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Showing posts with label seal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seal. Show all posts

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!

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!

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.

How to clean your washing machine


  1. Run an empty cycle and put a little bit of bleach in the water.
  2. Run another cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of making soda.
  3. Remove the soap dispenser and thoroughly wash it with soap and water.
  4. Use water to wash the rubber seal on the door.

Fridge Maintenance Tips


1. Check the Seals
A seal that doesn't seal properly, you'll be spending more money cooling what's inside. If its not sealing properly, make sure that food isn't stuck in it. If there's no food, try the dollar-bill test: close the door with the bill in the door so that its half in/half out. If the dollar slips out, call the pro's.

2. Clean Coils
If the condenser coils are covered in gunk and dust, the fridge wont cool properly. Unplug the fridge and clean them at least twice a year.

3. Is the Price Right?
Make sure your fridge is set to the recommended temperature: 37 degrees for fridge and the freezer at 0 degrees.

4. Fill 'er up!
Fridges are made to work properly with food in them. If you eat out most of the time, just throw some jugs of water in there.

5. Be a Boy Scout: Be Prepared
If the power goes out, don't open it. Doing so will let the cold air out and they wont be able to get cold again, potentially ruining the food inside.

Still Need a New Year's Resolution? Check Out This Checklist!

Cleaning and checking our appliances for problems can be a difficult thing to remember, but it is very important to do. If you're still looking for a New Year's resolution, doing that simple maintenance is a great idea! Here is a chart we made to help you remember to do it. Print it off and put it somewhere you'll be able to see it every could months!

ChoreSpringSummerFallWinter
Clean and check washer and dryer



Clean and check hose connections on washer and dryer



Clean and check dishwasher for leaks



Clean and check fridge for leaks



Check water heater for leaks



Clean and check seal on oven




You Could Have Money Owed to You!

A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that alleges LG-brand front-loading washing machines (“Washers”) had an undisclosed propensity to develop a Mold and/or mold-related Odor Problem. LG denies it did anything wrong. The Court has not decided who is right.
If you actually experienced a Mold and/or mold-related Odor Problem, you may be entitled to compensation in the form of either (1) a cash payment of thirty-five ($35.00) in the form of a check, or (2) a Washer Rebate Certificate worth one hundred and five dollars ($105.00), redeemable after you purchase a new Washer from an authorized Washer retailer.

For more information click here.

5 Oven Maintenance Tips

Check the seal on your oven

If the seal on your oven isn't tight, it could leak a lot of that heat out, which means it takes more to cook your food! There should be a rubber or fiberglass gasket around the edge of the door. Touch it and seal if it feels melted, warped, or broken. If it does, replace it!

Clean those fans!

The fans over your oven are often forgotten on your cleaning list. Next time its time to wash the entire kitchen, put it on your list!

Burners and drip bowls

Lots of dust and flakes can build up in the drip bowls and on your burner. It make your oven run in tip top shape, clean them fairly regularly, especially if you drip food on them!

Self cleaning safety

Your oven's self cleaning setting can be a lifesaver, but only if you use it correctly. To prevent any accidents, make sure you stay home and check on it every 10 minutes or so.

Non-self cleaning safety

Sometimes you just gotta get in your oven and scrub it! Before you roll up your sleeves, make sure you unplug the oven or turn off the gas. You don't want it to somehow turn on and start frying you up or start suffocating you.

12 Hints for Buying Large Appliances (part 2)

Last week we gave you several tips on how to buy appliances, as it can be a scary purchase. We try our best to provide our customers with a welcoming atmosphere, are comfortable asking questions, and are informed. Lets go over a couple more hints to help you when buying appliances!

7. Get the right gear

If you're constantly cooking, having the right pans, dishes, and silverware could extend the life of your appliance, as well as accent your food's taste.

8. Test drive

Everybody has those pet peeves that drive us crazy, and appliances aren't immune to being their target. Try thinking of what may bother you when buying an appliance. Some fridge doors close if not opened properly, others have an extra tight seal, a couple may open from the wrong side for your house, and some may have too dim of a light. You may be living with this choice for a while, so make sure you get the right one!

9. Any perks?

We don't want to brag, but we like to believe that we give every customer a steal of a deal. Our prices are the best you'll find, and on top of that, we finance, give every customer a 90 day warranty, a lifetime service agreement, and a delivery option.

We finance, 90 days same as cash. That's one heck of a deal :)

If the appliance needs any repair within the 90 day warranty, we'll pick up the tab. To quote The Rembrandts, "I'll be there for you".

After the warranty runs out, washers, dryers, and stoves have the low copay of $49.95, and fridges and freezers have the great copay of $69.95.

Not everybody has a truck they can just toss a fridge in. We will hook you up with delivery, anywhere from Boise all the way to Nampa, for only $49.95.

10. Know when its time

I admit, I have let the "check engine" light blink on for far longer than I should have. I came to realize, it was my car telling me it was time to put it out to pasture er... junkyard.

