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.

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!

#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.

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!

Life span of appliances

Eventually your appliances will wear out. Here is the average lifespan of some of the most common ones:

Appliance	Years
Air-Conditioners	8-15
Boilers	20-35
Compactors	6
Dehumidifiers	8
Dishwashers	9
Disposers, Food waste	12
Dryers	13
Exhaust Fans	10
Freezers	10-20
Furnaces	15-25
Gas Ovens	10-18
Heat Pumps	16
Humidifiers	8
Microwave Ovens	9
Range/Oven Hoods	14
Electric Ranges	13-15
Gas Ranges	15-17
Refrigerators	9-13
Washing Machine	5 -15
Water Heaters	10-11

Furnaces

75% of furnaces producing no heat during the winter are due to a lack of maintenance. If you've procrastinated having your furnace maintained, now is the time to do it. Its starting to get cold, and before you know it, we'll have snow on the ground. Give us a call today at 208-344-6700

One of the best ways to raise your property value

Boise's housing market has recently seen a major boom. So much so, that the market can't keep up with the demand. If you're wanting to make your house more appealing to potential buyers, you have to make your house stand out. One of the best ways to make your house more appealing is to get new appliances, like stoves, fridges, and washers and dryers. Its such a good method, HGTV ranked it among it's top 10 ways to raise property value.

If your appliance is in need of an upgrade, come see us today!

4 Simple Water Heater Maintenance Tips

1. Keep it clear

As cluttered as the garage might be, its a good idea to keep items away from your water heater. 

2. TURN THE WATER OFF!

This water is HOT! You don't want to be tinkering with the water heater and accidentally give yourself 2nd degree burns. Make sure you turn the water off before you start fixing the water heater!

3. Type

The first solution to any problem is identifying it! To do this, you should make sure you know what kind of water heater you have. There are natural gas, electric or propane, tank-type, and tankless-types. 

4. Drain

Debris and sediments can build up in your water heater, which causes them not to work as well over time. Once a year its a good idea to drain your water heater.