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Dishwasher Repair: How Do I Get My Dishwasher To Clean Better?

dishwasher repair

A dishwasher is like an extra set of hands that makes your work easier, and your day a whole lot better.

If you have had your appliance for a long time, you must have noticed its efficiency dwindling, and you must be asking, how do I get my dishwasher to clean better?

Well, you are on the lucky side as dishwasher repair professionals report there are plenty of ways you can do it. Here are some of these ways:

Scrape off the leftovers

As much as you don’t want to touch the dishes when they get dirty, you should note that the efficiency of the appliance is significantly compromised when you deposit too much food residues into the system.

For your appliance to clean the dishes better, scrape off all the extra food from the plates before you put them in the dishwasher.

Some people go to the extent of pre-rinsing the dishes, but you shouldn’t. When you pre-rinse the dishes you not only give yourself extra work, you also reduce the efficiency of the appliance as the detergents don’t have enough space to adhere to in order to clean the dishes effectively.

Use hot water

Just like when cleaning the dishes by hand, hot water cleans the best, so ensure the water getting into the dishwasher is hot enough. Before you start running the appliance, check the temperature of the water at the kitchen faucet using a meat or candy thermometer.

For effective cleaning, the temperature should be 120 degrees. Adjust the setting accordingly.

Keep the dishwasher clean.

You should keep the dishwasher clean all the time. Regular cleaning eliminates stuck-on-food particles, mineral buildup, and residual detergents. To clean the dishwasher, run it on a normal cycle using two cups of white vinegar.

You should then wipe down the interior wall and racks with a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Once you are done, rinse thoroughly.

Soften the water

Do you live in areas with hard water? You should note that hard water tends to leave ugly residues on the glasses and plates. No amount of cleaning will leave the dishes sparkling unless you soften the water.

To soften the water, buy and install a water softener, and you will prevent stains and minerals from building up.

Load the dishes appropriately.

Sometimes the dishes will fail to clean properly if they aren’t correctly loaded in the dishwasher. For optimum results, follow the manufacturer recommendations for loading the appliance. As a rule of thumb, never overload the appliance as you will block the spray arm and prevent the water from reaching all the surfaces.

Use the right amount of soap.

Soap is necessary for clean dishes, but when you use too much of it, you end up with dirty dishes. For the cleanest clean, always pour the detergent into the built-in measuring cup inside the dishwasher. This way, you ensure that you are always using the appropriate amount.

Always ensure that you use the right soap for the work. As a rule of thumb never use dish soap designed for hand washing in the dishwasher.

Use the right cycle

Dishwashers come with different cycles aimed at different dishes. The regular cycle is for normal cleaning, the heavy-duty cycle for deep cleaning, and the light cycle for fragile items.

For effective cleaning, be aware of the items you are cleaning and ensure you are using the right cycle.

Inspect the dishwasher for clogs

It’s normal for clogs to develop in the spray arm and the drain, and as you might have guessed, they prevent the dishwasher from functioning optimally. Now and again, check the holes in the spray arm and ensure they aren’t clogged with food residues or hard water minerals.

To dislodge the particles, use a toothpick or needle. While you are at it, check the trap and drain to ensure that food scraps or other objects aren’t blocking the area.

You can do the work if you have the skills but for ideal results, let an appliance repair Northern VA handle it for you. When hiring the contractor, ensure they are experienced and certified to work in your local area. In addition to unclogging the appliance, they also should inspect other areas and fix them if problematic.

Cooktops Repair: 6 Ways You Might be Damaging Your Cooktops And What To Do About It

Did you know you could be hurting your cooktops without even realizing it? When you use the appliances the wrong way, they break down, and you have to hire expensive cooktops repair professionals. To help you out, here are some of the ways you might be hurting your cooktops and what you should do about it:

You ignore the manual.

Every appliance you buy comes with a manual that lets you know about the different parts of the appliance and how to use them properly. It’s a fact manuals are boring, but they are vital when it comes to keeping your appliance in top shape.

In addition to detailing the different parts, they also contain special tips on maintenance and correct cleaning and care of the appliance. To keep the appliance in top shape and avoid using it the wrong way, always take time to read them.

