Are you wondering how do I get the best results from my dishwasher? There are plenty of ways on how to go about it as given by dishwasher repair professionals. Some of these ways include:

Scrape the dishes

Dish detergents work with the food residues to activate the enzymes that get the dishes clean but at the same time, they make it hard for the dishwasher that the dishwasher doesn’t get the dishes clean on the first try.

To get over this, you should scrape the dishes and get rid of most of the food residues.

Some homeowners pre-rinse the dishes which isn’t wise. While it might seem like the right thing to do, pre-rinsing the dishes wastes a lot of water than you would have spent had you run the dishwasher twice.

As you can tell, this isn’t running the dishwasher in the most effective way, is it?

Before you put the dishes in the dishwasher, scrape off the food debris into the sink or trashcan to relieve the dishwasher from too much work cleaning the dishes.

If your dishes have a lot of grease or burnt-on food on them, select the sanitize feature on your washer. The higher temperatures in the machine will help create a more thorough rinse cycle, which gives the washing machine more cleaning power.

Load the dishwasher properly

Although, all you want is for the dishwasher to clean the dishes, you need to load it properly for it to clean the dishes properly. For the best results, here are tips on how to properly load the dishwasher:

Load the utensils so that the soiled end faces up

Place the large and bulky items on the bottom rack, taking care not to block the spray arms

For the small cups, items and plastics, place them on the top rack

Avoid overfilling the dishwasher as like the refrigerator, it won’t work effectively when too full.

If necessary, place the speciality items in the appropriate dishwasher accessory. For example, for the wine glasses and chopsticks, place them in the right cleaning areas.

Regularly do a double-check and ensure that the items you are cleaning are dishwasher safe and the spray arms are free from obstruction.

Use the right detergent

As much as you only need to get the dishes clean, the detergent you use has a significant impact on the results you get.

Many homeowners have the impression that using a lot of soap with plenty of bubbles gives the best results, but this isn’t the case. In fact, when you use a lot of soap you leave a pile of foamy bubbles that can erupt from the machine and get into your kitchen floor damaging it.

The excessive detergent can also create a buildup of moisture that can take a long time to air out, which can end up damaging the washing machine.

When it comes to your detergent of choice, you should use powder as it cleans better and it doesn’t get gummy around the parts so your dishwasher is less likely to break down.

Use hot water

Hot water always cleans better so before you start cleaning the dishes, ensure that your dishwasher is receiving enough hot water. You can check the temperature of the hot water at the kitchen faucet using a meat or candy thermometer.

For the best cleaning experience, ensure that the water is at least 120 degrees.

If the temperature isn’t high enough, adjust it accordingly.

You can also ensure you have enough hot water in your dishwasher by running hot water in the kitchen sink before you start the dishwasher.

Select the right cycle

You can be using the right detergent and the right temperature but if you choose the wrong cycle, there is no way you are going to properly clean the dishes. To get the most from your dishwasher, choose the right cleaning cycle.

Most dishwashers have three cycles: regular cycle for normal cleaning, the heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning heavy-duty materials such as pans and pots and the light cycle for cleaning china and fragile items.

Keep the dishwasher clean

The same way you should clean your car is the same way you should clean your dishwasher to remove stuck-on food particles, mineral buildup and residual detergent. You can do the cleaning by yourself or hire a professional appliance repair Alexandria professional to help out.

The post How Do I Get The Best Results From My Dishwasher? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

When you buy a refrigerator, you want it to last for as long as possible. Unfortunately, the appliance can’t just last for a long time—you have to take good care of it.

How do you take care of a refrigerator? According to refrigerator repair professionals, there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Keep the door closed.

Keeping the fridge door closed prevents the cool air from leaving the fridge. This prevents the refrigerator from overworking, which keeps the energy bill low and ensures that the fridge has a long life.

To ensure that you open the fridge door only when it’s necessary, think about what you need before you open the door. This way, you go straight to what you need without holding the door open, thinking about what you want.

Other people will get what they want then fail to close the door completely. This is wrong, as it’s the same as when you don’t pick what you want fast.

After you have picked what you want, confirm that you have fully closed the door.

Keep the fridge level.

There are plenty of downsides that come with a fridge that isn’t level. For one, the doors don’t close as well as you would want them to. As you can guess, this results in the fridge overworking, and it has a short life. The motor also stains, and this also contributes to the fridge going to an early grave.

