If you have a faulty refrigerator, you must be wondering, can a fridge be repaired? If you are one of the people asking this question, appliance repair professionals report that yes, you can repair a refrigerator.

While this is the case, you shouldn’t just go ahead and hire a repairman as you might be wasting your money. Before you do it, you should consider plenty of factors that include:

Factors to consider before hiring a repair professional

Age of the fridge: If you have had your refrigerator for more than a decade, you will be wasting money as it will be too expensive to repair it. This is because old appliances keep on failing, and you have to keep on fixing it. A never-ending money pit, you might say.

Spares for old appliances are also difficult to locate, not to mention the cost of maintaining the appliance. If your appliance is old, you should simply replace it.

Cost of repair: The other factor you should pay attention to is the cost of hiring the repair professional. If your fridge is not from a popular brand or is inbuilt, it will be expensive to repair compared to one from a popular brand.

Before you ask a repair technician to repair the appliance, first compare the price of fixing it and that of getting a new one.

Energy efficiency: How efficient is the appliance you are looking to repair? If you have had it for a long time, the chances are that it’s old and inefficient. Therefore, it’s contributing significantly to your home’s energy bill.

If you can improve the efficiency of the appliance, well and good, but if you can’t, you are better off simply replacing it.

What if you don’t have money to hire an AC repair professional?

If you don’t have the money to hire a repair technician, try fixing it by yourself. Some of the problems that you can easily fix include:

Failure of the freezer to switch on: The fridge will fail to turn on if you haven’t used it for a long time. When this happens, the first thing to check is the power. Is it on? Is the appliance properly connected to the socket?

Properly functioning freezers should be properly connected directly to the socket. If an extension lead connects your appliance, it could provoke a problem.

Failure of the internal freezer light to come on: The light inside the fridge can stop working due to many reasons: the light bulb might be blown, the lamp may have gotten loose, among many other issues. You need to find out why the light isn’t working and fix it.

Failure of the fridge door to close properly: In most cases, the fridge will fail to close properly if it’s not level on the ground. Here you simply need to level the fridge.

The door will also fail to close correctly if you have placed too much weight on the door shelves.

Check the condition of the fridge and fix it appropriately. While at it, also check the door seals for wear and tear and replace them if necessary.

Taking care of the refrigerator

To avoid having to repair the appliance, you should take good care of it. Some of the things you should do include:

Defrost the freezer regularly: Defrosting gets rid of excess ice. Before you defrost it, remove any foods that might be there. You should then unplug it from the power source and let the ice melt away. To speed up the ice melting, use a blow dryer or place a bowl of steaming water in the unit.

Clean the fridge: Another thing you should do is to clean the appliance regularly. Most people pay attention only to the exterior, but you should also pay attention to the interior too. At least once a week, remove all the food material and using warm soapy water, wipe all the interior surfaces.

To avoid damaging the surfaces, refrigerator repair Alexandria professionals advise against using harsh chemicals such as bleach. Stick with dishwashing liquid and natural cleaners.

Maintain the right temperature: Finally, you should maintain your refrigerator at the right temperature. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the freezer is -18° Celsius. To avoid damage, regularly check the temperature and be alert for any spoilt food.

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For your expensive washing machine to last longer and function optimally, you need to take good care of it. According to appliance repair professionals, you should have a daily, weekly, and monthly washing machine maintenance routine for you to keep the appliance in top shape the entire year-round:

Daily cleaning of the washing machine

Once you are done using the machine, take some time to wipe the drum. This comes in handy at preventing the machine from getting smelly. You also should check the detergent compartment and confirm whether there are still any detergent residues left.

If there are any left, wipe them away with a clean dish rag. By so doing, you prevent mold from building up once you maintain a clean appliance all the time. If you want to have an ultra-clean appliance, consider cleaning it with a hose.

Once the clothes are clean, immediately remove them from the washing machine and transfer them to the dryer or hang them on the clothing line to dry. You shouldn’t leave them in the washing machine as they will get moldy and musty.

