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Dishwashers have a spray arm that spins around and cleans all the dishes on its path. With this knowledge, you must be wondering whether it matters the direction you place the dishes facing, right?

Well, for proper cleaning, it matters the direction your dishes or bowls face. Bowls always go to the top rack. Those in the rear should face forward, while those in the front should face towards the back. This way, water will effectively reach them and give them the clean look you want.

For the plates to get clean, place them facing the center of the bottom rack.

Other valuable tips to get the most from your dishwasher

Besides strategically placing your dishes and bowls, you should consider plenty of other tips to get the most from your dishwasher. These tips as given by appliance repair professionals include:

Load the dishwasher properly

Everything begins here as there is no way you will get the most from your dishwasher if you don’t load it properly.

Before you do the loading, scrape off all large food pieces. Please note that you don’t have to pre-rinse the dishes—scraping them off is enough as they tend to come out much cleaner this way as they have some soil for the detergent to cling to and lift away.

When placing the bowls, angle them in such a way that the dirties surface faces downward, while leaving enough space for water to flow up and around each surface. There should be no nesting.

When it comes to the silverware, mix them up in the holder or alternate the spoons with one handle up and another down, to prevent the spoons from nesting against each other, covering the surfaces from detergents.

Before closing the dishwasher door, confirm that the spin arms are moving freely without hitting any surface. You also should check that you haven’t blocked the detergent dispenser with any large item.

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Use hot water

The water you use to clean the dishes significantly determines the quality of your results. Dishwashers perform the best when the hot water is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. At these temperatures, the dishwasher will clean the dishes and remove any stains that might be present.

The best way to ensure that hot water always reaches your dishwasher is to use a water heater. Before cleaning the dishes, turn on the hot water tap in your kitchen sink and let the water get hot.

Use the right dishwasher detergent.

Like water, the detergent you use on your dishes goes a long way in determining your results. As a rule of thumb, use the right amount of detergent and choose one that provides the necessary ingredients for a deep clean.

If you have hard water in your system, use more detergent for every load or a booster.

Ensure that the detergent you use is fresh and not clumping for the best outcome. If using liquids, give them a good shake before using. Also, break up any lumps in the powdered formulas.

Don’t overload

While the dishwasher saves you time and effort, don’t try to overdo it by cramming all the dirty dishes in the appliance, as it won’t do proper cleaning, and you will have to redo the cleaning, which beats the whole purpose of owning the dishwasher in the first place.

If your dishwasher is overcrowded, the detergent and water can’t effectively circulate to clean the dishes thoroughly. In some cases, the situation is even dire as the dishes don’t clean at all.

If you have large loads that need cleaning, don’t try to clean all of them at once—separate them into smaller loads. You can also roll up your sleeves and hand wash some items.

Use the right cycle settings.

Thanks to advances in water and energy usage, dishwashers have different settings ideal for different dishes. To tell which setting you should use for your dishes, refer to your manual.

Dishwasher repair  professionals highly discourage against using the standard setting for all your washing as it’s a recipe for disaster. For example, if you use the standard-setting on fragile wine glasses, there are chances of the glasses cracking and don’t want this, do you?

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Call 877-959-3534 for an Appliance Repair Quote!

If you visit many homes, you will find their refrigerators filled with all sorts of foods. While there is nothing wrong with preserving as much food as possible, did you know there are some food items that should never see the insides of a fridge?

Here are some of these items as given by appliance repair professionals

Uncut melons

Putting a whole watermelon in your fridge, whether a honeydew or cantaloupe, is unwise. Besides the melon taking up too much fridge space, it keeps it from ripening, which means it doesn’t get as tasty as when you would have left it at room temperature.

The low fridge temperatures also reduce the healthy antioxidants in the fruit, which means that it doesn’t become as healthy as you would want it.

The right thing to do is leave the watermelon on the countertop until it’s ripe enough to eat. If you eat it and there are some leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a maximum of three days.