When you place the fridge in your house, take time to confirm that its level. One of the best ways to go about it is to place a level tool on the shelves. If not balanced, adjust the feet or place a piece of stone or wood to keep it balanced.

Clean the coils

Although not visible, coils caked in dust, debris, and pet hair make the fridge overwork which works against the appliance.

For your appliance to last for a long time, you need to clean the coils. The coils are located at the bottom of the fridge or in the back. To access them, you have to remove a grill. In some cases, depending on the type of fridge, you have to snap off a plate or remove a few screws to access them.

If the coils in your appliance are located at the back, you have to roll or move the fridge away from the wall to access them. While at it, clean the floor under the fridge using a vacuum, stiff brush, or any specialized tool.

When it comes to cleaning the coils, you don’t need to be fancy about it. Simply running a vacuum or brush over and under them will get the work done. Besides the coils, also clean the condenser fan.

To keep your fridge in top shape, clean the coils once or twice a year. You can clean them even more regularly if you have a pet that sheds.

Maintain the right temperature

To prevent your fridge from overworking, you should regularly check the temperature in the fridge and freezer sections of your appliance. For an ideal functioning fridge, the fridge compartment should be around 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while the freezer section should be at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

If you have an older model without an inbuilt temperature gauge, buy an inexpensive thermometer from your local home improvement store.

Run it full

A fridge with fewer items is more efficient than a full one, right? Wrong. When you fill your fridge, the cool air easily moves from one item to the other, which comes in handy at helping the unit cool better and operate more efficiently.

While you should keep the fridge full, you should be cautious that you don’t overstock it such that there is no room for the cool air to flow, which leads to the food spoiling.

Overstuffing the fridge also blocks the vents and controls, causing the fridge to overwork and head to an early grave.

Place it away from heat sources.

Most people place their fridges in the kitchen, where most of the heating appliances are located. While this is the case, it’s still possible to place the fridge away from the oven, cooktop, and other heat sources.

According to appliance repair Alexandria professionals, placing the fridge close to the heat-generating items makes the fridge work harder than it shoul. This not only results in it consuming a lot of energy but also drives it to an early grave.

The post How Do You Take Care Of A Refrigerator? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

When you need an appliance repair company, you need to find a good one. The best practices you should look for fall into the following six categories: Communication; Expertise; Equipment; Respect; Honesty; and Value. This post will consider each of these in turn.

Communication

Is it easy to get a hold of your appliance repair company? When you call, you should be able to speak to a real person who really listens to your problem. You should be told when to expect the repair person, and that should be a brief window of time, not all morning or all day. You should expect that your repair person will call you if there are any issues with the arrival time, and that he will explain the problem with the appliance to you clearly. Finally, your appliance repair company should tell you approximately how much it will cost to fix the problem.

Expertise

Your appliance repair company should have certified technicians, holding both state and federal certifications. Ideally, they should be factory-trained. Look for an appliance repair company that is well established and has a good reputation. If it’s been around for some years, it will have clients who have been helped and a name to live up to. Read its reviews, and not just the ones on its website. Look at reviews on consumer websites like Angie’s List. Reviews should mention knowledgeable technicians and proper equipment, among other positive attributes.

Respect

You want an appliance repair company that has respect for your time, for your home, and for you personally. Working with you to come to your house at a time convenient for you is a mark of respect. When the repair person comes to your home, he should make every effort to keep your space clean and tidy, both during the repair itself and when it’s finished. That’s a mark of respect. He should make sure that his repair efforts disrupt your family routine as little as possible, explain the situation to you clearly and without jargon, and give you an honest assessment of any costs or time frames involved.

Honesty

You need an appliance repair company with a strong reputation for honesty. When appliances break, repairing them can sometimes involve a lot of money. Your appliance repair company should be able to give you accurate estimates, and also let you know if there’s a range of costs. An honest appliance repair technician will tell you when you’re better off replacing an appliance rather than repairing it, too. And if you’re dealing with an independent appliance repair company rather than one connected to a major brand, you can be certain that they’re not motivated by any self-interest.

