Tag Archives: appliance maintenance

Top Refrigerator Maintenance and Cleaning Hacks

 

Fridge Maintenance/CleaningRefrigerator maintenance and cleaning may not be high on your to-do list, but maybe it should be! A common mistake homeowners make is skipping refrigerator cleaning and periodic maintenance. No matter how hard you try to keep your favorite kitchen appliances spot cleaned, a full-scale attack is necessary every so often. If it’s been a while (or forever) since you’ve really cleaned your refrigerator, the following tips and tricks are bound to inspire you to don your gloves and line up your cleaning materials.

Why Maintain Your Refrigerator?

Cleaning your kitchen workhorse thoroughly kills germs and eliminates noxious odors. This also gives you the chance to throw out jars and food products that are long past their expiration dates. Perhaps the biggest benefit of refrigerator cleaning is removing the frost in the freezer or ice dispenser and killing the germs that can make you and your family sick. As a bonus, taking care of your appliances means they will last longer and require fewer repair calls.

Getting Started

To keep your fridge sparkling (and to avoid shopping for a new one soon), follow this periodic fridge-cleaning schedule.

  • Daily – Wipe up spills before they have a chance to dry. Also wipe the rims of jars, bottles and containers before storing them to stem the growth of bacteria.
  • Weekly – Wipe refrigerator doors with a cloth dampened with mild dishwashing detergent or white vinegar. Make sure to properly clean the handles, edges and top of the appliance.
  • Seasonally – At least twice a year, turn off your fridge and empty its contents before washing its shelves and crisper drawers.

Special Instructions

Refrigerator cleaning isn’t a herculean task, but the following tips will help you scrub less and keep your appliance spotless all year long.

  • Check the manufacturer’s manual for recommended cleaning products and detergents. You can also create your own rinse-free cleaner by combining a gallon of hot water, one cup of ammonia, half a cup of vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda.
  • Buff the exterior with paste wax to prevent grease buildup on the appliance’s exterior and to make wiping up spills a breeze.
  • If you have an odor issue, dampen a few cotton balls with vanilla or orange extract and tuck them in a corner inside the fridge.
  • Check your refrigerator for a drip pan, located at the bottom behind the grill. Not every model has one today, but if you have a bad odor you can’t quite get rid of, this is a likely possibility. Clean it thoroughly, rinse with white vinegar, and allow it to dry before tucking it back in.
  • To be thorough, switch off the fridge and gently vacuum the coils underneath or in back every few months.

Schedule a Maintenance Service

Last but not least, have your refrigerator checked over once a year by a professional appliance repair company. In Salt Lake City, Complete Appliance Repair is your go-to source for appliance sales, installation, service and repair. Contact them today as part of your proactive refrigerator maintenance program.

Will a Home Warranty Cover Appliance Repairs?

Occasional appliance repairs are a fact of life for most consumers today. As a result of recent economic conditions, many homeowners have elected to keep their old appliances rather thanAppliance Repair replace them with expensive new models. Consequently, the popularity of home warranty programs has increased. Although many benefits can be derived from these programs, so too can drawbacks. When it comes to your home appliances, the value may not justify the cost.

The Benefits of a Home Warranty

The cost of a home warranty today is typically between $500 and $800, depending on the options you choose. When an appliance in your home breaks, you simply contact the warranty company and they send out a contractor to do the repairs. You then pay a trade call fee to the contractor, typically between $75 and $125. Think of this much like your auto insurance deductible or health coverage co-pay. As long as the repair is covered, that’s your maximum out-of-pocket expense — theoretically. Unfortunately, these programs aren’t what they used to be even a few years ago.

Common Criticisms of Home Warranty Programs

Although the cost of a home warranty hasn’t gone up all that much, trade call fees were $35 only a few years ago. The maximum coverage limits have been scaled back as well, so many plans won’t pay out more than a set amount for any given repair. But what many home repair warranty customers are most bothered by are excluded items.

For example, most plans forbid appliance repair contractors from working on an appliance if you have changed out any factory-supplied parts. So if you have had to switch out your washer’s hoses because the factory hoses wore out, the repair tech may refuse to work on your machine. Even so, you’re probably still responsible for the trade call fee. Now you’re $100 lighter and you still have to call (and pay for) your own repair company.