Honey

At first look, honey looks like an excellent candidate for the refrigerator, but it isn’t. Due to its high sugar content, honey is a natural preservative—it doesn’t need any refrigeration. In fact, putting it in the fridge increases the chances of damaging it.

When you refrigerate honey, it hardens and sometimes crystallizes, losing its original state.

The best way to treat honey is to leave it on the shelf in your pantry. If you have already made the mistake of refrigerating it, don’t be quick to toss it out. Instead, place the bottle in a hot (not boiling) water pan until it returns to its liquid state.

Raw potatoes

You shouldn’t put your raw potatoes in the fridge as the low temperatures will alter the starchy complex carbohydrates in the potatoes, and you end up with extremely sweet and gritty potatoes.

For the best flavor and texture, store your potatoes in a well-ventilated basket or drawer, away from direct sunlight.

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Tomatoes

Like honey, tomatoes look like they belong in the fridge, but they don’t. This is because when you refrigerate them, they often end up having an awful taste.

Even after harvesting, tomatoes continue ripening and developing flavor.

The big chill stops the ripening process and dulls the flavor when you place them in the fridge.

Snip off just a bit of the vine when harvesting if you grow your tomatoes. The attached vine has been shown to help keep the tomatoes fresh longer and give them a better flavor.

Onions

The fridge’s low temperatures and high humidity often damage the onions, breaking down their fibrous structure, leaving them mushy and prone to mold growth.

Store your onions in well-ventilated, dark, and cool (not cold) areas for the best flavor and texture. One of the best places to store the onions is in an open weave basket in the pantry.

Green avocados

Green avocados are often unripe, and for them to fully ripen, they need to be at room temperature. The only time to keep your avocados in the fridge is if they are fully ripe but you aren’t ready to eat them.

You should note that even when you put the avocados in the fridge, you shouldn’t leave them there for more than two days as they will go bad.

Bread

You should never put bread in the fridge. While refrigeration slows down mold growth, it makes the bread tough, chewy, and stale tasting.

The best way to go about it is to store the bread in a breadbox or a cabinet shelf.

If you won’t eat the entire bread, wrap the excess in freezer paper and store it in the freezer. Here the bread can stay for up to a month.

Chocolate

Most people eat their chocolates in one sitting, and for those unable to eat all of it in one go, the last thing they want is to let it go to waste. Unfortunately, keeping the chocolate in the fridge isn’t the right thing to do.

While keeping the chocolate in the fridge won’t make the chocolate inedible, it absorbs odors and changes its consistency.

Refrigerator repair recommend you leave the chocolate on the counter or in the pantry to maintain maximum deliciousness.

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Call 877-959-3534 for an Appliance Repair Quote!

Front load washing machines have many advantages. Compared to top-loading machines, these high-end washers come with more features and cycles, enabling you to take better care of your clothes. Front load washing machines typically also require less maintenance from appliance repair professionals and tend to break down less. This is because they use gravity to keep up momentum when clothes are spinning inside. Really, they’re just more energy-efficient and better overall when compared to top-loading machines.

The trouble with front load washing washers is trivial but annoying: they can develop a smell. The reason for the smell is simple. Front load washing machines are water-tight, to prevent the water from spilling all over the floor while the machine is in use. When the machine is closed, it doesn’t air out the way a top load washing machine can. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent this smell from occurring. Here’s how.

Leave the Front Door Open

Leave the front door of your washing machine cracked open when the machine isn’t in use. This gives the drum and internal parts a chance to dry between washings. Teach members of your family to leave the front door open as well. The more time your front-loading machine spends closed, the more moisture will build up inside and create an environment suitable for mildew.

Open the Soap Dispenser

When you’re done using the washing machine, crack open the soap dispenser tray. Leave it open just a few inches to allow any soap residue inside to dry, and to prevent mold from growing in the cracks.

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Clean the Door

Clean the door glass and the rubber door seal with a mixture of vinegar and water (equal parts water and vinegar). Spray the door and seal with the mixture, then wipe it clean with a paper towel. Do the same thing with the soap dispenser tray: clean it with water and vinegar and a paper towel, or a rag. Clean the cracks and crevices. Allow all surfaces to dry fully.

