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Why Does a Refrigerator Stop Getting Cold?

appliance repiar

A refrigerator that is not cooling has the potential to ruin your food and incur high energy costs. If left untreated, it may cause irreversible damage to your equipment.

According to the FDA, the recommended temperature for a refrigerator is 40°F or below, while a freezer’s temperature should be 0°F.

If you have turned on your appliance but it’s not cooling, this can be due to several issues. Some of the issues that might be causing this problem include:

The condenser coils are dirty

When the condenser coils on the rear of the refrigerator become dusty or coated with spiderwebs, the device cannot cool effectively. According to appliance repair professionals, one of the simplest maintenance tasks you can perform on your refrigerator is to remove it and clean the condenser coils at least once every six months.

To remove the condenser, unlatch the anti-tip brackets on the cabinet’s exterior bottom front. You should then slide the refrigerator out carefully and clean the coils using a hand attachment from a vacuum cleaner.

When doing it, be careful not to bend or damage the coils.

If you have pets, consider pulling out the refrigerator and cleaning the coils more often, as plenty of fur is lying around.

The fridge isn’t plugged in.

While it may appear obvious, one of the most ignored troubleshooting procedures when diagnosing a faulty refrigerator is to ensure it is correctly plugged in, especially if you are returning after a vacation or lengthy absence.

To fix this, you should check the electrical outlet and ensure the refrigerator is properly plugged in.

Replace the damaged power cord with a new one to guarantee a secure and effective connection.

Also, ensure that the circuit breaker linked with the refrigerator is not tripped, as a tripped breaker can disrupt power flow.

Door gaskets are dirty.

The flexible door seals (gaskets) might get dirty over time due to food or fingerprints, preventing the door from properly sealing. To fix this problem, clean the gaskets with a sponge and warm soapy water.

Also, clean off the areas of the fridge where the gaskets meet.

You should avoid using abrasive cleansers, brushes, scouring pads, flammable substances, or window cleaning sprays, as they can harm the appliance, and you don’t want this.

The thermostat is broken.

When you have this problem, the fridge will be reasonably cool and operational but not as cold as you would want.

Your refrigerator has a thermostat that may be turned up or down to suit your preferences.

Check the thermostat to ensure it wasn’t unintentionally turned down, resulting in a tepid fridge that consumes all the electricity. If your thermostat stops working, you should get a replacement.

There is no power getting into the fridge.

When you open the fridge door, and no light comes on, no power is entering your fridge.

This may sound simple, but make sure the refrigerator is plugged in. And if it is, make sure it is receiving power.

Sometimes, the problem is this easy, so don’t ignore it. Perhaps you bumped the fridge while cleaning, and it came unplugged. If it is plugged in, the outlet may have a problem.

You can look at it by yourself or ask a professional to give it a look.

Food items are blocking the air vents.

Most refrigerators receive chilly air from vents in the freezer area, regardless of where the freezer is located.

Unfortunately, food items inside the refrigerator part of the appliance may be preventing the cold air vent from allowing cold air to pass through.

To fix this problem, find the bulky boxes or bags that may have been accidentally placed in front of the vents, preventing cool air from entering the unit.

Pull those items aside or move them to a different shelf.

You also should check if there is any ice blocking the vent. If so, gently chip it away while checking the device’s temperature.

The fridge doesn’t have enough food items.

Mass (food) in the refrigerator contributes to its cooling. Understocked refrigerators can have temperature difficulties and must work harder to maintain cool temperatures. On the other hand, well-stocked (but not overstocked) refrigerators contain enough mass to maintain cool temperatures.

You should keep your refrigerator roughly three-quarters full of food and liquids to ensure proper air circulation.

You should place a couple of water pitchers in the refrigerator’s empty corners to help it stay chilly.

Do not overfill your fridge because products require air movement to remain properly cold.

The evaporator fan is frozen.

When you are having this problem, you may hear a screaming sound that becomes louder when you open the freezer door.

The evaporator fan is normally situated at the back of the freezer, alongside the evaporator coils, and circulates air as the coils work to remove heat.

To access the fan, unplug the refrigerator and remove the cover inside the freezer, just like you did with the evaporator coils. If it is covered in frost, you must remove and defrost it.

You have placed the fridge in a cold area.

Where you place your refrigerator in a warm or cold environment, such as outside or in a garage, you might impact its cooling ability.

A too-cold garage will confuse the fridge and prevent it from cooling its contents. If the garage is too hot, the refrigerator will work overtime to chill the interior.

Even if the fridge is in good working condition, hot appliances near it, such as dishwashers, stoves, or ovens, can interfere with its cooling.

You should put a heat-insulating material on the refrigerator wall to shield the fridge from the stove’s heat.

When cooking, use your kitchen fan to keep the temperature down.

To keep the refrigerator separate from other hot appliances, refrigerator repair Springfield technicians recommend that you surround it with a bespoke enclosure. This is also a solution for a fridge in a garage with high temperatures.

Common Appliance Problems and How to Deal with Them

Appliances break down every time, and the problems range from minor issues to complex ones. There are different ways of dealing with these problems. Some of the problems are minor, and you can have them fixed with the help of an appliance repair professional, while others require you to replace the entire unit.

To help you out, here are some of the common appliance problems and how to deal with them:

The freezer not maintaining the correct temperature

This could indicate a problem with the door seal. Check for tears, warping in the corners, and even areas where the seal has hardened. You can replace it yourself.

Sometimes it’s as simple as removing the old one, but you may need to unscrew several screws that hold it in place. New seals are available online at a small cost.

The problem could also be with your refrigerator’s thermostat, which is located behind the temperature dial. You can replace this with a few home DIY tools.

If your fridge-freezer has front-mounted digital controls, this is a significantly more complicated problem to repair and should be done by a professional.

Your freezer drawers might also break. Thankfully, you can buy new drawers and replace the unit. It is simply a matter of purchasing the appropriate part for the model you have.