Value

The most inexpensive appliance repair company is not necessarily the best value. Value is determined by cost, of course, but it is also determined by elements like dependability, responsiveness, and relationship. Does your appliance repair company offer same day appliance repair? It should. Does it charge you another service call charge if a return trip is needed because of ordered parts? It shouldn’t. These are the kinds of intangibles that really enhance an appliance repair company’s value to you. You want someone you can rely on to get there when needed, deal with the issue appropriately, and charge you a reasonable fee.

Appliances cost a lot of money, and when they break down, it can bring chaos into your family life. You might feel desperate, but you should still take the time to find the best appliance repair company around. You’ll be glad you did.

The post What Should I Look For in an Appliance Repair Company? appeared first on Dave's Appliance Service.

Your garbage disposal is an important kitchen appliance. It allows you to deal with food waste quickly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of ants or other pests attracted to food. So when your garbage disposal starts making strange noises, you need to pay attention. Here, we’ll explore what it means if your garbage disposal starts humming, and what you can do about it.

The humming sound that your garbage disposal makes indicates that there is power coming into the unit but the blades are not turning. Sometimes the sound is more like a buzzing rather than a humming. Sometimes you may find that the garbage disposal will stop on its own even if you did not turn the unit off. There are a number of reasons it might be making these noises or behaving in this way.

Poorly Ground Food

Garbage disposals work by grinding up the food waste and washing it down; sometimes, though, it is not ground up as thoroughly as necessary. It is not uncommon that large bits of food or bone become stuck between the impeller blade and the drain hole causing the unit to jam. When you hear the humming or buzzing, don’t immediately assume that somebody put something down the disposal that shouldn’t be there. It could be poorly ground food.

Foreign Object

Maybe somebody did put something down the disposal other than food. It’s easy to drop a spoon or other utensil, and if it isn’t immediately retrieved, it can cause a blockage. Maybe a child threw something down the disposal and didn’t mention it. In any event, the foreign object could certainly cause the impeller blades to jam, producing a humming or buzzing sound.

Tripped Power Breaker

Garbage disposals are usually on a separate circuit breaker known as a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). GFCI circuit breakers and outlets protect people from electrical shock. If they detect an energy leak of even a thousandth of a milliamp, they will shut down the circuit. If your garbage disposal is humming or buzzing, it could be due to a tripped breaker. This lack of electrical current to turn the motor may cause a humming sound to be produced.

What to Do?

Reset the Unit
If the problem is a tripped breaker, simply press the reset button and see if normal disposal operation is restored. The reset button can be found at the bottom of the unit. Since this is an easy fix, it’s a good idea to start with that. If the humming or buzzing persists, you’ll need to investigate further

Identify and Remove Blockage
Whether it is a large bone or a fork, an object stuck in the impeller blades needs to be removed. Since this involves some danger, it may be something you want the experts at Dave’s Appliance to do. If you want to attempt it yourself, you need to follow these steps:

Cut the power to the garbage disposer by unplugging the unit and cutting the electrical circuit. This prevents the motor from burning out and more importantly ensures that you do not get electrocuted;

Under the sink you will find the breaker socket at the bottom section of the garbage disposal. You need to insert the hex head Allen wrench in that breaker socket;

Start moving the wrench back and forth to get the flywheel to turn and set free the jammed particle in the impeller blades;

Return power to the garbage disposal unit and check if normal function has been restored.

When your garbage disposal starts acting up, you want to deal with it right away. Hopefully, a simple reset eliminates the humming or buzzing. If a blockage is the problem, you might want to contact us at Dave’s Appliance. And if you identify and remove a blockage yourself, but the humming or buzzing persists, you should definitely give us a call.

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Have you noticed that your fridge is consuming a lot of energy? According to refrigerator repair professionals, the reason for this is that you aren’t taking good care of your fridge to work better.

How can I make my refrigerator work better? If you are asking this question, you should know that there are plenty of ways to make it possible. These ways include:

Clean the fridge

Like your air conditioner or furnace, the fridge works better and more efficiently when clean. Besides wiping the shelves, you also should clean the coils behind the appliance. As you can tell, this calls for you to pull the fridge from the wall and remove any dirt and grime that might be on the coils.

If you are new with the fridge, you will find the coils across the bottom front, behind the grille. Dust and vacuum the exposed coils. Also, vacuum the area where the fridge stays.

Give the fridge room to breathe.