You can skip the boring part descriptions, but when it comes to care and maintenance tips, pay close attention to them.

You let the pot cook on its own

You will regularly hear people saying that a watched pot never boils, but when you ignore it, it tends to boil over. When boiling water or heating liquids, you can find it meaningless to wait until it boils, but stepping out of the kitchen can often be dangerous.

When you walk out of the kitchen, the liquids can boil over, and the spills and splashes get stuck on the cooktops. When you let the spills stay on the stovetop for a long time, they are not only unappealing, but they also cause damage to the appliance, which significantly reduces its life.

How can you avoid this? Simple. Never leave the kitchen regardless of what you are cooking. Always be in the kitchen when cooking. When the food starts boiling, reduce the fire, or remove it from the fire altogether. When spills happen, remove them immediately.

You ignore burner clogs.

When you light a burner and notice it not working, it means that it has clogged and you need to clean it. There are plenty of issues that come with clogged burners. When a burner clogs, it corrodes, which shortens the life of the appliance.

When you ignore the clog and don’t clean it early enough, the opening where the gas comes out decreases in size, which can potentially lead to inefficient gas burning and even hot spots in the pan.

When you continue ignoring the clogged burner, it will eventually stop functioning, and in no time, the entire appliance will break down.

To avoid this, you should give attention to the burners, and when you notice them not burning as well as you would want them to, clean the burners.

You ignore debris on the gas stovetop.

Most people that want a sleek modern look on their kitchen go for a glass stovetop. While the stovetop gives your kitchen an elegant appeal, if you let dirt build upon it, it not only provides the kitchen with a cheap look, but also significantly reduces its lifespan.

Nothing is exciting about a glass stovetop full of burn marks, steaks, and baked-on stains, so you should regularly clean the stovetop to remove any gunk that might be there.

You use a lot of water.

Cleaning the cooktop is vital for its life, but you shouldn’t use a lot of water when cleaning it. When you use a lot of water, you put your gas and electric cooktops at the risk of shorting out.

You might have the impression that there is no way gas will be affected by water, but you need to remember that the gas cooktop has electrical components too, such as the control board, high voltage wires, and electric switches.

Clean your cooktops but avoid using a lot of water as you will not only be putting the cooktops at risk, but also yourself.

You use the wrong cleaning products.

While some people use a lot of water on the cooktops, others use the wrong materials. For example, using a razor blade to remove any built-up gunk, cleaning the surfaces with a wire brush, or using chemical cleaners will damage the appliance, and it’s only a matter of time before you hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix the unit.

Refrigerator Repair: Refrigerator Preventative Maintenance Checklist To Keep Your Fridge In Top Shape

refrigerator repair

To avoid hiring refrigerator repair technicians to repair your appliance frequently, you need to be cautious of the sanity of your appliance. To have an easy time, have a refrigerator preventative maintenance checklist with you.

The list protects your appliance from sudden breakdowns and ensures that your appliance lasts for a long time. Some of the things you should do to maintain the sanity of your appliance include:

Keep the appliance leveled

If the fridge or freezer isn’t level, the doors don’t seal correctly, and in no time they warp out of place. To prevent this from happening, place a carpenter’s level on top of the unit. If it’s not level, adjust the feet using a hand wrench.

Defrost the unit

Many modern appliances have a self-defrosting mechanism that prevents ice from building up in the unit. If you have an old unit, it might be lacking this mechanism, so you have to defrost the appliance manually.

If the ice is over ½ inch, remove it. Start with turning off the appliance and let it defrost naturally. To speed up the process, turn on a fan facing the affected area. Avoid using sharp objects to remove the built-up ice as you can damage the appliance.

Change the water filter

If the refrigerator has an icemaker, it most likely has a water filter that you should replace. For best results, replace the filter every 6 months, or however often the manufacturer recommends. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that the ice made by the appliance is clean. Cleaning the filters also ensures that the appliance is functioning efficiently all the time.

Clean the appliance regularly

If you have a busy kitchen, the chances are that you don’t have enough time to properly get rid of food and beverage spills when they happen. When you go for a long time without properly cleaning the refrigerator, gunk is bound to develop.

