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How The Appliance Shortage Got Here, And Where We Go Next

With vaccines being rolled out every day and mask restrictions being relaxed, many people think things are going back to normal. However, the appliance industry is showing that the effects of COVID-19 are going to  be felt for far longer than people anticipate. There is a massive appliance shortage not just here in Texas, but across the country.  So, how did it start, where is it going, and what can you do about it? 

Realistically, this shortage started almost right away in March of 2020 when we were beginning mass shutdowns across the country. It began in China where factories had to close for 6-8 weeks, which meant there was no stainless steel in production.  From there, the manufacturing plants for appliances in China, Mexico and the U.S. were either closed or had restrictions on how many people were allowed in. This meant that not only were the appliances delayed now, but so were the parts for those appliances. 

There were also businesses closing left and right, as  well as layoffs that swept the nation. So, people aren’t going to be shopping as much thanks to quarantine and shelter in place orders. With both of these factors going into play many of the manufacturers thought it was reasonable to scale back production. Stores felt the same and so they reduced their orders. 

Now let’s zoom in a bit, and take a look at the average person. As we were told to shelter in place, we needed ways to keep busy. So we looked around our homes and decided we wanted to bake sourdough bread. Or learn how to make new and exciting meals (that normally we’d get from takeout...) Some of us decided if we couldn’t go on vacation, we’d renovate our kitchens instead. Or others just had the bad luck of having their appliances break with all of the extra use from the family being home all day every day. 

All of this combined together meant a lot of time in our kitchens and the need for more appliances, or new appliances, or repairing our appliances. 

Then there’s a second angle to supply increase, the housing market. Even as COVID-19 happened, people were looking at buying new homes thanks to the Federal Reserve putting interest rates at 0%.  New homes were also still being built, and those come standard with a full appliance set of a microwave, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator and washer and dryer. So all of those homes still needed their slated appliances. 

All of this came together to create our current situation. Appliance backlogs of six months or more for specific brands and models. And let’s not even talk about being able to get the color you want.  

Several manufacturers are quoted as saying that they are ‘ramping up production’ or ‘being resourceful to meet demands.’ That isn’t showing in the market just yet though. Despite encouraging messages from Whirlpool, Electrolux and LG, we still have backorders of at least 6 months. 

So what to do? How do you, our loyal readers and clients, deal with this not six months from now, but right now? We know you have appliances that are still breaking, or ones you’re hoping to replace.  For the latter, we advise being flexible. Place an order as early as you can.  Know that the size you need is more important than specifics of the brand and model. If you can find a fridge that fits what you need and isn’t a sacrifice  on price, jump on it. 

If on the other hand your appliance has broken, we appreciate your patience. We are still working as hard as we can to take care of our clients throughout Dallas and the surrounding area. Know however that the manufacturing companies are backed up on parts as they are on the full appliances, with those full appliances taking precedence. Unfortunately for all of us, companies are focusing on the greatest profit margin they can attain right now, which means their higher tier models.  We understand your frustrations, and we hate it just as much. 

However! There are things you can do, other than just being the patient people we know and care about. 

Keep things clean and spaced properly. We’ve got several articles talking about how to make sure your fridge, freezer and dryer can breathe properly. 

If you aren’t sure, don’t put something through your dishwasher, washer or dryer. 

 Take preventative measures. If you think something is off with one of your appliances, give us a call. We do maintenance calls, and right now “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” for you, your time and your wallet.  

So while we aren’t sure about when things will change for the better, we can tell you that we will be here. We’re here to keep your homes running, whether you live in Coppell or Garland, Dallas or McKinney, we at Appliance Rescue Service are here for you. 

If you need to set a maintenance appointment, or something in your kitchen has broken, give us a call. You can reach us at ((214) 599-0055), our website, or via our Facebook page. 

We can only hope that our stores and showrooms will one day go back to showing appliances this way and having sales like this.

Set It and Forget It Rice Dinner

Stuffed Full Of Flavors And Textures

Time for a set it and forget it dinner! We've done a bunch of "easy" dinners in a row, but the common denominator with all of them is that they require you to be present and, well, actively cooking them. This one breaks that mold. All you do with this one is dump it into the slow cooker (or instant pot, if you'd rather), give it a stir, and allow it to cook. The end. It's that simple. As long as you plug the thing in and turn it on, you'll come home to dinner. And if you use one of those fancy crock pot liners, you won't even have a pot to wash!