The fridge emits some heat, and when you place it too close to the wall, it has a problem dispersing the heat, which can choke it and prevent it from working as well as it should.

For the fridge to function efficiently, ensure that there is at least 5 cm of space between the fridge and the walls. There also should be 5 cm of space around the appliance.

In the same way, you should give the fridge enough space to breathe by keeping it away from the wall, you also should keep it away from the heat sources such as the oven and radiators. You also should keep it away from direct sunlight sources.

Keep the fridge full.

You might feel that a full refrigerator consumes more energy than an empty one, but this isn’t the case. A full fridge has less air to keep cool, so it doesn’t work too hard to keep it cool.

When you load many items in the fridge, these items help each other cool, making the refrigerator’s work even easier.

For a properly functioning fridge, keep it at least 2/3 full.

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on supplies, you can fake the full look. You need to fill pitchers with tap water and place them in the excess spaces in the fridge. This creates a full factor that tricks the fridge to run efficiently. You also have plenty of chilled water to use during the hot, sweaty days.

You should note that while you should keep the fridge full, you should avoid overstocking it, as you will block efficient airflow, which can make the fridge overwork. And you don’t want this, do you?

Store the food properly.

Store the food using refrigerator safe containers. The best are glass containers as they absorb and retain cold better, so the refrigerator doesn’t keep working. You also should cover the foods and liquids to avoid overworking the compressor.

As you are organizing the food, take care not to block the air vents.

Keep the fridge closed.

In the middle of summer, you can be tempted to open the fridge door and let the cool air get into the kitchen, but this can be the worst mistake as the unit consumes a lot of energy that it shouldn’t have.

In the same way, you wouldn’t open your oven door to warm things up in winter, you shouldn’t keep the fridge door open to let the cold air to the rest of the house.

To keep the fridge in top condition all the time, keep the door closed at all times, unless you are getting something.

Many people open the door and spend up to a minute standing there deciding on what they want. Don’t do this as you will be wasting valuable energy.

Before you open the door, you should have decided what you want. Pick the item and close the door to reduce energy consumption.

Cool things before you put them in the fridge

After preparing the meals, don’t put them directly in the fridge. Commercial appliance repair Springfield professionals recommend you let the food cool first to prevent the fridge from overworking.

The post How Can I Make My Refrigerator Work Better? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Imagine this. Your friends you have been avowing to that you are the best baker in town have come over to taste your delicacies. So you rush to the oven to showcase your prowess. You crank it on, and after waiting for a few minutes, you realize the oven isn’t getting hot. Why is my oven not getting up to temperature? You wonder.

According to oven repair professionals, this can be brought about by plenty of factors such as:

The heating element is defective.

When the oven isn’t heating, the most common reason is due to a defective heating element. If you have an electric oven, the oven has two elements: the one at the top for baking and another at the bottom for broiling. From time to time, due to old age and wear and tear, the elements will become defective, and you have to replace them to restore your oven to proper working condition.

If you have been trying to heat food, but it’s no reaching your desired temperature, check the heating element, and if it’s not glowing bright red, it’s not working, so you should replace it.

If you replace the element and still the oven won’t heat your food, you most likely have an electrical problem that you need to look into. Unless you have electrical knowledge, don’t try to fix the unit by yourself. Instead, get in touch with a professional electrician to help you out.

The oven isn’t calibrated.

An improperly calibrated oven will rarely reach the desired temperature, so you need to calibrate it to heat the food properly. To calibrate the oven, you need to use the dial located at the back of the temperature knob or down at the bottom of the small shaft.

Use the adjustment screw on the dial to adjust the temperature. To increase the oven temperature, turn the screw clockwise and decrease the temperature by turning the screw counterclockwise.

As you are turning the screw, note that half turns should increase or decrease the oven temperature by 25 degrees, so you should know your desired temperature so don’t turn the temperature too high or too low.

The temperature sensor or bulb is out.

Many electrical ovens have a temperature sensor that monitors the oven temperature. Unfortunately, like any oven part, the sensor can become defective, preventing the oven from heating correctly.

Most sensors have a digital display on the oven to tell when the sensor isn’t working properly.

Like with the electrical problems, don’t try to fix the sensors if you don’t know what you are doing, as you most likely will cause more harm than was already there.