When doing it, be aware that manufacturers sometimes charge a high price for them, so look around to see if you can obtain the one you want for less elsewhere.

Water leaking from the bottom of the fridge.

This could be caused by a clogged drain hole. Water condenses at the rear of the fridge, where it is colder, and runs down into the drain hole.

Dust, grime, and food waste frequently become stuck within, but you can quickly clean it using a small straw, a piece of wire, or a cotton bud.

If this does not work, consider purchasing a special drain hole cleaning tool. A skilled repairer may also use a steam cleaner to go further into the pipe.

If the defect causes your fridge to be written off, you have no other way out other than to get a new unit.

Faulty battery in your vacuum cleaner

All lithium-ion batteries lose capacity with time, although you can easily replace them. A cordless vacuum can only be considered a good buy if its battery is changeable. The bad news is that they can be pricey.

If the battery is not changeable, you don’t have another way out other than to replace the entire vacuum cleaner.

If the battery is replaceable, go ahead and install a new one. You should charge your battery only with the official charger and keep it away from heat to extend its life. Try not to drain the battery entirely. Frequent short charges are preferable for keeping it healthy.

To avoid being left holding a unit that will be cumbersome to own, take your time when making the purchase. As a rule of thumb, only buy a vacuum cleaner with a replaceable battery.

The dishwasher failing to drain as well as it should

The most common culprit is a blocked filter or pump, which you should be able to fix on your own. The pump is found under the filter.

You will need to remove the top and wash the inside. If this does not solve the problem, examine the drain tube at the back of the machine for blockages.

Besides your unit failing to drain as well as it should, it also might have a faulty seal. If your dishwasher leaks slightly, you have a broken door seal. Thankfully, a replacement seal comes cheap.

Another common problem with dishwashers is a faulty electrical system. Professional repairs for electrical issues don’t come cheap, therefore, it may not be worthwhile to fix older or less expensive models. Request a quote from an engineer before deciding on whether to fix your unit or not.

Burners not working in the hob.

If your gas burner does not ignite, it is likely that the spark is not working correctly. If it doesn’t stay lit, it’s because of the thermocouple. Replacing this is a job best left to professionals.

Faults on electric hobs, whether ceramic or induction, are far more difficult to diagnose. Your best bet is to contact an expert or get a replacement.

The touch controls might also fail to work. Problems with the controls will most likely be attributed to the circuit board (PCB), which is hidden beneath the glass surface.

You will need to get a professional quote to replace this. It’s complicated and expensive, so you might be better off replacing the entire unit.

The dishwasher is wobbly and noisy.

Almost all current washing machine drums are sealed shut, so you can’t disassemble them to replace the bearings (the most common source of issues).

This implies you’ll need to replace the entire drum, which is a costly and demanding repair best left to professionals.

You may be better off purchasing a new model because of the high cost. Obviously, you should request a quote before making a selection.

Your dishwasher might also fail to empty the water as well as it should. If your washing machine isn’t draining water properly, take a look at the filter behind the door lock.

Try to clear it out. If that doesn’t work, simply replace it. If it does not solve the problem, the drain pump is most likely the culprit. It is difficult to replace yourself and is not for the faint of heart, so you should hire an expert to help you out.

Parting shot

These are some of the common issues you can have with your appliances. You can fix the unit by yourself, but if the problems are too complex, let an experienced commercial appliance repair Northern VA professional help you out.

As mentioned, always weigh your options and find out whether fixing the problem is worth the cost or if you should simply get a new unit.

Tricks to Make Your Dishwasher Function Optimally

When you purchase a dishwasher, you want it to function at its best, right? And it’s possible with these tricks given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Properly prepare the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher

You can do several things to prepare your dishwasher for proper functioning. These things include:

Secure all plastics. If you don’t, water blasts may force them to roll over and fill with water, or worse, fall into an exposed heating element (if your model has one) and melt them.  You don’t want this, do you?

Never stack items. The water spray will be unable to reach (or clean) the dish sitting on top. Remember that if water cannot reach the dishes, it will not be cleaned.

Always keep stainless steel and silver (or silver-plated) cutlery separate. If the two types come into contact in the wash, a reaction can occur, causing the silver to pit.

If you have not used your dishwasher in a while, turn on the hot water tap. Run it at the nearest sink to guarantee that hot water reaches your dishwasher.

Be cautious what you put in the dishwasher. Items made of wood, such as cutting boards and spoons, cast Iron, valuable carving tools (such as chef’s knives), jars, or containers with glued-on labels, as bits of the labels may fall off and become caught in the filter, and they don’t belong in the dishwasher.

Don’t pre-rinse the dishes.

You should avoid washing your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. This is because modern detergent is engineered to adhere to the remaining food and clean the dishes properly.

While this is the case, it doesn’t imply you should put your plate in the dishwasher with a half-eaten sandwich on it—unless you want a mushy mess.

Instead, you should scrape large objects off your plate—into the trash or garbage disposal—and place the dish in without rinsing it.

This will not only clean your dishes, but also preserve them in good shape. If no food is adhered to, the detergent may gradually damage your dishware, carving little scratches and pits into the surface.

You also waste water—up to 27 gallons each load, compared to the three to six gallons used by a normal Energy Star-rated dishwasher.

There are certain exceptions to this, of course. With difficult foods such as eggs and oats, dishwashers can’t always perform the job perfectly on the first try.

If you have a casserole dish with very burned-on food residue, it probably makes sense to soak it a little before putting it in your dishwasher.

Place the cookware on the right rack.

You must place the right items on the rack for the best outcome. To help you out, here is a guide to follow:

Plates: Plates belong at the bottom. Lay them so that the dirty side faces the area where the water spray is heaviest, which is normally in the center of the rack. To achieve the best cleaning results, angle pots, pans, and casseroles down.