Your appliances will let you know when their time has come as well. They'll be much louder, not work as well, accidentally ruin clothes/food, or cost too much to fix.

Come talk to us if you need a 2nd opinion, or someone to haul it away.

11. Get the good stuff

Some people just are better at certain things than others. Their work stands out and it shows. Picking an appliance brand is no different. Before you sign on the dotted line, know what you're getting into. Does a brand have reliable parts that require little or no maintenance? Or does a brand have more fragile parts, like seals, motors, or knobs that require a bit more upkeep?

Don't get information from one source, but from several places. Read both positive and negative reviews. Our professional staff are also very knowledgeable about brands, and can help you weigh pros and cons.

12. Think ahead

When I was a teenager, I was given a motor cycle from a family friend. Being 14 and the owner of a motorcycle was VERY exciting, despite the fact it was (in retrospect) just a pile of junk. I was optimistic, and thought I could buy parts and get it cruising in no time. After a little bit of research, I found that my bike was a very old Japanese model. Any parts I bought would rather have to be shipped from overseas or be custom made in America. Either way, it instantly turned into an unrealistically expensive repair.

Some brands may have the same curse. Where one model's parts could be growing on trees, another model's parts could be as rare as a unicorn.

This information may be tricky to search for online if you don't know what you're looking for. Our staff know our products, their models, and their parts inside and out. They can help you decide if a model's potential repairs are the difference between feast or famine.


Keep an eye on our blog for more hints, tips, tricks, and stories!

12 Hints for Buying Large Appliances (part 1)

Buying appliances can be a worrisome ordeal, and we've been there. We pride ourselves in taking good care of our customers. We make sure they're informed, delighted with their purchase, and leave satisfied enough to come back for future needs!

1. So many options!

There's a couple of options you may not have thought of unless you came into the shop. In attempt to better prepare you for the range of purchase options, lets determine what you want.

Do you want a gas, coil, or glass stove top? What about induction vs electric?

A conventional or convection oven? Double or single?

A top-down or side-by-side refrigerator? Stainless steal? Filtered water and ice? A special drawer for vegetables?

What's your price range? Do you have a lot, or just a little? New or old?

If you feel a bit overwhelmed, we got your back. Call us at 208-344-6700 or stop by at 609 Orchard st, Boise ID.

2. Don't be a diamond

Being under pressure makes diamonds, but it also leads to impulse buys. Don't feel pressured to buy something you don't want or can't afford. We want to find the right fit for you.

3. Keep in mind what you're using it for

If you live solely on frozen pizzas, you're most likely going to want a freezer with a lot of space. If you're needing space for food with ingredients, you'll probably going to want more fridge space. Different styles of fridges have different proportions of their freezers and fridges.

But these style differences aren't just for freezers and fridges. There are different sizes of ovens, washer/dryer capacities, and numbers of stove heads. Keep in mind what you'd need your new appliance for.

4. Know how to care for your purchase

In college, we weren't always the smartest with laundry. Having no washer/dryer of my own, I had to use my grandma's. Desperate to get all my laundry done in a single visit, I stuffed the washer past the brim. 15 minutes later, the washer was moaning under the strain of my mountain of clothes. Luckily, grandma stopped it before the washer gave out, and gave me a short lesson.

The same applies for all other appliances. It may seem silly, but look up the proper use for any appliance you just bought. Some things you may never have thought of, like cleaning dryer vents, sweeping under ovens, and battling a washer's mildew.

Even a simple mistake could end up being costly in you're not careful. Ask us at All Brands Appliance if you have any question, we're professionals!

5. Measure, Measure, Measure!

If you have narrow hallways, or have some tricky corners, make sure your new purchase fits! It would be incredibly frustrating going through the process of buying an appliance, having it delivered, only to find out that you're just inches away from the finish line. To prevent this "close, but no cigar" situation, know the dimensions needed in order to properly install it.

6. Corvette of appliances?

Everybody likes the fanciest, newest, and coolest stuff. From phones, to cars, and yes, even to washers. However, you don't always need to go out to the car dealership and spend an arm and a leg when the cars at the used car lot works just as well (and doesn't hit your wallet like a ton of bricks).

Our used appliances are in EXCELLENT condition, and all come with a free lifetime service agreement! Best of all, we're the best bang for your buck in the whole valley!
Tune in next week for part 2!

Freezer Prep

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Here's 3 hints to prep your freezer for all those left overs!



1. Clean it out

Take all the food out, throw the expired stuff away, and wipe everything down. Put a box of baking soda if its particularly fragrant.

2. Vacuum the back

Vacuum all the dust out of the condenser coils at least once a year. This allows the freezer to continue work at peak performance.

3. Maintain proper temperatures

Monitor the temperatures of the freezer. Ideally, it would be around 0 degrees. If the temperature is too high, the seal likely isn't tight enough.