To avoid this, make it a habit to clean the refrigerator surfaces at the end of every working day. When drips and splatters happen, clean them on time. When doing it, avoid using a ball of steel wool or other abrasives and chemicals such as bleach that can damage the finish of the appliance.

Remember, the longer you let a spill settle, the harder it will be to clean it without using a harmful cleaning agent. In addition to the uncleaned spills causing unpleasant odors, they significantly affect the quality of the refrigerator. Mold also tends to grow on the fridge jeopardizing the safety of the food.

Regularly inspect the seals and fix the leaks

When the seals or gaskets on the fridge doors are loose or ripped, air will escape. This results in the refrigerator working too hard; hence you have a high energy bill at the end of the month.

You can easily fix minor gasket leaks by yourself using silicone caulk. While you are at it, ensure that the refrigerator door hinges and latches are tightly secured.

Check the interior lights

Lights generate heat. In a properly functioning refrigerator, the lights should go off when you close the refrigerator door. Due to age and improper maintenance, the refrigerator lights might not be going off when you close the door. As a result, the lights heat the interior of the fridge, making the refrigerator work harder than it should.

To stop this, take the time to scrutinize the interior lights. If they don’t go off when you close the door, find out the reason and fix it.

Clean the condenser coils

The condenser coils allow the fridge or freezer to control its temperature, so you must keep them clean to ensure that the appliance is running efficiently and doesn’t overheat. When you go for a long time without cleaning the coils, dust, hair, and other grime build up on the coils.

To keep your appliance functioning efficiently, clean the coils regularly with a vacuum cleaner. For ideal results, do the cleaning at least once every three months. You can do the cleaning by yourself by following the owner’s manual or hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to help you out.

When hiring a contractor, ensure the contractor is experienced enough. They also should be certified to work in your area.

What Is Wrong With My Washer? Here Are Some Of The Most Common Washer Problems As Given By Washer Repair Experts

The dishwasher experiences plenty of problems that not only make it hard to wash your clothes, but also end up damaging your clothes. You can solve some of the issues by yourself while others require you to hire a washer repair professional.

Are you wondering, what is wrong with my washer? Here are some of the most common washer problems and how to solve them:

Washer vibration

Does your washer vibrate when cleaning? This is a common problem when you use an unleveled appliance, you load an unbalanced laundry, or you use a machine that isn’t in contact with the floor.

For you to fix this problem, ensure that the washer feet are firmly in contact with the floor. You should level or balance the washer and tighten the jam nuts so that the legs and feet don’t shift.

Also, check the floor for sagging. If it has sagged, add a piece of plywood under the washer to keep it level.

If the laundry is loaded unevenly, rearrange it and load it correctly to avoid the shifting. If you are mid-cycle, pause the cycle and spread the clothes through the drum. Evenly distribute the weighty items such as towels and heavy garments, so there isn’t just one heavy clump being spun around.

Leaking water

Your appliance will leak due to many reasons. One of the most common ones is if the washer isn’t level or properly loaded. It will also leak if the hoses aren’t tightly attached or the hose washers are worn out or improperly inserted.

The first thing you should check is whether the appliance is properly balanced. If not, you need to balance the washing machine. You also should confirm whether the washer basket is out of alignment, causing the water to splash out.

Go around all the hoses and tighten the connections. Ensure that the hose washers aren’t cracked or broken. Also, confirm that they have seated properly in the hose.

Also, pay attention to the water lines and faucets. Are they leaking? If they are, seal them.

You also should confirm that the washer is draining properly, and the drain hose isn’t clogged with hair, lint or a wayward sock.

Using the wrong detergents can also cause the machine to leak, so check the detergent you are using. If you have been using the wrong soaps, the chances are that you have excess suds that could be causing the drum to overfill and leak.

If the leak is small and coming from the front of the machine, it might be coming from the door. This leakage could be due to a seal that might have worn out due to age. To fix the problem, reapply the seal.

Washer making a lot of noise

While the appliance shouldn’t be dead silent, it shouldn’t be too noisy either. In most cases, the appliance will make a lot of noise when there are foreign objects inside, or a part inside has gotten loose.