The ignitor is out

If you have a gas oven, one reason for it not working is a faulty ignitor. To confirm that this is the culprit, you need to inspect the oven.

Begin with pulling the oven away from the wall and shut off the gas. The ignitor will be located at the back of the oven compartment, and to remove it, you need to unbolt it from the oven floor.

Using a multimeter, look out for continuity of power. If this is your first time using the multimeter, you should place one probe in one of the terminals and the other on the second terminal. A properly functioning ignitor should register between 0-100 ohms, and if it fails to do it, the ignitor will have lost continuity, and you have to replace it.

You can replace the ignitor by yourself if you know what you are doing, but let an expert handle it if you have never done it before.

Bad relays

Bad relays will also prevent the oven from heating as well as it should. Does your oven have two heating elements? It has two relays that can burn out over time.

Different ovens have different ways to access the relays, so you should follow your owner’s manual for instructions on how to access and fix your relays.

If you have gone through the manual and still can’t understand the instructions, get in touch with an experienced appliance repair Springfield professional to help with the inspection and replacement of the damaged relays.

When hiring the repair professional, take caution that you don’t hire just any contractor you come across. Take your time and hire the most experienced.

The post Why Is My Oven Not Getting Up To Temperature? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Wondering how long does a washing machine take to wash clothes? Well, according to washer repair professionals, it often depends on the type of washing machine you have. Here is the average amount of time it takes for different washing machines to clean clothes:

• Front-loading machines: 70-120 minutes
• High-efficiency top-loading machines: 60-85 minutes
• Agitator top-loading machines: 35-80 minutes

If you have been following washing machines, you should have noticed that these figures are higher than years before, and there is a reason for that—washing machine manufacturers are deliberately designing slower machines.

While this might be off-putting as it means you will be spending more time waiting for the clothes to get clean, it comes with several perks:

• The clothes don’t tear or wear out too fast as the machine isn’t too fast, and this comes in handy at ensuring that the clothes last for a long time.
• Although the washing machine manufacturers have come up with slower machines, they have increased the tub capacities meaning that you can wash more clothes than before, which means you still save time.
• You spend less water as the machine isn’t pulling a lot of water. When the washing machine is spinning at high speed, the machine consumes a lot of water, which increases your monthly water bill.
• Since most modern washing machines are slower, they don’t consume a lot of water which sees you saving money as your water bill isn’t too high.

How the washing machine works

If this is your first time using the washing machine, you should know that it works in different stages that include:

Prewash: Here, the lid locks, and the tub senses the load’s weight and volume. It then fills with water and agitates the clothes lightly to distribute the detergent throughout the load. If you had selected the presoak option, this is where it will occur.

Wash: At this stage, the clothes will be agitated for some time then the machine allows them to rest so that the detergent can do its work. If you had chosen a heavy-duty wash cycle, the machine will have longer periods of agitation and soaking.

Rinse: Rinsing involves draining away the soapy water and spraying the clean water over the clothes. The washing machine adds clean water, spins the load to drain, and then adds clean water again to rinse away the detergents and soil.

If you are washing the delicates such as the underwear and brassieres, the washer doesn’t spin as fast, but if the cycles involve heavier soils, the washer might be fast and do several rinses to ensure that all the soils are completely removed.

Final spin: The final spin might include one or more rinses, then it picks up speed to wring out the clothes before they enter the dryer. It’s at this level when the washing machine spins at its highest, and if the load is unbalanced, you might have problems such as the machine making a lot of noise or moving around too much.

How to reduce your wash time

Even if most machines are now slow, you can do several things to ensure that they are efficient and clean the clothes as fast as possible. Some of the things you should do include:

Use the right detergent.

The detergent you use can significantly affect the time it takes to wash the clothes, so you need to ensure that you use the right one. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you use a detergent specifically designed for the machine model you are using.

Balance your load

According to appliance repair Springfield professionals, the load will often get unbalanced if you have overloaded it, mixed heavy and lightweight items, or using an improperly leveled machine.

Most modern machines will pause the cleaning cycle when they sense the load is imbalanced, which results in you wasting a lot of time.

To save time, take your time when loading the machine and ensure that you have loaded it properly. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you have loaded the right amount of clothes. Also, ensure that you aren’t mixing lightweight and heavyweight clothing items in the same cycle.

