Tips For Maintaining Your Front Load Washer

We’ve been in the washer and dryer repair business in Cleveland for a long time, and we’ve learned a few things. First, people tend to love their front-loading washing machines. It’s not surprising, considering they are highly efficient in terms of water and energy usage, they are ergonomic, and the cleaning process on clothing tends to be gentler. We’ve also learned that not many people enjoy paying for repairs and, sometimes, it’s more cost effective to simply buy a new washer.

We get it, but not all of us have that kind of money. You might be better off with a machine that runs effectively for as long as possible. But how do you make that happen? It’s easier than you think, and we’re going to share a few tips for you to prevent problems from popping up down the road.

  • It’s important to not only use the right kind of detergent, but also the right amount of detergent. Read the label closely and always use laundry detergent that’s made for high-efficiency machines. It makes a difference because regular detergents can create more suds that can gradually build up film on the hoses and drum. This film can lead to a buildup of mold, and create electrical and mechanical issues.
    • Along similar lines, go light on fabric softeners. Since your high-efficiency machine uses less water, less cleaning products are needed. For liquid fabric softeners, a teaspoon is all you need. For bleach, use 1 tablespoon of concentrated bleach or 2 tablespoons of normal bleach.
    • Once your load is done, remove the clothing as soon as possible. By letting your damp clothing remain in the washer for a long period of time, you run the risk of mildew collecting and an unpleasant musty smell.
    • When the washer isn’t being used, leave the door of the washer open a little. This allows air to circulate freely inside the machine, and it also prevents mildew and mold buildup. Also, don’t let pets or children climb into the washer.
    • A good habit to get into is to clean the rubber seal on your washer door regularly. By cleaning that seal, you can stop mold buildup, get rid of gunk, hair, or fabric that gets trapped, and prevent the machine from locking in odors. A 50/50 solution of water and vinegar will do the job nicely, and you can use cotton swabs for hard-to-reach areas.
    • A better habit is to clean the interior of the machine monthly. Don’t worry, it’s easy. Instead of detergent, pour some distilled white vinegar into the dispenser. Along with that, add 1 cup of baking soda right into the drum. Run your washer on the hottest cycle possible, and then do an extra rinse. If your machine has a persistent smell of mildew, use bleach instead of vinegar and run a couple of quick cycles with hot water. If your machine has a self-cleaning option, just follow the directions for that in your manual.

    In today’s world, not many products are really built to last. However, if you use your washing machine correctly, and periodically perform preventative maintenance, you can expect years of faithful service.

Keeping Your Dryer in Excellent Condition

In life, there are these little pleasures that we all love. An ice cream cone on a warm summer night. Walking your dog through a beautiful forest. Putting on a warm shirt that’s fresh out of the dryer. We’re in the washer and dryer repair business in Cleveland, so that last example is particularly important to us.

But in today’s world, not everything is built to last. The last thing you need is for your dryer to go on the fritz, and who has time for air-dried clothes these days? To ensure your dryer does its job for years on end, preventative maintenance is the key. Read on for some simple tips you can do to keep your dryer going for the long haul.

  • Every dryer has a lint screen or lint trap. It’s critically important that you clean the lint screen after every cycle. Why? Lint is highly flammable, and every year it’s the cause of hundreds of household fires. Also, get into the habit of cleaning the lint screen chute yearly. You can use either a vacuum attachment or a long-handled brush to get lint and hair out.
  • Lint won’t just build up inside the lint screen, it can also build up inside the dryer itself. If you’re reasonably handy and confident you can put it back together again, on a yearly basis, disassemble the dryer and use a vacuum hose attachment to get rid of accumulated lint. If you don’t feel great about a DIY project like that, we can absolutely do that for you.
  • If you have an older dryer, you might notice white vinyl tubing attached to your dryer. There are 2 problems with that material. First, it’s a very restrictive material, which is a problem for tubing. Second, it doesn’t meet U.S. federal fire safety standards. Do yourself and your household a favor, and replace this tubing with aluminum tubing.
  • Speaking of venting, a great habit to get into on a yearly basis is to clean out the entire venting system of your dryer. While we’re happy to do it for you, this is a job that you can definitely do yourself. You can buy an extendable cleaning brush, and use it to get rid of lint buildup inside the tube that goes from the back of the dryer to the outside of your home.
  • The outer part of the venting system is called the vent cap, and it’s basically a screen found on the outer wall of your home. If the vent cap is blocked by shrubbery, leaves, snow, or other debris, it will reduce air flow and reduce the operational effectiveness of the dryer. Check the vent cap periodically, particularly after snow and wind storms to make sure there are no obstructions.
  • The majority of dryers can dry a full load of laundry in about 45 minutes. If that’s not going on, and you need to run multiple drying cycles, there’s likely clogging caused by lint somewhere inside the venting system. You’ll want to clean out the ventilation as soon as possible since the clog causes your dryer to work harder than it needs to in order to simply function correctly. This also increases the odds that the dryer will eventually have a mechanical breakdown.

Tips To Better the Appliances in Your Home

When it comes to the appliances in your home, you should always be taking care of them. Whether that means cleaning them after you’re done using them or dusting off the coils once a month, your appliances deserved better than what you’re providing them with at this moment. Here are our tips explained…

Refrigerator Tips

#1 Clean the coils and drip pan.

