Lynn Johannson, Advisor, Sustainability and ESG
January 4th, 2024
Lynn Johannson, President of E2 Management Corporation and Catalyst for THE Collaboration
In a care[...]
Signs Your Appliance Needs Repair (And How to Avoid Major Issues)
March 10, 2025
Image: Freepik/tonodiaz
In today's fast-paced world, home appliances have become integral to our daily lives. From refrigerators to washing machines, dishwashers to microwaves, these appliances make household chores easier and more efficient. However, like all machines, appliances experience wear and tear, and eventually, they may require repairs. Recognizing when your appliance needs repair can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. This article will discuss the common signs that indicate your appliance needs repair and provide tips on how to avoid major issues before they arise.
1. Unusual Noises
One of the most obvious signs that something is wrong with an appliance is when it starts making strange noises. Whether it's a loud banging, grinding, squeaking, or buzzing sound, unusual noises should never be ignored. These sounds often indicate that parts are malfunctioning or that there's an issue with the internal components of the appliance.
For instance, if your refrigerator starts making a loud humming noise, it might mean that the compressor is struggling or that the condenser fan is malfunctioning. In a washing machine, a grinding noise could suggest an issue with the drum or motor.
How to avoid it: Regular maintenance and cleaning of your appliances can help prevent abnormal sounds. For example, cleaning the refrigerator coils can help the compressor run more efficiently, while lubricating the moving parts of washing machines and dishwashers can prevent wear and tear. Scheduling regular service checks will also help catch issues before they worsen.
2. Inconsistent Performance
When your appliance begins to work inconsistently, it's a strong indication that it needs attention. For instance, a dishwasher that is not cleaning dishes properly or a refrigerator that is not cooling as it should can be a sign of an underlying problem. Inconsistent performance often means that one of the internal systems, such as the heating element, thermostat, or motor, is failing.
A clothes dryer that doesn’t dry clothes thoroughly or takes longer than usual can be another example. It might be due to a clogged vent or a malfunctioning heating element.
How to avoid it: Proper usage and regular cleaning are essential for maintaining appliance performance. For refrigerators, ensure the door seals are tight, and the coils are clean. For dishwashers, avoid overloading and clean the spray arms to ensure water flows evenly. Also, follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines to ensure everything is running smoothly.
3. Leaks or Water Damage
Water leaks are among the most common signs that an appliance is in trouble. Whether it's a washing machine, dishwasher, or refrigerator, any leak should be taken seriously. A leaking appliance not only wastes water but can also cause significant damage to your floors, walls, and other household items.
For instance, a dishwasher may leak due to a damaged door seal or clogged drain. Similarly, a washing machine might leak if the hose or pump is cracked or malfunctioning.
How to avoid it: Regularly inspect hoses, seals, and connections for signs of wear or cracks. If you notice any signs of water pooling around your appliances, investigate the cause immediately. Also, it’s a good practice to replace rubber seals every few years to prevent leaks before they happen.
4. Increased Energy Bills
An appliance that is working harder than it should is often inefficient, leading to increased energy consumption. If your energy bills have spiked without any other clear reason, it's worth checking your appliances. For example, a refrigerator that isn't cooling properly may work overtime to maintain the desired temperature, consuming more energy than usual. Similarly, an old or malfunctioning air conditioner may use more energy to cool the same space.
How to avoid it: Upgrade to energy-efficient models when possible, as these appliances use less energy. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning air filters in HVAC systems and refrigerators, can help appliances run more efficiently. Also, ensure that appliances are not overloaded, as this can lead to inefficiency and higher energy costs.
5. Strange Odors
A foul or burnt smell coming from an appliance can indicate that something is wrong. For example, if your microwave is emitting a burnt smell, the wiring or internal components may be overheated or malfunctioning. Similarly, a musty smell from a washing machine could be a sign of mold or mildew buildup due to improper drainage or excessive moisture.
How to avoid it: Regularly clean your appliances to prevent the growth of mold or mildew, especially in areas where moisture can accumulate. For microwaves and ovens, clean food particles and grease buildup to avoid overheating. If your washing machine smells, run a cleaning cycle with vinegar and hot water to eliminate odors.
6. Error Codes or Malfunctioning Displays
Modern appliances, particularly those with digital displays, often show error codes or malfunctioning screens when something is wrong. These error codes can help diagnose the problem and indicate whether it's a minor issue or something more serious.
For example, if your dishwasher is displaying an error code, it could indicate a clogged filter, an issue with the pump, or a malfunctioning temperature sensor. Similarly, if the control board on your oven is malfunctioning, the display may flicker or stop working altogether.