The post How Long Does A Washing Machine Take To Wash Clothes? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Appliances are essential aspects of life and understanding when they need to be repaired or replaced is important. In this post, we examine some basic questions you should ask yourself before replacing or repairing any appliance.

How Much Would It Cost?

Generally, the larger the appliance the costlier it is. So if your stove breaks, you’re looking at a major investment to buy a new one. But if your microwave goes, you can purchase one for under $75. Consumer Reports advises that if the cost to repair your appliance is greater than half the cost of a new one, it makes sense to replace it. Obviously you won’t know how much the repair would cost without consulting an appliance repair service. At Dave’s Appliance, our experts can diagnose your appliance’s problem and give you an estimate for the repair. With all of that information, you can make an informed decision.

How Much Do You Value It?

Other than cost, you have to consider how much you value your current appliance. Your refrigerator/freezer may have external ice and water dispensers, pull-out shelving, and other features you really appreciate. Your washer and dryer may fit just perfectly into the space in your utility room. Maybe you love to cook and bake and your stove suits you perfectly. Your appliances could be built-in and that customization is worth preserving. It might even be that your appliances coordinate with your decor. These are definitely legitimate reasons to hesitate about replacing them when they break. Again, a visit from one of the friendly members of Dave’s Appliance team will help you understand the extent of your problem.

How Old Is It?

In the appliance world, there is a general 50% rule: replace an appliance that is more than halfway through its expected life span and requires repair work that’s more than half its original cost. The average lifespan of appliances are as follows (in years):
Dishwasher: 9
Dryer: 13
Electric stove: 13
Exhaust fan: 10
Freezer: 11
Garbage Disposal: 12
Gas stove: 15
Microwave: 9
Range hood: 14
Refrigerator: 13
Trash Compactor: 6
Washer: 10

How Energy Efficient Is It?

Often, the environmental impact of repairing or replacing isn’t considered at all. But it’s something for you to consider. If your appliance is old and inefficient, it’s using a lot of electricity. That’s bad for the environment and bad for your utility bills. If your appliance was made after 1992, it should have an Energy Star Rating to let you know how efficient it is. You can compare it to current appliances’ efficiency. On the other hand, your old appliance can’t just be thrown out. Major household appliances are banned from landfills in Wisconsin and the state urges that they be reused or recycled. In many places in Wisconsin, appliances are not picked up at the curb with other recyclables, nor are they accepted at many general recycling drop-off sites. It may be the more environmentally-responsible choice to repair rather than replace.

Would Appliance Maintenance Help?

The lifespan of all of your appliances will be extended if you are conscientious about maintenance. You can do a lot of the maintenance yourself; you can clean out the dryer vent, vacuum the condenser coils of your refrigerator and freezer, and keep your stove-top clean. Those small maintenance practices will make a difference. You can also call the experts at Dave’s Appliance to come and give your appliances a tune-up once or twice a year. Getting into this habit will prevent problems from happening and definitely minimize the need for repair or replacement.

With the right information, you can make a sound decision about whether your appliance needs replacing or repairing. With the right maintenance, that decision will be postponed. If you have worries or concerns about any of your appliances, contact the experts at Dave’s Appliance. We will help you sort out your options.

The post Questions to Ask Before Repairing or Replacing an Appliance appeared first on Dave's Appliance Service.

Have you noticed that your fridge is no longer cooling the food, and you wonder what to do if your fridge stops cooling? Well, there are plenty of things you can do to bring your appliance back to working order. And the beauty is you don’t have to hire a refrigerator repair professional to help with fixing it.

Some of the things you should do include:

Clean the condenser coils

Condenser coils are located under or behind the fridge (depending on the fridge model), and their role is to cool and condense the refrigerant. When you go for a long time without cleaning your appliance, dirt collects on the coils, and this prevents the heat from being released efficiently, and it ends up in the fridge.

You should inspect the coils, and if dirty, clean them with a handheld vacuum or special refrigerator coil brush.

Fix the broken condenser fan

The condenser fan is located in a cabinet at the bottom of the fridge, near the condenser coils and compressor. Its job is to keep the compressor and coils cool.

When is the last time you hired an appliance repair contractor to inspect your appliance? If it has been long and your fridge is still not cooling, chances are high the condenser fan is broken, and when the fan breaks down, the fridge begins to heat up.