Different noises come about due to various reasons. For example, gurgling noises indicate something obstructing the drain line. All you need to do is to remove the blockage and prevent it from becoming a full-blown clog.

Is your appliance making clicking sounds? The sounds are often due to objects lodged in the washer drain. The chances are that you missed removing a coin or any other item from the pocket. You need to simply check the drains and remove the foreign object.

If your unit is making humming or buzzing sounds, you might be having a foreign object lodged in your pump. A foreign object tends to jam the system. If the damage is extensive, you have no way out other than to replace the pump. If there is no damage, removing the object is enough to fix the problem.

Bad smell coming from the washer

Even if they are designed to clean clothes, they also get dirty, and when you don’t clean them early enough, they start smelling. The smell is also transferred to the clothes, and you end up having to rewash them.

To fix the problem, you simply need to wash the washing machine. Also, ask an experienced appliance repair Fairfax professional to look around for mold and mildew growth as you might be having a problem with excessive moisture.

Appliance Repair: Expert Tips On How To Deodorize Your Dishwasher

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The dishwasher is one of the most hardworking appliances in your home. Unfortunately, grease gunk and leftover food particles accumulate over time, leaving your appliance with a musty smell.

Has your appliance been having an awful smell you aren’t proud of? Many homeowners rush to the stores to buy expensive commercial deodorizers, but you shouldn’t do this as there are plenty of ways you can get rid of the smell without spending much.

Here are some of these ways as given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Clean the drain filter

Most dishwashers have a drain filter that prevents food particles from clogging the drain. If you go for a long time without cleaning your appliance, the drain filter is bound to produce awful smells.

To clean the filter, start with removing the filter from the floor of the dishwasher, then wash the filter in the kitchen sink with hot water and soap. To have an easy time reaching the interior surfaces, use a bottle brush if necessary.

After cleaning the filter, reinsert it back. It’s common to find the filter damaged. In such a case, replace it with a new one. Before you reinsert the drain filter, ensure that the drain is clear of food debris. If there are any remaining food particles, wipe them with a sponge.

Clean the insides of the dishwasher

When you go for a long time without cleaning the dishwasher, it’s common for grime to accumulate on the interior walls of the appliance.

Did you know a quick wipe down on the appliance can do wonders to the foul smell? Start with removing the upper and lower racks then run them under hot water in the kitchen sink.

Scrub the inside of the dishwasher with a rag or sponge dampened with hot water. While at it, pay attention to the door gasket, which might have collected mold and mildew.

If it’s months since you last cleaned the appliance, it’s normal to find a lot of accumulated grime that is hard to remove. In such a case, use kitchen-safe household cleaners that will make it easy to scrub out the filth.

Wipe the door gasket

The door gasket is the black rubber seal that lines the opening of the dishwasher. The gasket often has a magnetic strip on the inside that helps it to cling to the frame of the dishwasher to prevent water from leaking out during cycles.

In some cases, the food particles that get washed off the dishes during the cleaning cycle stick to the sides of the gasket. When you go for a long time without cleaning, the particles start producing an awful smell.

To get rid of the smell, wipe down the gasket with warm water. You also should inspect the gasket. If damaged or worn out, replace it so that the dishwasher can continue functioning optimally.

Clean the spray arm

When the spray arm gets clogged with food, the dishwasher doesn’t clean the plates, cups, or silverware as efficiently as you would want it to.

The clogged food also makes the dishwasher smelly. Just like with the other parts, you need to clean the spray arm to get rid of the smell. Start with removing the upper and lower spray arms. Holding the spray arm over the kitchen sink, remove any stray food particles using a cotton swab.

You should then run water through the spray arm to ensure that all the holes are clear. Once you are done with one arm, repeat the process on the second.

Clean out the garbage disposal

You might think that the garbage disposal has nothing to do with the dishwasher, but the same central hose connects the two.

So, sometimes you might think that the smell is coming from the dishwasher while it’s coming from the garbage disposal. To tell where the smell is coming from, disconnect the hose from the disposal.

Temporarily remove the hose, then clean it out using a stiff wire and a thin, damp cloth.

