3 All in One Washer Dryer Combos From LG

We’re looking at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly about these compact appliances. 

A few weeks ago we were looking at dryers, both electric and gas and came across something new. Well, new to your blogger anyway. An All-In-One washer and dryer combo. Now, the majority of our clients don’t need them, but you might have children going off to college or moving out on their own. These units are.. Interesting, and that’s what we’re going to be taking a look at today. We’ve chosen to look at three of them from LG to see what can be done to best exemplify what the machines can do. 

 

Model: WM3488HW All in One Washer and Dryer Combo

Brand: LG 

 

Features: 

Sanitize Setting

Short Cycles

Can dry thick or bulky items

Nine Wash cycles including hand wash garments

Dryer mode kicks on automatically. 

Ventless Dryer 

Notes: An average wash and dry cycle should last between 2-4 hours, depending on size. It’s not the best on the market, but it’s also not the worst.  

Model: WM3998HBA  All-in-One Washer Dryer Combo

Brand: LG

Features: 

4.5 cu ft drum

Three and half hours for a full cycle

Connects to your phone

3 different dryer cycles

Specialty settings including for activewear and wools

Model: LUWM101HWA Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Washer and Dryer Combo

Brand: LG Signature 

Features:

Can be remotely controlled

Has an automatic dispenser for detergent

Can be paired with a pedestal washer. 

Has one of the largest load sizes at 2.8 cu feet

The digital touchpad can be a bit finicky, which is something we don’t like about it. Much like your phone you swipe left or right to access the full menu. Also like your phone, you need to ensure your hands are dry or else the input isn’t recognized. 

The automatic dispenser will gauge the load size and dispense the correct amount. 

After looking over the three different models from LG, here are the good things we could see about an all-in one. They can fit just about anywhere. Depending on your home this could mean that you could tuck it into a corner of your kitchen, or you could have a storage room that you keep it in when its not in use and just wheel it to where you want when it’s laundry day.  If you have a 120V outlet you can put one of the units there, and then when you’re done, wheel it back into storage.  The majority of the models out there, not just the three that we showed today, are ventless. This is great because you don’t have to have external ducting and you don’t have to worry about them filling your home with lint while they run.  Many models are engineered to be conscious of water and energy use.  There are models that can handle thicker materials like bedding, towles and dog beds for those who need those features. 

Naturally though, there are some downsides, and here is where the all-in-one hits some problems. They cost as much, if not more just buying a standard washer and dryer set. They do radiate moisture from both the front and back panels, which is something you need to be aware of whether you set them in one space or have them mobile.  Not all of them are ventless many are, but not all. Then you have the issues that any washer or dryer is going to have, like vibrating, noise levels, and having specific detergents that you can or cannot use. Still we think that despite these drawbacks, an all-in-one does have its uses, depending on what your needs are. 

So, that is three different models of all-in-one washer dryer combos made by LG. We still think that they’re a better option than having to drag your clothes over to the cleaners or a laundromat every week. They do have some drawbacks, but we think that for what they are, they are incredibly useful.  What about you? Do you know anyone who could put one of these to use? Or are you looking to revamp your laundry room and turn it into something else? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you. 

Don’t forget that if your appliances are giving you trouble, we’re here for you. Whether you live in  Carrollton or the surrounding areas, we can help. If you’ve got an appliance that’s broken, or you just need some tips on how to maintain them, we want to help. You can give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out to us through our website. At Appliance Rescue Service, we aim to be the best for you.  

Party Snack Dinners

When you don’t feel like sitting down to a meal, but you need something more.

Super Bowl Sunday has come and gone - and like most families here in the U.S., your family probably ate so many snacks during the big game that dinner went by the wayside last weekend.

Here's the thing, though. Snack-y delicious things can still be considered dinner. There is no rule that you can't eat hors d'oeuvres and party food whenever you feel like making it.

In this post, we'll cover a couple of easy, tasty finger foods you can dash together on a weeknight and share with the family or a visiting friend. (Who says Wednesday can't be family movie night?)

Stuffed "Sandwiches"

It's less of a sandwich and more of a stuffed slice of bread... But it's an uncommon, tasty finger food. Plus, it's neither terribly messy nor expensive to make.