Place flat pans and platters on the bottom, snuggled along the sides and rear of the rack. Never set them in front of the door; they may prevent the dispenser from opening and the detergent from reaching the dishes.

Store utensils in the basket or lined neatly on the flatware tray. If you’re using a basket, make sure spoons don’t nest together, so arrange some handles higher, and others lower to ensure all surfaces are cleaned.

Forks go up to clean the tines, while knives should be positioned with the blade down for safety. When unloading, grip utensils by their handles to keep them clean.

Glasses and cups: These belong on the top rack. Remember to place glasses between the tines, never on top. The tip of the prong can leave a watermark, and glasses jammed between two tines can fracture.

Angle the cups as much as the rack design allows to prevent water from gathering at the base of the upside-down cups.

Still, got puddles? Unload the lowest rack first to prevent drip-down. And place the wine glasses with care.

To minimize breakage, keep them from bumping into each other or the dishwasher’s top, and ensure they sit securely in the rack. Thankfully, most modern dishwashers include unique stemware holders to keep glassware stable.

Use the proper cycle for the job.

You should be cautious of the cycle you use on your dishwasher. The rapid cycle may be okay if you’re pre-rinsing your dishes, but it wastes more water and time than simply letting the dishwasher do the work.

The shorter cycle is intended for dishes with light soil or those that have recently been soiled. For example, if you have freshly purchased crockery and want it washed for the first time.

Or perhaps you and your companion sit down to dinner and want the dishes cleaned.

For regular loads, you should use the usual cycle.

That is, unless your new dishwasher includes an automatic cycle. The autocycle is intended for a daily mixed load. That’s where the machine’s intelligence comes into play: it analyzes the soil level, recognizes anything left in there, and modifies the cycle accordingly.

If your dishwasher has the intelligence to run an auto cycle efficiently, you can use it for most loads, except for exceptional cases like pots and pans or baby bottles that require the sanitary cycle.

Keep the food trap clean.

Many people don’t know that the dishwasher needs cleaning and maintenance. One area you should pay attention to is the food trap.

It’s in the dishwasher’s base and smells terrible, so people avoid taking it out and messing with it. Depending on how frequently you use your dishwasher, you should clean the trap once every three to six months.

The beauty is that it’s easy to clean even by yourself without involving the services of appliance repair Alexandria professionals.

Home Appliance Best Practises

Would you like to keep your home appliances in top condition most of the time? Here are tips given by appliance repair professionals that will help you do that:

Don’t pre-rinse your dishes. Let the dishwasher run.

It’s time to forget everything your parents taught you about cleaning up after dinner. One of the hardest habits to break for most people growing up in the 1970s and 1980s is not to fully rinse off dishes.

For most people growing up at the time, mothers’ dishes were spotless by the time they went into the dishwasher. This was often because the dishwashers at that time weren’t as efficient as they are now.

Washers today are highly effective and use just a little water.

How little? Three and a half gallons or less is enough

Modern dishwashers are capable of removing dried food off plates, so you can wait until the machine is full before running it. Scraping is sufficient. You don’t need to pre-rinse the dishes. Simply make room for water sprayers to reach each dish.

What if there are only a few dishes to wash? You might have the impression that doing them by hand is less wasteful, but data suggests otherwise, even if you run a half-empty dishwasher.

A peer-reviewed study sponsored by Whirlpool on the amount of water and energy required to wash dishes by hand or machine found that running the tap to wash a plate, cup, bowl, cutlery, and some service items) used approximately 3 gallons.

That indicates that operating the dishwasher for only two people uses less water than washing dishes in the sink, providing no pre-rinsing is done.

Dishwashers produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of hand-washing dishes, owing mostly to the fact that they heat less water.

At full capacity, a dishwasher uses less than half a gallon in each setting.

The only way to fight this by hand is to wash and rinse in two basins instead of letting the water run, as most people do.

Unfortunately, this will not save you time. The EPA estimates that hand-washing a household’s dishes for a year takes around 230 hours, similar to a 10-day vacation.

How do the appliances do this? Dishwashers’ light sensors monitor the cloudiness of the water as it drains and regulate the water to guarantee the dishes are clean without wasting it. The whole point is that the appliances do the hard work for you.

Set the refrigerator thermostat and forget about it

The refrigerator was long considered the most energy-hungry appliance in the family home. Today, it is among the most cost-effective.

According to a 2010 World Economic Forum research, refrigerators’ energy consumption has fallen by three-fourths since 1972, despite their increased internal volume. Those stats appear even better today, thanks to improved compressors, coolants, and insulation.

Even with this information, many individuals ignore manufacturer guidelines and set temperatures too low. You should note that colder isn’t necessarily better.

Decades of advancements in insulation, air sealing, and ventilation ensure that suggested temperatures — often between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit can store food the longest without wasting energy or causing frostbite.

Simply set the right temperature and organize your food such that it is easy to find and difficult to forget.

The largest mistake you can make is storing refrigerators past their expiration dates. If you have an old model in your (hot) garage or basement, especially if you’re one of the people with a second refrigerator, get rid of it.

In most cases, you pay more for electricity than you could save by updating it.

Invest in a smart thermostat.

You may have heard that setting your thermostat to a specific temperature reduces heating and cooling costs. It does not, especially if you have to keep changing the settings.

Installing smart thermostats that learn your tastes and behaviors allows you to set an effective heating and cooling schedule while saving money each year.

The smart thermostats employ home WiFi, smartphone apps, or motion sensors to detect when people are home and modify temperatures accordingly, as well as during the day.

Homes with heat pumps are an exception. Modern high-performance heat pumps perform best while maintaining a consistently comfortable temperature and are less efficient when attempting to heat a cold environment.

They can provide energy savings without requiring thermostat adjustments in the evening or when you get up. Don’t touch the thermostat when you have a heat pump in your home.

Replace the old appliances.

