Owner vs Blogger: Part Two- Shopping for Reliability

  Because experience means more 

Welcome back, everyone! This week we're covering the other half of our Blogger vs Owner faceoff of 2022. This time we'll be looking at what an experienced professional has to say about the appliances on the market and why she chooses what she does.  If you're looking for new appliances or just want to check out what the differences might be, this is the post for you.  

Dishwasher - Jenn-Air JDPSS246LL

Price: $2199.00

Starting off with the dishwasher, I liked the RISE series the best, not only because of everything it can handle but because it's energy certified, it's quiet and it has a stainless steel tub. 

High-Capacity 3rd Rack with Wash

The largest 3rd Level Rack in the luxury industry glides with quiet and ease, even when fully loaded with tapas bowls, large rocks glasses and cocktail shakers.

RISE Series 24 Inch Built-In Dishwasher with 6 Wash Cycles, 15 Place Settings, Energy Star Certified, 38 dBA Quiet System, Enhanced Cinematic Interior Lighting, Stainless Steel Tub, TriFecta Wash System, Condensation Dry in Stainless Steel

Enhanced Cinematic Lighting

Shine a spotlight on clean. Packed with 18 LED lights that ramp up to full intensity, JennAir brand’s best lighting coverage chases away shadows to illuminate daring Obsidian racks.

Daring Obsidian Racks

A JennAir® signature, these dramatic black racks are inspired by the beauty of volcanic glass—showcasing clean dishes in striking contrast.

3-Stage Filtration

A coarse filter, large filter screen and fine filter cup keep oversized and fine food particles out of the pump and helps prevent them from being recirculated onto dishware.

Cooktop Jenn-Air 48" Rise Professional Gas Rangetop in Stainless Steel

Price: $ 5299.00

“For the cooktop, I'm like many Texans and cooks, I prefer having a gas range. Fortunately, Jenn Air carries them and the professional variant at 48" is my pick. “

14 Rangetop Configurations 

Bend fire to your will. Grills, griddles, brass burners. Three Widths. With 14 unique configurations, it's up to you. Cast off porous, superficially plated options. Go deeper. Infused with chrome, our griddle cleans up well after heavy usage. Underneath, a serpentine element powers out best griddle preheat. Fire up the grill for indoor entertainment on your terms. 

Wall Oven    Jenn-Air Rise 30" Combination Smart Electric Microwave and Wall Oven in Stainless Steel

Price $6549.00

Although I absolutely love the wolf oven our Blogger picked, it is gorgeous(!) I'm sticking with Jenn Air and that's the oven microwave combo. I prefer it when things have multiple functions when at all possible. This one really appeals to me not just because of how it looks, but also everything it can handle. 

An upper convection microwave helps you create chef-inspired meals quickly. Below, the lower cavity's vertical dual-fan V2 convection system precisely directs heat to caress each ingredient - transforming prepped food into date-night-worthy dishes. With curated recipes and full-color doneness images on the Culinary Center, an intelligent culinary experience awaits.

• 7-inch full color LCD display

• Alexa enabled device

• Google assistant enabled device

• SOFTEN/MELT CYCLE Ribbons of molten chocolate. Butter that yields to your knife. Melt and soften with delicate heat that ignites passionate appetites.

• AUTO CONVECTION CONVERSION Bake with abandon. The oven automatically converts temperature and cook time to make any recipe a convection recipe.

Refrigerator Jenn-Air 42" Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Price : $9,699.00

.... you guessed correctly - Jenn Air - I am actually putting this in my house beginning of next year, although I've already put in an order to try and guarantee that it will be available then. Like we mentioned last year, it's better to schedule what you're wanting ahead of time, and increase your chances of getting what you want given the shortages.

The exclusive Obsidian interior brings a luxurious finish to the inside of this Jenn-Air® integrated built-in refrigerator. The refrigerator achieves a seamless look with a flush design that features concealed hinges and trim pieces. With optional custom panels, it blends completely into cabinetry, a luxury detail that designers appreciate.

• Precision Temperature Management System

• Advanced Climate Control Drawer

• Produce Preserver

• Multi-Point LED Theater Lighting

• Capacitive Touch Controls with LED Display

• Soft-Close Crisper Drawers

Washer & Dryer Combo  Maytag 4.5 Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer and 7.3 Cu. Ft. Electric Dryer in White

Price:  $1998.00 

"The washer and dryer, this is the toughest choice for me. With the amount of use these appliances go through, that makes them extremely hard to spend the large amounts of money for them. I consider a washer or dryer to be "disposable" after 3-4 years and would be happy if they make it 5 years. (Sadly many on the market currently aren't built to last beyond that, even if I wish they were.)