Ingredients:

One large loaf of Italian or French bread

8 oz softened cream cheese (we suggest the garden vegetable flavor Philadelphia brand, or spicy jalapeno flavor if you'd prefer some heat)

3 oz crumbled cooked bacon

1/2 cup matchstick carrots, chopped down

1/2 cup baby spinach, shredded

1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped

1 3 oz package sun-dried tomatoes (we like Bella Sun Luci brand)

handful of black olives, chopped

4 oz shredded cheese of your choice

Fresh or dried parsley, for garnish

Tools:

Cutting board, bread knife, paring knife, baking sheet, large bowl, spoon 

Allow your cream cheese to come up to room temperature while you work; the softer it is, the easier it will be to mix in your other ingredients.

Preheat your oven (or toaster oven if you'd rather) to 350.

Grab the bread knife and cut your loaf of bread into 3/4" to one inch thick slices. Use the paring knife to scoop out the centers of each slice to make each into a shallow bread boat. Make sure you only cut about halfway into the center - you still want it to be able to hold the cream cheese mixture. In the event any of your slices have a hole from an air bubble in the dough, consider covering it over with a spinach leaf to stop too much of the cheese from oozing out during the baking process.

Once your slices are scooped out, place them open side up on your baking sheet.

Chop up your carrots, bell pepper, olives and spinach as fine as you'd like them - and if your tomatoes are large pieces, you might consider cutting them down as well. Transfer all the cut veggies to the bowl.

If you're working with fresh parsley, now is the time to cut it - but don't mix it in with the other veggies.

Toss the crumbled bacon in with the veggies, then add your softened cream cheese. Give everything a good stir to make sure it's evenly distributed.

Spoon an even amount of the cream cheese mixture into each of your scooped out bread slices and level it out.

Cover the top of each slice in shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 until the shredded cheese is melted and the bread is lightly toasted.

Sprinkle on the parsley before serving. These "sandwiches" are best served with chips (which can function as a utensil, too, if the cheese mixture escapes!). 

Peanut Butter Cup Hummus

We know, no one thinks sweet when someone says hummus. But believe it or not, you can make sweet versions! And you can even make them out of things you probably have on hand already.

Once it's ready, use it as a dip for apple slices (Gala apples are excellent for this). The kids will never realize they're eating a vegetable.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked chickpeas

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons peanut butter

3 tablespoons honey or corn syrup

5 tablespoons baker's cocoa

2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk

a pinch of salt

Tools:

Food processor, measuring cup and spoons, bowl(s) to serve.

Cook up some chickpeas, or open up a can. You'll need about a cup of them, drained and rinsed.

Pour the rinsed chickpeas into the food processor, and measure in the peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract.

Process on low for a few seconds at a time, scraping down the sides when you pause. If the mixture seems too sticky or too inclined to climb up the sides, you can add some water a tablespoon at a time - but be careful not to add too much and thin it out. It can be pretty difficult (and messy!) to dip an apple slice in something soupy.

Once you've got the chickpeas processed down to a mostly smooth consistency, measure in the cocoa and milk and hit the button on the processor again a time or two to mix it all in.

Make sure you taste test at this stage, to figure out whether or not you need more sweetener, and/or how much salt you'd like to add. Everyone's family is different - we recommend finding the pickiest eater in the house and using them as the guinea pig.

Once you've adjusted to account for the picky eaters in the house, scoop some out into a shallow dish for every member of the family and cut up some apples to share. Pretzels also work well with this hummus, as do chunks of banana (toothpicks or forks help cut down on the sticky fingers problem with the bananas).

Hopefully this filling, deceptively healthy “dessert” joins the rotation in your family too!

If you liked this week’s post, drop us a line in the comments below or over on our Facebook, we’d love to hear from you! 

If on the other hand you showed up here because you need help with your appliances, we can help there too. We aim to be the best appliance repair company in Plano and the surrounding area, and that means we’re here, whatever your appliances need. You can reach out to us via our website or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055).  

Just How Green Is Your Kitchen Routine?

Do you have room to grow or are you the reigning royalty? 

How green is your kitchen routine really? Sure, you recycle some things, and you work on cutting down your electric bill. But is there more that you can do, without having to go overboard? That's what we're tackling this week with a quick true or false quiz. We'll take a look at different things in your kitchen and what you can do to start making a change in your home. 

True or False: Cooking isn't somewhere you can conserve energy. 