How to avoid it: Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines when using and maintaining your appliances. If an error code appears, consult the manual to troubleshoot. Performing regular maintenance and checking the appliance for loose connections or worn-out parts can help reduce the likelihood of these issues.
7. Age of the Appliance
The age of an appliance plays a significant role in its likelihood of needing repairs. Older appliances are more prone to breakdowns because their parts wear out over time. For example, a refrigerator that is over 10 years old may be more prone to compressor failure or a washing machine with a failing motor.
See: How Energy Efficiency Can Significantly Reduce Property Cost
How to avoid it: While you can’t prevent the aging of your appliances, you can extend their lifespan with proper care. Regular maintenance, proper usage, and timely repairs can help keep older appliances running longer. However, when the cost of repairs starts to exceed the cost of a replacement, it might be time to invest in a new appliance.
Conclusion
Appliance malfunctions are inevitable, but by being vigilant and recognizing the signs early, you can prevent major issues from occurring. Keep an eye out for unusual noises, inconsistent performance, leaks, energy spikes, strange odors, error codes, and signs of age. Regular maintenance, cleaning, and timely repairs can extend the life of your appliances, saving you money and avoiding the inconvenience of unexpected breakdowns. Always consult a professional technician when you're unsure of an issue, as attempting repairs without proper knowledge can lead to further damage. By addressing minor problems promptly, you'll ensure that your appliances continue to function effectively for years to come.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with fintech, alternative finance, blockchain, cryptocurrency, crowdfunding and online investing stakeholders globally. NCFA Canada provides education, research, industry stewardship, services, and networking opportunities to thousands of members and subscribers and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding and fintech industry. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Funding | April 10, 2025 Regulation Crowdfunding Markets Show Tariffs Straining Innovation Economy Regulation Crowdfunding (RegCF) has proven to be a resilient market for early stage entrepreneurs and investors alike. When uncertainty strikes, it's often traditional venture capital that pulls back, while the community-driven model continues to offer early stage start-ups access to capital allowing them to innovate. However, just in from Sherwood (Woodie) Neiss, NCFA Advisor and Principal at Crowdfund Capital Advisors, data shows that tariffs are starting to strain RegCF markets - from March 10 to April 9, 2025: RegCF investment volumes declined by 24% (yoy) to just $57.48 million New campaign launches dropped over 40% Number of investor checks also declined by 15% Average capital raise size dropped to $720,000 (from $1.2 million) Sherwood Neiss, Principal at Crowdfund Capital Advisors: “We’re seeing the first real signs of pullback in what has otherwise been a resilient funding ecosystem. The numbers tell a story not of panic, but of pause. Investors and issuers alike are waiting for clarity—on costs, on policy, and on risk.” Tariffs Introduce New Risks for Early-Stage Companies In a volatile environment where U.S. tariffs are levied one day, and then paused the next, founders must now face ...
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Crypto Regulation | April 15, 2025 Trump Repeals IRS Crypto Reporting Rule. Here's Why Fintechs in Canada Should Pay Attention On April 10, 2025, U.S. President Trump signed a bill cancelling a key IRS crypto reporting rule that would have required decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to report customer transactions to the tax agency. See: UK FCA Plans Full Crypto Licensing Regime by 2026 The IRS' rule was called "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales", which expanded the scope of traditional broker definitions to include DeFi apps like Uniswap and Metamask, and had an effective date of February 28, 2025. However, the IRS provided a transition period given the reporting complexities involved, so the rule was set to apply to digital asset sales occurring after January 1, 2027. But with Trump's bill nullifying the IRS rule, the implementation is now cancelled and the rule is officially gone. What does this mean for fintechs, crypto startups, and regulators in Canada? What Changed? The IRS crypto reporting rule was part of a broader push to increase tax compliance among crypto users but industry argued that it wasn't manageable because DeFi platforms don't control their user's data. ...
Markets and Economy | April 15, 2025 Jamie Dimon’s 2024 Letter Outlines Global Risks and Advice for Leaders On April 7 2025, CEO Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase published his annual 2024 letter to shareholders (58 page PDF), which is widely read by business and policy leaders around the globe. This year's edition, his messages are especially urgent. He describes a world of rising risks, and big decisions ahead with profound implications that stretch beyond simply Wall Street. Below are 5 insights that fintech founders, investors and Canadian decision makers need to know: 1. The U.S. Dollar’s Strength is At Risk “History has shown that as countries become weaker, their currency loses reserve currency status.” Dimon issued a clear warning that's rarely said out loud by execs of America’s biggest banks. That is the U.S. dollar’s global dominance is fading because it's strength relies on TRUST in U.S. institutions, alliances, and policy, BUT that trust is now eroding. Last week, the U.S. dollar dropped significantly reaching a 3 year low against major global currencies. The decline is largely due to the Trump administration's escalating tariffs and trade tensions on imports from several countries, such as China, Canada and European nations. ...
Financing | April 14, 2025 Plaid’s $575 Million Series D Signals a Deeper Strategy in Fintech Data and Embedded AI Financial infrastructure provider, Plaid, announced on April 3 2025, that they raised $575 million Series D at a valuation of $6.1 billion valuation led by Frank Templeton, BlackRock, Fidelity, and others including existing investors such as NEA and Ribbit Capital. While the valuation is significantly lower than it's 2021 peak of $13.4 billion, Plaid's latest round is a story of consolidation of it's role at the heart of embedded finance, and not of decline. Plaid is a backbone of embedded finance with a footprint that spans more than 8,000 apps, including many widely used fintech tools and providers in Canada and the U.S. For Canadian fintech companies, this raise hints at where industry is heading and who will control its most critical pipes. A Profitable Platform in a Tough Market Unlike most fintech firms still chasing break-even, Plaid finished off 2024 with positive operating margins, strong ash flows and a 25% yoy revenue increase. In Plaid's letter to shareholders, 2025, CEO and Cofounder Zach Perret explained that it has a usage based billing model where Plaid earns revenue when an ...
Leadership | April 14, 2025 Why Embracing Uncertainty Can Help Founders Gain Insight (During Chaos) In an economic climate where geopolitical tensions are high and markets volatile with inflation spikes and policy u-turns, founders and innovators that embrace uncertainty can gain an edge. Uncertainty isn't a side effect of innovation, it's the starting line. Inspired from Deepak Chopra's recent article on the power of uncertainty, this article looks at the impact of embracing the unknown and how it can sharpen decision-making, unlock creativity, and help build resilience during times of rapid change and uncertainty. Key Actionable Insights 1. Uncertainty Isn't the Enemy...It's the Edge Chopra argues that trying to eliminate uncertainty kills creativity. When everything is 'the exact same', it breeds complacency. We've all experienced this. During some routine periods, a founder may feel that time is passing by very quickly. Yet during times of great change, novelty, innovation, a founder may feel that time is going by slowly. Fintech leaders who stay agile during times of ambiguity can separate themselves from those who stall in the face of uncertainty. Put differently, successful founders don't just survive during chaos, they scan for signals of change/chaos that others can miss, often ...
April 14, 2025 If you’re running a crowdfunding campaign, visibility is key. Without the right SEO strategy, potential backers may never find your project. Below is a practical, research-backed guide to improving your campaign’s visibility through SEO. 1. Understand Your Audience First Start by knowing who you’re targeting. This helps shape your keywords, content, and messaging. Build a profile of your ideal backer Use keyword research tools like Google Trends or Ahrefs Read forum discussions and questions from your audience The more specific your understanding, the more relevant your content becomes. 2. Focus on Search Intent, Not Just Keywords Group your keywords based on what users are looking to do: Informational: “how to launch a crowdfunding campaign” Transactional: “support [campaign name]” Navigational: “[brand name] Kickstarter page” Use these keywords naturally in: Headings and subheadings Meta descriptions Blog updates and campaign FAQs Image alt text Write for people first, then optimise for search engines. For more insight into how keyword strategy aligns with intent and structure, consider following this website, which outlines foundational SEO practices that support long-term visibility. 3. Build a High-Converting, SEO-Friendly Landing Page Don’t treat your landing page as just a pitch. Make it SEO-ready: Clear, keyword-rich headline ...
Financing | April 11, 2025 OneVest Secures $20M in Series B to Build the Future of WealthTech in North America On January 29, 2025, Calgary and Toronto-based fintech firm OneVest announced the close of a $20 million Series B round, led by Salesforce Ventures and joined by Allianz Life Ventures, TIAA Ventures, and returning backers like OMERS Ventures, Deloitte Ventures, Fin Capital, Luge Capital, and Pivot Investment Partners. See: OneVest’s Rapid Expansion Powered by a $17M Funding Round led by OMERS Ventures OneVest estimates that $84 trillion of wealth will be passed down from Baby Boomers to Gen X and Millennials over the coming decades, creating a massive opportunity and challenge for financial institutions. OneVest's platform is positioned to offer financial institutions, such as banks, insurers, asset managers and RIAs, a module tech platform to build or upgrade their wealth management services. Companies ca upgrade outdated infrastructure by plugging in only the components they need, reducing time and cost to market. Amar Ahluwalia, CEO of OneVest: “We are tackling massive challenges in an industry that’s been traditionally slow to adopt new technologies. Having such esteemed investors solidifies our position to reimagine wealth management technology for enterprises across the U.S. and ...
Regulation | April 10, 2025 SEC Says Some Fully Backed, Payment-Only 'Covered Stablecoins' Aren’t Securities On April 4, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement that clarified some U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins may not be considered securities. While the statement was welcomed and creates some breathing room for crypto and fintech projects, the announcement ignited an internal debate at the SEC and many are wondering what's next. Covered Stablecoins The SEC said certain U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins (referred to as 'Covered Stablecoins') are not considered securities if they have all of the following characteristics: Stablecoin must maintain a 1:1 fixed value equal to the U.S. dollar, without fluctuations Each stablecoin must be fully backed by an equivalent amount of high quality assets such as U.S. Treasury bills, cash, or cash equivalents that can be redeemed on demand. These assets must be held in custody and verified regularly No expectation of profit - cannot be promoted as an investment or marketed in a way that leads buyers to expect profit from simply holding the token See: U.S. Senate Moves to Regulate Stablecoins No voting rights, control over the issuer, or shares in any profit or management decisions (no governance) ...
Funding | April 10, 2025 Regulation Crowdfunding Markets Show Tariffs Straining Innovation Economy Regulation Crowdfunding (RegCF) has proven to be a resilient market for early stage entrepreneurs and investors alike. When uncertainty strikes, it's often traditional venture capital that pulls back, while the community-driven model continues to offer early stage start-ups access to capital allowing them to innovate. However, just in from Sherwood (Woodie) Neiss, NCFA Advisor and Principal at Crowdfund Capital Advisors, data shows that tariffs are starting to strain RegCF markets - from March 10 to April 9, 2025: RegCF investment volumes declined by 24% (yoy) to just $57.48 million New campaign launches dropped over 40% Number of investor checks also declined by 15% Average capital raise size dropped to $720,000 (from $1.2 million) Sherwood Neiss, Principal at Crowdfund Capital Advisors: “We’re seeing the first real signs of pullback in what has otherwise been a resilient funding ecosystem. The numbers tell a story not of panic, but of pause. Investors and issuers alike are waiting for clarity—on costs, on policy, and on risk.” Tariffs Introduce New Risks for Early-Stage Companies In a volatile environment where U.S. tariffs are levied one day, and then paused the next, founders must now face ...
Economy | April 10, 2025 Trump Temporarily Halts Tariffs for Most Countries But Keeps Pressure on Canada, Mexico, and China On April 10, 2025, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on most of the newly implemented global trade tariffs after market backlash and political pressure. The break was extended to countries in Europe, Asia, and parts of South America, but Canada, Mexico, and China are still under tariff pressure. Strategic Pause, Not for Everyone While Trump paused the most recent tariffs for over 75 countries, U.S. tariffs still apply to Canada and Mexico primarily on cars and auto parts (25%), steel (25%), aluminum (10%), and some agricultural products like dairy, grains, and processed foods, and continue to affect cross border trade in manufacturing and farming sectors. Trump's pause also didn't apply to China In fact, Tariffs on Chinese good were raised to 125%, as China hit back with an 84% tariff on U.S. goods and filed new complaints with the World Trade Organization. See: Klarna Delays IPO As Markets React to Trump’s Tariffs After the tariff pause was announced, markets surged with the S&P 500 exploding 9.5%, the largest one day gain since World War II, according to Business Insider ...
Funding | April 9, 2025 Toronto’s Tailscale Secures $230M and $2B Valuation for Identity-First Networking On April 8 2025, Toronto-based Tailscale announced that they raised $230 million CAD Series C (about $160 million USD), valuing the company at approx $2 billion CAD. The round was made up of U.S. investors, led by Accel, CRV, Insight Partners, Heavybit, and Uncork Capital, along with some prominent individual investors notably George Kurtz CEO of CrowdStrike (returning investor) and Anthony Casalena CEO of Squarespace. New funds will be used to grow product and engineering teams, expand globally, and improved support for fast scaling customers. Tailscale - A Shift from IP Addresses to Identity Tailscale was founded in 2019 by former Google engineers Avery Pennarun, David Crawshaw, David Carney, and Brad Fitzpatrick, and officially launched in April 2020 to help users connect devices and apps securely without relying on traditional VPNs, IP rules, or firewalls. Tailscale uses a technology called WireGuard which is easy to setup and lets devices connect directly to each other, safely and privately. What's unique about Tailscale is its approach to solving networking challenges. Instead of relying on where a device is located (IP address), it focuses on who or what is connecting. This ...
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