If your machine is 15 or 20 years old, replacing it will save you money and reduce emissions. Even today’s low-cost dishwashers outperform high-end appliances from a decade ago.

Pushing appliances beyond their projected lifetime only delays their replacement, wasting money and energy.

While this is the case, manufacturers say that we may be entering an era in which appliances reach their peak efficiency. At that point, we’ll rely on software updates rather than new hardware to enhance things.

Appliances are getting about as efficient as they can be. There are projections that it will get to the point where manufacturers will be helping consumers prolong the life of their products.

While this is a probability, we are yet to get there. If your appliance is old, you should simply replace it. A telltale sign that your unit is old is if it consumes too much energy.

You should also consider replacing your unit if it keeps breaking down, and you have to keep hiring commercial appliance repair Alexandria professionals.

When buying a new unit, get a high-quality one that will withstand the test of time. The appliance should have a high energy rating which gives you peace of mind that it won’t hike your energy bills.

Things You Might Be Doing Wrong to Your Oven

For your oven to continue functioning properly and avoid hiring oven repair professionals every now and then, you need to treat it right. Unfortunately, many homeowners make plenty of mistakes without even knowing. To help you out, here are some of the things you might be doing wrong to your appliance that might be ruining it:

Overloading the unit

Attempting to cook too many things at once reduces your oven’s overall performance and raises the chance of a fire resulting in your home.

If the racks are crammed all the time, the heated air can’t circulate freely. As a result, the unit doesn’t function as properly as it should. What’s the solution? Stagger cooking periods. This means that you should cook your food at different times. Don’t cook all the food at the same time.

To get rid of the need to warm the food, make it a habit to cover the food items with a lid or foil. This will keep them warm on the cooktop and you won’t need to warm them.

Placing a foil at the bottom of the oven

You might have come across information that placing a foil at the bottom of your oven will make future cleaning easier, but this isn’t the case. In fact, it can actually block airflow and interfere with the heating element, causing oven failure or necessitating recalibration, which, as you can tell, means that you have to spend more money on the unit.

Instead of placing a foil at the bottom, simply clean your oven on a regular basis (such as weekly wipe-downs with a damp washcloth) to keep the inside sparkling clean.

Ignoring the rust on the racks

It’s normal for the racks on your oven to develop rust over time. This rust not only poses danger to your baking dishes, but the rust can chip off, increasing the risk of your racks catching fire.

Unfortunately, many homeowners ignore this as they think that the rust is harmless. This is wrong. When you spot rust on your unit, clean it using a nonabrasive scouring pad and a solution of soapy water and vinegar.

This will soften the rusty flakes and prolong the life of your oven racks.

Failing to treat the door with the care it deserves

Occasionally, when cleaning the door, homeowners get overly enthusiastic and vigorously scrub the glass, damaging it. This is worsened when they use hard materials instead of soft items such as a sponge, for removing the grime.

Scrubbing, slamming the oven door accidentally when your hands are full, and using the door to temporarily store hot pots before placing them on the kitchen table can all contribute to the formation of micro-fissures in the glass, which may eventually cause it to break or even explode.

To avoid all this, handle your oven door gently. If you notice a problem with it, regardless of how minor it is, fix it immediately. You can work with professionals, or if the problem is minor, you can do it yourself.

Spraying the knobs with a cleaner

The act of immediately misting home cleaner on the controls is one of the most crucial habits to eradicate. The liquid could easily get behind the knobs and switches and short out the control panel. To avoid shorting, use a rag sprayed with liquid cleaning and rub the controls.

Failing to clean the oven when you are supposed to

The heat sources in the oven may not be able to fully preheat the oven due to dirt accumulation. In addition to making your oven work more than necessary, this could result in undercooked food.

To avoid this, you should regularly clean off the burned-on foods from the racks, floor and walls. This will save you the hassle of having to unblock the heating elements and allow them to run efficiently.

To be on the safe side, make it a habit to clean your oven at least twice a month. If there are spills in the oven, move with haste and get rid of them as soon as possible. Don’t let them sit there for too long than they should.

Overrelying on the self-cleaning feature

Though useful, you shouldn’t use the self-cleaning feature in place of routine cleaning. You also shouldn’t use it on highly filthy ovens.

Out of laziness or busy schedules, homeowners procrastinate the cleaning of their ovens. Many opt for the self-cleaning option, only to realize it’s too late.

You can see smoke during the self-cleaning procedure if the dirt and residue have been accumulating for some time. A fire may even break out in such a situation.

Furthermore, the self-cleaning function is taxing on your appliance because it heats the oven to 500–600 degrees for two hours. This not only reduces the life of the appliance but also leaves you with a huge energy bill.

As a general rule of thumb, you should minimize the frequency of use of the self-cleaning feature. And when doing it, ensure that you are doing it right by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

To be on the safe side, use this feature once or twice a year. Don’t use it whenever you want to clean the oven, as it will most likely lead to more harm than good.

Leaving the racks on during self-cleaning

One common mistake many users of the self-cleaning feature make is failing to take out the oven racks before starting the cycle.

Because residue tends to build up on the racks during regular oven use, removing them beforehand helps extend the life of your racks and possibly assist to lessen the strong chemical scent when utilizing the self-cleaning feature. Unfortunately, many homeowners forget to remove them.

Removing the metal racks from the oven completely and soaking them in hot water with a small amount of dishwasher detergent is the most effective way to clean them.

After letting them soak for two hours, use a stiff brush to clean the racks; make sure to rinse and dry them before putting them back in the oven.

Failing to install surge protectors

If you haven’t installed a surge protector, a thunderstorm or lightning strike poses a serious risk to the operation of your electric oven.

To protect it—or any other appliance from extreme weather and excess voltage, have a surge protector in place during the installation of the device.

This will keep your unit in top shape and you won’t need to hire an appliance repair Alexandria professional to fix it for you.