Ingredients:

2 links smoked turkey sausage (we like Oscar Meyer brand)

1 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted; your choice - can substitute margarine)

2 cups brown rice

4 1/4 cups water

1 can kidney beans, drained

1/2 yellow onion

1 celery stalk

1 bag frozen peas and carrots

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 teaspoon dry mustard powder (please do not substitute seeds)

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon fennel (optional; very strong stuff, and occasionally difficult to find)

salt and pepper, to taste

Tools:

Crock pot, crock pot liner (optional), knife, cutting board, colander (fine mesh), measuring cups and spoons.

Start by chopping your onion, celery and turkey sausage. Don't worry yourself too much about the idea of mixing meats and veggies at this step - the turkey sausage is precooked, so you have no cross contamination worries here.

We like to have big chunks of onion for this recipe, tiny crescents of celery and thin rounds of sausage. The variation in shape, size and texture helps make up for the fact the rest of this meal will be, for the most part, quite soft.

If you choose to use a crock pot liner, now is a good time to place it. Be sure to follow the package directions so it doesn't melt in and ruin your dinner! We love the liners because of the time savings on cleaning, but we will acknowledge it's an extra, technically unnecessary expense.

Drain your kidney beans through the colander and rinse them thoroughly. We don't want that canned taste transferring to the rest of the food (but we're using canned anyway, because we also don't want the time and effort of cooking from dry).

Once the beans are drained, pour them into the crock pot. You may need to readjust the liner a little after this step, assuming you've used one.

Measure out your rice and give it a quick rinse in the colander you just emptied. Just like veggies, make sure you wash off your rice! People often seem to skip this step, but any produce not marked "washed and ready to eat" technically deserves this extra attention. You may need to use a spoon (or your fingers, no judgement as long as they're clean) to get the rice back out of the colander and into the crock pot - expect this step to take a moment or two.

Now that you have your rice and beans in the pot, start adding your vegetables and the turkey sausage. It doesn't really matter what order you do them in, since we're going to give this all a good stir soon - but we prefer to get the frozen peas and carrots into the pot first because they're more likely to bounce. Somehow, peas in particular always seem bouncier when they're cold.

After all of the meats and veggies have joined the starch party already in the bottom of the crock pot, measure out your water and add it in. Make sure you don't rush here and measure inaccurately. Too little water means crunchy rice, and too much water will lead to a porridge-like substance that only smells like food.

Now it's time for you to add the spices. If you come across anything in the list of spices you don't like, feel free to substitute. This recipe is flexible and very forgiving. Assuming you use the suggested spices, toss them in the pot and give everything a good stir. Make sure the chunks of dry mustard, in particular, have dissolved (too much mustard in a bite can really put you off the rest of the meal). Now add in that chunk of butter, cover everything over, and set the crock pot on low for about eight hours.

After your workday is over, you'll come home to a hot meal with minimal effort. And even if you didn't use a crock pot liner, you'll have next to no dishes! 

Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook if you decide to give this a try! We’d love to hear how it goes and anything you add to it. 

If on the other hand your stove is giving you trouble and that’s the reason you need a set it and forget it meal, we can still help. Give us a call at ((214) 599-0055)  or visit our appointment page.

Lightening the Load of Moving

Tips and Tricks to Make Changing Houses Easier

Whether you’re moving down the street, three states over, or to a new country, moving is a PAIN. We know it, you know it, and the moving companies know it. There are a few tricks that can make your life easier though. 

Make a checklist for before, during and after the move. 

This should be based on how you’re going to do things. What order do you want to get things done? The people over at moving.com have a fantastic checklist that breaks things down from 8 weeks prior all the way through your first month after. 

Start at least 3, if not 6 months before the move and go through everything. 

If you haven’t used it, if you can’t use it, or if you don’t care about it, donate it! Why waste time and energy moving it if you don’t need it or won’t use it? Better to get rid of it now! 

Yes, we do mean everything. From clothes, linens and toys, to books, appliances and furniture, there’s always someone out there that could use it. (We would say sell it via something similar to NextDoor but a) they’re not sponsoring us and b) selling stuff takes more time that you may or may not have!) Check out your local goodwill, habitat for humanity and your library to see what they can take and if they  can’t make other suggestions in your area. 

Make a moving folder, or binder. 

This should be both a physical file and a digital one. This way, even if you don’t have signal or battery, you still have access to all of the papers you need. This should include all of the following: 

New addresses

Rental or purchasing papers

Utilities - when you called, who you talked to, the dates for things being turned off and on at your different residences. As well as receipts. 

Any receipts from purchases you’ve made for moving and packing materials. 

