Help Your Appliances Beat the Summertime Heat

'Tis the season for the refrigerator and freezer constantly opening and shutting, sweaty clothes and swimming pool trips loading up the laundry and more.

To keep your appliances in tip top shape this summer,

1. Run a cup of vinegar through an empty dishwasher to remove food residue from your dishwasher.

2. To clean the interior of your microwave, wipe a mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of water.

3. Clean your refrigerator's condenser coils (we'll address that later).

4. Place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator (the baking soda should be changed out once every 90 days) and wipe your refrigerator walls with a mixture of some vanilla extract which has been poured into a bowl to keep your fridge smelling nice.

5. Wash refrigerator shelves and drawers with soap and warm water.

6. Put citrus peels and a handful of ice cubes down the garbage disposal. Turn the water on low and run the disposal for 20-30 seconds. Then turn it off and rinse with hot water.

7. To eliminate grease buildup in your garbage disposal, run some hot water and turn on the disposal. Squeeze a tiny amount of dish detergent into the disposal. Continue to run the hot water for 30 seconds. Turn the disposal off and continue to run the hot water until you no longer see suds.

Keep Your (Freezer) Cool In The Summer!

If you have a freezer in your garage, you may discover that it's struggling (along with the rest of us) to keep cool this summer.

With extreme heat, the sides of your freezer may become too hot to touch.

That's because it's working harder and longer to maintain a cold temperature inside the unit.

One of the best strategies: ventilate your freezer.  Make sure it has at least 4 inches of ventilation on all sides.  This will allow the heat on the outside of the freezer to escape without getting something else hot.

If you're concerned that ventilation isn't solving the problem, feel free to give us a call -- 208-371-8676 -- or visit our website at www.expressappliancerepairs.com.  We'd be happy to inspect your freezer and make any recommendations, if necessary.

Wow, That's A Hot Fridge (or Freezer)!

Summertime is killer for refrigerators!

It's during this time that most refrigerator failures happen. That's because rising temperatures make refrigerators work harder than ever so they can  maintain constant internal temperature.

These high temperatures stress your fridge, forcing the motor to run constantly.  This is especially true if your garage temperature exceeds 110 degrees. Yes, your energy bills may spike. At worst, the motor could burn out.

You can do a few things to increase your fridge's efficiency -- even during summer's hottest days:

• Keep the door closed. Every time you open your refrigerator door, you release cold air and make it work extra hard to cool the air.
• Inspect door seals so they are not letting cool air escape.
• Before placing them in your fridge, cool down hot foods to room temperature.
• Defrost refrigerators and freezers, making sure they don't accumulate more than one-quarter of an inch of frost.

Take care of your appliances -- they'll last longer!

Quit fighting your fridge a little more often than usual this summer. Give us a call at 208-371-8676 or check us out at www.expressappliancerepairs.com.  We're happy to help!

Dishwasher repair: What to do when your dishwasher won’t drain properly

Many people will agree that having a dishwasher beats washing your dishes manually. However, the only issue with a dishwasher is that it needs of a bit of tending to now and again.

One of the most common problems people experience with their dishwashers is the fact that they stop draining properly. This may be something which you could fix yourself without having to phone a dishwasher repair company. Read on to discover the basic steps you should take before picking up the phone and seeking help.

Dryer Vent Maintenance - Make sure your dryer is working properly, save time, save money, avoid calling the appliance repairman

Are your clothes taking longer to dry than normal? If so, chances are that your dryer vent is squished, needs cleaned, or needs replaced.

In this video, Jonathan Hill, the Boise appliance repair man discusses common issues related to dryer vents. Please have a watch, and let us know how we can be of help.