Tricks to Prevent Scratches On Your Glass Stove and Instead Keep It as Good as New

Installing a new glass stove top and seeing it sparkling and in perfect shape is a terrific sensation. Sadly, this look will not last with regular use unless you take tremendous care of the unit.

Before you realize it, spills will burn onto the surface, and scratches will accumulate in the burner rings.

To avoid this problem, cooktop repair professionals advise that you must be able to do more than just clean a glass stove. The good news is that you can make changes to avoid future scratches and blemishes.

To help you out, here are the best ways to maintain your glass stove and keep it looking like new.

Use the right cookware.

You need to use the right cookware for your stove. This refers to the material of the pan’s base, which ideally should be stainless steel.

Because of its flat surface, stainless steel is ideal for use on glass stovetops and has enough weight to keep it steady when cooking.

This is not to claim that switching to stainless steel will prevent stove top scratches, but it will be gentler on the surface.

Be cautious when handling the pans.

First and foremost, never drag your pans across the glass surface when cooking; instead, always raise them.

Most people ignore this cardinal rule when they shake and combine the cooking ingredients. You should know this is the primary reason your burners have zig-zag scratches and are all pointing similarly.

Even if you’re using a lightweight pan, the base will scratch and pit the surface as it drags, so avoid it. Be cautious when gently lowering your pans onto the stove. You should note that slamming them down can scratch or even fracture the glass. You don’t want this, do you?

Keep the bottom of your pans clean.

Many people overlook the bottom of their pans when cleaning them. This is wrong. Stains on the underside are often baked in and impossible to remove. Second, many believe that since the food isn’t contacting it, it doesn’t matter. Actually, it does.

If your pan has stains and residue baked into the base, it will be much simpler to scratch and damage the stove’s glass surface.

In extreme cases, it will impede your skillet from transferring the heat evenly while food cooks. It can also generate unpleasant scents as it heats.

To clean the base of a pan, apply a baking soda paste and water across the surface. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing it away with a non-abrasive sponge or old toothbrush.

Clean the stove regularly.

Get into the practice of cleaning your stove top after each usage. Of course, you should do this once it has cooled down. Wiping down the surface immediately removes any spills or crumbs that may bake-on or catch under your cookware, causing more scratches.

Remember to clean your stovetop as needed thoroughly. For general guidance, do this once a month; however, if you notice burn marks emerging around the elements, it’s time for a cleaning.

Keeping your stovetop clean will extend its life, but only clean it after it has cooled.

Be cautious of cast iron cookware.

Cast iron deserves special mention because while it is an incredible material for cooking, it is incredibly heavy and may damage glass stove tops significantly.

Take particular caution while laying your cast iron cookware on the surface, and avoid dragging it over the glass – the weight will increase the likelihood of significant scratches.

Get a stovetop cover.

There are stove top covers available in the market that you can use to protect the surface when not in use. These are also useful if you have limited countertop space because the top of the stove can then act as an additional room.

Some mats are safe to cook directly on if you have an induction glass stove. These mats decrease scratching and heat exposure from the pan to the glass surface, allowing the stove to last longer.

Keep in mind that these mats should not be used on a conventional electric glass cooktop since these surfaces heat up far faster than induction, which would burn most mats. Consult the manufacturer for help and guidance on how to use them.

Are there pans that can’t scratch the stovetop?

The unfortunate truth is that any pan can scratch your glass cooktop. You may avoid scratches by choosing a style with a smooth base, such as stainless steel, but you should still be cautious when using it.

Enameled or ceramic pans have a particularly smooth finish that helps prevent scratching. However, how you utilize the pan is as crucial.

Never drag it across the surface; instead, lift it and softly settle. Also, wipe the underside regularly to prevent residue from burning to the base and harming your stove.

Consider the weight of your kitchenware as well. A weighty item, such as a larger work or one of the greatest cast iron skillets, might scratch more easily due to its weight. These can crack the surface when not handled properly, so proceed cautiously.

What should you do when the stove scratches?

Your glass stove top should still function normally with minor scratches. Still, if it is chipped or cracked, you should stop using it and contact an appliance repair Springfield professional to replace it.

If you want to reduce the look of the scratches, try cleaning the surface completely as recommended by the manufacturer, or follow the above instructions for cleaning a glass stove if none are provided.

Many marks are charred residue, and a scraping tool can help significantly. Carefully scrape off the marks, and you are good to go.

When hiring a professional to replace the unit, take your time and hire an experienced one who knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is someone who does a shoddy job, and you must repeat it.

Glass Cooking Top Cleaning Best Practices

Ceramic glass top stoves are sleek, minimalist, and costly but rapidly become discolored with spills and grease. And if they are not properly cleaned, the damage might be permanent. Unlike regular stovetops, these stovetops feature hidden burners that are only visible when heated and become red.

There is no doubting the aesthetic attractiveness of glass top stoves, but they, like luxury cars, must be handled with caution. As a rule of thumb, properly clean the surfaces.

To help you out, here are cooktop best practices to ensure that your surfaces remain as straightforward as possible.

Don’t let the cooktops remain dirty for too long.

A clean glass top stove is lovely, but its flawless appearance rarely lasts long. After use, water stains, oil drips, or dried food globs are always present.

Unfortunately, according to cooktops repair professionals, even little spatters are visible due to the surface’s dark and lustrous appearance. And if you continue to use it without cleaning the surface, the muck will accumulate, heat up, and cool down, making it much more difficult to remove, and the crustiness may leave scratches when you wipe it off.

Leaving food stains on a glass-top stove impacts its cooking performance. Messes like these form barriers on top of the surface, affecting how heat is transported to cooking pots and pans. As a result, your food may cook unevenly.

Grease stains can potentially catch fire if not handled properly. Most people don’t have time to clean a glass top stove right after meals, but try to do it as soon as possible. Being careful about this can help extend the life of the glass top stove, which is expensive to replace.

