prices after a few hours if you aren’t selling.

Use colored, round stickers for easy pricing. For instance, red stickers are $5 items, yellow stickers are $2 items and so on. Instead of individually pricing each item, just place the colored stickers on the items and then have signs up that explain your pricing. Make sure your sign says “ALL SALES FINAL.” For higher ticket items, you can tag them with an actual price instead of using the colored stickers.

For help pricing tricky items, look on eBay and Craigslist. You can also visit local thrift stores to look for similar items.

In addition to using your local newspaper to publicize your yard sale, use Facebook to send out invites to all of your friends. Use Craigslist to advertise and post about your yard sale on GarageSalesTracker.com. And on Friday before rush house, get some friends or kids to help you put out 10 to 20 heavy cardboard waterproof posters at major intersections within 2 miles of you home. Use a Sharpie on the posters to point people to your home. Make sure to use big, block letters so passing drivers can read your signs.

If you have a friend that lives in a nicer neighborhood, see if you can do the yard sale in her yard. People will expect nicer stuff and to pay more in a nicer area.

When the early birds show up before your yard sale starts, which is usually between 6am and 7:30am, you can make them wait or charge them a $5 to $10 attendance fee because you are opening early just for them.

Stay upbeat because people like to buy from people that are fun, happy and friendly.

Nudge shoppers to load up with stuff by saying things like “I’ll give you what you’re holding for $5 if you take that item over there” and point to something that isn’t moving well.

Be prepared with at least 40 $1 bills, several $5 bills and a toll of quarters to make sure that you can make change easily during the yard sale.

Wear a pocketed apron to keep your cash in. Not only will it let shoppers know who’s in charge, but it helps to prevent theft because your money will be on your body.

Keep a sales notebook so that you can write down everything that sells and how much you sell it for.

Have a tea, coffee and water station with a sign that says “Free refreshments.” It’ll keep people shopping and pay off in the long run.

Tips On How To Have A Successful Yard Sale is a post from: CC: Home Design & Living