Run the Self-Clean Cycle

Most front-load washing machines have a self-clean cycle to clean the drum. Some machines require a special cleaner, while others are less specific. To find out what your machine requires and how to run the self-clean cycle, read the owner’s manual. If you no longer have your machine’s manual, call Sarah’s Appliance Repair. We’ll point you in the right direction.

Maintain Your Machine

Maintaining your machine isn’t just a matter of keeping it clean. Although front loading washing machines tend to be well-made machines with good energy efficiency and excellent performance, they do break down from time to time. Follow the procedures in your owner’s manual for regular maintenance. If your machine needs service, call Sarah’s Appliance Repair today.

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The post How do I keep my front load washer from smelling bad? appeared first on Appliance Repair New Mexico.

Your dishwasher does more than clean your dishes; it is an important part of maintaining your family’s health. That means that it’s a real problem when your dishwasher isn’t working right. In this post, we’ll look at some common dishwasher problems and what you can do about them.

Unpleasant Odor

It’s probably the filter. The filter sits at the base of the inside of the dishwasher, and traps large food particles that might otherwise get into the mechanisms and gum up the works. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning it once a month, but if that maintenance job has slipped your mind, it’s easily dealt with. It’s designed to be clipped in and out, so take it out and give it a good clean. If it’s been damaged, it’s probably replaceable.

Poor Cleaning

If your dishes are coming out with food particles still in place, it might be time to unclog the spray arms. These are the longish, flattish plastic arms that spray and rinse the dishes and other items you put in the dishwasher as they spin about. These, too, are designed to be removed easily, cleaned, and reinstalled. And remember to clean the mounting too. Occasionally cleaning the spray arms can significantly improve the performance of your dishwasher.

Unsteady Bottom Basket

If it’s a struggle to get the bottom basket out, or if it is so unstable you hold your breath pulling it out, you probably need to replace the wheels. They are designed to snap on and off, and it’s certainly worth avoiding the hair-pulling frustration of trying to coax the thing in and out if it’s bothering you.

Damaged Detergent Dispenser

The detergent dispenser can be easily replaced, if your unit isn’t too old. However, this is definitely a more involved repair, and you may want to call the experts at Dave’s Appliance to make sure it’s done correctly and quickly. If you want to do it yourself, you may want to view an online video, especially if it treats your specific model, and to have all the tools you need immediately on hand. The front panel of your dishwasher is going to have to be unmounted, electrical connections undone, and everything replaced. While it is rather involved, it’s still a simple repair.

Leakage

If your dishwasher is leaking, it could be any of a number of issues. You need to do some diagnosing.

Hinges

It may be faulty door hinges. If the door seems to drop heavily or seems misaligned, it could well be a hinge. If so, you might want to call Dave’s Appliance. If you choose to do it yourself, you’ll need to remove the side panels to get a good look. It’s a good idea to watch a video on replacing the mechanism and remember to find one that deals with your specific make and model. Also, it’s probably a good idea to replace both at the same time.

Door Seals

The problem could be door seals, and depending on which seals are acting up, it may be an easy fix. Check the upper door seal, which goes from one side, around the top, and down the other side of the door. Usually a new seal costs $30 or so, and it’s not a hard job to replace it. If it’s the lower seals, though, that’s another matter. It involves disassembling the entire door, and is best left to the professionals.

Hoses

The fill hose brings water into your dishwasher, and the drain hose removes the wastewater. In time, these can corrode, degrade, or get clogged, reducing the performance of your dishwasher. It’s usually possible to get replacements and not too hard to install them yourself.

