It's almost Christmas and time for holiday guests. Your freezer suddenly isn't freezing, the stove won't heat, the dishwasher won't wash, and there's no time to call in a repairman. Don't panic -- there might be a simple answer. In part 1 of appliances trouble, there's a test to find out what's wrong in three easy steps. Basically, it's one of three things -- a bad outlet, an overloaded circuit or a faulty appliance. First, unplug the appliance and plug a lamp into the outlet. If it works, the appliance is the problem; if the lamp doesn't light, check the circuit breaker. If the breaker is tripped, reset it. If it trips again, there's a short in the wiring or serious problem in the outlet, and you'll need an electrician. A short circuit in wiring or in an outlet can be serious. And that's the On The House Tip for today.