When you aren’t cleaning, leave the washing machine door open. This will allow the air to circulate inside the machine reducing the chances of mold or awful smells developing.

Weekly washing machine maintenance

At least once a week, inspect the washing machine for signs of leakages. Ensure that the rubber seal of the washing machine hose is still working perfectly at sealing the connection of the hose and the water source.

If you notice the connection beginning to deteriorate, consider replacing it.

Pay attention to the detergent compartment water slots. These are the slots where the water comes out. Ensure that there are no hard minerals or residues left that might clog the slots. Pay close attention to them and clean them if necessary.

Monthly washing machine maintenance tips

Here you should pay attention to the belt of the washing machine. Pay attention to any signs of wear and tear. If the machine is wearing out faster than it should, the chances are that you are using the wrong laundry cycle.

Take time to go back to the manual and confirm the cycle you should be using. You also should use the washing machine wisely by avoiding running small laundry cycles.

Are there worn out or damaged parts that should be replaced? Whether they are belts or bearings, replace them if they need to. While at it, tighten up some screws or parts that might have gotten loose.

If you live in a hard water region, limescale can build up, leading to plenty of problems such as limescale building up on the heating element resulting in the component being less effective.

To prevent this, you should descale the washing machine at least once a month. If the water in your area isn’t hard, you should still descale your appliance, but you should do it every three to six months.

Proper washing machine use

How you use the machine goes a long way towards keeping it in top shape. One of the things you shouldn’t do is to overload the machine. When you overload the machine, you throw the machine off balance while leads to plenty of problems.

If you are new to using the machine, consult the owner’s manual for instructions on the proper loading sizes.

Keep the machine level: Washing machines always vibrate when working, and when they aren’t level with all the four legs, they rock back and forth and even vibrate strongly than they should.

To prevent this, ensure that the machine is level at all times. You also should keep it as close to the floor as possible to reduce the vibration.

Use the right amount of detergent: Most people pay attention to the information given on the packaging, but you shouldn’t. The best way out is to follow the owner’s manual and follow the instructions given by the washing machine manufacturer.

According to commercial appliance repair Springfield, when you do this way, you don’t use more detergent than you should hence putting your appliance at the risk of clogging up.

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It is unlikely that even if it were in
perfect condition, your refrigerator would be silent. However, there
are many sounds that can indicate an issue with your fridge. Keep
reading to learn about potential reasons and then contact American Appliance Repair
at 800-640-9934 if you are in need of refrigerator
repair or maintenance.

Grinding and/or Clattering is Often an Issue with
Your Ice Maker

One of the most common things that
people worry about is a sound of grinding or clattering. This
generally comes out of the ice maker. The fact is simple: Ice cubes
can be noisy, especially when they are falling into a cold, hollow,
plastic tray. The machinery that actually makes the ice also moves,
which can cause additional noise.

If the grinding and/or clattering is occasional, then it is likely just your ice maker making ice. If it is louder, the sound is jagged, or it has started when it used to be silent, then it may be time to take out your ice maker and clean it. If that and a defrost cycle doesn’t fix the issue, contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 for help.

A Broken Fan Can Cause Rattling and Clacking

If you hear a rattle, whether it is
constant or comes and goes, this could be an issue with your fan that
has broken or become loose on its motor shaft. The job of the fan is
to keep the temperature even within your refrigerator by moving cold
air around. If it is an issue with the fan, you will also likely
notice that the air is not flowing well, there is frost built up, and
other signs. This is a situation that warrants a call to your local
appliance repair
company.

A Worn Out Motor or Condenser May Make Whining or
Whirring Sounds

It is often the case that a whine or
high-pitched sound from a refrigerator is caused by a malfunction
with the motor or electricity. A motor is likely to whine when it is
not in alignment and when it is grinding against something that
causes resistance. If too much power goes through a low-power
circuit, electricity can make a whining sound.

This is another issue that requires the help of professionals. It may be that a deep cleaning can fix it but in most cases, it will be time to replace apart. The good news is that at American Appliance Repair, we have access to high-quality parts and provide expert installation. Call us now at 800-640-9934 and we can get started.

The post Troubleshooting Refrigerator Sounds: Learn Potential Causes of Sounds Made by Your Refrigerator appeared first on American Appliance Repair.

The COVID19 pandemic is especially lethal for several reasons: it attacks the lower respiratory system immediately, and it is extremely contagious. While there is still a lot that the scientists do not know about COVID19, the general agreement is that it is spread through droplets that settle on surfaces and can remain contagious for up to 72 hours. Different surfaces have different time frames, however, and experts are not yet certain how long COVID19 can remain on fabric. What we do know is that ordinary soap and water can destroy the virus on the skin. And the same science applies to laundry.

The Science of Soap

Almost all viruses consist of three key elements: ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins and lipids. There are no strong covalent bonds holding these units together, which means you do not need harsh chemicals to split them apart. The weakest part of the virus is the lipid or fatty layer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the RNA and proteins go their separate ways, no longer a threat. Laundry detergent works on the same principles. The surfactants (surface active agents) in laundry detergent have molecules that have two ends: one to attach to lipids (grease and dirt), and one to attract water. So during the wash cycle, the laundry detergent would work on the lipids in the COVID19 virus, breaking them down, and then rinse it all away in the rinse cycle.

Laundry Strategies to Combat COVID19

Knowing that simply doing your laundry can help prevent this disease gives you substantial power over it. While it is not necessary to do your laundry any differently from normal, you may choose to wash clothes at a higher temperature or use a detergent that specifies that it’s good on grease. Other key considerations to minimize the spread of COVID19 are these:

· Do not shake out dirty laundry. You may be in the habit of shaking out your dirty laundry before putting it in the machine. Now is the time to break that habit. Shaking your dirty laundry creates the potential for the COVID19 virus to travel from the fabric to your skin, or some other surface where it can remain infectious.

· Separate towels for household members. Each person should have their own hand towel and bath towel, and they should be washed more frequently than usual. The hand towel especially will be used more frequently because everyone should be washing hands multiple times a day.

· Cloth Face Masks and Gloves. The CDC is now recommending that everyone wear cloth face masks when out in public. They are also clear that you should not diminish the supply needed for medical professionals. It is easy to make or create your own cloth face mask. Similarly, cloth gloves don’t take away from the disposable gloves needed by medical professionals and protect you against COVID19 as well. It is important that you put these cloth face masks and gloves into the washing machine as soon as you enter the house after a public excursion. They need to be washed after every use.

· Wash some items on the hottest setting. Fabrics that have been in contact with bodily fluids should be washed at the hottest setting possible for the cloth. For instance, anything that has had vomit or feces on it (including diapers) should be washed on hot. Sports wear, too, should be washed in water as hot as the fabric can withstand. And of course, towels should be washed on hot.

Your washer is your ally in the fight against COVID19. It’s designed to deal with grease and grime, and COVID19’s fatty layer can be destroyed in your washer as well. Use it frequently to keep yourself and your family safe during this pandemic.

The post Washing Clothes During Coronavirus: What’s the Safest Way? appeared first on Dave's Appliance Service.

The particular strain of the Coronavirus known as COVID19 has created an unprecedented situation around the world. Here in the United States, the number of people with confirmed coronavirus cases tops 217,000 (as of Friday, April 3rd), more than China, Italy, or Spain. Thirty-eight states, Washington, D.C., and the territory of Puerto Rico have declared lockdowns, where residents are instructed to stay at home, nonessential businesses are closed, and only essential workers are out and about. Even states without lockdown orders have metro areas on lockdown, and a few states have ordered nonessential businesses to close without adding that residents need to stay at home. All told, about 90% of America’s population (297 million) are at home. And they’re worried.

The Science of Soap

In order to best protect yourself and your household, it is important that you understand what COVID19 is, how it is transmitted, and how you can fight it in your home. COVID19 is a virus made up of three different elements, and one of them is a layer of lipids (or fat). That makes it vulnerable because soap and detergents break down fats. Without this lipid layer to hold the virus together, it breaks apart. So hot water and detergent make the coronavirus inactive.

Dishwashers Deliver

Your ordinary household dishwasher is the best method of delivering detergent designed to cut through lipids (grease) combined with water at high temperatures. Most standard dishwashers operate at 150º – 160º F and often have a sanitation final rinse cycle of 180ºF. Even the older models wash at temperatures of at least 120ºF. So your dishes, cutlery, pots and pans will be blasted with the best combination around to ensure any COVID19 virus disappears down the drain. Here are some pointers to get the best out of your dishwasher during this pandemic:

*Check your water temperature settings. In order for your dishwasher to use water as hot as it is designed to use, the temperature setting on your boiler must be set accordingly. Many people have boilers set several levels below the highest. Find out what your boiler is set for and adjust it if needed. You want really hot water in your dishwasher right now.

*Remember that COVID19 can live on surfaces up to 72 hours. That means that stainless steel, glass, ceramics, and plastics could all harbor coronavirus for days. Putting all your dishes through the dishwasher wouldn’t be a bad idea. And put your used items through the dishwasher immediately after the meal. It’s not necessary to wait for the dishwasher to be completely full.

*Choose a grease-specific detergent. All detergents have lipid attacking qualities, so the brand of dishwashing detergent is not critical. However, some detergents advertise as particularly tough on grease. Using one of these may give you even more assurance that your dishwasher is dealing with COVID19.

If you do need to hand wash any of your dishes, use gloves and the hottest water you can stand along with a dishwashing liquid designed to cut through grease. It’s better to use the dishwasher, even for very small loads. At Dave’s Appliance, we want to support your family staying safe during this crisis. Using your dishwasher is a great way to do just that.

The post Will Dishwashers Kill COVID-19? Best Way to Wash Dishes During Crisis appeared first on Dave's Appliance Service.

If you are having an issue with your refrigerator, you can always contact American Appliance Repair for help. If you would first like to try a few troubleshooting options, you will find some listed below. Then contact us at 800-640-9934 if you need further help.

What to Do if Your Refrigerator is Not Defrosting

It used to be that homeowners had to
manually defrost their fridges as part of regular maintenance. Today,
the average full-sized, modern fridge includes an auto defrost system
that does it all for you. However, if there is frost building up in
your fridge it may mean any of the following:

• The defrost thermostat is broken
• The defrost control board is defective
• The defrost heater is not working correctly
• The defrost timer has failed

Depending on which of these issues is
the cause, it can be fairly easy to replace the part.

What to Do if Your Refrigerator is Not Dispensing
Water

If your refrigerator is set up to
provide cool water on demand and it is not doing so, there are a
number of issues that can be happening. The water dispenser switch
may be broken, in which case it should be replaced. You may have a
clogged water filter, which you can check. Check your kitchen faucet
to make sure you are not experiencing low water pressure everywhere.
Finally, it could be an issue of a defective water inlet valve.

What to Do if Your Refrigerator Runs All the Time

If your
refrigerator is working correctly, it should turn on and off
throughout the day. This keeps the temperature steady. If it is
running all the time, then there is something going wrong. Not only
is your fridge working too hard which could cause it to not last as
long, but your utility bills are going to rise too. The first thing
to check here is the condenser coils. If they are dirty, cleaning
them off could be all it takes.

There are other potential causes of
your refrigerator running all the time, including a damaged door
gasket, defrost heater assembly failure, or a defective evaporator
fan motor. These are issues you will need the professionals to take a
look at. Some are easy to fix while others are a challenge.

What to Do if Your Refrigerator is Warm but Your
Freezer is Working

It can be very confusing if you have a
warm refrigerator but a freezer that is working just fine. This
actually happens more often than you might think. Once again, check
your refrigerator’s condenser coils to see if they are dirty and
clean them if they are. Other issues that you need professional help
with can include a broken thermostat, defective fan motor, or a
faulty start relay. Contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 for help.

The post Simple Refrigerator Troubleshooting Options to Try Before Calling for Service appeared first on American Appliance Repair.

A dishwasher is like an extra set of hands that makes your work easier, and your day a whole lot better.

If you have had your appliance for a long time, you must have noticed its efficiency dwindling, and you must be asking, how do I get my dishwasher to clean better?

Well, you are on the lucky side as dishwasher repair professionals report there are plenty of ways you can do it. Here are some of these ways:

Scrape off the leftovers

As much as you don’t want to touch the dishes when they get dirty, you should note that the efficiency of the appliance is significantly compromised when you deposit too much food residues into the system.

For your appliance to clean the dishes better, scrape off all the extra food from the plates before you put them in the dishwasher.

Some people go to the extent of pre-rinsing the dishes, but you shouldn’t. When you pre-rinse the dishes you not only give yourself extra work, you also reduce the efficiency of the appliance as the detergents don’t have enough space to adhere to in order to clean the dishes effectively.

Use hot water

Just like when cleaning the dishes by hand, hot water cleans the best, so ensure the water getting into the dishwasher is hot enough. Before you start running the appliance, check the temperature of the water at the kitchen faucet using a meat or candy thermometer.

For effective cleaning, the temperature should be 120 degrees. Adjust the setting accordingly.

Keep the dishwasher clean.

You should keep the dishwasher clean all the time. Regular cleaning eliminates stuck-on-food particles, mineral buildup, and residual detergents. To clean the dishwasher, run it on a normal cycle using two cups of white vinegar.

You should then wipe down the interior wall and racks with a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Once you are done, rinse thoroughly.

Soften the water

Do you live in areas with hard water? You should note that hard water tends to leave ugly residues on the glasses and plates. No amount of cleaning will leave the dishes sparkling unless you soften the water.

To soften the water, buy and install a water softener, and you will prevent stains and minerals from building up.

Load the dishes appropriately.

Sometimes the dishes will fail to clean properly if they aren’t correctly loaded in the dishwasher. For optimum results, follow the manufacturer recommendations for loading the appliance. As a rule of thumb, never overload the appliance as you will block the spray arm and prevent the water from reaching all the surfaces.

Use the right amount of soap.

Soap is necessary for clean dishes, but when you use too much of it, you end up with dirty dishes. For the cleanest clean, always pour the detergent into the built-in measuring cup inside the dishwasher. This way, you ensure that you are always using the appropriate amount.

Always ensure that you use the right soap for the work. As a rule of thumb never use dish soap designed for hand washing in the dishwasher.

Use the right cycle

Dishwashers come with different cycles aimed at different dishes. The regular cycle is for normal cleaning, the heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning, and the light cycle for fragile items.

For effective cleaning, be aware of the items you are cleaning and ensure you are using the right cycle.

Inspect the dishwasher for clogs

It’s normal for clogs to develop in the spray arm and the drain, and as you might have guessed, they prevent the dishwasher from functioning optimally. Now and again, check the holes in the spray arm and ensure they aren’t clogged with food residues or hard water minerals.

To dislodge the particles, use a toothpick or needle. While you are at it, check the trap and drain to ensure that food scraps or other objects aren’t blocking the area.

You can do the work if you have the skills but for ideal results, let an appliance repair Northern VA handle it for you. When hiring the contractor, ensure they are experienced and certified to work in your local area. In addition to unclogging the appliance, they also should inspect other areas and fix them if problematic.

The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Did you know you could be hurting your cooktops without even realizing it? When you use the appliances the wrong way, they break down, and you have to hire expensive cooktops repair professionals. To help you out, here are some of the ways you might be hurting your cooktops and what you should do about it:

You ignore the manual.

Every appliance you buy comes with a manual that lets you know about the different parts of the appliance and how to use them properly. It’s a fact manuals are boring, but they are vital when it comes to keeping your appliance in top shape.

In addition to detailing the different parts, they also contain special tips on maintenance and correct cleaning and care of the appliance. To keep the appliance in top shape and avoid using it the wrong way, always take time to read them.

You can skip the boring part descriptions, but when it comes to care and maintenance tips, pay close attention to them.

You let the pot cook on its own

You will regularly hear people saying that a watched pot never boils, but when you ignore it, it tends to boil over. When boiling water or heating liquids, you can find it meaningless to wait until it boils, but stepping out of the kitchen can often be dangerous.

When you walk out of the kitchen, the liquids can boil over, and the spills and splashes get stuck on the cooktops. When you let the spills stay on the stovetop for a long time, they are not only unappealing, but they also cause damage to the appliance, which significantly reduces its life.

How can you avoid this? Simple. Never leave the kitchen regardless of what you are cooking. Always be in the kitchen when cooking. When the food starts boiling, reduce the fire, or remove it from the fire altogether. When spills happen, remove them immediately.

You ignore burner clogs.

When you light a burner and notice it not working, it means that it has clogged and you need to clean it. There are plenty of issues that come with clogged burners. When a burner clogs, it corrodes, which shortens the life of the appliance.

When you ignore the clog and don’t clean it early enough, the opening where the gas comes out decreases in size, which can potentially lead to inefficient gas burning and even hot spots in the pan.

When you continue ignoring the clogged burner, it will eventually stop functioning, and in no time, the entire appliance will break down.

To avoid this, you should give attention to the burners, and when you notice them not burning as well as you would want them to, clean the burners.

You ignore debris on the gas stovetop.

Most people that want a sleek modern look on their kitchen go for a glass stovetop. While the stovetop gives your kitchen an elegant appeal, if you let dirt build upon it, it not only provides the kitchen with a cheap look, but also significantly reduces its lifespan.

Nothing is exciting about a glass stovetop full of burn marks, steaks, and baked-on stains, so you should regularly clean the stovetop to remove any gunk that might be there.

You use a lot of water.

Cleaning the cooktop is vital for its life, but you shouldn’t use a lot of water when cleaning it. When you use a lot of water, you put your gas and electric cooktops at the risk of shorting out.

You might have the impression that there is no way gas will be affected by water, but you need to remember that the gas cooktop has electrical components too, such as the control board, high voltage wires, and electric switches.

Clean your cooktops but avoid using a lot of water as you will not only be putting the cooktops at risk, but also yourself.

You use the wrong cleaning products.

While some people use a lot of water on the cooktops, others use the wrong materials. For example, using a razor blade to remove any built-up gunk, cleaning the surfaces with a wire brush, or using chemical cleaners will damage the appliance, and it’s only a matter of time before you hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix the unit.

The post appeared first on Express Appliance Repair

Are you dealing with an electric oven that is not heating up the way it should? You could be dealing with any number of oven problems, some of which are relatively simple to take care of yourself and some of which require the help of an appliance repair company. Keep reading to find out four of the potential reasons and then contact American Appliance Repair at 800-640-9934 if you need help repairing or maintaining your oven.

1. The Bake Element May Be Burned Out


If the oven is not getting hot at all, it could be that the bake element is entirely burned out. The bake element is generally located at the bottom of the oven. Its job is to provide heat when you are roasting or baking but it must receive an electric current to do so. When it is working, you will see this element glow red and provide heat. As time goes on, this element can simply wear out. It can also be burnt out quickly if it is repeatedly exposed to higher-than-normal temperatures. For example, if you use the self-cleaning cycle on a daily basis, you could end up burning out the bake element.

2. The Broil Element May Be Burned Out


This is similar to the bake element but the broil element is on the top of the oven. It heats up for broiling but also helps with baking and roasting. If your bake element is not working then your broil function will not work either. If your bake element is working but your broil element is not working, you will likely notice that everything is baking unevenly because the only heat is coming from below the item. There is no way to repair a broil element – it must be replaced.

3. The Oven Control Board May Not Be Working Correctly


If the oven control is faulty, it can cause an oven to heat unevenly or not at all. This control board works in conjunction with the oven’s sensor to keep the temperature where it should be. If either of these parts, the control board or the sensor, are not working then neither will work. This could cause foods to cook faster or slower than they should.

4. The Thermal Fuse Has Blown


There is a thermal fuse inside an electric oven that works to protect you and your home. If the oven becomes too hot inside, the fuse will blow, which cuts the power off. This might happen during the self-cleaning mode or if the fuse is not working correctly.

The good news is that you do not have to figure this out on your own. At American Appliance Repair we can come to you and check out your oven to find the right repair options. Call us now at 800-640-9934 and we can get started.

The post 4 Reasons Your Electric Oven May Not Be Heating Up the Way It’s Supposed To appeared first on American Appliance Repair.

The purchase of a major appliance should be a well considered decision. When thinking about buying a dryer for your home, there are two basic designs: vented and ventless (condenser and heat pump). Before delving into the pros and cons of each, let’s gain a basic understanding of how they work.

All dryers work by transferring the moisture in the laundry into the air in the drum. Then the moisture in that saturated air has to go somewhere else. In vented dryers, it simply goes outside as water vapor, either through a vent built into an exterior wall or through a hose connected to the dryer and passed out a window. In a condenser dryer, that air goes into a separate chamber in the dryer unit where it is cooled to convert the moisture back into water that then collects in a reservoir, usually under the machine. The newest kind of condenser dryers use a heat pump that draws air from its surroundings like its counterparts but uses a different method to complete the drying process. It is sent through a heat pump where the cold side condenses the vapor into a drain pipe or tank and the hot side reheats the remaining air for further use.

Space Considerations

The first (and perhaps only) consideration needs to be the set-up already in place in your house. If your home does not have a vent, or the prospective placement of your laundry isn’t near an exterior wall or window, you will need to look at ventless dryers. Their placement is more flexible, though regular condenser dryers still need to have plenty of air flow around them in order to function properly. If you already have a dryer vent in an exterior wall, then a conventional vented dryer may be your best choice. Or not. There are other factors to weigh.

Cost

Because vented dryers are so common, they are also the least expensive to purchase. You can get a vented dryer for approximately $300 to $1500. A condenser dryer can be anywhere from $600 to $2000. Heat pump dryers were only introduced to the U.S. market in 2015, and are the most expensive. They can cost $1300 and up. These are just initial costs, however. Over time, condenser dryers can save you money, especially the heat pump dryers. When there’s no vent to the outdoors, the energy efficiency of your home naturally increases. Also, the ventless dryer recycles the air it uses, thereby creating a potential savings (especially during Milwaukee winters).

Drying Time

The vented dryer has the shortest drying time, with typical loads going through a 60 minute cycle. Condenser dryers usually have dry times of around 75 minutes, and heat pump dryers take 105 minutes and longer. The reason that vented dryers work so quickly is the temperature of the air in the drying drum. It is extremely hot and blown vigorously. With the ventless dryers, the temperature can be lower, thereby increasing drying time. And also decreasing the wear and tear on your clothes.

Fabric Condition

Because of the differences described, ventless dryers are kinder to clothes. You may even find that you can dry some items that you needed to hang dry before. With condenser dryers, your clothes can last longer.

Energy Efficiency

Heat pump clothes dryers use 40% to 50% as much electricity as a traditional electric dryer. In fact, some sources claim that they are five times more efficient than vented dryers, and double condenser

efficiency. Whatever the specific figures for your household, there is no doubt that they are the most energy efficient option.

With all of these factors at play, only you can decide which type of dryer suits your needs best.

The post Vented or Ventless Dryer: Which Should I Buy? appeared first on Dave's Appliance Service.