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!

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!

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.

#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!

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!

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!

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.

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

Dishwasher Loading Tips

Minute-per-minute, using a full dishwasher saves more time and energy than washing dishes by hand. To ensure that you're loading your dishwasher right, here's a couple hints:

• Put bowls in upside down. This prevents the bowl from filling up with dirty water. Same goes for cups.
• leave some space between every item. Heat, water, and vapor need to touch every part of a dish in order to properly clean it.
• Angle everything to ensure water doesn't sit on top of it.
• Don't stack dishes
• Put butter knives blade up, but all other knives blade down.
• Do not put these items in the dishwasher: cast iron, pewter, delicate glassware, tin, sterling silver, china, anodized aluminum, and wood.
• Only run the dish washer when its full, otherwise the dishes can get overheated and break or melt.
• Make sure the arms can freely spin
• Unload the bottom rack first. Moving the top one may cause drips to fall onto dry items
• Always use the appropriate amount of detergent.
• Occasionally run an empty cycle with white vinegar (a natural cleaner) to remove water buildup and food particles and kill fungi.

Christmas is Coming! Is Your Oven Ready?

If you're wanting to ensure that your Christmas dinner goes off without a hitch, NOW is the time to check your appliances. If you find that your appliance is in need of maintenance, call us at 208-344-6700 or stop by 607 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706 Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM.

The Month of Smells, Week 2: Dishwasher

When you pull your dishes out of the dishwasher, you expect them to be rather smell-free or even have a slight pleasent scent. However, if your dishwasher is in need of cleaning, you may be assaulted by a wave smells from mold and/or mildew. Luckily there are some tell-tale places that these smells come from that are easy to clean!

The screen

In the bottom of the dishwasher there should be a cylindrical screen, and it may or may not have a cap on it. Remove this and clean any gunk out of it.

The arms

The thing that spins around and sprays water - that's what we're focused on. Food particles may get stuck on, in, or around the arms. Give these a good scrub!

The seal

Food bits can get stuck under the seal of the door. Wipe these down, but be careful not to break it!

Clean your kids' toys quick!

Let's face it: kids are sticky. Their favorite thing to grab with their sticky hands are, of course, their toys. Cleaning them is a pain though, because you have to wipe all of them down, and getting in every nook and cranny is a pain. However, there is a much easier and faster way of doing it!

As long as the toys are durable, you can put them in the dishwasher! Simply put them in a cycle and take them out all squeaky clean!

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!

How to clean a dishwasher

First things first: pull out the bottom rack and make sure there isn't and food bits around the drain that's causing a clog.

If you're good there, put a cup of white vinegar in the top rack and run the empty dishwasher on hot. White vinegar is a cleaner and disinfectant and it works even better with hot water.

Lastly, put one cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short hot cycle. This gets any stains out and gives your dishwasher a fresh smell!

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!

Chore	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
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

Are you Cooking Christmas Dinner?

If you're cooking Christmas dinner, it might be a good time to check your appliances. Are they ready to handle the load of cooking for a whole family? If your appliances are up to the job, we can help.

Call us at
(208) 344-6700

Visit us at
http://www.expressapplianceid.com/

Or stop by at
607 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706