Your Dryer’s Dirty Secret: The Lint Trap

When was the last time you cleaned your dryer’s lint trap?

Keeping a dryer’s lint trap (or lint catch as some call it) clean is vital to optimum dryer performance. Let Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas help shed a little more light on this important topic!

How often should a lint trap be cleaned?

The answer is simple: every single time to run the dryer. Lint – or the tiny particles of dust that come off of your clothing as they are drying – is an inevitable part of the drying process. If you do not remove the lint from the lint trap regularly, then the lint begins to build up and can cause Dallas dryer repairs.

What about cleaning the dryer vent?

If you really want to keep your dryer in peak operating condition and avoid Dallas dryer repairs, then plan to clean the dryer vent once every 3-6 months. While a lint trap catches most lint, it’s impossible for it to catch it all. What escapes can get stuck in the dryer vent, causing damage to the dryer – or worse – a house fire!

What are signs that my lint trap or dryer vent is clogged?

Normally, one of the first signs that you have a clog in the lint trap or the dryer vent is that clothes become difficult to dry. It might take more than one cycle to dry, or it may never get dry at all!

If you begin to experience issues with your dryer or suspect a clogged dryer vent, be sure to call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas for all of your Dallas dryer repair needs. Appliance Rescue Service serves the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and fixes everything from dryers, to dishwashers, to refrigerators, and more. Give us a call today!

Appliance Ratings: Most Reliable Refrigerator Brands

At Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, we not only want to save you money when doing Dallas appliance repairs, but we also want to recommend brands that are going to perform well, day in day out. Take a look at this list of the most reliable refrigerator brands, as rated by Consumer Reports:

French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Models

This refrigerator style has now become the most popular refrigerator configuration, as reported by Consumer Reports, and it’s not hard to see why! Many consumers want to see their food at eye level, not bend now and dig around in lower level crisper drawers and shelves. Of these models, Consumer Reports rates the Kenmore brand as the most reliable, beating out other popular brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid.

Side-by-Side Refrigerator Models

The second most popular type of refrigerator is the side-by-side model, with about 25% of respondents owning this type of refrigerator. Surprisingly, reliability numbers are pretty consistent across side-by-side brands, but Consumer Reports gives the nod to Samsung because of its impressive features, efficiency, and overall performance.

Top Freezer Refrigerator Models

Once the most popular type of refrigerator out there, top freezer models are now much less common. That being said, nearly 16% of respondents still own this style. If a top freezer is what you want, then go for Maytag or Frigidaire as the most reliable refrigerator brands.

Overall Refrigerator Brand Satisfaction

Don’t see your favorite brand listed above? Don’t worry. Refrigerators have come a long way, and brand satisfaction is very high across the board! When looking at overall brand satisfaction across all categories, all brands performed well, with standouts being LG at #1, Samsung #2, and Kenmore #3.

Hopefully this helps you select the most reliable refrigerator brands, but should you ever need Dallas appliance repair, be sure to call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service!

4 Steps To A Clean Range Hood

One of the most under appreciated appliances in the kitchen, range hoods are rarely cleaned. The result: gunky grease build-up that can be very tough to remove and slows down the overall efficiency of your unit!

Is your range hood and range hood filter in need of a little TLC?

Want to know how to clean your range hood and filter without harsh chemicals?

Read on for range hood spring cleaning tips from Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in Dallas:

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Chances are, you can find everything you need for range hood cleaning in your pantry. Grab the following supplies before beginning your project:

·     Large stock pot

·     Dish soap

·     Baking soda

·     Vinegar or Ammonia

·     Scratchless scrubbing sponge

Step 2: Create Your Cleaning Mixture

Begin by boiling water in your large stock pot, filling the pot ¾ of the way. Once water is boiling, pour in just a tiny dollop of dish soap. You want the water to boil and bubble, but not to boil over during the range hood cleaning process. Next, slowly pour in ½ cup baking soda until mixture is fizzing.

Step 3: Clean the Filter

Once the pot of water is fizzing, slowly lower the range hood filter into the solution. Watch it eat away at the grease and grime on your filter. Rotate the filter in the solution until all sides are clean. Is your filter too big for the pot? Lay it flat in a jelly roll pan and pour the solution over it to clean your range hood filter.