Surprisingly enough, this is false. There's actually a couple of different ways that you can tackle this one. You can start by just not opening your oven while you're cooking or baking. Just like with your fridge, every time the oven door is opened it needs to bring the oven back up to temperature, which means more electricity used. You can also look at reorganizing how you cook your meals. Using an instant pot or making one-pot meals both go a long way towards reducing the amount of energy you're using without being too time-consuming. You've also got batch cooking. By that we mean that you'd do most of your cooking just one or two days during the week. You'd organize your meals for the week so that you used similar components several times, in different ways, you're cutting down on both energy used, grocery money and saving yourself time. 

True or False: I know what cleaners I can make at home, and which I need to purchase. 

This one is as much about being green as it is about being safe. Some cleaners you can make at home, like everyone's favorite mix of vinegar, water and dish soap. Others, like CLR aren't something you want to try mixing, no matter what internet recipes say. Remember, chlorine is not something you should EVER be mixing with other chemicals. 

True or False: My refrigerator is performing at optimal cool. 

This is one we've talked about in the past for cutting down on your electric bill. You can help your fridge run its best, by keeping the coils free from dust, and by leaving enough room for air to circulate in the fridge. So, don't stuff the fridge to the maximum is what we're saying. By packing everything in there, your  fridge can’t breathe and needs to work twice as hard to cool everything down. 

True or False: I let my dishwasher handle the heavy work. 

You've heard it before, but letting your dishwasher run without it being full just wastes your water. If you make sure to run it at night during non-peak hours, and that it's fully loaded, you'd be surprised by how much you can cut back your water and electricity usage. According to Energy Star, you actually save 75% on your water and energy bills compared to washing by hand or running the dishwasher when it's not full. 

True or False: I know all about reusable containers.

You have your standard plastic containers, we all know those. But there are other options these days that might be more versatile to your needs. You can get beeswax reusable wraps, instead of using plastic wrap. Or you can get silicone pouches to replace using ziploc bags. You can also choose to replace your existing plastic containers for something like stainless steel or glass. You can even be really smart and use all of the glass canning jars from different crafts you meant to do off Pinterest. 

True or False: If I buy it, I'm going to find a way to reuse it. 

Speaking of Pinterest, have you ever noticed how many different ideas there are for how to reuse things? You have so many options ranging from containers made from coffee creamers to using soda bottles to make ropes. 

True or False: A leaky faucet isn't that big of a deal. 

Nope. Your blogger thought this wasn't that big of an issue either, and was summarily trounced by her next water bill. A faucet that leaks at 1 drop per second can add up to more than 1500 gallons of water per year. Which means the water isn't being utilized, and it's also costing you. 

So how did you rank? Did you learn anything new or are you the green kitchen queen or king? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page, we'd love to hear from you. We'd also love to hear any other suggestions you might have on how to green up other areas of your home. 

While we did talk quite a bit about cutting back on your electric and water bills, there's something else that you can do to help. By calling in for regular maintenance for your appliances, you also help cut back on those bills. After all, a machine that isn't running properly isn't going to be using energy efficiently. Whether you want us to take a look and give you tips, or you  have something you need fixed, we're here. We want to be the best in appliance repair for Frisco and that means doing our best by you, our patrons. You can reach out to us via our website or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055). 

9 Electric Dryers at 3 Different Price Points

Pitting Electric Dryers Head to Head to Find YOU the Best Option

Welcome back everyone! This is the comparison on electric dryers that we promised you last time when we were pitting gas dryers against each other. Just like last time we’re hoping that if you’re looking for a new electric dryer that this will be your go-to guide. We’ve got 9 different dryers at 3 different price points, listing off all of the features they have and the ones they don’t, to help you find the best choice for your budget. At the end of each section we’ve put our vote in the ring based on what we know about the different models. 

800 or less

LG  DLE3400W - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $795

Features:

Moisture sensor 

Electronic controls

Ability to turn off your end of cycle signal

Drum light

Custom programs

Duct Blockage Indicator

Energy Star Rated

Features It’s Lacking:

Stainless Steel Drum

Drying Rack

Steam Option

WiFi

Samsung  DV42H5000EW - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $719

Features:

Drying Rack

Custom Programs

Moisture Sensor

Ability to turn off End of cycle signal

Troubleshooting from your phone

Features It’s Lacking: 

Stainless Steel Drum

Steam Option

Whirlpool WED7000DW - Front Loading Electric  Dryer Price: $719 

Features:

Steam Option

Moisture Sensor

Ability to turn off the end of cycle signal

Extended Tumble

Lint Filter Alert

Features It’s Lacking:

Stainless Steel Drum

Drying Rack

Custom Programs

WiFi

Our vote: Out of the three of these, we’re inclined to go with the LG dryer. Not only does it have the widest assortment of features, but it also has the best ratings out of the three. 

