Mixing The Old With The New

By Todd Skaggs

So many things in our society push us to upgrade. We are constantly being told that in order to be the best that we need the latest and greatest gizmos. Our computer tells us to get the latest updates. Our phones constantly want us to upgrade.

What about our kitchens? Well, funny you should ask. I’m going to let you in on a secret.

I’m sorry, what’s that? Who am I?

Ah, yes, introductions.  I almost forgot. My name is Todd. No, I know, you’re absolutely right, you could have read that from the byline. Fine. Let’s see. I’m a Sagittarius. I don’t really care for walks on the beach, but love a good sunset just about anywhere. I dislike strawberries but love anything that is strawberry flavored. I love bacon of all sorts. I enjoy—you know what? None of that really matters. Just think of me as an impartial observer on this big blue marble we’re all floating around on. From time to time I’ll drop by and leave some words here for you. Hopefully they make you smile and brighten your day a bit. After all, isn’t that what makes it all worth doing?

Good. Great. Now that we sorted that, where was I?  Right! Getting the “Latest and Greatest” because that’s what we’re told we need.

Horse apples.

What always happens when you get the latest and greatest? In no time at all you’re sitting there thinking, “Man, they sure don’t make them like they used to!”

When I was a kid, I can remember going over to my grandparents. And before the days of the internet and streaming this-and-that, people actually talked to each other. Lavish dinners were made and stories were shared. And sometimes vacation slides were brought out, but we won’t talk about that. Ever.  

At my grandparents’ house, I have one distinct memory from those dinners (besides, of course, the traumatic vacation slides).

The double oven.

My friends, and people I just met, the double oven is a thing of beauty. Two separate ovens with completely independent controls. You can make a turkey in one oven and a that amazing fried-onion-green-bean casserole that appears at nearly every church potluck in the other. If you’re still having problems visualizing this little piece of magic, allow me to illustrate.

Check this out.

How fantastic is that?!  That is the original double-oven of my childhood, direct from my grandparents’ house.

And I get to see it every day. I get to use it. If you’re lucky enough to find a home to move into that has one of these beauties, you may want to think twice before ripping it out and dropping in that steel-faced Viking you saw on the interwebs.

Seriously consider working with a company like Appliance Rescue Service and get that beauty in tip-top shape. Not only will you get a quality appliance (I can assure you they truly don’t make them like that anymore), but if you’re lucky like me, you’ll get one that has that wonderful Avocado color from our childhood!

But, Todd—what if I really want something new and shiny?

Look, I’m not going to tell you how to run your kitchen.  That’s totally up to you. And I would be a hypocrite if I said that all new things are bad.

As awesome as the double oven of my childhood is, the actual stove that used to sit alongside it was kind of a nightmare. I could have had the burners replaced (and I’m sure my grandparents did once or twice), but in the end, it just wasn’t cutting it.

Enter the glass cooktop!

Now, I’m going to be honest with you, I’m normally a gas-stove kinda guy, but there is something about this cooktop that I really love. It gets up to temp in time flat and is super easy to maintain and service. Plus, it’s sleek and makes me think I’m boiling my water in a tea kettle in space!

Well, yeah. I guess I am a little odd, but you know what? You’ll get used to it.

So what’s the moral of the story here?

Don’t be so quick to get rid of those old things. There’s definitely a happy medium. You can have the old and awesome, and the latest and greatest!

Most of the time, you just need someone who can come in and give the old and awesome some of the TLC it needs.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to go check on the ham that’s in the oven. Or maybe the cake that’s in the other oven!

Until next time my friends, have an awesomesauce day!!

-Todd

How to Prepare Your Appliances for Moving

How to Prepare Your Appliances for Moving

All the excitement of moving into a new home can quickly go out of the window when you realize just how much work you need to do to get settled into your property. For instance, you don't just need to re-paint the walls, change the carpets, and check that the roof is in good condition, you also need to think about how you're going to get your appliances safely moved over to your new home. While you can always turn to an appliance rescue team to help repair anything that doesn't work by the time you reach your new home, it's best to keep the risk of damage to a minimum.

If you're worried about getting all of your belongings to your new property in one piece, then the following tips might be able to help. But of course our first tip is to hire some professional moving help. And for that, we recommend Bellhops.

1.     Unplug the Fridge in Advance

Before you call your Dallas moving experts to come and transport your belongings, one of the first things you'll need to do is clear out your fridge and turn it off. Pull all of your food out into coolers and throw anything away that you're not going to take with you. Switch the refrigerator off at least 24 hours before moving and clean it out thoroughly.

Once your fridge has defrosted, wash and dry the surfaces, and remove any containers within so that you can transport them separately.

2.     Clean and Prep Your Stove

Like the fridge, your stove needs to be cleaned thoroughly, and the racks need to be removed before you start moving. If you have a gas stove, it's crucial to make sure that the gas supply is turned off before you begin disconnecting anything. Be cautious, as gas lines can be fragile. If you're nervous, it may be worth calling your gas company to ask for assistance.

Tape down any elements and knobs to make sure that you don't lose any parts during the move either. If anything does get lost, remember to call your local appliance repair team in Dallas for help as soon as possible.

3.     Prepare the Washer, Dryer, and Dishwasher

Moving large and heavy machines like washers, dryers, and dishwashers can be particularly challenging. It may be a good idea to clean the units before your move by running a cycle and letting the unit dry out before you tape the doors closed.