I choose the ones with less features, a deep fill option and an agitator if at all possible, which means they're going to be top load washers. Sadly, the "pretty" laundry room you can find on Pinterest all focus on the front-loading ones, which doesn't work for me. 

I recently replaced my 4-year-old GE set with a Maytag set mainly because it was in stock (even those of us in the business have to fight with getting things with the current supply chain issues.) 

Washer features:

12 hr Fresh Spin Option

Quick Wash Cycles

Late Add Feature

Steam Option

2 Rinse Options

10 Wash Cycles

Automatic Temperature Controls

Dryer features: 

Advanced Moisture Sensing

Quick Dry Cycle

Wrinkle Prevent Option

Reversible Door

Automatic Dry Control

Powder Coat Drum

4 Temperature Options

3 Dryness Levels

Stackable

When we sat down with Lisa and asked her what it was about these products that affected her choices, this was what she had to say. " Jenn Air is a high end made by Whirlpool, which makes them service friendly and easier to obtain replacement parts.  If I'm going to purchase something for my home, which many of these are, I want to know that I'll have an easy time working on it.  You can't say something will never break. Even the best on the market eventually have issues. So why make it that I'll have to wait even longer to get it fixed? I also love the black interior of the refrigerator, that appeals to me.  The microwave/oven has the ability to black out the panel when not in use which is what absolutely sold me on it.  And then the dishwasher and range top match the oven, and I admit, I do love having things match. 

So, what did you think? Is this what you were expecting to hear from a professional? What did you agree or disagree with? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments down below. We love hearing from y'all. 

If you're here because you haven't given up on your current cooktop (we don't blame you, it's so pretty) we can help. Our owner isn't just experienced with finding the best appliances, she's also got over 30 years of experience in repairing them. Whether your cooktop won't ignite or your dryer is making insane creaking sounds (you know the ones), Appliance Rescue Service is here to help. You can reach out to us via our contact page or by calling us ( (214) 599-0055 ) to set up an appointment. We'll work with you based on your schedule to find a time that works to have our experts come to you and not only diagnose the problem but fix it. At Appliance Rescue Service, getting your home running smoothly again is our top priority. 

*Note : anything said on this blog is a matter of opinion and shouldn't be taken as a slight against any of the companies stated.

** All prices are current as of posting but are subject to change, especially since we don't control them. :) 

Stove Deep Dive

All about stoves, how they work and the differences to expect.

Table of Contents

Types

Surfaces

Burners

Ventilation

Features

Additional Reading

When was the last time you had to go looking at a new stove? Do you remember how many different options there were? Not to worry, we’re taking a look at them this week to see what main features exist in stoves and how to find the one that best fits you. Let’s dive in. 

Types

Electric

Let's start off by looking at THE most common type of cooktop you're likely to encounter when looking to purchase a new stovetop, an electric stove. They are the single most popular variety in the United States, and the easiest to find. They're also the easiest to set up, as most kitchens will already have an outlet that's heavy enough to handle the power draw of an electric stove. Due to the popularity they're also fairly inexpensive to pickup which makes them great for someone who is on a budget or is just looking to put their money elsewhere.  They're also typically very easy to clean, no matter whether you get a cooktop with coils or without. 

Since you don't need an 'ignition' as soon as you turn on a burner it will begin to heat. However, because the heat is cumulative rather than immediate, it does take more time than a gas stove to heat up. This also means that it takes longer to cool off by comparison to a gas stove.  Since there isn't an open flame of any sort though, many people prefer an electric stove over a gas one. 

There are some drawbacks to an electric stove though. One is that if your home loses power, you lose your stove as well. The other is that while there are energy efficient stoves, as of right now an electric stove is still going to be a significant chunk of your electric bill. A final, smaller point is that you do have to be careful about what pots and pans you purchase. Make sure to do research ahead of time as some types can scratch, damage or shatter your cooktop if you make the wrong purchase. 

Gas

Next up, let's take a look at gas stovetops.  A gas stovetop has a number of benefits to it, the primary one is how quickly they heat. Due to their instant flames as soon as you turn on a burner you begin to heat the room (and the food you're wanting to cook.) With that visual element, you also have very precise control over the temperature of your burners. Although it's more intuitive than just setting the burner to high, medium or low, you get the upside of being able to see over time how the heat affects your recipes. The speed with which the flame responds also means that you can cool what you're cooking much more quickly by lowering the flame. All of this boils down (ha!) to being less likely to burn your food. 