Step 4: Clean the Range Hood

Dip your sponge in the remaining solution and gently scrub the exterior of your range hood until the grime and grit is gone. If you feel like the solution is not doing a good enough job, add a touch of vinegar or ammonia to the sponge and continue scrubbing.

Hopefully this simple cleaning method will help you keep your range hood in perfect working order! Should you ever need range hood repair in Dallas, Appliance Rescue Service is here to help! Proudly serving Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Irving, Grapevine, Mesquite, Wylie, and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Appliance Spring Cleaning: The Refrigerator Edition

Throughout this spring season, Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in Dallas, Texas - will provide a series of appliance spring cleaning tips, designed to extend the life of your investment! So today, let's start with the refrigerator.

How often do you clean your refrigerator? Are you cleaning it properly? Follow these steps below to ensure everything continues to run smoothly and to avoid costly refrigerator repairs.

Step 1: Clean the Compressor Coils

This first step is one that many people skip completely! Twice a year, your refrigerator’s compressor coils – or evaporators as some manufacturers call them – need a good wipe down. Invest in a good coil brush (sold at most appliance stores) and quickly clear the coils of any debris or dust that might have floated in. Clearing away the gunk allows for the coils to run at their maximum efficiency.

Step 2: Throw Out Old Food & Condiments

When was the last time you used that fish sauce sitting in the door of your refrigerator? If you’re like most Americans, you tend to keep food items in the refrigerator long past their expiration. Give your refrigerator a good clean out and help it run more efficiently. Overfilling the refrigerator with food can lead to Dallas refrigerator repair because an overstuffed refrigerator runs overtime to keep the food cold.

Step 3: Wipe it Down

While wiping down the exterior of yoru refrigerator along with the shelves inside is an essential part of appliance spring cleaning, pay special attention to the gaskets. Sometimes food and spills can make the door gaskets sticky, cuasing them to breakdown and not seal properly.

Hopefully these spring cleaning tips will help you avoid refrigerator repair! Should you ever need Dallas refrigerator repair, call the experts at Appliance Rescue Service! Proudly serving Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Garland, and all of the DFW Metroplex.

5 Ways to Save Money When Running Your Dishwasher

At Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, our goal is to help preserve the life of your appliances, saving you money in the process. When one of our expert appliance technicians arrives at your home, not only will he give you an estimate for the Dallas appliance repair, but he will also offer tips and tricks for extending the life of your investment.

So today, Appliance Rescue Service wants to share a few tips on saving money while running a dishwasher:

1.  Read the Owner’s Manual

This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s an easy step to skip! Each dishwasher is different, but most manufacturers will provide tips and tricks for using their appliance in the owner’s manual. Slow down and take a peek in the manual for ways to optimize the performance of your particular machine.

2.  Only Run a Full Load

It can be tempting to run a partial load, but if you want to save on energy costs, wait for a full load instead. This practice maximizes each dollar you are spending on energy costs and your water bill. Can’t stand the idea of dirty dishes lurking about? Load them into the dishwasher as you dirty them and then run a rinse only cycle if you just can’t stand to wait a day for washing.

3.  Do Not Pre-Rinse

Did you know you can save 55,000 gallons of water over the life of your dishwasher, just by skipping the pre-rinse in the sink? That’s huge cost savings! Instead of rinsing, just thoroughly scrape all the scraps into the trash can. Today's dishwashers are equipped to handle the grime and grit that might be leftover.

4.  Run Your Dishwasher at Night

There are several cost savings benefits to running your dishwasher at night, as opposed to during the day. For one, many energy companies charge less for “off peak” hours than they do for daytime hours. Secondly, running your dishwasher can create heat, which adds to the strain on your air conditioner. And since we live in Texas, we know this is used during the majority of the year! Running the dishwasher at night, when the home is naturally cooler, reduces cooling costs.

5.  Skip the Drying Cycle

Simply choose not to run the drying cycle and you’ll save money in the process. Instead, invest in a high quality rinse aid that will dissolve spots and water marks, then pop your dishwasher open to let dishes air dry right after the cycle ends.

Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas is committed to helping you make the most of your appliances. As always, should you ever need Dallas appliance repair, call us today!