Not Draining Properly

If there’s still a lot of water in your dishwasher when it’s completed its cycle, there’s probably an issue with the drain pump. The drain pump is located at the bottom of the appliance, and pushes wastewater out of the dishwasher and into the adjacent sink drain. Bits of food, chips of dishes, slivers of glass, and other material can get caught in the pump and prevent it from working efficiently. That means that the drain pump needs to be disassembled and cleaned. While that’s possible for you to do yourself, it’s a better idea to call the professionals at Dave’s Appliance since the whole machine needs to be tilted onto its back and the baseplate needs to be removed.

Water’s Not Hot

If the water isn’t heating up, that’s a serious problem since the intense heat kills the bacteria on your dishes and cutlery. It might be that the heating element has burned out. Here again, you’re best advised to contact an expert (like those at Dave’s Appliance). If not, you’re going to need a multimeter for this one. You will need to lay the unit on its back, remove the baseplate and anything else that might be blocking the element, remove the wires to isolate it and then check it with your multimeter by touching it to the terminals. If a fault is indicated, you need to replace the heating element.

Dishwasher Not Filling

This issue is very similar to the heating element problem. This time, though, you’ll need to check the water valve, located behind the back plate, near to the fill hose. Remove the wires, check with a multimeter, and replace if faulty.

No Bleeping Sounds

Disqualify the obvious first. Check to make sure it’s properly plugged in and that the circuit breaker isn’t tripped.

The post Common Dishwasher Problems appeared first on Dave’s Appliance Service.

You don’t realize how essential your washing machine is until something goes wrong. Then, you may be tempted simply to replace it immediately to avoid the inconvenience of dirty washing accumulating or trips to the launderette. However, it may be worth considering whether repair is the better option. In this post, we’ll explore the factors you should think about to decide whether your washing machine is worth Fixing

How Old Is It?

All home appliances wear out eventually, and for washing machines, the expected lifespan is about 10 years. So if you’ve had your machine for 10 years or more, replacement is probably the best choice, unless it’s a very simple problem to repair. The other consideration here is how much use your washing machine gets. If you do washing every day, then the 10 years of service may well be reduced. The general rule here is to replace the appliance if the repair cost is more than half the price of a new machine. The other factor in favor of replacement is the warranty that accompanies a new washing machine. With an older model, you bear the costs of all the repairs, and the older it gets, the more frequently those repairs are likely to occur. Of course, you can only make this decision if you know how much the repair is going to cost. The experts at Dave’s Appliance can help with that.

How Much Will It Cost To Repair?

Even a relatively new washing machine can develop problems. If it’s within the warranty period (which differs by make/model and part), it may not cost you anything to repair. If it’s older than one year, you should ask one of the professionals at Dave’s Appliance to diagnose the problem. We’ll be able to tell you how much the replacement parts and labor would be too. Knowing the cost of the repair is really essential information for you to decide if you should fix your washing machine or not.

Can You Fix It Yourself?

There are some washing machine repairs that you can do yourself. Especially if there are videos showing how to make simple repairs to your particular make and model of machine, you might try to do it yourself. Some parts, such as pulleys, pumps and seals, are inexpensive. You can get these replacement parts from Dave’s Appliance and install them yourself. Just make sure that you’re repairing the actual problem; again, having the experts at Dave’s Appliance diagnose the issue is essential.

Is Your Washing Machine Using Too Much Energy?

Even if your washing machine isn’t 10 years old, chances are that it is not particularly efficient if it is over 5 years old, unless it has been getting regular maintenance. If you’re using an older model, your water, energy and detergent consumption may be higher than with a newer model. If you have a front-loading machine, it is more efficient than a top-loading one. A washing machine with an Energy Star rating will use as much as 33% less water than a non-rated model. Regular maintenance makes a big difference here; ask about the service agreements that Dave’s Appliance offers.

What Is Washing Machine Maintenance?

Washing machine maintenance includes regular cleaning and servicing twice a year. Cleaning your washing machine often can improve its performance and extend its lifespan. Simply wipe down the interior of the drum, clean the seals with warm soapy water, and apply a thin layer of vaseline if the seals need it. When the experts at Dave’s Appliance do a service on your washing machine, all the parts that need cleaning (that you can’t get to) will be cleaned; all those needing lubrication will get that. The drum will be balanced and the motor checked.

