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Have you tried turning it off and on again?


This simple advice is tried, tested, and true: your problem might go away if you turn it off and on again.

If something doesn't seem right with your appliance, turn it off or unplug it for a while and let it rest. Plug it back in and see if that fixed the problem.

Who knows, it may just fix everything!

DIY Troubleshooting

There are many things on appliances that you might be able to fix yourself. The trick is to know what you need to fix. Luckily, that could be an easy fix.

Find out the make and model of your appliance. Once you have that, look up the owner's manual for it. There is almost certainly a section on troubleshooting in the manual.

Follow the steps to determine the error code, and look up the problem online. If its a bit more complicated than you'd like to handle, just give us a call and we can work with you on fixing your appliance!

Ignition Lighting?


Gas powered appliances depend on some sort of ignition process in order to work.

Often times these igniters can get covered with soot and buildup.

If your appliance isn't working, you might just need to clean the igniter. Regardless, once a months its a good idea to check on the igniter to see if it needs cleaning.

Fix the Move


Out of all the things on appliances, the things that are most likely to break are the things that move.

On most appliances, this means you should look at your fans and motors if something has gone wrong.

Some of these are a quick fix and you can do yourself. Others are rather labor intensive and difficult, and you should give us a call if you run into those problems!

50% Rule



Appliance repair can get very costly, often going into the hundreds of dollars. Is it worth keeping an appliance that is so costly to repair?

A good rule of thumb is the 50% rule.

The 50% rule is simple: If your appliance is 50% through its life or repairs will cost 50% of what its worth, its a better idea to get a new appliance.

We are open to buying your broken appliances to use as parts and sell you a new one!

The Dollar Test


Refrigerators work hard, and often they work harder than they have to. The seals on fridges often wears out, leaving the cold air the ability to escape.

A good test to see if you need to replace this seal is the dollar test.

The test is simple: take a dollar and close your fridge on it half way in the fridge. If it stays, the seal is fine. If it slips, you need to replace the seal.

a good seal lowers energy bills and keeps your food chilled and ready to eat!

DRYER OVERLOAD!

As a young adult, I went over to my grandmother's house to do my laundry. I didn't want to be an imposition to her, so I tried to stuff the machines to the brim. One day, my grandma walked by the dryer as it was running and heard it "moaning and groaning". He opened it up and found that it was much, much too full to run effectively.

A dryer needs enough space for air to circulate over all the clothes. If you overload it, it ruins the motor, leaves your clothes with a musty or burnt smell, and wastes energy.

Don't clean under you oven's knobs


While we all know a clean oven is a happy oven, you shouldn't clean under the knobs. The knobs to your oven are a part of an electrical system that tells the oven how much to heat it's coils.

When you put water on an electrical system, it could short circuit it, electrocute you, or both.

If a short occurs, then it'll be a service call for us to come out and fix it for you.

If its an electrocution, a hospital trip or funeral would be in your future.

The best plan of action: don't clean under your knobs!

Tips for loading your dishwasher the right way (Part 2)


The dishwasher is a valuable modern appliance. It allows us to clean our dishes quickly without much thought. However, its important to know how to use it the right way to ensure your dishes are as clean as they can be. Here are some tips to help your dishwasher wash dishes!

6. Place silverware face down
This makes it so the sharp parts aren't touched, which are also the parts you eat with.

7. Use only when full
Don't use your dishwasher if its only half full. Doing so waste time, money, and water. Run a load when its all the way full.

8. Unload from the bottom first
If you unload the dishes on the top rack first, it may leave water drops on top of dry dishes and leave spots on them.

9. Clean, clean, clean!
Periodically run an empty load with white vinegar. This is a dissinfectant that kills fungi and bacteria that could grow from builtup left over food particles.

Tips for loading your dishwasher the right way (Part 1)


The dishwasher is a valuable modern appliance. It allows us to clean our dishes quickly without much thought. However, its important to know how to use it the right way to ensure your dishes are as clean as they can be. Here are some tips to help your dishwasher wash dishes!

1. Load bowls and cups upside down
You don't want the dish water collecting in them

2. Leave some space between dishes
Aater and heat need to make even contact with the entire dish in order to properly clean them. This can't happen if they're touching other dishes.

3. Fragile and small stuff up top
The top rack isn't as intensive with it's cleaning cycle. THis will keep fragile and small dishes safer from breaking.