Nobody likes looking at a dusty and grimy fridge. Take pride in the appliance that keeps all of your food fresh for so long by dusting off the coils on the back or top of the refrigerator once a month. You can do this with a cloth or a duster; it’s up to you. The drip pain also needs some love. Nobody likes filling a cup of water on a dirty drip pan; plus, they’re extremely easy to remove and clean. So, do it!

#2 Defrost the freezer.

When was the last time you fully shut off your freezer, let it defrost and then cleaned it? We guess it hasn’t been since you first purchased the thing. Freezers should always be frost free. This means that if it isn’t, it’s up to you to turn off the fridge, let it melt and then wipe the frost away from the walls. Once the frost has liquefied, it’s safe to turn back on the fridge.

#3 Check the gaskets to make sure they’re properly sealed.

The gaskets are the seals on the fridge and freezer doors that keep the cold air in and the room temperature air out. If the gaskets are broken, your fridge will be working harder to stay at a steady temperature. If they’re not sealed properly, give our refrigerator repair technicians a call.

Oven & Range Tips

#1 Use the self-clean feature.

Believe it or not, not many people use the self-cleaning feature built into their ovens. This temperature incinerates the residue inside the oven and it costs less to do in comparison to purchasing a heavy duty container of conventional oven cleaner. Plus, it works great!

#2 Care for the knobs and bulbs.

You should always be caring for the knobs on your stove. This means that if you spill something on a knob, clean it off. Also, if you notice a knob on your stove is loose, get it repaired by a stove repair technician. Same goes for light bulbs. If you aren’t sure how to change out a light bulb that’s burnt out, give us a call!

#3 Clean or replace burner drip pans.

Nobody likes dirty burner drip pans. These pans are used to catch all of the overspills from cooking, but they need to be cleaned. If you don’t clean them, food can get caked on and in some cases they can become irreversibly stained. When stains occur, it’s likely you’ll need to completely replace the burner drip pans altogether.

Washer & Dryer Tips

#1 Stop lint from getting on clothes after washing.

It can be extremely frustrating to take your clothes out of the washer to throw them into the dryer to notice they’re covered in lint. Not only is this annoying, but it’s also destructive. You may need to rewash your clothes to remove the lint; however, if you have a properly functioning dryer, it should be able to take the lint off of your clothes. Just be sure you’re not stuffing the dryer too full.

#2 Check the dryer vent.

Did you know your dryer vent should be cleaned annually? Just like the rest of the vents in your house, it too gets full of dust, lint and particles from drying countless loads of wet laundry. A system with a clean and well-installed dryer vent will dry clothes faster and most efficiently. Make sure you speak to our dryer installation pros to learn more about your vent system today!

Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

There are some appliances in your home that are important, but not critical. If your dishwasher breaks, that’s an inconvenience, but you can always wash dishes by hand until it’s fixed. There are other appliances that can bring your household to a standstill. If your refrigerator conks out, and you’re waiting around for fridge repair, what are you supposed to do with all of the food that’s gradually getting warmer?

For most of us, the fridge is an appliance that gets plugged in, then simply works for years and years. But like any other appliance in your home, if you want your refrigerator to operate correctly during the long term, you need to do a little preventative maintenance. Keep reading, and we’ll share a few simple tips to help you perform some simple refrigerator maintenance.

  • Your refrigerator’s gasket is the vinyl strip that creates a seal between the door and the fridge cabinet itself. It’s very important because if it’s torn or otherwise damaged, room-temperature air can enter the fridge interior. This can cause excessive frost and moisture, which prevents the refrigerator from cooling properly. Checking it’s functionality is a cinch. Using a dollar bill, place the bill between the door and the door gasket, then shut the door. If the gasket is fully intact, there should be some tension when you pull out the bill. You’ll want to test the gasket in multiple spots. Be sure to wipe up liquid spills so they don’t stick to the gasket. A vinyl conditioner or thin film of petroleum jelly will help to prolong its life.
  • The job of the condenser on your refrigerator is to keep the air flowing internally. If the condenser fans or coil gets clogged up by dust or pet hair, the internal components can overheat and the condenser and other parts can fail. To make sure that doesn’t happen, take the back panel off the refrigerator, then clean dust and debris off the coils using a vacuum cleaner and a brush. Look under the bottom compartment of the fridge and you might find coils there. Also, make sure the fan is cleaned and is functional.
  • While the back panel is off, Take a moment and just listen to the fridge itself. In particular, listen to the motors of the evaporator fan and the condenser fan. If you hear squeaking, buzzing, rattling, or any other abnormal noise, it could be a sign of impending failure of the motor. Call a repair company to have it corrected before the mechanism fails.
  • Naturally, the door of the refrigerator is going to be opened a lot over time, so some degree of wear is going to happen. However, make sure to occasionally apply lubrication to the top and bottom hinges, and check them for wear. When you do use lubricant, make sure it’s food grade.
  • You’ll also want to check the interior shelving of the fridge. Make sure the glass shelves, drawer slides, and crisper drawers are all intact. If you spot cracks or other defects, don’t wait to replace them. The same applies for door bins, end caps, and retainer bars.