Fixing a Whirlpool agitator

Our Whirlpool washing machine recently stopped agitating the clothes during heavy loads.  (For you non-homemakers, the agitator is that finned post that spins around in the middle of the washer.)  Rather than spend $80 plus parts on a service call, a little bit of research online told me that the cause was likely worn-out agitator dogs.  A new set of dogs cost me only $6 at a local appliance supply shop, and it took me only a few minutes to replace them myself.

Cleaning a wimpy water heater

We have a Kenmore Power Miser 12 gas water heater in our home.  It sits on the basement floor, and the combustion air intakes are at the bottom of the heater.  Twice now, the air intake (specifically, the flame arrestor) has gotten clogged with dust and needed to be cleaned.  Read on for more.