You should note that cleaning the garbage disposal is messy, so you should be prepared for it. If you aren’t ready for it, ask an appliance repair Northern VA professional to help you out.

Appliance Repair: 7 Ways To Keep Your Refrigerator Functioning Efficiently

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Refrigerators work hard to keep the food cold and safe. Unfortunately, many kitchen owners don’t do much to love them back. According to appliance repair professionals, this results in the appliances breaking down more often.

They also consume a lot of energy. Do you want your refrigerator to run efficiently? Put these tips into action:

Keep it away from hot appliances

It’s common to have ovens, dishwashers, and other heat-producing appliances at home. The heat produced by these appliances makes the refrigerator work harder to maintain its cool temperature. As you might guess, this leads to a high electricity bill.

To prevent the appliance from working too hard, put the fridge as far away from the heat-producing devices as much as possible. If you have a large kitchen, put the refrigerator at a designated area.

Fill it up

Some clueless homeowners have the notion that the refrigerator functions better with fewer items, but this isn’t the case. You should note that the more stuff the fridge has, the more efficient it runs.

If you don’t have a lot of food to store in the fridge, fill pitchers with tap water and place them in the excess spaces in the refrigerator.

Replace the rubber seal on the door

Also known as a gasket, the rubber seal protects the fridge from unwanted warm air from getting into the refrigerator. The opening and closing of the door wear out the gaskets, and it’s only a matter of time before you have to replace them.

When the rubber seal wears out completely, warm air from the outside enters the fridge, which triggers it to work even harder, which translates to high energy bills at the end of the month.

To keep warm air from entering the fridge, replace the worn-out rubber seals.

Clean it up

In addition to cleaning the insides of the appliance, you also should pay attention to the outside and especially the back of the unit. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and get rid of dirt and grime from the coils.

If you have a modern appliance, the coils will be behind the grille. Dust and vacuum the exposed coils. You also should clean the area where the refrigerator stays. The beauty of cleaning the fridge is that you don’t need to hire a professional to help you out. You can easily do it by yourself.

Keep the fridge closed

The longer you keep the fridge open, the more the hot air gets in which triggers the refrigerator to work too hard than it should. For you to prevent a lot of hot air from getting into the fridge, keep it closed most of the time.

Most people spend a lot of time on the fridge door when they can’t remember what they are looking for. For you to reduce the amount of time you keep the door open, know what you are precisely looking for.

This way, you will be sticking your hand straight into what you want and close the fridge door.

Cool off the leftovers

If you have leftover food, don’t put it straight into the fridge while still hot. This is because it can dramatically increase the refrigerator temperature, making the compressor work too hard to cool the refrigerator.

A simple act as letting the food cool down first can go a long way at taking the strain off the fridge. By cooling the food, you reduce the amount of heat you add to the interior of the appliance; hence it doesn’t work hard to cool the food.

To prevent residual heat from escaping from the appliance, store the food in protective wrapping or Tupperware before placing it in the refrigerator.

Keep the refrigerator organised

Keeping the fridge organized makes it easy for people to find things they are looking for; hence you spend less time on the door.

If your fridge is overstocked, get rid of the excess items. Have you placed large bread items, serving dishes, and food boxes on the top shelf? Remove them from there.

Refrigerator repair Springfield professionals report that large objects at the top of the fridge trap heat inside the unit, forcing the compressor to work harder than it should, which translates to a high energy bill.

To reduce your cooling costs, get rid of these items.

Commercial Appliance Repair: 6 Signs You Should Replace Your Dishwasher

commercial appliance repair

Due to the high costs of commercial dishwashers, many kitchen owners hold onto their dishwashing machines way longer than they should. What is the end result of this?

The machines keep on breaking down. The machines also consume a lot of energy which translates to high monthly energy bills.

For your dishwasher to continue functioning optimally and control the amount of energy the machine consumes, you should replace the appliance early enough. Here are signs as given by commercial appliance repair professionals you should look out for to tell when your machine is ready for replacement:

The machine is old

How old is your dishwasher? If it’s older than 10 years and keeps on breaking down, it’s time to think about replacing it.