Another benefit of such quick temperature response is that you can heat up or cool down the pan you're using. So if you've got pets, small children or you're just working in tight spaces, you're less likely to burn yourself thanks to how quickly a gas stove will cool off. This also means that you don't have to worry about a pan getting damaged by the stove OR that a pan is going to damage your stove in some way. 

A gas stove is able to still be used even if your power is out. You'll need to use a match or lighter to get the burner lit, but you'll still be able to cook or boil water if you need to, to heat your home in the event of a winter storm.  Under normal circumstances a small bit of electricity will be used to 'spark' and ignite the burner when you turn it on. 

There are two factors though that you do need to pay attention to when it comes to purchasing a gas stove for your home. If you don't already have a gas stove, you're going to need to have a gas pipeline run. That can be expensive as it's not typically done on construction for new buildings these days. Fortunately the price of having the line run will pay for itself over time when you don't have to worry as much about your electric bill. You also need to make sure that you have some type of ventilation set up. We'll talk about it more down below, but you have two options when it comes to ventilation. An overhead hood and a downdraft extractor. Both are good options, so long as you actually use them. While a gas oven is by and far superior in terms of precise temperature control, it does burn gas, which you don't want to be breathing over an extended period of time. Make sure to always have your fans on while you're using you stove. 

It is possible to have a combination of a gas stove and an electric oven, or vice a versa, although it's not common. You can also choose to have them as separate appliances, setting the stovetop into your counter and the having a single or double oven in your wall.  Both of these are wonderful options if you've got the space for them in your kitchen as they spread out the cooking area in your kitchen and mean you aren't fighting for space when cooking multiple things at once. 

Induction 

If a gas stove isn't fast enough for you,  then you're going to want an induction stove. We'll tell you off the bat that the benefits of these stoves are weighed against their hefty price tag. While the heat from an electric or gas stove is going to transfer across the entirety of the cookstove to some degree, an induction stove doesn't work that way. The stoves are ceramic with different 'zones' built into them. Instead of applying heat to the outside of your pot and the heat transferring to the material inside, the heat is created directly inside your cooking pot. Once you take the pot off the stove, the heat immediately is turned off. The good news here is that the stovetop is never as hot as an electric stove or a gas stove is going to be.  The downside though is that you need to purchase an entirely new set of pots and pans to go along with your new stove. The two work together much like velcro.  A normal pot doesn't have the elements needed for it to work with the stove, and so it won't. The elements within the stove won't 'register' the pan and so it won't turn on. 

You also have to be very careful with an induction stovetop as you can shatter the surface of them if you're not careful in how you put things down. 

Surface

When it comes to the surface of your stovetop, you have two different options, coils or smooth cooktops. 

A coiled cooktop can be either electric or gas. A smooth cooktop is only going to be electric or induction. 

The benefits to going with a coiled cooktop is that they're extremely durable, easy to clean and they will stand up to years of use and abuse. It doesn't matter how hard you scrub your stovetop to get rid of a mess, it's not going to damage the coils.  Your cookware won't either, even if you're dragging out that giant dutch oven that you have. 

A few downsides to keep in mind are that  while they do heat quickly, coils also hold onto that heat for a long time. You will also need to check them periodically (every 4 months or so is pretty good) to make sure that each coil's connection to the power source is still in working condition if you're dealing with an electric stove. If you're dealing with a gas stove you'll want to make sure that the burner is clean and free of debris. 

The other type of cooktop option you have is a smooth cooktop.  People love them for three key reasons. One, they're supremely easy to clean. You don't have to remove anything, unplug anything or get under anything in order to get them shining like new. All you need is the special paste that is designed for the job and you're good to go. Reason number two is that they heat up your pots and pans, without heating your kitchen. If you live in Texas, it makes it that little bit more bearable for cooking during the summer.  Three, you don't need to worry about little hands or paws getting burned because they touched the stove at the wrong time. A fourth one, is how seamlessly they fit into a modern design. They are the latest in cooking technology and we know people love to upgrade to the latest and greatest. 

A few downsides do come with working with a smooth cooktop though. As we said, you do have to be careful about which cookware you use. You're also going to have to be aware of how you move that cookware though. Or any groceries or anything else that you move around in your kitchen. The surface of a smooth cooktop, whether electric or induction is going to be fragile. They can be easily scratched by 'sliding' pots and pans over them. Even worse is how easily they can be shattered by putting something heavy on top of them without paying attetion to how you set it down. 

So, which type of surface do you think you want? 

Burners

Number of burners

You can get your stove in a variety of different number of burners, 2, 4, 5, or 6.  How large you want it to be is going to dictate how many things you can cook on it at once. Take into consideration a few things when you're shopping .