An important note: Because this post is all about comparing different electric dryers at the different price points you will encounter, we did include the Samsung model. It’s a good price, and if you’re not aware of its issues, it can look like a great buy. However, we want to take a moment to point out that this particular model is known for issues. Many people who purchase it note that the heating elements break down after two years. So, although we have listed it, we do not recommend getting this model. 

800-1200

LG  DLEX4000W - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price:$995

Features:

Steam Option

Moisture Sensor

Ability to turn off end of cycle signal

Extended tumble

WiFi 

Compaitible with Alexa

Compatible with Remote Monitoring

Compatible with Google Home

Can be controlled remotely

AI Fabric Sensor

Can detect the size of the load and the type of fabric to choose the right settings for drying. 

Duct Clog Sensor

Lint Filter Sensor

LoDecible Operation - LG has worked hard to make this dryer quieter.

Energy Star Rated

Features It’s Lacking:

Stainless Steel Drum

Drying Rack

Custom Programs

Maytag MEDB955FW - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $1185

Features:

Drying Rack

Electronic Controls

Steam Option

Stainless Steel Drum

Drum Light

Custom programs

Duct Blockage Indicator

Moisture Sensor

Ability to turn off the end of cycle signal

Features It’s Lacking:

WiFi connectivity 

Kenmore Elite 61632  - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $1150 

Features:

Moisture Sensor

Duct Blockage Indicator

Steam Option

Drying Rack

Stainless Steel Drum

Ability to turn off end of cycle signal

Electronic Controls

Drum light

Custom Programs

Features It’s Lacking:

Lint Filter Sensor

WiFi Connectivity 

Our vote: Surprisingly, we have to vote for the LG dryer in this group as well. The LG is priced lower, has both duct and filter sensors and can be controlled remotely. It also has sensors to judge what type of fabric you’re asking it to deal with to allow it to select the best drying settings. In the long run that means your clothes should last longer. All of these together make an excellent package so far as we’re concerned. 

1200-1800

LG DLEX9000V  - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $1795 

Features:

Moisture Sensor

Duct Block Indicator

Electronic Controls

Steam Option

Ability to Turn off End of Cycle Signal

Custom Programs

Drum Light

Stainless Steel Drum

WiFi connected

Smart ThinQ -Gives you Smart Adapt and Smart Access to let you download new cycles and control the dryer remotely.

Smart Diagnosis - Helps you solve problems from your phone. 

LoDecible Quiet Operation

Features It’s Lacking:

Drying Rack

Maytag  MEDB955FCC - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $1399

Features: 

Drying Rack

Extended Tumble

Moisture Sensor

Stainless Steel Drum

Custom Programs

Steam Option

Lint Filter Sensor

Energy Star Rated

Sanitize Cycle

Features It’s Lacking:

WiFi Connectivity

Samsung  FlexDry DVE60M9900V - Front Loading Electric Dryer Price: $1799

Features:

Dust Block Indicator

Moisture Sensor

Electronic Controls

Drying Rack

Drum Light

Steam Option

Multiple types of steam cycles

Stainless Steel Drum

Ability to Turn off End Of Cycle signal

WiFi Connected 

Secondary Dryer on Top 

Energy Star Rated

Reversible Door

Features It’s Lacking:

Custom Programs

Our vote

For this one our round goes to…. Not the LG! For this one we’re actually giving the Samsung our vote. This particular model has very good reviews, and really works to make your life easier. We love the different steam options it covers, from Sanitize, Wrinkle Refresh, and even a Static Guard function. Take that and add to it the constant sensor on the ducts to keep your home safe? As far as we’re concerned, this model is the best. 

Those are three sets of different electric dryers at three different price ranges. Which one do you think you’re going to go for? Do you have any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you. 

If on the other hand you came here because you need someone to fix your current dryer, we are more than happy to help. We aim to be the best appliance repair service in Dallas and the surrounding areas and that means keeping your home running. Whatever appliance malfunction you’re dealing with, we won’t stop until we fix it or you tell us you’re done. You can reach out to us by calling us at ((214) 599-0055) or by making an appointment on our website. 