Old appliances consume a lot of energy which sees you wasting a lot of money. Old appliances also keep on breaking down hence you spend a lot of money hiring appliance repair professionals to fix them.

To bring these issues to an end you simply need to replace your appliance. When buying the new unit, go for a high-quality one with a high energy rating.

The dishes no longer come out hot

If you are removing the dishes from the washer in a timely manner and they aren’t coming out steamy and toasty, your unit might be having issues with the heating coil. It’s the coil that gets the tap water super-hot so that it can sanitize the dishwashing load.

The heating coil is too pricy to fix or replace so you are better off getting a new machine.

You see rust

Once in awhile, you are recommended to swipe the floor under the dishwasher using a paper towel or light-colored cloth. If you come up with rust flakes, water might be getting into areas it shouldn’t. It also means you have a reason to worry.

The first thing you should do is to check inside the dishwasher. Is there rust there? If there is, confirm whether it’s coming from the dishes when they touch the tub during the last load. If that is the culprit, run an empty cycle with citric acid and you will clean the dishwasher and clear all the rust.

If the metal or plastic parts of the dishwasher have begun to corrode, be prepared for a bigger repair. If the dishwasher is old, you will be better off replacing it.

The door no longer locks

The dishwasher doesn’t run a wash cycle if the door isn’t securely latched. A properly latched door also ensures that water doesn’t leak out causing a mess.

Depending on the brand and model of your dishwasher, a door that isn’t locking might be a simple and inexpensive repair. If your appliance is new, the repair will be covered by a warranty so you won’t even pay a cent.

While this is the case, if your appliance is too old, chances are that you won’t find the necessary repair parts so you will be better off replacing the unit.

The dishwasher has begun to crack

The worst damage that can happen to your dishwasher is your appliance developing leaks that cause water damage in your kitchen. In addition to the leaks being expensive to repair, they also warp the cabinets and mold and mildew start growing in your house.

Cracks often happen in the interior tub. When you notice them, it’s a clear sign your dishwasher is old and it’s time to replace it.

When you notice huge cracks on your appliance, you should stop using your appliance and contact a repair professional to inspect it. If the crack is minor, the professional can fix it but if large, you have no way out other than to replace the entire unit.

The appliance no longer drains properly

If the cycle has completed and still you see water pooling at the bottom of the dishwasher, you have a reason to be worried. Confirm whether there is debris blocking the drain and preventing water from filtering out once the cycle is complete.

You can do the inspection by yourself or ask an experienced appliance repair Springfield professional to help you out.

If you don’t see anything, chances are that the drain itself has cracked or crumbled and you have to replace the unit.

5 Ways To Triple The Lifespan Of Your Refrigerator

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

A good quality refrigerator doesn’t come cheap; therefore, the last thing you want is having to buy a new appliance every few years. The good news is that there are several things you can do to extend the refrigerator’s life. Some of these things, as given by refrigerator repair professionals include:

Keep it clean

Everything begins here. Just like your car, your refrigerator won’t last for long if you don’t clean it regularly. Begin with the insides. At least once a month, clean the insides of the fridge with warm soapy water.

Is your refrigerator giving off bad smells? Get rid of them by placing a bowl filled with vinegar and lime on the inside. The purpose of the products is to absorb the bad smell.

You also should pay attention to the outsides of the refrigerator. The most common area that gets dirty is behind the appliance. To keep it clean, clean it 2-3 times a year. If you have pets, clean it more often.

The purpose of giving more attention to behind the fridge is because this is where coils are located. When the coils are dirty, they lead to inefficient cooling, which puts a lot of stress on the compressor that works harder than it should.

The best appliance to use to clean the coils is a vacuum cleaner.

It’s also common for the door seals to get dirty and greasy. If you haven’t cleaned them for a long time, use soapy water and clean piece of cloth to clean them.

Does your refrigerator have a drip pan? Clean it thorough every two weeks.

You also should defrost the refrigerator. Most of the modern fridges have an auto-defrost option, but if yours doesn’t, do it manually once every few months.

Don’t put hot foods in the refrigerator

While the refrigerator is meant to keep the foods cool, you shouldn’t put hot items in it. This is because the items make the fridge work too hard, which not only results in the appliance consuming a lot of energy, it also lowers its lifespan.