If you've got the bolt that was used to keep the internal drum of your washing machine sturdy during delivery, you can re-attach that to ensure that the drum doesn't move around too excessively during your move. Additionally, remember to remove all the hoses you need to take with you and pack them separately in a box for safe keeping.

4.     Don't Forget the Little Things

Finally, when you're getting ready to move to your new neighborhood, don't forget about the little things. For every appliance, make sure that you unplug the unit and secure the plug to the back of the machine with packing tape.

For smaller appliances, remember to cover them in bubble wrap and place them carefully in boxes ready for your move.

Buying a New Home? Don’t Overlook the Appliances!

Summer is a busy time for buying and selling homes, and if you find yourself in the market for a new home this summer, then don’t overlook the appliances! Here are a few tips from Appliance Rescue Service – your Dallas appliance repairman – on how to evaluate the home appliances during the moving process:

1.    Learn About the Appliances

Once you’ve worked through which appliances are staying and which are going, take a little time to get to know the ones that are staying – generally speaking – the oven, dishwasher, microwave, etc. Do you understand how they work? Does the current owner have the manuals still? Now is the time to ask the existing homeowner any questions before the deal is done and while you still have access to their knowledge on the subject.

2.    Repair/Replace Appliances

During the inspection process, the home inspector may call to your attention opportunities to repair or replace appliances. This is a good time to assess which appliances to fix and which to replace. Appliance Rescue Service can help you evaluate repair costs and whether or not a repair is optimal based on appliance age/issues. You may also want to consider upgrading to energy efficient appliances that will save more money in the long run. 

3.    Look at Replacement Logistics

Are you moving an existing refrigerator, washer, and dryer into your new home? Make sure they fit! Take stock of cabinetry widths, doorways, etc. that might dictate the size of appliance you can put in your new home. Also take a look at fitting and hoses to make sure that 1) there are no cracks and 2) they are the right size for the new space.

If you have buying a new home and looking for a Dallas appliance repairman to help repair existing appliances or just have appliance questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Appliance Rescue Service! We are proud to be one of the best appliance repair companies in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. 

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Appliance Service Call

At Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, we’ll be the first to acknowledge that anything related to maintenance and repairs is a hassle. It’s just one more thing to worry about, coordinate, and schedule.

This is why Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in Dallas, Texas – strives to make the process as painless as possible. Our technicians genuinely want to make the repair process as painless as possible so that you can get back to life. In the event that you do need to call a Dallas appliance repairman, here are 4 ways that you can make the most of your appliance service call:

1.  Clear the Path to Your Appliance

This may seem like a no brainer, but our technicians have often shown up and waited as a customer cleans up and removes stuff from around the appliance so that we can diagnose the repair. By cleaning up around the appliance before, you are helping us get our job done more quickly and efficiency.

2.  Ask Questions to Understand What Went Wrong

Having our appliance repair experts in your home is like being in the room with your doctor. It’s your chance to ask any questions about what went wrong, how to avoid future issues, etc. while you have a captive audience. This gives you the opportunity to take preventive measures to avoid issues in the future – saving you time and money. 

3.  Request Maintenance Tips

On that note, it’s also a good idea to ask our team for maintenance tips that will prolong the life of your appliance. Our appliance repairmen in Dallas are expertly trained and can provide a wealth of information on how to get the most out of your refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc.

4.  Understand Your Warranty

At Appliance Rescue Service, each and every job we do is covered under our exceptional appliance repair warranty: 90 days on parts and 30 days on labor. Take time to ask any questions you may have about the warranty, and should you have issues after we leave, do not hesitate to call us so we can make it right!

4 Things Our Dallas Appliance Repair Technicians Will Never Do

It’s hard to find good help these days.

Once person’s experience often differs from another, but here at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, our goal is to provide consistent, top notch service to all our customers. And in keeping with that mantra, here are 4 things you’ll never see our Dallas appliance repair technicians do:

#1: Reuse Parts

Our technicians are highly trained in all appliance brands – from the big box retailers to the luxury brands – and no matter which brand we’re fixing, you won’t find us reusing parts. Each repair is done with brand new, factory parts and the old parts are yours to keep (or dispose of as you’d like). Occasionally, we’ll run into a computer board or transmitter that requires us to send it back to the manufacturer for replacement, and in these rare cases, if you choose to keep the part, we will need to add an additional core charge to the bill. But again, the option is always yours.

#2: Do the Work Without Approval

Each time a Dallas appliance repair technician from Appliance Rescue Service arrives at your home, he will write a full estimate, detailing the extent of the work in writing. It’s then your choice whether or not you’d like to proceed with the repair. Our technicians will never do the work unless you have signed the estimate for approval. Simple as that.

#3: Charge for Defects Within 90 Days of Original Repair

Each repair done by our Dallas appliance technicians is warrantied for 90 days of normal household use. That includes the part and the labor associated with that repair (30-day labor warranty), giving you peace of mind and assurance that if something isn’t installed right, we’ll make it right every time.

#4: Tell You Your Appliance Can’t Be Worked On

From Samsung, to Maytag, to Whirlpool, to Sub-Zero, and more, our technicians are expertly trained in all of the major appliance brands. We work hard to keep up our certifications, so that you can trust Appliance Rescue Service to handle any repair, any time, on any appliance.

So the next time you need Dallas appliance repair, call us at Appliance Rescue Service! We are proud to be a company you can trust.