To restore your fridge to proper working condition, check whether the fan blade is broken. While at it, inspect it to see if dust or debris is present on the fan blades.

If the fan blade is broken, you might have to hire a contractor to help you replace it, but you need to gently wipe the blades with a clean towel if dirty.

As you are cleaning them, rotate them. Are they rotating? If they aren’t, you might be having a problem with the fan’s motor.

Motors don’t come cheap so before you replace them, consider the age of your appliance. If your fridge is over 10 years and it has been consistently developing problems, you are better off simply replacing the unit as there is no point in installing an expensive fan motor on a dying refrigerator.

On the other hand, if your appliance is just a few years old, you can go ahead and buy a fan motor for your appliance. When buying a new unit, ensure that it’s high quality and will last for a long time.

Fix the evaporator fan

Evaporator coils are located in a panel behind the freezer, and the refrigerant runs through the coils and turns to gas and makes the coils cold, and consequently, the food in the fridge cools.

The evaporator fan draws the cool air from the coils to circulate throughout the entire unit, where it begins from the freezer and then into the refrigerator.

If the evaporator fan is broken, cool air doesn’t circulate properly, and it’s not uncommon to end up with a freezer that is cold as the freezer area is near where the coils are located. Although the freezer will be cold, the food compartment doesn’t get cold as the cold air isn’t getting pushed there.

If the problem is due to a faulty evaporator fan, you should replace the fan motor. Like in the previous scenario, only install a new motor if your appliance is still new and in good condition. Don’t install an expensive motor on an appliance that is on its deathbed.

Remove frost from the evaporator coils.

As mentioned above, the evaporator fan draws cool air from the evaporator coils and moves it throughout the entire refrigerator, including the freezer.

When the fan stops working, and you don’t fix it early enough, the coils might frost over.

To remove the frost from the coils, you should remove the back panel and let the coils thaw for a day or two.

If the fan has been running, but the coils have frosted over, the frosting might be due to another reason that should be looked at by an experienced and certified commercial appliance repair Fairfax professional.

You should never ignore the frosted coils as they can bring about a plethora of problems such as a malfunctioning defrost heater and broken defrost thermostat.

The post What to Do If Your Fridge Stops Cooling first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

On average, a dryer can last anywhere from a decade to 25 years. How long it lasts depends on many factors, including the quality of the dryer, how it is maintained, and more. Keep reading to learn about dryer maintenance that can help extend its lifetime significantly. If you need appliance repair or maintenance, contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 for help.

Follow the Instructions in Your Dryer’s Manual

Your dryer comes with an owner’s manual,
and you should read it. While we can give general advice that works for most
dryers, the truth is that every machine is different. Follow the specific
advice for your machine over any other advice you are given.

Divide Laundry by Fabric Weight

Many people sort their laundry by color.
This makes sense to prevent a redshirt from turning your whites pink, but
today’s clothing is very often color-safe. If that is the case, then you should
be sorting based on weight. This is because lightweight fabrics dry much faster
than heavy fabrics.

If you have a lot of heavy fabrics within a
load that is otherwise light, then your dryer has to keep drying until all the
heavy things are dried. If you put lightweight items together, they can dry
more quickly and require less time.

Clean Out Your Dryer

You should clean the lint out of your dryer
after every single load. If not, lint can build up and become trapped within
the cracks and crevices of your dryer. Even small amounts of lint can build up
as time goes on and can make your dryer less efficient. Poorly sealed doors can
also lead to mold growth and longer drying times.

Lower the Heat and Drying Times

You do not need high heat for every load of
clothing. Each load needs a different amount of time-based on the amount of
clothing within it and what is in it. If you’re not in a hurry, lower the
temperature and set it to a 40-minute cycle. If that’s not done, then you can put
it back in for another ten minutes.

Air Dryer When Possible

If it’s a nice day and you have light
clothing, consider letting it air dry. Not only does this help lower wear and
tear on your dryer, but it reduces energy use, and it can help prolong the
lifespan of your dryer. You don’t have to do it every time for it to make a
difference.

Do You Need Appliance Help? We Are Here for You

If you are in need of dryer repair or
maintenance, we welcome your call to American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934. Let us know how we
can help, and we can get you set up for an appointment.

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