Should You Purchase a Home Warranty?

New homes come with a builder warranty, so purchasing additional coverage won’t provide any value for you. If your home is historic or if you purchased it through a distress sale such as foreclosure, a warranty may be beneficial for covering unexpected system failures (assuming those are covered items under your plan). If the seller paid for your warranty when you purchased your home, you will likely derive benefit from it during the first year.

When it comes time to renew, however, experts advise careful consideration of the program’s value. Warranty companies, like any insurer, are in business to turn a profit. If you save money one year, the law of averages indicates that you may lose money on it the next. Read the fine print and be sure you understand all the details before shelling out the money to renew your plan.

Complete Appliance Repair, serving Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities, specializes in providing exceptional value for its customers. In many cases, their experienced repair technicians can complete the repairs on your appliances for less than a trade call might cost under a home warranty. Call on them for all of your heating and air conditioning repair needs, as well as for home appliance repairs, sales and service.

It’s Time for a Spring Air Conditioning Tuneup

Having a spring A/C tuneup is the best way to ensure a comfortable summer. An annual service and inspection will accomplish several important goals. With your AC running its best, you’ll AC Tuneupsave money and keep your cool. Even more importantly, your air conditioning equipment will last longer and require fewer repairs when it’s maintained regularly. You’ll be much less likely to experience unexpected outages too, especially when the temperatures soar.

Why Have an Annual AC Tuneup?

Research shows that having an annual inspection and maintenance service on your AC equipment can reduce system failures by as much as 90 percent and save up to 25 percent on your summer power bills. In addition to preventing system down time, it can provide significant savings in the long run. Catching a small problem during an annual service visit may cost a little money to repair at the time, but compared with having to replace the compressor later in the year, you’ll be ahead.

What Air Conditioner Maintenance Includes

When the service technician arrives, he or she will usually start by checking your thermostat’s operation and AC filters, then check supply and return temperatures. The tech will use specialized equipment to monitor the compressor and fan motor amperage and power draw, and check the level of coolant. Depending on your system and its condition, the technician may clean and lubricate bearings, clean and inspect condenser coils, and inspect and clean valves and the condensate drain. The tech will check electrical connections and look for loose wires or other potential problems too. Finally, he or she will remove any debris and bring to your attention anything that may require further service.

Ways You Can Help Keep Your AC Going Strong

Although having your annual service goes a long way toward keeping your equipment up and running, you can always do things to help. Despite the many new high-efficiency filter styles available today, experts warn against using those that restrict the air flow too much. Choose a filter that will catch as much dust and debris as possible, but that doesn’t make the system work too hard. Newer systems are able to operate using dense filters that remove more particles from the circulating air; however, many older systems are not able to function properly with a lower level of air flow. Ask your technician to recommend the filter that works best for your system’s configuration.

In northern Utah, Complete Appliance Repair provides a full range of appliance repair services and they install, repair and maintain heating and AC systems. They even offer critical air duct cleaning and inspections. If you want to keep your cool this summer, contact them today to schedule your AC tuneup.

How to Clean Refrigerator Coils

If you have clean refrigerator coils, you’re reducing your risk of appliance failure by almost 75 percent. The coils are what keeps refrigerant flowing. If they become coated in greasy grime Refrigerator Coilsand pet hair, the unit struggles to work and will eventually fail. Fortunately, the cleaning process is quick and easy. If you maintain your kitchen appliances properly, they will provide you with trouble-free operation for years to come.

Why Clean Your Refrigerator Coils

When dust, animal fur and other debris builds up on your refrigerator’s condenser coils, the appliance can lose efficiency. Its parts can wear out more quickly and draw unusually high amounts of power when its working harder to keep its cool. Because dirty coils build up heat, the system can stop working entirely, potentially causing your food to spoil. For some types of flooring, a buildup of gunk on the coils at the base of the refrigerator can cause a sticky, gooey mess. Three out of four refrigerator repair calls are said to be the result of neglecting coil maintenance.