The answer to whether or not your washing machine is worth fixing isn’t as straightforward as you might think. These are some of the factors you should consider. Contact Dave’s Appliance to get the best advice about your particular situation.

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Are you wondering what can damage a dishwasher? There are plenty of things that can do it. Some of these things as given by dishwasher repair professionals include:

Placing dirty dishes and plates in the dishwasher

The dishwasher is meant to clean the dishes, so you should put the dirty dishes here, right? While this is true, placing excessively dirty dishes here can clog the drain lines, pump assembly, and spray arms.

This provides a breeding ground for bacteria and prevents the dishes from getting cleaned properly.

To avoid this, make it a habit to scrape all the food off the plates and dishes before placing them in the dishwasher.

Some people say that you should rinse the dishes. No, you don’t have to. Scrape them off is enough as it leaves some residues on them that make the detergent work better.

Abusing the door

It’s fun to play with the dishwasher door at the end of a cycle and watch as the steam comes billowing out, but you shouldn’t as this weakens it.

You also should stop your kids and pets from playing with it.

You should only open the door when placing the plates inside and removing them. If you notice any issue with the door, get in touch with a professional and have it fixed as soon as possible.

Overloading the dishwasher

The other thing that will significantly damage your machine is overloading it. As much as you want to save some money by running a cycle with as many dishes as possible, overfilling the machine isn’t the way to go.

This is because it often leads to damage to the machine. The dishes also don’t clean as well as they should, and you might be forced to rinse them twice, which doesn’t save you time or money.

Overloading the machine also increases the chances of it leaking as the water inside the machine is diverted from the bottom of the tank and splashes out, under the door.

To avoid the dangers of overloading the machine, place just enough plates inside the dishwasher. Once full, close the door and run the cycle.

Using too much or wrong detergent

Did you know using too much detergent can damage your dishwasher? Using the wrong detergent builds up residue in the wash and rain pumps, clogging the appliance and creating a breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms.

To be on the safe side, be cautious about the detergent you use.

As a rule of thumb, use detergents specifically designed for your dishwasher. This means that handwashing dish detergent and other soaps shouldn’t find their way into your dishwasher.

When choosing the detergents, always go for powders instead of gels. This is because gels contain chlorine bleach known to dissolve gaskets and seals.

Gels don’t work well in hard water and clog the detergent dispenser, which can impede the appliance’s cleaning performance.

Even though you intend to clean the dishes, you shouldn’t use just any detergent—use a quality detergent that will give you excellent results. As a rule of thumb, avoid cheap, and no-name powders as chances are high they contain inferior cleansers that don’t clean the dishes as well as they should, and you are forced to run several cycles, which you can guess, leads to wastage of resources.

Other cheap cleaners contain sand, so they don’t offer any cleaning benefits.

To be safe, take time to research and find good quality cleaning products that will effectively clean your dishes and prevent the dishwasher from clogging up.

Hard water

Hard water causes the dishes to break and builds up mineral layers on the inside of the dishwasher and its pipes.

To prevent your dishwasher from getting damaged by hard water, soften the water using water filters, water softeners, water softening units, and conditioners.

Power surges

Rapid power fluctuations will also damage your dishwasher and other electrical items and appliances. To protect your appliances, get a surge protector.

Appliance repair Northern VA recommend that you go all the way out and invest in whole house surge protection that will protect your dishwasher and other appliances in the house.

The post What Can Damage A Dishwasher? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

With the ever-increasing water and electricity prices, the last thing you want is to run the machine with nothing inside.

Can you run washing machine empty? Yes, you can do it to clean it and keep it in tip-top condition.

According to washer repair professionals, when you run the washing machine empty and let the water off the interior, you clean any debris that might be there, ensuring that all the clothes coming from it are clean.

What is the best way to run an empty washing machine?