For you to give your refrigerator a long life, let the foods first cool down to the room temperature before putting it in the fridge.

Don’t overfill the refrigerator. Also, don’t let it run empty

When you allow the refrigerator to run empty, you save a lot of money on cooling, right? Wrong! Refrigerator experts report that an empty fridge wears out faster; hence, you should ensure there is always something in the refrigerator.

So even when you are leaving for vacation, have a few items in the fridge. For example, you can place water bottles in the fridge.

Just as you shouldn’t leave the fridge empty, you also shouldn’t overfill it. When you stock too many items in the refrigerator, you block smooth and efficient air circulation.

When air doesn’t circulate as well as it’s supposed to, the compressor works too hard which not only translates to high energy bills at the end of the month, it also reduces the lifespan of the appliance.

When storing items in the fridge, store items that allow air to flow freely without putting a lot of stress on the compressor.

Keep the refrigerator away from heat

Dishwashers, ovens, and other heat-producing appliances make the refrigerator compressor work harder than it should, so you spend a lot of money on the refrigerator and at the same time, shorten the lifespan of the appliance.

For your appliance to last for a long time, keep it in an area where it’s not exposed to high temperatures. This calls for you to keep it away from the appliances mentioned above. You also should ensure that it’s not exposed to direct sunlight.

When making the purchase, go for a fridge with a reflective surface as it will reflect heat.

Undertake regular inspections

Have you ever hired an appliance repair Fairfax professional to inspect your fridge? If you are like other homeowners, you haven’t, which is wrong. At least once a year, even if your appliance is functioning correctly, ask an appliance technician to inspect your fridge.

During the inspection, the professional will identify issues with the unit that you should fix before they get worse.

Washer Repair: Washing Machine Dos And Don’ts

Despite washing machines being around for a long time, homeowners do things that put the machines at the risk of getting damaged. Washer repair experts recommend that you be cautious of the things you do to your washing appliance. Here are a few washing machine dos and don’ts you should be cautious about:

Do read the tags

Washing machines have technologically made great leaps over the years, and they make cleaning easy and efficient. Unfortunately, despite the advances, they still can’t read tags and choose the right settings—you have to help them.

Before you put clothes in the washing machine, check the manufacturer’s instructions on the right settings. Failing to read and follow the tag can cause the fabric colors to bleed, the fabric to shrink, or even damage your entire laundry.

Do learn how to operate the washing machine

There are all types of washing machines that have different settings and set up methods. To ensure you don’t damage your laundry, learn how to set your washing machine. This way, you will know how to choose the right settings for the specific clothes you are looking to wash.

The cool thing is that all the information is on the manufacturer’s manual. Don’t be like the other homeowners that throw away the manual as soon as they get the machine. Go through the manual and understand all the bells and whistles of the machine.

Do zip the zippers

When you are in a hurry stuffing clothes in the washing machine, it’s common to forget about the zippers on the jeans and hoodies. When you put the zipped clothes in the same load as the delicate clothing, the zip can snug on the threads and pull at them.

To avoid this, always take a double check on all the zipped clothes and leave the zippers unzipped.

While you are at it, also take a look at the pockets. Do they have coins, markers, or any other foreign objects? Remove them if present.

When the foreign objects fall out of the pockets, they end up clogging the washer’s drain. This not only brings about a lot of inconvenience, but it also requires you to hire an expensive washer appliance repair company to fix the problem.

Don’t overload the machine

It can be tempting to want to clean all the clothes in one washer cycle. While this is possible when you have a small load, you have to do two or more cycles when you have a lot of clothes to clean.

Don’t put too many clothes than the machine can handle. For the machine to optimally clean the clothes, water should get around all the clothes.

When you overload the machine, water doesn’t have enough room to get around, hence you don’t give the clothes the clean look they deserve.

Overloading also puts the machine at the risk of getting damaged. The practice makes the motor work much harder than it should, which increases its likelihood of blowing up.

To avoid this, always double-check the maximum capacity of the washing machine. You also should make a habit of weighing the laundry bag before you put the clothes in the machine. When in doubt, clean the clothes in multiple loads.