Steps for Cleaning the Coils

Unplug the unit and pull it away from the wall. The coils are typically at the base of the unit, but some may be on the back. If yours are on the back, give them a quick dusting and call it good for another year. If they’re on the bottom, however, clean them thoroughly every six months (more frequently if you have pets that shed). You may have to remove a plastic cover or kick plate from the front or rear. Start with a bendable coil cleaning brush, removing as much debris as possible from the front and rear. Use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice or vent attachment to remove any remaining dust, taking special care around the condenser fan.

Keeping Your Fridge Coils Clean

The most effective way to prevent future problems is to stay ahead of the dust and pet hair. Things end up under the refrigerator after they’ve blown around for a few days. It’s also helpful to keep the walls around the unit clean and grease-free. If the dust you cleaned away was particularly greasy, check your stove’s vent fan. Finding a greasy buildup away from the stove area is a good indication that the filter may be clogged or you’re simply not using it often enough. Ensure that your fridge has plenty of space for air circulation. Most experts suggest a three-inch minimum clearance on each side and six to 12 inches on top. Don’t stack items on top, as this can hold in dangerous heat.

Complete Appliance Repair, serving the communities in and around Salt Lake City, is your local expert for appliance repair and maintenance. Their professional technicians carry a full supply of parts on their trucks, ensuring a quick and effective repair. Ask them for tips on the best way to clean refrigerator coils.

Cleaning a Glass-Top Stove without Chemicals

Cleaning a glass-top stove, although easier than tackling drip pans and coil heating elements, can still present a few challenges. When spills become baked on to a glass-top surface, they Glass-Top Stoveseem to defy all human attempts at cleaning. You may have seen commercial products designed exclusively to clean glass cooktops. These unitaskers typically contain chemical products, are expensive, and, in some cases, aren’t even all that effective. Read on for some environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways to keep that glass top looking like new.

First, the Small Print

No matter how tempted you may be, never (ever) try to clean your glass cooktop while it’s still hot, or even slightly tepid. The obvious reason is that you can suffer serious burns, but that’s not the only reason to let the surface cool completely. Many cleaning products, when applied to a hot surface, will burn onto the surface rather than clean it. Then you’ll have twice the mess. Also, many cleaning products contain flammable ingredients that, when put in contact with a hot surface, will ignite. Finally, your stove’s manufacturer likely recommends a specific product for use. If you choose to use one of the following methods instead, be sure to test it in a tiny back corner of the stove, lest it cause any harm.

Pay a Visit to Your Kitchen Pantry

Some of the most effective products for cleaning glass cooktops are probably already in your kitchen: baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice. Take a quick detour to the medicine cabinet and grab some hydrogen peroxide too, if the situation is dire. Begin by removing any crumbs with a paper towel or damp sponge. Mix lemon juice or vinegar with hot water and spritz it on, then wipe with a clean cloth. For more stubborn stains, sprinkle baking soda liberally over the mess, then cover with a clean towel dampened well with hot water. Let sit for 15 minutes, then use the towel to wipe away the mess. If the stains persist, sprinkle on baking soda and just enough peroxide to make a paste. Using a clean cloth, rub the surface in a circular motion until the stains let go. Wipe up the paste then buff with a clean, dry cloth. Voila! Clean stove top.

The Best Cleaning Tool You’ve Never Heard Of: The SKrAPr

By now, everyone should have this tool in their cleaning arsenal, but for some strange reason, most people have never heard of this revolutionary resin scraper. Made from a composite of glass and plastic, the SKrAPr was designed specifically for cleaning glass cooktops. Using just a little bit of water, this miracle invention quickly and safely dispatches even the worst burned-on stains. Tthough the tool is meant for glass-top stoves, users quickly discovered that it was invaluable for safely removing all kinds of stuck-on things from delicate surfaces. Use this handy gizmo on non-stick pans, natural stone surfaces, floors, windows and furniture. It will even remove the soap scum from glass shower doors. The heavy duty version can be used to successfully scrape paint, sealants and adhesives.

In the Salt Lake City area, Complete Appliance Repair is the premier locally owned and operated appliance sales, service and repair provider. Although their experienced technicians probably won’t clean your kitchen, they will keep your glass-top stove (and the rest of your appliances) in tip-top shape.