Always wait for the cooktops to cool down before cleaning them

Glass top stoves feature heat indicators to alert you that they are still hot. You should look out for a little, additional light near the knobs or touchpad. If the light is on, you should avoid touching the cooktop.

Attempting to clean it before the surface has cooled may result in burns and even fires (if you use a cloth or towel). Although we indicated that removing crusted-on food from a glass-topped burner is more difficult, you must still wait until it is safe.

Even if you don’t feel the heat or see the burners ignite through the glass top, the entire surface might be extremely hot.

Unwanted fumes are another reason to hold off. If you apply a cleaning product on a still-hot stove top (hot vinegar smells incredibly unpleasant), the product evaporates and becomes less effective.

If you wish to speed up the cooling process, use a fan or open the window. Do not touch the surface until the indicator light turns off. If yours does not have one, consult the manufacturer’s instructions to determine how long you should wait.

Don’t use abrasive cleaning products.

Don’t use abrasive cleaning products as much as you want to keep your surfaces clean.

Abrasive cleaning products, such as steel wool pads, are effective for cleaning pots and pans but should never be used on a glass-topped stove. This is because glass may be scratched by anything tougher than it, even steel.

Steel wool pads are made of bundled fine metal wires (steel is a type of metal) with abrasive edges, available with or without cleaning chemicals; steel wool is sometimes used instead of sandpaper.

Should you use that to clean your glass-topped stove? It’s not wise to do it.

Don’t throw away your steel wool pads; you can still use them at your sink or workbench. They’re also useful for blocking up openings where mice and other pests try to enter.

Since it is too abrasive, you should avoid steel wool when cleaning stainless steel, plastic, and non-stick coatings. Do yourself a favor and keep those pads and other scouring pads away from the glass-top stove so no one accidentally grabs one.

The same rules apply to scrub brushes and abrasive scrubbing pads. You might think these are ideal for removing cooked-on gunk off glass stovetops, but they can also leave visible scratches.

Use the recommended cleaning products.

Now that you know that glass top stoves cannot accept abrasive cleaning materials and tools, what are your options? A few companies make solutions designed to clean these delicate surfaces, which you may purchase in stores or online.

To be safe, use non-abrasive stovetop cleaning products containing feldspar, quartz, and citric acid. When handling such products, use a cloth and keep your hands away from your eyes.

To use the product, scrape any dried or burnt-on food debris with the scraper before wiping down the surface with a soft towel. Next, apply the cleanser to the scrubbing pad and remove the stains.

Use the product once per month or as needed for the best outcome. You should use a clean, dry cloth instead of a pad to buff the surface to a good shine.

Don’t use a glass cleaner.

Glass cleaning products might be an excellent choice for ceramic glass top stoves and cooktops, but they may contain harsh chemicals and create stains. If you use them too frequently, they may cause permanent discoloration.

Glass cleaners contain surfactants such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide and 2-phenoxyethanol, as well as isopropanolamine (a solvent), fragrance, and colors. These products could induce discoloration on glass stovetops, so avoid them.

Use vinegar

Vinegar is a well-known cleaning agent, so have a large quantity in your home. In the kitchen, you can use it to clean and disinfect cutting boards, floors, and counters and polish your glass cooktop.

You can use it straight from a spray bottle or diluted with water. You can also mix it with a drop of baking soda or dish soap.

The best way to clean a glass cooktop is to spritz it with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. Spray it over the surface, then wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth.

Vinegar is acidic, so it dissolves filth and dirt. According to appliance repair Northern VA professionals, using vinegar reduces accumulation, and you have an easy time cleaning the surfaces.

How to Get Rid of Fridge Smells

If you have a smelly fridge, you should work on getting rid of the smells as soon as possible. This is because the smells make storing your food in the refrigerator undesirable. Sometimes, the smells are too strong that your kitchen is unlivable.

To make your kitchen more comfortable and fun, you need to get rid of these smells. To help you out, here is how to go about it:

Wipe down the fridge

To keep the refrigerator odor-free, clean it regularly by wiping all inner surfaces with a moist cloth.

You should then dry it well with a soft cloth. Clean the outside using a washing-up liquid solution, wiping down any metal parts with a damp cloth. For the best outcome, use a general-purpose e-cloth.

You can do all the wiping yourself without hiring a refrigerator repair professional.

Get rid of the spoiled food.

Spoiled food is the primary cause of a smelly fridge, so you should eliminate it. And there is no magic to it. You simply need to reach the insides of the refrigerator and remove any spoiled or expired products.

To be safe, remove all the materials and only return what is expired.

Use baking soda

You should place an open box of baking soda or a small cup of baking soda on the refrigerator’s shelf. This will help to remove unpleasant odors by absorbing them. You should replace this box every 1-2 months for optimal results.

Use coffee grounds

Like baking soda, coffee grounds will also absorb the smells. You should place a bowl of freshly ground coffee in the refrigerator. The coffee grinds will absorb and hide odors. To keep your fridge smelling fresh, replace the grounds every several days.

Make use of vanilla.

Here, you need to soak a cotton ball or piece of cloth in vanilla extract and refrigerate. Vanilla has a perfume that will disguise other odors.

Mask the smells using citrus peels.

You need to soak a cotton ball or piece of cloth in vanilla extract and chill. Vanilla has a pleasant aroma that can mask the odors.

Tricks to keep your fridge smelling fresh

Prevention is always better than cure. Instead of working hard to restore your fridge smelling good, you should keep it fresh all the time, negating the need to use smell-killing materials.

Some of the things you need to do to achieve this include:

Make use of the humidity controls

You need to keep your food fresher for longer by storing it in the ‘crisper’ drawer, a dedicated section where you can manage the internal moisture level.

Most of the modern humidity drawers have two settings: you should place farmers’ products, such as fruits and leafy greens, in the high-humidity drawer, while poultry and fish are best stored in a low-moisture environment to avoid condensation and bacteria from forming.