A Note About Pricing

Pricing on our blog is for reference only and may be subject to change. Prices fluctuate as demand and sales occur. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at the time of publishing. Please call the stores linked in the article for the most accurate pricing when you do your own research or purchasing

Slow Fast Food

Buffing up your lunch to turn it into a meal you’ll look forward to.

Do you ever get sick of pulling out your lunch and having it the same as several of your other coworkers? This week we're showing you how to start off with a basic cup of ramen, or other similar cup of Asian noodles and turn it into a proper meal. This should probably be done the night before, although if you get up early enough, you don't have to. If you add enough vegetables, you can also turn one cup of noodles into two separate meals. 

This recipe is meant to buff up a single cup of ramen or other Asian noodle fast foods. If you want to just feed yourself, think about each vegetable in the list as "how much of this can I eat in one sitting" rather than "what exact amount do I need." 

Ingredients: 

Ramen (cup)

Canned Meat (chicken or pork works best, but you can make other varieties too!) 

carrots

chives

celery 

onion 

cabbage (Napa if possible) 

baby spinach

mushrooms 

garlic 

Sesame oil (or vegetable oil if you don't have any) 

hard boiled eggs

Seaweed for garnish

Sauce Options

Sriracha

Hoisin sauce

Fish sauce

Peanut sauce 

Start with your cup of noodles. Admire the foam cup. Now set it aside. You're not going to need that 'til the very end. 

Now, let's go back over to your ingredients. Start by chopping up your vegetables. 

The point here is to get your veggies into sizes that are going to give your ramen different textures and layers. 

For the carrots, you'll want to either slice them like matchsticks or on a diagonal into thin layers. 

For the chives, you'll want cut them into slices, no more than 1/4 inch in length. 

Moving on to celery, this one is up to preference. You can do a fine chop and just use it for garnish, or you can slice them diagonally into chunks about 1/2" in length.

Next up is your onion. Again, this is up to preference. We like to go for strips rather than cubes because it adds more flavor and texture. However, you also have the option to dice them into chunks and just use them to flavor the ramen. 

Moving on to cabbage and baby spinach. For both of these shredding them is the best way to go, and both options work. 

Mushrooms, depending on the variety, have all sorts of options, based on the texture you want. We like to leave them whole, but you can dice them, turn them into chunks or matchsticks, whatever you like. 

Now that you're done with your vegetables, go ahead and mince your garlic. 

Heat a pan and toss in about one tablespoon of oil. Bring it up to medium heat and toss in your carrots and garlic. Once your carrots have begun to soften, add in the onion and the mushrooms. Your onions will be your unofficial guide for when to move on to the next step. You want to wait until the onions are partially translucent, and then add in the cabbage, spinach, chives and celery. At this point, turn the heat up and stir constantly. Keep the vegetables moving as you work them around. You can also add in any spices you want. A good place to start is white pepper and sea salt. Once your vegetables are fully cooked, go ahead and turn off the heat. Set the pan to the side.

Now heat up some water and make the packaged ramen. While that is cooking, pull out the can of chicken or pork or whatever other protein you chose and crack that open. Make sure to remove any fats or liquids that naturally come about from the canning process (a quick rinse can also help if the meat tastes too much like the can it's been housed in). Use a fork to shred the meat, but don't remove it from the can just yet. 

Once your ramen is done cooking (usually about four minutes), dump it into a bowl and add all of your cooked veggies and the meat.  Toss in some sauce if you'd like, and garnish with some of that seaweed you totally didn't buy just for this recipe. Mix well and plate it up, for you or any other adventurous eaters. 

Now that you have the basic concept, take a look at the produce section next time you go to grocery store. What vegetables do they have that you could add in? Do they have any meats or seasonings that you could add to yours to make the dish taste better? It's fun to keep an eye out as you go through the store to see what combinations you can come up with, it also keeps lunch fresh and interesting. 

We hope you enjoyed this week's recipe, and that if you do try it, you'll let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

Don't forget that we're not just looking out for your meals. We also want to look out for your home. In the event you need something fixed, or if you're just interested in regular maintenance for your appliances, ARS wants to be there for you. Whether you're in The Colony or Coppell, we aim to be the best appliance rescue service for you and your home.  You can always call us at ((214) 599-0055) or get hold of us via our website.