4 Ways to Help Your Refrigerator Stay Icy Cold This Summer

The air conditioner isn’t the only thing that has to work on overdrive over the summer.

Hot, humid air makes the refrigerator work harder too.

Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas has been servicing a lot of refrigerators this summer, and we want to help you keep yours running in tip top condition. Follow these tips to help your refrigerator stay nice and cold, even during these hot summer months:

1.  Clean the Condensers

Use your user manual to locate the condenser coils, then once every 6 months, go ahead and clean them with a lint brush. Keeping the condenser coils clean helps maximize the efficiency, making it easier for the refrigerator to keep cool.

2.  Check for Leaks

Gaskets and door seals break down over time, allowing warm air in and cold air out – even when the door is closed. Check if it’s time to replace yours by putting a piece of paper in the door, the closing the door and trying to pull the paper out. If the paper slides out easily, then you know the gaskets and seals are leaking air.

Beat the Summer Heat with these Appliance Maintenance Tips!

3.  Leave Room Between Wall & Refrigerator

Pressing the refrigerator as close to the wall as possible doesn’t give the refrigerator any room to “breathe.” Leaving a few inches between the unit and the wall gives ample room for the condenser to disperse heat from the condenser.

4.  Don’t Overload It

Cram packing a refrigerator full of food is one way to make your unit go into overdrive. The more food and less room for air to circulate in the refrigerator, the tougher time your fridge will have keeping up.

If you feel your refrigerator is still not keeping food as cold as it should, don’t hesitate to call Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in the Dallas area. We serve Addison, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Irving, Las Colinas, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and nearly every Dallas-Fort Worth zip code. 

Appliance Tips & Tricks: How to Avoid Scratching Your Glass Cooktop

Glass cooktops are beautiful, but arguably, they require more care than a gas cooktop. In order to keep your glass cooktop looking like new, try these 5 tips from our team at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas – the number one appliance repair company in the Metroplex:

 

1.  Clean Spills Immediately

It can be tempting to leave a spill on the cooktop indefinitely, but don’t! Clean the cooktop as soon as it has cooled down. Depending on the type of spill, it can leave abrasions or even pitting in the cooktop. (Sugary spills are particularly guilty). 

2.  Watch the Bottom of the Pan

When you’re done using a particular pot or pan, lift it up vs. sliding it across the cooktop. The bottom of some cookware can scratch even during everyday use when slid across the glass. Also be sure to keep the bottoms of your cookware clean and never use cookware that has a rough surface on the bottom.

3.  Avoid Aluminum Foil

Keep aluminum foil away from your glass cooktop, as it can leave grey streaks on the glass that are difficult to remove, especially on lighter glass appliances.

4.  Reserve the Cooktop for Cooking Only

Because glass cooktops are flat, it can be tempting to throw misc. items on them, just as you would a counter. Avoid doing this, as the cooktop doesn’t need to be in use to get scratched by misc items.

5.  Consider Covers

When all else fails, consider buying a glass cooktop cover to protect the unit when not in use, prolonging the life and beauty of your appliance.

In the event that you do get some scratches or pitting on your glass cooktop, call Appliance Rescue Service immediately. Our team will gladly explain your Dallas appliance repair options, all while providing industry-leading customer service.

Know the Signs: 4 Signs Your Appliance is About to Die

Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas repairs a lot of appliances. We service dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, cooktops…everything! Over the years, we have noticed there are some signs you just can’t ignore. Signs that your appliance may be on the fritz and it’s time to contact a professional appliance repairman in Dallas before it’s too late!

Sign #1: Refrigerator is Constantly Running or Loud

If a refrigerator starts getting noisy, running constantly, or just plain loud, it’s time to have someone out to look at your refrigerator because it could give out any day. These are typically signs of a compressor issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Sign #2: Gradual Decline in Refrigerator Cooling

When you notice your refrigerator is not cooling properly, it’s time to have the issue diagnosed because no one wants to waste all of the food in their refrigerator the day it just decides to give out! Cooling issues can signal a leak in the refrigerator, and this issue is often costly, so depending on age, you’ll want to consider whether a repair or a new purchase is the way to go.

Sign #3: Dryer Drying Slowly

There is one great way to curb the issues you have with your dryer: take care of it. A dryer is a workhorse, and the more you use it, the less you clean the lint trap, etc. – the quicker it is going to give out. Take good care of it and extend its life. At any rate, if a dryer is taking multiple cycles to dry, it’s time to call someone to access the issue.