Use airtight containers

The thrifty will be familiar with keeping leftovers to reduce food waste. The rookie mistake you can make is putting leftovers in a bowl with clingfilm or tin foil on top (tin foil is the worst because it makes it difficult to see what food is inside!)

Using airtight containers will keep the food fresher for longer and prevent any unpleasant odors from escaping if you mistakenly leave it in the fridge past its prime.

Be organized

So, you have your airtight containers, but do you recall when you put the leftover lasagne in the fridge? Labeling and dating your leftovers will not only keep you from getting food illness but also keep the food from spoiling.

This is because you can tell when the food will get spoiled and remove it.

When labeling the food, do it in an open area where everyone can see it. You also should write the dates in bold, big letters so that someone doesn’t have to fish for them.

Keep your shelves clean.

You need to clean any movable portions of the refrigerator, such as the shelves and drawers. Thankfully, most modern fridges simplify this by providing easy access to glass shelves and drawers you can easily remove.

All you have to do is soak them in warm, soapy water for a few minutes before using a kitchen sponge to remove stains. Allow the shelves to air-dry completely as you thoroughly clean the refrigerator.

Make it a habit to remove spills immediately.

It’s a good practice to wipe up spills and drips right away. If you don’t do this, you might have to deal with them when they’ve caked up and started to smell. And you don’t want this, do you?

Besides cleaning the spills immediately, you also should line the shelves of your fridge with fridge liners. The liners will absorb unexpected spills and are easy to dispose of. When a mess occurs, just remove and wash the affected liner rather than cleaning the entire fridge.

Watch the temperature of your appliance.

Bad odors are frequently produced by food rotting, which is why fridge temperature is critical. A high temperature causes food spoiling, but a low temperature may cause energy waste. Ideally, adjust your refrigerator to 0 to 4 degrees Celsius and freezer to -18 degrees Celsius.

If your fridge or freezer is still not cold enough after you’ve adjusted the temperature, it could be a sign of a bigger problem.

Call an appliance repair Alexandria professional to inspect your refrigerator for leaks, drip pan issues, or a malfunctioning defrost drain. If not addressed, these concerns can boost refrigerator temperatures and cause food to spoil prematurely. Which, in turn, leads to the bad smells that you don’t want.

When hiring a repair professional, don’t hire just any other. Take your time to find a reputable one that knows what they are doing. The last thing you should do is to hire a contractor who causes more harm than your unit had.

Tricks to A Perfectly Functioning Dishwasher

A dishwasher isn’t a necessity, but it really comes in handy. After all, who wants to deal with a massive mound of dishes after preparing and eating a meal? Unfortunately, you can’t enjoy your unit if it functions incorrectly.

Thankfully, you can do several things to ensure that the unit is always in top working condition. These things include:

Keep the filters clean at all times.

You should clean your dishwasher’s filter after each usage. That may seem like a lot of labor, but it’s worth it.

After removing the filter from the machine, just rinse it under running water to loosen any trapped particles, allow it to dry, and then replace it. If you can’t remember to do it after each usage, try once a week.

The beauty of cleaning the filters is that you don’t need to hire a dishwasher repair professional to help you. You can easily do it by yourself.

Always scrape food from the dishes.

To avoid clogging the filter, scrape your plates and remove as much food residue from pans and dishes as possible before adding them to the washing machine. Foods like Weetabix and porridge adhere to dishes if they sit in the dishwasher for an extended period before being run.

Put these plates in the sink to catch the water when you run the faucet. This will assist in soaking up the worst of the breakfast leftovers. Then, just before the cycle begins, place them in the dishwasher.

Some people have the notion that they should pre-wash the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, but you don’t have to. In fact, you usually end up causing more havoc when you pre-wash the dishes.

This is because when you pre-wash the dishes, you remove the adhering surfaces for the soap. As a result, the soap doesn’t clean the dishes as well as it should. The consequence is leaving you with dirty dishes even after running them in the dishwasher.

The right way to do it is to scrape the food from the dishes, and you are good to go. This will remove the food particles that can clog the unit and, at the same time, leave binding spaces for the soap so that it effectively cleans the dishes.

Keep the dishwasher salt topped up at all times.

Experts report that using salt is the key to a long-lasting dishwasher. Salt serves two functions in your machine: first, it softens the water and prevents the buildup of hard water deposits, and second, it helps keep the dishwasher clean by preventing bacteria buildup.

Some dishwashers allow you to tell how hard the water is where you live, but if yours doesn’t, you can find out the exact level by calling your local water board.

If your dishwasher has this feature, it will use the least amount of salt necessary to keep hard water deposits at bay.

A common misconception is that you don’t need to add salt if you live in a soft water area or have a water softener. This is not the case.

You must always add salt to the machine to keep it bacteria-free. If germs are allowed to multiply, your dishwasher’s water flow and wash performance will suffer.

Inhibiting the water flow over time may dramatically diminish the life of your dishwasher. And you don’t want this, do you?

Regularly check spray arms for blockages.

You should also clean the spray arms regularly with a mix of washing up liquid and water (how often depends on how frequently you use your dishwasher).

While you’re at it, look for debris in the jets, such as fruit pips and small food particles. A clever approach is to send water into the intake of each arm – if it flows freely, it is not clogged. If it is, clear it with a toothpick or something similar.

Besides unclogging the spray arms, check them to confirm they aren’t bent. If they are, straighten them. In some cases, you might find them too bent or damaged. In such a case, simply straighten them.

Deep clean the dishwasher

Dishwashers are one of the appliances that many people clean the least. This is because many people have the impression that they are always clean, but this isn’t the case.

According to survey, consumers clean their dishwashers three times per year on average. This is not enough. The best way out is to thoroughly clean your dishwasher every two months by running it empty on the hottest setting.

