Appliance Repair on Clearwater's East Side, 33759

Milton's rain sent Alligator Creek over its banks, and an apartment complex on Drew Street flooded so badly that hundreds of residents had to be rescued. Low ground along the creek and the bay is in evacuation Zone A.

An appliance that sat in floodwater is a safety question before it is a repair question. Do not switch on a washer, dryer, range or refrigerator that was submerged. Water leaves residue in control boards, motor windings and wiring, and some units should be replaced rather than dried out. We will look and tell you which is which.

Many complexes use stacked washer-dryer pairs in a closet or a shared laundry room. A stacked set is tight to work on, and its vent often climbs through a wall where lint collects out of sight. If drying times have crept up, that duct deserves a look before anyone replaces a heating element. Houses on this side of the city keep laundry in the garage or a utility room, and park homes use a utility closet.

In the manufactured-home parks, the washer and dryer often share a small closet with the water heater. Keep that closet clear of stored items so the dryer can draw air, and watch the floor around the washer for soft spots, which point to a slow leak from a hose or the tub seal. Both problems are far easier to deal with early than after the subfloor has started to give.