Sign #4: Dishes are Coming Out of the Dishwasher Dirty

Dishwasher issues can be complex, but if you feel that your dishes are not coming out clean, it’s time to call someone. The issue could be a simple clog in the line – or it could be something more serious like a warped door or cracked tub.

Bottom line: trust your gut. If something seems off about a particular appliance, call a professional appliance repairman in Dallas at Appliance Rescue Service before it’s too late!

Dishwasher Not Draining? Try these 3 Tips

The dishwasher is a workhorse in the kitchen, and we frequently forget how much we use it until it’s broken. When you find your dishwasher not draining, it can be a huge inconvenience, not to mention a stinky mess!

Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in Dallas, Texas – is happy to offer these 3 simple solutions to fixing your dishwasher issues without a costly dishwasher repair:

Solution #1: Clean the Filters

When was the last time you cleaned the filters in your dishwasher? As a good rule of thumb, it’s smart to rinse them each time you refill the drying agent. At any rate, a clogged dishwasher filter can cause a dishwasher not to drain. Take them out and rinse them thoroughly with soap and water to see if it solves the issue.

Solution #2: Check the Connections

After turning off the power to the unit, remove the toe-kick panel from the bottom of the dishwasher. Inspect the connections thoroughly to see if anything is loose or corroded around the drain hose connection, valve bracket, and drain hose clamp. The valve bracket should actually move and rotate freely, so if it doesn’t, then you likely have a burned out electrical solenoid.

Solution #3: Clear the Drain Hose, Disposal, & Sink Drain

This one is usually the #1 culprit. Something has clogged the line and you need to clear it. Disconnect the drain hose. Next, try to blow air through it to see if there is a clog or kink. Clogs can also originate with the disposal and sink drain since many dishwashers drain through the sink drain. One solution to clearing a sink drain or disposal clog is to run hot water through it.

If none of the above solutions fix your issue and your dishwasher is not draining, call Appliance Rescue Service! We provide the highest quality appliance repair in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, serving nearly every zip code. Call us today with all your dishwasher repair needs!

Are you Making These 5 Common Laundry Mistakes?

If there is one thing in life that is inevitable, it’s laundry.

And while we’ve all got laundry to do, many of us are making laundry mistakes everyday that are creating extra wear and tear to our washing machines, dryers, and clothes. So Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas wants to know, are you guilty of these common laundry mistakes? Read on to find out!

#1: Overdoing it on the Laundry Detergent

More soap means more clean – right?! Wrong. In fact, excess bubbles in our machine can trap bacteria and dirt as it comes off of clothes, and then those suds can get stuck in hard to rinse spots, like in creases of pockets. This makes the clothes less clean because the bubbles can’t rinse clean. Avoid overdoing it on the laundry detergent by using less than you normally would, and see if the laundry gets clean. If it does, then you may consider even using less to conserve detergent. Find a happy medium between clean clothes and detergent.

#2: Allowing Clothes Snags

Ever get clothes out of the laundry and it’s been torn up or pulled by other clothes? While you can’t avoid all of these mishaps, you can avoid clothing snags by zipping all zippers to the top (so the teeth are not exposed) and un-buttoning shirts (buttoned shirts cause unnecessary stress on the buttons while in the wash).

#3: Overfilling the Washing Machine

Another common mistake we see at Appliance Rescue – your leader in Dallas washing machine repair – is overfilling the washing machine. Overcrowding the washing machine doesn’t leave room for clothes to float in the water; therefore, they don’t get clean. It also puts major stress on the washing machine’s bearings and shock absorbers.

#4: Leaving Clothes Unfolded

Leaving clothes in the dryer indefinitely, or taking it out and leaving it in a basket without folding it, is a recipe for wrinkles. Avoid those wrinkles by folding it immediately. No time to fold immediately? 2 things can help: 1) use the permanent press cycle that allows for a cool down/wrinkle free fluff; 2) lay clothes out flat before folding instead of crumpled in a pile.

#5: Scrubbing Stains

A little elbow grease is not helpful when properly pretreating stains. Instead, carefully blot the stain with a white cloth, working from the outside in to keep the stain from spreading outward. Treat a stain as soon as you can for maximum results.

Need more tips for using your washing machine or dryer more efficiently? Just call the experts in Dallas washing machine repair – Appliance Rescue Service. We’re always just a call away and can help with all your appliance repair needs.

Additional Reading

How To Handwash Your Clothes