-How often do you end up saying "I need more space?" 

-How often do you use all of the burners on your current stove? Not just at once, but the different sizes? 

-Do you have the space in your kitchen for a larger stovetop that it would need if you got one with more burners? 

-Would getting a second smaller stovetop in addition to your current one benefit you, rather than getting one large one? 

All of these are ways to look at what type of stovetop you might consider getting next as the number of burners you have will directly impact the size and placement of your new stove.   We will say that getting a stove that has five burners in electric is very difficult but getting one that is 6 burners and electric is possible. 

Automatic reignite

A useful feature that you might want to look into is automatic re-ignition if you're looking to get a gas stove. Occasionally with a gas stove the flame might go out on a burner, or on multiple burners without you noticing. This can throw off cooking times and temperatures if too much time passes. With this feature that's not a concern as the stove will automatically re-ignite after it senses that a burner has gone out. 

Continuous grates

If you want to make your gas stovetop more professional looking, you might consider getting continuous grates for your stove. Instead of having a single grate over one burner, you combine two f them together into one long, smooth line. Yes, they're heavier, but the make the stove look more appealing and 'finished' according to many homeowners. 

Stove top griddles

On the other hand, if you're looking at your stove and wondering why you need pots and pans, a griddle might be more your thing. These can be added to either a gas stove or an electric, but as of yet it's not happening on an induction. These heat more smoothly and evenly than a griddle that you just lay on top of preexisting burners. Great for making every meal of the day without needing to use mutliple dishes. Eggs, bacon and sausage? Check. Grilled cheese sandwich? Check. Sausage with peppers and mushrooms? Check.  There's a huge amount of  food that you can make on a griddle. 

Ventilation

We mentioned earlier that you need a ventilation system with a gas stove, and many people choose to have them with electric and induction stoves too, just in case you burn something. One option is a downdraft cooktop. This option, instead of having a fan or range hood, has a small vent built into the cooktop. It's built into the back of the cooktop or in between the burners to suck steam and smoke away. This also gives you back the space over your stovetop to be used for lighting or additional storage. 

Or, if you prefer going with a traditional range hood, that's also an option. You can choose what it looks like and whether it's a centerpiece of the kitchen, or if it blends into the walls.  

Regardless of which one you choose,  the important point, even if you have an induction stovetop, is to have a way to pull the steam and smoke safely out of your kitchen so that you can breathe and see easily while you're in the kitchen. 

Features

Speed heat

Some recent stoves have started to make it so that you can very quickly bring a pot of water to boil. While water is what they typically show, ‘speed heat’ can be applied to anything. It will be one of your burners for those times when you need to make things go that little bit faster. 

Safety

Who hasn’t accidentally burned themselves on a burner because you weren’t looking closely enough? Two safety features that we love for stoves are auto-shutoff and a heat indicator. The auto-shutoff makes it so that you can set a timer for what you’re cooking. After that point, the burner will shut off and you don't have to risk your food burning if you have to step away or forget to turn it off. The heat indicator is just that. It might be at the front right next to the burner knobs, or it might be on the control panel at the back. Either way it will be a light of some sort to show you that the burner is still hot. 

Wi-Fi

There are stoves now that come with wi-fi and app connectivity to make it so that you can keep an eye on your stove from anywhere. 

Controls

When it comes to controlling your stove, as of right now at least, you’ve got two options on most stoves. You can have knobs to turn on an individual burner. Or you can have digital controls that activate just when you touch the panel. These are great if you’re struggling to handle knobs due to arthritis or something similar. 

That’s our deep dive on stoves! Let us know what you think in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. Are you looking to get a new stove? Are you trying to figure out what features you want to change in your current one? We’d love to know. 

On the other hand, if you’ve already got a stove you love and it’s just not working right, give us a call or head to our appointment page. No matter what’s going on Appliance Rescue Service will work with you to figure out what’s happening and get it fixed. 

Additional Reading

Why the Media Wants You To Be Scared of Your Gas Stove

10 Surprising Accidents That Can Occur In Your Kitchen

Problems With Your Vent Hood?

What Appliances Do You Need For a Tiny House?

How to Prepare Your Appliances For Moving

Clean Your Glass Cooktop Like a Pro

Glass cooktops are not only beautiful, but can are often purchased because all the elements are hidden, making cleaning a breeze – right?!

Even glass cooktop owners will affirm that sometimes appliances just get dirty – and cleaning can be difficult. Appliance Rescue Service often performs cooktop repairs, and we have a few tips on how to keep those glass cooktops looking brand new for years to come:

Always Allow the Cooktop to Cool Before Cleaning

Before cleaning, let the cooktop cool completely, for obvious reasons. 

