How to prepare your appliances for electrical outages

Its spring time here in Texas and all of us know that there's a big chance of thunder and lightening storms to occur.  Also, with a lot of construction going on in many neighborhoods the chances of your power going out are high.

Below I've listed a few things to do with your appliances when a storm is coming or you notice large electrical / construction company trucks around your neighborhood doing some work.

Disconnect any of your appliances that have an electronic control (that includes any unit that has a digital clock, but not including your refrigerator or freezer) when not in use. You can flip off the breaker or unplug the unit.

If you have a gas range you can still light the top burners by using a match or lighter even though it is unplugged.

If your power does go out try not to open the refrigerator doors or open them as infrequently as possible. And when you do have to open the door, be as quick as possible. You can preserve temps inside for as long as 48 hours or more when the doors remain shut. Fill a cooler full of ice and place all of your heavy use items such as milk and lunch meat or any foods that have an expiration date on it. This will allow your frozen foods to stay frozen longer and will preserve all your other refrigerated items for longer periods of time.

I hope you find some of these tips useful. As always if you do need appliance repair don't hesitate to give Affordable Appliance Repair a call (214) 731-4680, we will be happy to assist you.

Have a nice day!



Tags: electrical outages and storms can damage your appliances, prepare your appliances for electrical outages, protect your appliances from costly repairs, things to do to your appliances if power goes out, unplug your appliances during electrical storms, appliance repair Texas, refrigerator repair, electric range repair, stove repair, ice maker repair, gas range repair

Washing Machine Buying - Top Load Vs Front Load Washers

Washing machines in the past only have but few basic features - the control dial for wash cycle options (from delicate to heavy wash), the load size and the drier. But now, with better than ever technology, washing machines have innovated from simple to sophisticated home appliance. In this washing machine review, we will tackle the features that you should look for when buying a washer. But always keep in mind that the best machine for your washing is the one that suits your need; you don't necessarily have to get a washer with complete features.

1. Durability - Average washing machines have a lifespan of 10 years at the most, even longer than that with proper care and usage. You want to make sure that your machine will indeed last for 10 years. There are several machine reviews that offer a comprehensive report on the machine's performance tests; you can check the best washing machine brands when it comes to durability.

2. The tub - Would you prefer the plastic tub or a stainless steel one? How about porcelain? The steel tub/drum is more suitable for rinsing and drying than the plastic kind. The porcelain looks good, and is scratch-resistant. Nevertheless, they are all sturdy and long-lasting.

3. Load size - How much laundry do you wash per load? Do not forget to take the load size into account. Dumping a heavier load of laundry than the washing machine can normally allow for it to function properly may cause the appliance to break down.

4. Energy efficiency - How much energy does it consume? Nowadays, most washers are made to be energy-efficient.

5. Water efficiency - Does it require more gallons of water per kilogram of wash loads than the other machines? The best washing machine is water-efficient - the one that consumes lower amount of water per wash load.

6. Spin efficiency - A washer with efficient spin cycle removes more water from the clothes, which means clothes will take minimum energy and time to dry.

7. Rinse performance - How well does it keep the dirt in the water and out of the clothes during the cycle? How well does it rinse the detergent? If you want to know how certain machine brands performed in this aspect, you may check the data in washing machine reviews. Basically, the fewer amounts of detergents left in clothes after washing, the better its rinse performance. This is an important consideration since detergent residues in clothes may cause skin irritation.

8. Noise level - If you do your laundry in the basement where few people go, noise may not be much of a problem; but if you do it in a room that is adjacent to other rooms, especially bed room, it can be a problem. Consider the location of your laundry area.

9. The controls - Dial or digital? Dial-style controls are easier to use; however, the digital controls offer more options, such as setting the exact water temperature and wash settings.

10. Other features - LCD display, time delay capability and extra rinse may be some of the features that you look for.

Hope some of this pointers will help you find your next great washing machine.

Happy shopping!

HELPFUL TIPS - DISHWASHER

I know we all depend on our dishwashers to help us out after a long days work.  The last thing we want to do after cooking dinner is to clean. So what do we do....we hide our dirty dishes in the dishwasher.  Below are a few helpful tips for keeping your dishwasher running smoothly.

 

With a low 40 decibels, this Jenn-Air® TriFecta™ dishwasher with 40 dBA is the quietest model we offer. This luxury dishwasher also brings you thoughtful features like the One Hour Wash and Rinse Only cycles, beautifully meeting your entertaining needs.

 

 

Keep items of different metals separated in the silverware basket of the dishwasher. Cutlery can discolor if dissimilar metals (stainless steel, silver, etc.) are touching when washed. The heat and water can cause electrolysis to occur that blackens or pits the surface of metal utensils.

 

 

Scrape your plates free of solid food particles before washing them. Large particles can get into or puncture seals causing water leaks and clog filters resulting in wash ability issues. But do NOT rinse under a tap prior to washing.

 

Bread bag clips, corners cut from bags of milk and elastic bands can unknowingly get stuck to the underside of bowls and plates and get put into the dishwasher. These items can clog up the pump and lead to expensive repairs. Be sure to dispose of these items into the garbage.

 

Upon finding a broken glass in your dishwasher, do an extensive search to find all the broken pieces. Check the filter and at the bottom of the unit. Glass shards can get into the pump and cause serious damage and even water leaks.

 

Check the bottom of the silverware basket for holes. Cutlery can extent through the hole and inhibit the spray arm from turning, causing poor wash ability. When the technician arrives and the load has been removed, the problem cause may not be apparent.

 

Any water leakage should be looked into immediately. Water can get into motors causing major damage, or cause flooring to rot.

 

Only use a rinse agent if you have hard water. If you use it with already soft water, foaming can result which could lead to poor washing and leakage.

 

 

As always if you are not sure how to do minor repairs and self cleaning call to have a professional appliance repair technician come and service it for you to avoid further damage. 

 

Affordable Appliance Repair serving the DFW area is the place to call (214) 731-4680.

 

Have a great day!