The best way to run an empty machine is to run it on a hot cycle with nothing inside. The hot wash means that you should run the machine at a cycle of at least 40 degrees, but for the best outcome, set it to the hottest option that you are aiming for.

The hot cycle is more beneficial if you regularly wash your clothes using the cold cycle. When the machine goes for a long time without coming into contact with hot water, bacteria and detergents accumulate inside.

The accumulated grime might start affecting the clothes that you wash as they might start coming out with lingering smells.

You remove bacteria when you run the hot cycle, so your clothes always come out clean and smelling fresh.

Washing machine professionals also recommend running an empty cycle on your machine before you start using it for your clothes or bedding. This is to ensure that there is no dust, oils, or any other residues inside the machine or its pipes.

Don’t use any cleaning products when running the empty cycle. If you want, you can give the cycle some power by adding two cups of vinegar into the detergent drawer.

You can also pour half a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the machine’s drum before setting it to the hottest cycle and letting the cleaning happen.

Other washing machine best practices

Besides running an empty cycle to keep the washing machine in top shape, there are plenty of other things you need to do to maintain your machine. These things include:

Put the detergents in the right place

The detergent you use can make or break your machine, so you should be cautious about how you use it. If using a liquid detergent, measure it with a measuring cup or dosing ball and place the entire ball in a washing machine drum after your clothes.

If using a powder, measure it using a scoop and pour it into the correct compartment of the detergent drawer. It’s also wise to add the washing tablets to the detergent drawer or the washing machine drum before you put your clothes.

Just like the washing machine tablets, pop the capsules at the back of the drum before the clothes and run the cycle.

Remove the clothes at the right time.

Some homeowners leave clothes in their washing machines, sometimes even overnight. This is wrong as the moisture from the wet clothes can lead to a buildup of mold in the drum or even on the clothes.

To avoid this, always remove the clothes from the washer as soon as the rinse cycle is complete, then dry the clothes naturally outside.

Remove everything from the pockets.

Plenty of washing machines have been reported getting damaged by coins, nails, and other materials after they have hit the insides of the washing machine. As you can tell, this leads to expensive repairs, and you don’t get to use your machine for some time.

To avoid this, always double-check your pockets and remove any materials there. From the tissues to plastic toys, remove all of them. You don’t want a stray tissue leaving your entire load covered in white fluff, do you?

Hire a professional when issues come about

Your washing machine will develop problems such as blocked water pipe and others. While you can fix some of these issues by yourself, always avoid doing so as the chances are high that you will cause more problems than were there.

To be safe, always hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix any problem, regardless of its magnitude.

The post Can You Run Washing Machine Empty? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

How you organize your fridge goes a long way toward keeping your fridge looking clean and determining how efficiently the appliance functions and lasts. Are you wondering how to organize your fridge? Here is how to go about it the right way as given by refrigerator repair professionals:

Sort the shelves

If you are like other homeowners, you are fond of squeezing food in any available space in your appliance. This is wrong, and it’s time to change.

You should properly organize the shelves, which comes in handy in helping reduce waste as you know where everything is. There is no right or wrong way to organize your shelves—work with what works for you. If you aren’t sure about where to start, here is a guide:

Top shelf: This is the first shelf you see when you open the fridge door and is one of the warmer shelves in your appliance. You should avoid keeping any fresh meat here. Instead, designate it for leftovers, takeout, and any other stuff that you need to eat soon.

Middle shelf: Temperatures are most consistent in the middle of the refrigerator, making it the perfect place to store foods that you need to keep cold but have a lower risk of spoiling. Some of the excellent foods to keep here are: deli meats, eggs, sour cream, and soft cheese.

Bottom shelf: This is the coldest place in the refrigerator, so you should store items that spoil easily here. The best candidates are fish and meat.

It’s tempting to keep milk on the top shelf for easy access, but you shouldn’t as milk spoils easily. The best place to store it is near the bottom and back of the refrigerator.

If you are fond of forgetting items that you have tucked into the back of the fridge, stack them on a rotating organizer so that you can easily grab them and check their expiration dates.