Agreements with movers, or truck rental dates and receipts.  

If you keep hold of it, if anything goes wrong, you’ll have the answers to hand. This should stay with you at all times before and during the move. We suggest making sure you know where it is for at least a year afterwards as well, just to be safe. 

Invest in supplies ahead of time. 

The last thing you want while packing boxes or loading the truck is to have to run to the store. 

So stock up ahead of time on these things. 

Boxes

Tape - both colored and packing

Bandages

Paper towels

Garbage bags

Box cutters

Paper plates 

Furniture pads or covers 

Create a floor plan and color code it. 

If you already know where you’re going, that’s great! Grab a couple of copies of the floor plan and some varieties of duck tape. We suggest either bold primary colors, or wild patterns, a different variety of tape for each room.  

Now, every box that goes into a specific room in your new home should have a strip or square of tape on it that matches the room it's going to. This way as you’re unloading the truck it’s easy to say exactly where something goes without having to stop and think about it. 

You can also use a number system to organize your boxes. 

Using a notebook or a document on your phone, you can keep a breakdown of what each box contains. This makes things more organized when you’re unpacking. You can go through the list and pull only the boxes you need at a given time to unpack. 

Pack ahead of time, as far ahead as possible.  

Even if you haven’t found /exactly/ when you’re moving yet, and you just have a general time frame, the sooner you start packing, the sooner you’ll be done.  It also means you’ll have less to stress about as the date comes closer. 

Two places to start are out of season clothes/linens and items you won’t miss.  

Book early 

Moving services, rental trucks, professional movers, all book well ahead of time. The earlier you can book, the better. 

Pack and clearly label your LIFO box. 

Wondering what LIFO means? Last In, First Out. This is the box or suitcase that stays with you during the move , and should content all the things you’re going to need for the first day in your new place, or during a moving trip. 

A change of clothes for everyone, a toothbrush, must have stuffed animals, medications, paperwork, etc. 

When it comes to packing, there are a few rules to run through.  

Size should be inverse to weight. 

Use small boxes for heavier objects like books. 

This means that the boxes will a) be less likely to break open during transit and b) be easier to move. 

Use larger boxes for lighter things like pillows, bedding and the like. 

Put the heaviest things on bottom and don’t leave spaces.

If you don’t have enough for a box, or you feel it’s already heavy enough, use clothing, towels, bubble wrap or packing paper to fill the excess space. Not only does this keep things from shifting too much, but by going from heaviest to lightest, things are less likely to be damaged en route. 

Tape the way professional movers do. 

Use a couple of pieces across the top and bottom seams of the box. Then wrap all the way around the edges of the box, again top and bottom. This strengthens the edges where the most stress is. 

Be extra careful when packing your kitchen. 

We suggest watching videos like this one to learn how to pack plates. This one for packing cups, glasses and stemware. This one for packing pots and pans. And for everything else in your kitchen, we have this post from our archives. 

Know how to pack your TVs or Computer monitors. 

Plasma TVs and monitors require special boxes for shipping due to how wretchedly delicate they are. If you don’t have the original box and foam it came with, you’ll need to hunt down one of those special boxes. Whatever you do, don’t just wrap them in furniture quilts or lay them flat or you’ll be shopping for a new one once you get unpacked. 

How do you go about planning for a move? Do you have tips and tricks that we missed out on? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook! We’d love to get a conversation going to help out more people. 

Whether you’ve been in Coppell and the surrounding area for years, or you’ve just moved in, Appliance Rescue Service is here to help. Whether you need someone to take a look at a dishwasher that won’t drain, or a  fridge that isn’t working, we’ve got you covered. Or if you just want someone to take a look at all of your appliances to let you know how to keep them maintained, we can do that too. You can get hold of us at ((214) 599-0055) or by visiting our website. 

Seared Ravioli With Italian Chicken

Comfort Food That Works On The Run

Welcome back to that lovely time every year where the weather has no better idea what it's doing than we do! Even the professionals appear to be clueless. Centuries of weather research and technology, and still the best we can do is educated guesses.

This week, let's do a recipe that can be a comfort food on chilly, rainy, dreary days... But that doubles as something easily portable in the event the weather is actually pleasant and the games or outdoor plans are good to go. (We've all had those nights, haven't we? The ones where we're sure beyond sure that the soccer games would be cancelled, only to hear from the coach two hours beforehand that the field is dry enough for the kids to play? That's just our house?)

Let's make some seared ravioli with Italian chicken!