Use Gentle Products

Use a mild non-scratch scubbing sponge or microfiber cloth for cleaning, along with non-abrasive cleaners. Anything abrasive will scratch the glass and create irreversible damage. 

Check the Owner’s Manual

Your owner’s manual will offer important maintenance tips on what works best for your particular model, so take those suggestions into account. Plus – you may learn if there are any cleaning products or methods that could void a warranty. 

Spritz Daily

Don’t wait until the gunk and build-up has overtaken your cooktop! Instead, keep a squirt bottle full of half vinegar/half water and lightly spray in on the cooktop after it cools. Then, wipe off right away to prevent any build-up that can lead to cooktop repairs in Dallas. 

Razor Blades Work on Tough Stains

If you have hard, burnt on foods, then a razor blade can work well to remove it. As long as your owner’s manual doesn’t advise against using a razor blade, very gently use the full edge of the blade – as flat as possible – and scrub at the dried residue. It should clean right off. Never use the very edge of the blade, as it will scratch. 

Hopefully, these tips will extend the life of your glass cooktop and prevent the need for any Dallas glass cooktop repair. Should you ever need appliance repairs, don’t hesitate to call us at Appliance Rescue Service! We’re your #1 appliance repairman, servicing cooktops, refrigerators, wall ovens, dishwashers, and more. 

Gas Cooktop Repair: Why Won’t My Gas Burner Light?

Gas cooktops and ranges are a chef’s dream, often touted as the best for their ability to distribute heat evenly and then maintain that constant heat temperature over time. 

But here’s a common gas cooktop repair question we get at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas: Why won’t my gas burner light?

It’s a great question and one of the most common frustrations from homeowners. Here are a few simple reasons your gas burner isn’t lighting:

1.    Burner Cap isn’t Aligned Properly.

Once your cooktop has cooled, remove the grate and burner cap. Reinstall the burner cap, paying careful attention to the alignment, and then see if that resolves the issue.

2.    Food Debris is in the Way.

Again, allow the burner to cool, and then inspect the igniter, burner, and control knobs. Is there any food debris that has been burned onto these areas? If so, wipe away with a soft sponge and cleaner. For any small crevices, use a paperclip to scrape the debris out, then try to ignite the burner again.

3.    Burner is Too Wet.

If you recently cleaned the cooktop or had a spill of some sort, then your issue might be that there is moisture in the burner that is preventing it to light. Simply remove the burner cap and allow at least 30 minutes for the burner to dry out, then try again.  

If none of these troubleshooting tips remedy your question as to why your gas burner won’t light, then the issue might be your igniter, spark ignition switch, or spark module. Call the best appliance repair company – Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas – today and we can diagnose your issue quickly and efficiently. We proudly serve the entire North Texas community, including Addison, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Keller, and more.

Beat the Heat with these 5 Summer Cooking Tips

Summers in Texas are brutal!

The weather is already heating up, and sometimes it can be difficult to manage the heat in your kitchen from cooking. Not only can it get uncomfortable, but it raises your energy bills. No bueno.

Appliance Rescue Service is a top appliance repairman in Dallas, Texas, and we know that those kitchen appliances – ovens, cooktops, etc. – can really raise the temperatures during the summer months. Try these 5 tips to keep it cooler!

1.  Add a Fan

Adding a fan will circulate air and keep your kitchen cooler with minimal effort. No need to install a permanent one (unless you really want to!), a tabletop fan will work just fine.

2.  Lean on Small Appliances vs. Large Appliances

Dig through your cabinets and get out the small appliances that are taking up room – but you never use. Griddles, Panini presses, toaster ovens, etc. are all great appliances to use when making a quick, simple meal on a hot summer evening.

3.  Change Your Cooking Time

If you have the opportunity to cook and prep in the morning before you leave for work, then take that opportunity to do so before the hottest hours of the day arrive in the evening. It will be less taxing for your air conditioner, and you’ll have everything cleaned up by dinnertime!

4.  Skip the Oven

Your oven is the biggest culprit for adding heat to the kitchen, so rely on small appliances or no-cook meals to get you by. Salads make a wonderful summer dinner and require little effort.

5.  Take the Cooking Outdoors

Start up the grille, outdoor cooktop, or smoker and take the cooking outdoors! It’s an easy, fun way to stay cool in the home and enjoy those beautiful summer evenings.

If you notice any issues with your appliances this summer and suspect appliance repair in Dallas is needed for your refrigerator, oven, cooktop, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, etc., call us at Appliance Rescue Service! Our fast, friendly technicians will have your issue resolved in no time!