Refrigerator Buying Guide: Pros and Cons of French Door Refrigerators

Maybe you’ve had our team of appliance repair experts at Appliance Rescue Service out to the house to assess your broken refrigerator.

Maybe you’re buying a new home and your old refrigerator just doesn’t fit in the new home.

Or maybe you’re just in the market for a newer model.

Whatever the reason, buying a new refrigerator can be daunting! French door refrigerators are one of the most popular refrigerator styles these days, but they aren’t for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of the French door refrigerator to help you decide what’s right for you:

PROS

Ease-of-Use:

French door refrigerators are a big draw because everything you need in your refrigerator is easily accessible at all times. No need to bend down and look for things in the back of the fridge. Freezers get a lot less use on a day-to-day basis so it’s just common sense to put it on the bottom.

Spacious:

French door refrigerators provide more room for storing large baking dishes, platters, etc. – particularly those that need more width than a side-by-side refrigerator or a traditional freezer-up model.

Aesthetics:

Because French door refrigerators don’t need the same range-of-motion as a traditional refrigerator, you can often find more compact models to fit tight spaces. There are also considered very stylish, with many stainless finishes available.

CONS

Large Objects in Freezer:

If you store large turkeys or meats in your freezers, they could be cumbersome to lift out of a bottom freezer.

Clutter:

Some models have drawers or shelves within the bottom freezer; some do not. Without some way to separate out where food is stored, it can be difficult to find what you need, when you need it.

Cost:

 French door refrigerators are more expensive that more traditional styles. Also, opening and closing two doors can let more air out than a normal refrigerator, which can lead the refrigerator to work harder, thus costing you in refrigerator repairs, longevity, or energy bills.

And as always, if you begin having issues with your French door refrigerator, do not hesitate to call Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas! We do French door refrigerator repairs daily!

Are Your Appliances Tripping Your Circuit Breakers?

A tripped circuit breaker can be a nuisance.

And when it happens repeatedly, you often wonder if your home appliances are to blame.

Here are the ins and outs of tripped circuit breakers in the kitchen and what you can do to fix it.

What are Circuit Breakers?

Circuit breakers are installed in the home’s electrical box as a safety mechanism. Before circuit breakers, many homes had fuses, and fuses had a tendency to overheat and create home fires. Not a good situation! A circuit breaker is designed to “trip” when it receives an overload of power that the circuit cannot handle.

I lose power every time I run two kitchen appliances. Do I need appliance repair to fix the issue?

While you may see that two kitchen appliances – refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, etc. – are plugged into two different outlets, chances are they are on the same circuit. And when those two appliances start working at the same time, they are sending too much power to the particular circuit and shutting down the whole operation for your safety. So in this case, the issue is not with your kitchen appliances, but rather with the electrical system. Call a licensed home electrician to come remedy the issue. Chances are, they will put the two appliances on different circuits to avoid further Dallas appliance repair.

Which appliances are most likely to trip the circuit breaker?

Refrigerators require a lot of energy to operate, and older model refrigerators are one of the top culprits for tripping circuit breakers in the kitchen. Thankfully, refrigerators are getting more and more energy efficient, reducing the risk of a tripped breaker.

If you are constantly having a circuit breaker issue when running your kitchen appliances and aren’t sure what the issue is, you can always call Appliance Rescue Service in Addison, Texas to get you a consultation and determine where the issue lies. Our technicians can evaluate your appliances and make sure they are in proper working order before it's too late!

5 Freezer Myths – BUSTED by Appliance Rescue Service!

Over the years, our technicians at Appliance Rescue Service have learned that people have many preconceived notions about what their freezer does and does not do, so we’re here to set the record straight. Here are 5 common freezer myths – BUSTED by Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas:

Myth #1: You Can Keep Frozen Food in your Freezer Forever

Wrong! Wondering whether or not you should cook up that roast that’s been sitting in the back of your freezer for over a year? While food will still be safe to eat a year later, its quality diminishes over time. You can’t just leave food in the freezer forever. Check with FDA guidelines to find out how long each type of food should be kept in the freezer for optimal quality and taste.

Myth #2: Freezer Burn Means the Food has Gone Bad

Wrong! Freezer burn is not a sign that your food has gone bad in the freezer; it simply means that air has gotten into the food’s packaging. Freezer burned food is still safe to eat, but again, the quality may be subpar.

Myth #3: You Can’t Refreeze Thawed Frozen Food

Wrong! This should come as a relief to all of those who have thawed meat to cook for dinner and then changed their minds. As long the thawed food has not been sitting out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, it’s safe to refreeze it. 

Myth #4: Frozen Produce is Less Nutritious

Wrong! Frozen produce is picked at the height of freshness, and then flash frozen for superior taste and nutrition, making it an excellent choice for out-of-season fruits and vegetables.

Myth #5: If you Freeze Food, You Kill the Bacteria.

Wrong! It’s a key reason you can’t just put expired meat in the freezer and then pop it back out in a few months to cook it. While the bacteria goes inactive when frozen, it’s still there. The only way to remove it from your food is to cook foods to the proper temperature.

So there you have it! Common freezer myths debunked! As always, if you need freezer repair in Dallas – or any other appliance repair for that matter – call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas.

Additional Reading

Freezer Deep Dive

Frozen peas with frost on them.

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.