Ingredients:

1 25 ounce package frozen cheese ravioli (or 48 ounce, depending on how much your family eats per meal)

1 pound thin chicken cutlets or tenderloins (again, adjust to how much your family eats)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 10 ounce bottle Italian salad dressing

1 8 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

1/2 of a small yellow onion

1 zucchini

2 cups fresh spinach

2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram

salt and pepper, to taste

Tools:

Knife, cutting board, dutch oven or deep pot with lid, colander, mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons

Fill your pot up with water, plop the lid on it and turn up the heat - we'll have to boil your ravioli for a few minutes to start off. But we can make use of the time we'll spend waiting for it to boil. Whatever you do, don't check on it too frequently. Surely you know a watched pot won't boil (okay, it will, but why bother staring at it? It's boring).

While we're waiting for the water to come up to a boil - and totally not looking at it, right? - take the half an onion and your zucchini and dice them up. Smaller chunks for pickier eaters, just like the last few veggie recipes (or if you really want to hide them, shred them with a grater). Open and drain your can of tomatoes. Put your tomato and zucchini together into the mixing bowl and set them aside for later. If you've grated the onion, you can add that here, too - but if it's diced, you'll want to sauté it. We'll address that in a later step.

By now the water should be boiling. Drop in your frozen ravioli - being mindful of the splashes, of course - and set the timer for about two minutes shy of however long the package says they'll take. For example, if the package says five minutes, it's wiser to go with three minutes for the purposes of this recipe. You can always cook them a little longer if necessary, but you can't un-boil them if you overdo it.

Once your ravioli are par-cooked, drain them into the colander and put the pot back on the burner. Add that olive oil to the pan and once it's back up to medium heat, put in your chicken. Sear the chicken for about five minutes each side. We find it helpful to put the lid on while the chicken is cooking, since it usually means fewer oil spatters to clean up later.

After you've cooked your chicken (if you're not sure, check it with a meat thermometer!), drop your diced onion into the pot and sauté it until it's translucent. (This adding-onions step only applies if you did, in fact, dice your onion instead of grating. If you grated it, skip to the next step. No, that's not an excuse to skip checking if your chicken is done.) 

Make sure you still have some oil left in the pan. If not, add a little more, because we're about to add pasta. Ravioli sticking to the pan at this stage will lead to ravioli pieces after the next step, so this ‘checking for oil’ thing is highly important for presentation value. Take your ravioli from the colander and add them to the pan in a single layer. Keep the heat on medium and sear the outsides of them. Flip once you can both smell and hear them getting a good sizzle on. You might need to remove them to make room for another wave - if you do remove some, put them in a covered dish to keep them warm, and allot a little extra time when you mix everything together just to make sure they're as warm as the rest of the meal.

When your ravioli are nice and toasty, go ahead and pour in your vegetable mix from a few steps ago. This is a good time to add your seasonings (the garlic powder, parsley, oregano, marjoram, salt and pepper) too, and to add back any ravioli you may have had to set aside. Add in your spinach, and give it a good stir - we want to wilt the spinach, but we don’t want it to disintegrate. Cover the pot again and let everything simmer for about three or four minutes.

Now comes the fun part. Taste test! Everyone reacts differently to seasonings, and everyone's preferences are individual. That's why we saved that Italian dressing until the very end. The dressing is a very punchy taste, and it can quickly take over a dish if you aren't careful. So add however much or little you prefer to your portion, and allow the rest of your family to do the same. That should prevent the worst of the "I don't like it" faces from the kids and veggie haters.

So, what’s your opinion on this one? Does it sound tasty enough for a weeknight attempt? Or are you still a little unsure? Let us know in the comments below or over on  our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you. 

And if maybe your appliances are making you make some faces, give us a call. We can't fix it if your face gets stuck like that (thanks, Mom) - but we can do something about the machines. You can get hold of us at our website, or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055).

9 Things Your Dryer Hates

Have you ever talked to someone that swears by putting their sneakers in the dryer? It sounds crazy, but it really works. On the other hand, there are some things that just don’t. We’ve talked before about things that don't belong in your dryer. But apparently there are even more things than we covered that time. Some of these things will ruin your dryer, some of them will be ruined by your dryer. That’s why we’ve split this list in two to make navigating them easier. 

Things That Will Ruin Your Dryer 

Towels & Beachwear Covered in Sand

Did you enjoy your time at the beach? Great!  Your dryer doesn’t though. Sand can easily get trapped between the gaps in the drum. This means not only will you be shaking sand out of your laundry for months after, but it can also damage your dryer over time Just like sand can be used to scrub away at stones, the continual rotation and scouring will wear away at your dryer’s components. 