You should soak a cleaning cloth in hot, soapy water and wipe off the surface of dishwashers with plastic exteriors. Wipe it dry with a clean, dry cloth or a paper towel.

After this, fill a spray bottle with a homemade solution of one part vinegar to three parts water if your dishwasher is stainless steel. Spray it on the exterior of the dishwasher and wipe it clean with a cleaning cloth.

A screen in your dishwasher collects food and other particles. The screen becomes clogged with time, resulting in badly cleaned dishes and increased wear and tear on your dishwasher.

You should remove the filter from the bottom and spray it with hot water from the kitchen sink.

Soak the filter for 10 minutes in warm, soapy water before rinsing with hot water. Use a scrub brush to remove any leftover food particles or residue.

Rinse your filter, then before putting it back in the dishwasher, check the drain for buildup and clean it with a sponge.

Parting shot

These are some things you need to do to ensure that your dishwasher is always in top working condition. Besides these things, also use your dishwasher correctly. As a rule of thumb, never run it when it’s too full, as it will fail to function optimally and reduce lifespan.

For peace of mind that your unit is in good working shape, contact appliance repair Fairfax professionals at least once a year to look at it and fix any issues it might be having.

6 Ways to Prevent Ice from Building Up in Your Fridge During Winter

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

As winter approaches, many people feel that they will face the regular issue of ice buildup in their refrigerators and freezers.

You should note that ice buildup not only affects the efficiency of your appliance but it can also lead to food spoilage and increased energy consumption. You don’t want this, do you?

Fortunately, there are simple and practical solutions to this freezing issue. In this post, we’ll look at six practical techniques to keep your fridge and freezer ice-free over the winter months, ensuring that you keep off a refrigerator repair professional, have your appliance performing optimally, and your food stays fresh and well-preserved.

These tips might help you have a stress-free winter, whether you’re a culinary aficionado or simply want to keep your equipment operating optimally.

Remove the excess ice buildup.

To begin dealing with excessive frost and ice, empty your fridge and freezer compartments. Set the thermostat to the highest temperature and leave some towels handy to absorb extra water.

Ensure all the compartments are dry before reinstalling your food and altering the temperature.

This simple procedure will guarantee that your refrigerator remains frost-free and performs at peak performance.

Adjust the temperature

You need to regularly check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer close to 0 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.

You should note that frost or ice may form if temperatures dip below these temperatures. To ensure the fridge is at the proper temperature, you must place the fridge thermometer in the right place.

Position the thermometer at the center of the refrigerator for the most accurate reading. Some fridge thermometers stand alone, while others can be hung on a shelf. You should place your fridge based on its design.

If you have a stick-shaped thermometer in your fridge, submerge it in water.

Because the warmest position in your fridge is usually near the door, it can be a suitable alternative location for your thermometer.

For peace of mind that your fridge is at the proper temperatures, you must regularly monitor the temperatures.

Your thermometer will need some time to calibrate to the correct reading. So keep the door closed as much as possible to maintain a steady temperature.

To tell the accurate temperature,  check the thermometer the next day to see if anything has changed.

If there are changes, adjust the unit.

Place the fridge correctly.

How you place your fridge can have a significant impact on ice formation. 

You should be cautious and place your fridge in the right place. As a rule of thumb, do not put the refrigerator in your kitchen if it doesn’t have an exhaust system.

Instead, select a location that offers enough clearance from the wall to ensure appropriate cooling for the refrigerator’s compressor.

Reduce the frequency at which you open the fridge and freezer doors

Frequent opening of the door raises the humidity levels inside your fridge and freezer, which can lead to ice buildup and frost.

With this in mind, avoid leaving your fridge or freezer doors open while determining what to eat or which ingredients to pull out.

Instead, prepare a fast mental list of what you’ll need and get everything out at once.

If you have a two-door fridge, open only one door at a time. You should close the doors as quickly as possible in under one minute to prevent as much humidity from getting in as possible. 

For example, combine the eggs, butter, and milk if you’re baking. You only have to open the door once this way.

If you have trouble remembering what’s in your fridge, keep a list of what’s inside posted on the fridge door. This way, you don’t waste time figuring out what is there and what isn’t.

Ensure you have a tight seal.

You should regularly inspect the seals on your refrigerator and freezer doors for air leakage symptoms, such as damp or frozen areas.

If a problem arises, you can use a simple process to replace the gasket.

The door seals are the long rubber strips that run around the edges of your door to keep cold air out.

If you notice cold air around the exterior of your fridge door or any visible damage, repair the seal to prevent your fridge from constantly running or warming up.

Close the door on a dollar bill to see if the fridge door seal is tight. Your seal remains intact if you encounter resistance when removing the dollar note. If it readily falls out, it’s time to replace them.

You can do the replacement if you have the skills, but if you have never done it before, let an expert help you.

You should note that the seals lining your fridge or freezer doors will not close correctly if they are caked with food residue or ice crystals.

Working on one door at a time, quickly scrape the inside of the seal with a damp cleaning cloth and mild dish soap.

Clean the frame of the refrigerator opening so the seal may sit flush against it. Wipe away any lingering wetness with a dry cloth before closing the door.

Ensure no moisture remains, as this could form an ice crystal.

Keep your fridge clean.

For the best fridge efficiency and ice frosting reduction, regularly clean your refrigerator’s cooling fan, vents, and condenser coils. You can remove the ice buildup with a hot, soapy cloth, pressing against frost and repeating until entirely melted.

You can do the cleaning without the help of an appliance repair Springfield professional, but if you notice a significant problem, such as the fridge giving off odors after cleaning, let an expert help you.

It can be tempting to deep clean a refrigerator using bleach and other chemical cleansers, but you should avoid it because bleach can damage surface materials and possibly release harmful toxins into your food.

To stay safe, use gentle dish soap and food-grade pantry staples like white vinegar and baking soda. This way, you can clean the interior of the fridge without risking chemical contamination or structural damage.