Do clean the washing machine

Since washing machines do the cleaning work they don’t need to be cleaned, right? Wrong! Just like any other appliance in your home, you need to clean the washing machine regularly to keep it functioning efficiently. The practice also ensures the machine lasts for a long time.

When cleaning the machine, you pick up even the minor issues and fix them before they get worse.

To keep the appliance in pristine shape, clean it once a month. Clean the machine thoroughly both on the inside and outside.

Do level the machine

Does your washing appliance shake and rattle, or even worse, “walk” forward while in use? It means it’s not sitting level. In addition to destroying the floor and walls, an unleveled appliance also damages the internal mechanisms.

You don’t need to hire an appliance repair Northern VA professional to level the machine for you. Simply adjust the legs until they are even with the floor. Once done, gently lean on the machine to confirm the legs aren’t shifting around.

Oven Repair: 7 Tips To An Optimally Working Oven

oven repair

As a restaurant owner, the commercial oven is the heart of your business. Without proper oven maintenance, you will significantly reduce the efficiency and lifespan of the appliance. No matter the brand of commercial oven you own, you need to take good care of it. Here are tips given by oven repair professionals on how to go about it:

Have a strict cleaning schedule

Although, commercial ovens come with a cleaning feature, it’s not enough to keep the appliance in pristine condition—you still have to get your hands dirty. Come up with a strict cleaning schedule. Cleaning the appliance at the end of the day is a good start.

Create a cleaning duty plan for your employees. If the employees are new, teach them how to clean the appliance.

In addition to cleaning the appliance every day, it’s also beneficial to clean it at the end of every month. This is to help you catch the areas you might have missed in the daily routine. Of course, the monthly cleanings must be thorough than the daily ones.

If you come across areas that you are unsure how to clean, consult the manual or supplier.

Calibrate the buttons

Oven buttons are one of the most used parts of the oven. The constant “ON” and “OFF” movements throw the oven off balance. The continuous use also leads to loss of efficiency and even affects how the oven functions.

At least once a month, inspect the buttons and recalibrate them if not working as well as you would want them to.

Pay attention to the heating elements

The constant use of the oven affects the heating elements. Worn out parts influence the efficiency and performance of the stove. Inspect the components using a multimeter. A high reading means there is a problem with the heating element, while a low reading such as 100 ohms, says everything is running optimally.

Inspect the elements if you have the skills, but if you have never done it before, let an experienced expert handle it

Consider the intake fan

Convection ovens have intake fans that lead to severe oven problems if you don’t take good care of them. The presence of particulate matter in the stove is the most common cause of fan problems. At least once a month, inspect the intake fan and ensure that it’s clean. If dirty, clean it.

During the inspection, also be on the lookout for any defects the fan might be having. To keep the oven in pristine working condition, fix the fan problem immediately.

Recalibrate the thermostat

The thermostat controls the working temperature of the oven. When it has problems, it gives the wrong signal to the stove leading to an improperly-working appliance.

Keep a close eye on the thermostat. Compare the readings of the internal thermometer with the set temperature. If there is a discrepancy, recalibrate the unit.

If you have had your oven for a long time, the thermostat might have gotten old. In such a situation, recalibrating it won’t fix the problem—you have to replace it.

Get rid of spills and boil-overs immediately

Spills come about every day. While they might not look like a big deal, they significantly affect the performance of the oven, if you don’t clean them early enough. To keep your kitchen looking great and your appliance running in tip-top shape, get rid of the boil-overs as soon as they happen.

A good rule of thumb is always to have a moist piece of cloth in the kitchen. Use the towel to remove the spills immediately they happen.

Make use of the manual

Many people throw the manual in the trash bin as soon as they install the oven. Don’t do this as the manual has valuable information. Before you tend to any part of the appliance, commercial appliance repair Alexandria professionals recommend that you first consult the manual.

If you have an area you don’t understand, read what the manual has to say. It’s common to fail to get the information you are looking for. Contact the supplier and ask them about it. Don’t rush to make any adjustments on your own as you might cause more problems than were originally there.