Pet Hair, Your Dryer Don’t Care  

It gets everywhere and we even joke about feeling bad for people who don’t know this particular hassle. However, pet hair should not be allowed to get into your dryer. Pet hair, like lint and debris, build up in your dryer over time. If you don’t empty out your lint screen before every load, it’s also going to be building up in your dryer’s exhaust. All of these flammable materials slowly push your dryer towards the likelihood of catching on fire one day. 

Flammable Stains And Dryers Just Don’t Mix

Gas, paint, oil, and paint thinner. Your washer has a hard time getting these out of your clothes. So, while we might think it’s obvious not to put flammable things into the dryer, people still do with these. Unfortunately, just one run through the washer isn’t enough to get them out, which means the residue is still then when you transfer the load to the dryer.  Running clothes with any of these on them through your dryer can all too easily lead to fire, an explosion, or death. 

Chewing Gum Double Bubble Trouble

Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish, how many dryers do you wish? Yes, we know that’s not the original lyrics, but we also know that chewing gum is just as dangerous to your dryer as it is to your clothes. While we don’t typically intend to toss clothes with gum into the dryer, it does happen occasionally, especially if you have kids. If you’re lucky, this means that the clothes will be permanently sticky. If you’re not lucky, this can mean the gum is stretched across the walls of your dryer. 

Rubber Backed Bath Mats or Carpets

We love these things. They’re fluffy, they’re easier to wash than scrubbing your floors and they keep you from slipping. 

Despite all that, tossing them into your dryer, causes quite a mess. The high heat dries out the rubber which then crumbles. As it works itself loose over time, it can make a mess on your floor or get stuck inside your dryer. And if there’s one thing we’ve seen so far it’s that letting things get stuck in your dryer is never good for that dryer.  

Things That Get Ruined By Your Dryer

Anything Embellished

Sequins and rhinestones and gems, oh my! 

This first one is capable of both being ruined by your dryer and also, depending on the garment, ruining your dryer. Yay a two-for-one! (No, we’re kidding there. Please don’t ruin your dryer.) Even the most well-secured embellishments don’t fare long inside a dryer. All too easily the threads, setting or glue can come undone and be lost in the dryer.  Then you end up with a much less impressive garment, and a noisy dryer. 

Tights or Pantyhose

Assuming that your tights are made of something other than plastic, they still don’t need to see the inside of your dryer. Even if they aren’t fused or stretched by the heat, they can still be destroyed by it.  Any tiny holes that you didn’t notice beforehand can quickly become a giant run that stretches the majority of one leg. 

Suede 

If you’ve ever accidentally left a plastic plate next to your toaster oven and then let the metal portion touch said plate, you’ve probably seen how stretchy plastic can be. So, while some suedes can definitely go through the washer, ironing and the dryer are most definitely out. 

Activewear 

While this one isn’t a threat to your dryer unlike the last, it is a threat to your wallet. Most activewear is developed from technical materials for a host of benefits. Everything from moisture-wicking, protecting you from the sun, and shaping components. Unfortunately, those technical materials aren’t meant to combat the high heat of your dryer and come out unscathed. So, rather than having to replace it, we advise hanging your activewear or laying it flat to dry. 

A few other materials that shouldn’t go through your dryer, for their own sake. 

Spandex - Again, the stretchy components get degraded by the heat and shrink way too far. 

Silk - Silk, and dryers do not mix. Period. Excessive heat dulls silk and can cause it to shrink. Additionally, the friction between the silk and the dryer can cause snags in the material and white streaks. 

Lace - Lace is very delicate and can easily be torn, snagged or stretched out by rattling around your dryer. 

Did we miss any? Do you know of ways to safely put any of these through the dryer? Let us know over on our Facebook, or in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you. 

If on the other hand you /did/ put one of these through the dryer and now said dryer is being uncooperative, we get it. If you live in Addison, or the general area, we’d love to help. Appliance Rescue Service is here to help, whether you’re facing off with a dryer that has too much sand, or a refrigerator that’s forgotten how to keep things cool. You can reach out to us via our website or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055 ). 

Additional Reading:


What You Want to Know About Heat Pump Dryers

Dryer Deep Dive

6 Things Your Should Never Put In Your Dryer

Why You Need To Clean Your Dryer Vent 

9 Things Your Dryer Hates

9 Electric Dryers At 3 Different Price Points