Keep the drawers organized.

Drawers help you keep your fridge organized and hold specific humidity levels that come in handy at keeping the various foods properly preserved.

There are two main types of drawers: high and low humidity drawers.

The vegetables store best in high humidity drawers, and most fridges will have a vegetable drawer, often at the bottom. If the drawer isn’t labeled, look for one without a vent or close the vent yourself.

Some of the items you should store here are spinach, green onion, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and leafy greens.

The low humidity drawer is often labeled “crisper” and has air vents, and is the best place to store the fruits that break down easily. Some of the best fruits to store here are: pears, oranges, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, and raspberries.

If your drawer doesn’t have a humidity control or air vent, keep the drawer a little cracked to create more airflow.

Make use of the door.

The door is the refrigerator’s warmest zone, and you should store items that don’t easily get spoilt. They include: mustard, sesame oil, ketchup, salad dressing, mayo, and hot sauce.

The door is also an excellent place to store wine, juice, and beer beverages.

Valuable tips when storing items in the fridge

To have a great time with the items, you store in the fridge, you need to consider several tips. These tips include:

Use clear containers: To stick to a system and keep everything in its place, you should use a few shallow clear containers. To avoid confusion, label the containers depending on the food you have stored inside and its expiration date.

Keep the fridge clean: You want to ensure that your fridge is clean. Besides dusting it daily, you should make it a habit to remove everything at the end of the week and give it a good scrub. If possible, remove the shelves and drawers and let them soak in hot soapy water.

You should then wipe the entire interior taking care not to use abrasive cleaning products that can harm the plastic.

Once you are done, appliance repair Springfield recommend you replace the shelves and drawers, then store a box of baking soda in them to help fight the fridge odors.

The post How To Organize A Fridge, The Right Way first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Are you wondering how long do dishwashers last? According to appliance repair professionals, they last an average of 9.5 years.

The appliance’s lifespan is hugely dependent on how frequently you use the unit.

An average household runs its dishwasher five times a week. This means that if you run yours more than this, it’s bound to have a much shorter lifespan and vice versa.

For example, if you run your unit more than five cycles a week, it will last for seven years, and if you run it fewer than five cycles a week, it will last for even 15 years.

How do you extend the life of your dishwasher?

Would you love your dishwasher to last for as long as possible? There are several things you can do. These things include:

Always load your dishwasher correctly

How you load your unit goes a long way towards determining how long it lasts. As a rule of thumb, you should never overload the unit, as you will inhibit its ability to clean the dishes properly. Overloading the dishwasher also creates unnecessary strain, which prevents the dishes from cleaning properly and makes the dishwasher overwork, which drives it to an early grave.

To be safe, learn how to load the dishwasher properly. This calls for you to place the different items in the right places.

Throw away the bones and food scraps before loading the dishwasher

While some powerful modern dishwashers in the market can handle food scraps, it’s still not safe to throw filthy food scraps and bones in the dishwasher as they prevent the dishes from cleaning as well as they should, so you should always remove dirty dishes.

There is also the risk of food getting stuck in the filters and causing significant damage over time.

Clean dishwasher safe items

Dishwasher companies will advertise that you can clean anything on the dishwasher, but this isn’t the case. There are some items that are hand wash only, and it’s for a good reason. This is because some of these items can damage your dishwasher.

To protect your unit from damage, take your time to analyze anything you put in the dishwasher. As a rule of thumb, don’t put anything there that doesn’t belong.

Keep the dishwasher clean.

The dishwasher is always clean as there is water flowing through it, right? Wrong. Like the other units in your home, you need to clean the dishwasher.

One of the parts you should ensure that is clean is the food trap. All dishwashers have a rubber trap at the bottom of the drain that prevents the drain from clogging. Every few months, remove the trap and clean it to keep it in top working condition.

You also should clean the dishwasher filters and door seals.

