Nearly 1.7 million homeowners affected by dishwasher recall

Appliance-making giant Maytag Corp. is offering free in-home repairs or rebates to those who bought one of several different dishwasher models since 2006.

Q. We purchased a new Maytag dishwasher when we remodeled our kitchen last year. Now we've heard that many of its machines are being recalled. What are the details? How can we find out if our dishwasher is part of the recall?

A. Maytag Corp., which sells millions of dishwashers and other appliances every year under various labels, issued a voluntary recall of 1.7 million dishwashers earlier this month after determining that some have faulty heating elements that can damage the machines or even cause fires.

The appliances were sold to shoppers and new-home builders nationwide between February 2006 and April 2010, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission says, with prices ranging from about $250 to $900. In addition to the Maytag brand, other labels involved in the recall include several Maytag-made Amana, Jenn-Air, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa and Crosley machines.

People can find out if their appliance is subject to the recall by jotting down the model and serial numbers that appear inside the left-hand corner of the dishwasher's door and then calling Maytag at (800) 544-5513 or visiting its website, www.maytag.com.

The CSPC urges those who have an affected appliance to disconnect its electric supply immediately by shutting off its fuse or circuit breaker. Maytag has agreed to make free in-home repairs to the dishwashers or, at the consumer's request, provide a rebate of up to $250 toward the purchase of various new models with stainless-steel tubs.

Q. My wife and I are thinking of moving to Canada when we retire next year. But is it true that homeowners there cannot deduct their mortgage-interest payments on their income-tax returns?

A. Yes, it's true. Unlike the U.S., the Canadian government does not permit its residents to write off the finance charges on their home loans.

Most mortgages in Canada are also "recourse" loans, which means a lender can seize a borrower's other assets or even garnish his or her wages if the home is foreclosed upon but the property's sale price is too low to pay off the outstanding balance. It's different in America, where many states have "non-recourse" laws that prevent banks from pursuing a borrower's personal assets if proceeds from a foreclosure sale fall short of paying the loan's balance; other states allow it, but have statutes that make the process so costly and time-consuming that lenders sometimes don't even bother.

The fact that Canadian banks can seize a borrower's other assets if their mortgages aren't paid back helps to explain why only one-half of 1 percent of Canuck borrowers are 90 or more days behind on their payments. The U.S. rate of 9.5 percent is about 20 times higher.

Q. You recently wrote a column that provided an explanation of some realty terms that are often used in classified advertisements in our local newspaper, but you left one out. My question is, What does "FSBO" mean?

A. The term is real-estate shorthand for a property that is being offered directly "for sale by owner," rather than through a professional sales agent.

Some owners now market their homes on a FSBO basis in an effort to avoid paying a sales agent the standard 6 percent commission. That is sometimes a wise idea for sellers who have lots of real estate know-how, but it often backfires on those who don't have the marketing and legal skills needed to sell a home in today's tough and complicated real estate market.

Q. I already know that damage caused by termites is not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. But can the cost of repairing the damage be deducted on my next tax return?

A. Sorry, but the answer is no. The Internal Revenue Service allows a casualty-loss deduction only for damage caused by "sudden, unexpected or unusual events" such as fires, floods, hurricanes or earthquakes. Termites work very slowly, so the cost to repair the damage cannot be written off on your tax return. For more information, get a free copy of IRS Publication No. 547, Casualties, Disasters and Thefts, by calling the agency at (800) 829-3676, or by downloading the document from www.irs.gov.

• For a copy of the booklet "Straight Talk About Living Trusts," send $4 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to David Myers/Trust, P.O. Box 2960, Culver City, CA 90231-2960.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.