4. Angle dishes
Angling your cups as much as you can will make it so water won't puddle on the top of your dishes.

5. Don't load cups on top of the tines
Tines are the things that hold the dishes in place. These are made to have dishes between them instead of on top of them. Putting dishes on top of them could break both the dishes or the tines over time.

Sure-fire way to ruin your washer


Having laundry the size of Everest in a pretty common thing. The laundry just never seems to end!

You may want to try to pack your washer to get rid of all of it quick. You must resist this temptation! Overloading a washer may cause flooding and may ruin your motor.

Slow and steady wins the race, and keeps your washer alive!

When was the last time you replaced your water filter?


Your tap water can have more than just water in it. It may have herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, benzene, and a bad taste to it.

Luckily, there's a very simple method to getting all of this out: Change your water filter. Your water filter needs to be changed every 3-6 months to ensure that it's filtering properly.

When was the last time you changed yours? Is it time?

Condenser Coils



Condenser coils are the coils in the back of the fridge or freezer that cool and condense the refrigerants, which keep your food cool.

When these coils gather dust on them, these coils have to work even harder to remove heat, which means they need to work even harder.

You should clean these coils at least twice a year. Why not clean them this weekend?

Washing Machine Hoses



You should inspect your water hoses to your washing machine at least once a year. Make sure that they're securely connected  and are free of cracks, or bulges.

If there is any damage present, contact us immediately and we'll help you get it fixed before it floods your house!

Freezer Gaskets



With the heat going full force, freezers are working overtime.

If your freezer's gaskets (the rubber seals) have gunk in them, are cracked, or otherwise not working, it could mean that your freezer is sucking energy or slowly thawing your food.

If you need help replacing them, give us a call today!

Funky Lemonade?



If you wanting to enjoy a fresh lemonade this 4th of July, make sure to empty your ice bin now.

Ice that has remained in the ice bin for long periods of time can gain an odd odor and taste from the other food items in the fridge.

When you take out all the ice, it wouldn't be a bad idea to disinfect the ice bin as well.

Enjoy your 4th of July and your fresh and tasty lemonade!

A Gas Stove MUST

Gas stoves tend to live longer than their electrical counterparts by a couple years. However, they only do if you do this one thing to them:

CLEAN THEM!

Debris and spills build up can prevent the gas from burning the right way, and create more wear and tear on the stove.

When cleaning, make sure the gas is off and you take all the proper safety precautions.

Summer is in full swing!



Summer is here and it feels so good!

If you're reaching into the freezer to enjoy a popsicle, you may see a lot of ice building up in there.

This ice prevents your appliance from running as well as it could, and this makes it use up more electricity.

To correct this, take all of the food out of the freezer and put it into a cooler on ice. Unplug your freezer and leave it open. Let all of the ice dethaw. Once it has, wipe up excess water. Then sanitize it all down before you plug it back in.

Enjoy your otter pops this summer!

Warning signs of a clogged dryer vent


Each year there are 2,900 house fires caused by a dryer that has been improperly maintained which resulted in 31 injuries and 5 deaths. There is a great need to make sure that your dryer vent is clean, because it is life threatening if it's not. You should clean your vent out at least once a year, and clean out the lint trap every time you use the dryer. Here is a quick list of some signs that you need your vents cleaned out:

  • The top of your dryer is hot when in use
  • clothes take a long time to dry
  • There is a burning or musty smell when dryer is in use
  • Your clothes smell burned or musty
  • Your clothes are unusually hot after being dried
  • You can see lint coming out of the vent from outside
  • Excessive amounts of lint are caught in the lint trap
  • The room is hot when the dryer is in use
  • Dryer just stops working
  • The exhaust termination ( the flap where the airflow goes outside) doesn't open when dryer is on
  • For gas dryers there's a carbon monoxide leak

If your dryer vent is clogged it should not be delayed. Give us a call today at 208-344-6700

Is the self clean cycle on your oven enough?



Having your oven clean itself is a very tempting chore to do, or in this case, not do. You can just switch it on and it takes care of itself, right?

Unfortunately, the self-cleaning oven feature isn't as effective as a good old fashioned scrubbing. It just can't be beat.

If you're wanting to put some elbow grease in, make sure the oven is unplugged and the racks are taken out. This might also be a good time to check to see if the seal on your oven is damaged.

This simple maintenance may help keep your oven staying hot for years to come!

Is your fridge not cooling properly?



If your fridge isn't cooling very well, the problem easily could be the condenser coils.

The fix is a  really easy one. First you locate where your coils are. They are likely under or behind the fridge. Make sure you can easily access them wherever they are. After that unplug the fridge, so that you don't accidentally shock yourself. Use your coil brush to wiggle lose any dirt, dust, hair, or other particles, and vaccuum up anything else that remains.

If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to give us a call!

Looking sharp!


Did you know that garbage disposal blades dull with time? It makes them less effective at chopping up food bits.

One of the easiest ways to keep them sharp is to put ice down the disposal while its running.

This sharpens the blades and keeps them working great!

For an added bonus, throw some lemon down there to keep it smelling fresh!

#1 thing to remember with all appliances



Preventative care is always better than corrective care. This means that upkeeping your appliances, such as keeping them clean, is much less expensive than having to replace a part or all of it.

We are dedicated to help you know your options with both needs. We run this blog to help give you preventative tips, and also run our business to help you get your appliances working like they need to.

Give us a call or stop in today if you're in need of help!

Things to do before the repairman arrives

There are a few things that you should keep in mind before the repairman arrives at your house to fix your appliance. It will make life easier for both you and for the repairman.

Time
We tend to be pretty good about our appointments, but sometimes things run over or under time. Its a good idea to have some extra time before and after the appointment set aside in case this happens.

Know what's wrong
Be able to communicate how your appliance isn't working, and how it may be on the fritz. If you have the make and model of the appliance before you call us, we can be even more prepared.

Watch where you're going!
We might need to get some equipment in and out, and maybe even the appliance. Make sure there is a cleared path for us to get around.

Down, boy!
Make sure your animals are put away. it is safer for you, us, and them. We want to make sure there aren't any accidents!

Payments
Its a good idea to ask how much repairs might cost. If you ask us before hand, we would be happy to give you an estimate.

Summer is almost here!


We're starting to use our air conditioners more and more! How ready is your air conditioner for the summer season?

It might be a good idea to get your filter cleaned or replaced. Remember: You should be doing this at least once or twice a month for your air conditioner to run most effectively.

If you're unsure how to change your filter, our friends at Antlerdreamer have made a great video on how to do this here.

Do not slam the doors!


Doors on any appliances such as washing machine, dryer, fridge, freezer, or dishwasher can be broken with relatively little effort. If you slap the doors it could break the lid's switch or latch. Some replacements for something like this could cost upwards of $200.

Instead of taking care of the problem after the fact, take precautionary measures; don't slam the doors!

Do not overload your washing machine!

Your washing machine is a delicate piece of machinery. It needs to be used properly in order to function as intended. Failure to do so may result in damaged clothes, still-dirty clothes, managing the motor, and drainage issues.

The exact amount of clothes that you're supposed to put in varies depending on manufacturer, size, and model. However, a good plan of attack is to leave at least 6 inches between the lid and the top of the load. Feel free to get a ruler and measure it out exactly so you can gauge how full in the future.

The 50% Rule



Your washer has broken down, do you repair it or get a new one? It can be a tough decision, but there's a rule of thumb that may help.

"The 50% Rule" states that if your appliance is 50% through it's life span, and the cost of repairing it would be equal to 50% of buying a new appliance, you should probably just buy a new one.

Luckily we have a wide selection of appliances at our stores if you are in need of a new one! Stop on down to check them out today!

Washer Making a Racket?

https://pixabay.com/en/washing-machine-laundry-tumble-drier-2668472/

Is your washer rocking back and forth and making a bunch of noise? You need not suffer! There is a quick fix that only takes about 10 minutes.

The only things you'll need are a level and maybe a wrench.

The legs on the washer are adjustable, and if it's rocking back and forth, that means its not level. You simply need to readjust the legs so that the machine is level. You could need a wrench for this, but its also possible that you could do it with just your hands.

Electric Range Not Working?


One common problem with electric ranges is the prongs. Sometimes they can get bent inwards and they don't handle the electricity right, which means the element doesn't heat up.

Luckily, this is an easy fix.

When the element is 100% cool, unplug it and take it out. This would be a great time to clean it if it's in need of a great scrubbing. Then bend the prongs (pictured red in the diagram) outward. This makes it much more likely that the element will be able to have the electricity flow through it and heat it properly.

The Miracle Cleaner

So many cleaners have very harsh chemicals. Some that even encourage you to wear a mask, have flowing air, or take very frequent breaks from using it. There is one that cleaner that we always recommend that has none of the negative side effects: white vinegar.

The thing that makes vinegar such a good cleaner is the acetic acid. It helps clean away dirt, grime, and germs.

Its safe to clean your washer, dryer, fridge, oven, freezer, microwave, or just about anywhere else. If you're into green and safe chemicals, it the perfect option to switch to.

Why Impulse Buy?

Salesmen at a big-box shop can be intimidating with their pushiness. They want to sell you the latest and greatest so they get their commission. They will practically try to sell you a washer and dryer that tweet out when your laundry is done. No one needs all those bells and whistles - just clean clothes.

We sell the tried and true products, and with great perks. We have a lifetime service guarantee and have a 90-day financing cash option! We also wont push you to close a sale.

If you're in need of a new large appliance or just a repair, give us a call or stop on by.

Here are Some Tips to Optimize Your Kitchen Appliances

Dishwasher Tips


If the dishes are not getting clean...

1. Make sure the water is hot, preferably at least 140 degrees. Note that this is hot enough to burn you!

2. Make sure the lower spray arm turns freely.

3. Clear out any debris from the bottom inside the dishwasher.

Stove Tips


If your burners are not heating...

1. Make sure they are sitting straight in their proper positions.

2. Make sure the clock is set on manual cycle and not the automatic time bake cycle.

3. Wipe off the burner with a hot, damp rag and then dry completely.

4. Make sure the clock is set on the manual and not the automatic cycle.

5. Raise up the top and keep the area clean and free of grease build-up.

Refrigerator Tips


If your refrigerator is not running or is not cold enough...

1. Turn the thermostat up to the next highest setting. If it comes on, let it run for 24 hours and check temperature to confirm it is working properly.

2. Clear and/or remove anything blocking the air flow around the outside of the refrigerator (on top, underneath, behind, beside, in front of, etc.). Allow 3" of clearance all the way around.

Everything Is Defrosting, So Should Your Freezer!

Its starting to warm up, the sun is coming out more, and you may have even seen some squirrels running around.

While everything is coming out of the big freeze, it might be a good idea for your freezer to do the same.

Take everything out of your freezer and into a cooler, unplug it, and leave the door open. Let it completely defrost. When the entire freezer is room temperature, sanitize it.

Finally, you can put everything back in and enjoy a more functional freezer!

The Secret to a Long Life For Your Appliances

The secret to a long life for your appliances is a simple one. Cleaning is the secret to appliance longevity. When gunk builds up, it makes the appliance work harder and thus shortening the life of the appliance.

By using this one trick, you could keep your appliances for years longer than if you didn't.

So now you know! Now go and clean every nook and cranny of your appliances!

Don't forget to wash behind your gaskets!

Dust, mold, mildew, and food particles can get stuck in your fridge's gaskets. Your gaskets help keep the cold air in, and if something is preventing a clean seal, it'll make your fridge not work as well.

This is an incredibly easy fix though. All you have to do is get a damp towel or wipe and clean it out!

Is your freezer squealing like a pig?

There could be a couple of things that this is, but one of the most likely things is your freezer fan motor has gone out. This is a bit trickier to do yourself, so give us a call and we'll help you fix it in no time!

Odd Tasting Water

Is your water or ice tasting or smelling odd? Chances are that you need to replace your water filter. Ideally, water filters should be changed every 6 months or so. Usually replacing them is easy enough to where you can do it on your own at home. Just look up the manufacturer’s instructions on how to do it.

Weird Ice

Is your ice tasting a bit funny? Is it not dispensing? Ice and odors can build up and can affect the taste of your ice and functionality of your ice dispenser. Luckily, this can be an easy fix. Take your ice bin out and dump all the ice out that is in it (and make sure the ice maker is off).  If there's any ice that is frozen to the bin, leave it out to melt. Once all the ice is gone, give it a good wash with soap and water! Once dry, put it back in and enjoy your tasteless ice!

Tips to make your repair go quicker

There are a couple of things that can make our job helping you a lot easier. Let's go over them!

Brand
Knowing which brand your appliance is helps us narrow down what the problem may be, and how we can correct it. Certain brands operate in certain ways, and if we know which one it is, it makes it that much easier for us to fix it!


Model
Knowing the model further narrows down what the problem may be. Like with brands, certain models tend to wear out in very specific ways.

How to check if your gaskets are good


This is a very simple fix to ensure that your gaskets on your fridge or freezer are still good. Open the door and shut it with a dollar bill in it.
When you try to pull it out, there should be a little tension - you can't just pull it straight out.

Range Hood Filters

All the steam and splashes from cooking makes range hoods surprisingly gunked up. Every couple of months you'll want to replace them. If you have metal ones, just take them out and wash them with soap and water. Charcoal and paper filters just need to be replaced.