When doing the cleaning, always use vinegar as it not only removes the built-up gunk, but also gets rid of awful odors. To clean using vinegar, pour a cup of white distilled vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher, then run an empty cycle. The vinegar will clean out any debris stuck in the crevices and throughout the machine’s interior.

Wash the dishes with hot water

When it comes to the water you use when washing the dishes, always use hot water. Hot water cleans the dishes and kills bacteria, so you have clean and safe-to-eat dishes. Hot water also prevents debris and residues from building up in the dishwasher, so you have an easy time cleaning it.

Use the right detergents.

Besides using hot water, you also should use the right dishwashing detergent. Dishwasher repair Alexandria professionals recommend you only use detergent meant for the dishwasher. And when using the detergent, don’t use a detergent that is more than the manufacturer recommended amount.

As much as a detergent might appear harmless, note that using the wrong one can lead to pipe, filter, and even drainage damage.

If you aren’t sure about the right detergent to use, get the input of a professional.

The post How Long Do Dishwashers Last? first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Like the other kitchen appliances, cooktops also develop a myriad of problems that you need to fix to continue using the unit. Which are these problems? Here they are as given by cooktops repair professionals:

Failure of the electric cooktop to turn on

You will switch on the cooktop, but it fails to come on. You can’t cook with an appliance that won’t come on, can you?

One of the reasons an electric cooktop won’t turn on is if you haven’t plugged it in. Before you start investigating other issues, check whether the appliance is properly plugged in. Also, check whether the outlet is functioning correctly.

Use a multimeter or test it using any other small appliance such as an iron or blow dryer to check the outlet. If you do this and still it won’t come on, get in touch with an experienced electrician to help troubleshoot it.

Sometimes you will find the outlet providing power, but the cooktop doesn’t work. If this is the case with your appliance, your unit might be having problems with the internal components.

If you have never fixed a similar problem before, let an experienced professional help out.

Failure of the gas burner to light

If you have a gas furnace, the gas burner will sometimes fail to light. And like the above problem, this issue can be brought about by several factors.

Before you go deep into the problem, observe what happens when you try to light the burner. You should hear a clicking noise and smell gas coming out of the valves. If you hear a click but can’t smell anything, the problem might have to do with gas flow.

If you smell gas but don’t hear any clicking, the issue might be within the ignition switch.

You should turn the appliance off and unplug it to fix the problem. Follow up by removing the grate and burner cap, then clean out all the loose food debris, and once done, reconnect the wires that might have gone loose.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, you might need a new igniter or look into the gas connection problem.

Failure of the electric coils to heat

When you turn on your electric cooktop, you expect the coils to heat so that you can cook. So, it’s out of the ordinary when you turn the unit on, but the coils don’t heat.

You will often have this problem when you have a loose connection between the coils and cooktop. If the problem came about after removing the coils for cleaning, you might not have properly put them back.

To fix the problem, you need to check whether you have correctly installed the coils, and if there is anything stuck between the coil element and stove.

The coils will also fail to heat if you have an issue with the cooktop’s internal ignition switch, which provides you with action you need to heat the burners.

If you have never diagnosed the problem before, don’t try to fix it yourself, as chances are high you will cause more problems. Instead, let an experienced professional help you out.

Gas stove clicking all the time

It’s normal for the gas stove to click when you switch it on, but if the clicking continues long after the burner is lit, you have a problem. Sometimes the clicking is too much that it prevents the burner from lighting.

This will happen when something is blocking the burner, and all you need to do is to check and ensure that the burner cap hasn’t been knocked out of place and there is no debris blocking the holes.

You should inspect the unit for any blocking material and remove it using a paperclip or any other slim, metal object.

If you remove it and the clicking continues, you might have excess moisture trapped in the cooktop, and you need to towel off the stovetop or point a fan at the cooking surface to soak up the extra water or grease.

If you do this and still the clicking continues, your appliance must be having a deeper sitting problem, and you should have it looked at by an experienced appliance repair Springfield professional.

The post 4 Common Cooktop Problems And How To Fix Them first appeared on HVAC Repair, appliance repair. The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair