Tips to make your repair go quicker

There are a couple of things that can make our job helping you a lot easier. Let's go over them!

Brand

Knowing which brand your appliance is helps us narrow down what the problem may be, and how we can correct it. Certain brands operate in certain ways, and if we know which one it is, it makes it that much easier for us to fix it!

Model

Knowing the model further narrows down what the problem may be. Like with brands, certain models tend to wear out in very specific ways.

How to Get Your Microwave Sparkling!

Microwave Cleaning Supplies:

• Lemons
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Water
• Microwave safe glass bowl or measuring cup

What you need to do:

• Gather Lemons, Apple Cider Vinegar (white vinegar works great too) and water.
• Chop up a couple of lemons, place in a microwave safe measuring or bowl.
• Pour in about 1/4 cup vinegar, then fill the rest with water.
• Place it in your microwave and turn on for a couple of minutes. About 3 to 4 minutes depending on your microwave. You want the water to get hot enough to create a steam.
• After it’s done, DON’T OPEN THE DOOR. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so. The steam will lift the dried on food.
• Using a clean damp sponge, wipe it clean.

Now you have a sparkling clean microwave that should also smell nice and fresh. Enjoy!

Managing Appliance Costs

We depend on our refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, hot water heaters, air conditioners, microwaves and the rest to help us maintain our lifestyles. Whether we need to install new appliances or repair existing gadgets, the money spent generally falls into the category of "sound investment." How much you'll pay depends on a number of factors:

Brand and Quality of Appliances

In the past five years, we've all become much more sophisticated in our appliance-shopping strategies. We compare prices with a few mouse clicks. We also can go beyond low price tags and look at quality. What do reviews say about that brand of toaster oven? What kind of problems have arisen for owners of that refrigerator model? A few minutes of research can quickly make it clear that paying for quality brands can save you big bucks in the life of an appliance. That research can also suggest what brands charge way more than the value of their products. If you're buying appliances as part of a major renovation, your contractor can be another source of information, guiding you to the best values.

Size of Appliances

Many appliances get more expensive as their size and capacity increase. Washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves and even trash compactors will often go up in price as their size and capacity increases. But understand that bigger isn't always better. Take into account the size of your family or the number of guests you serve as well as the available space you have for the appliance.

Appliance Energy Efficiency

Appliances that use less water and power and have a higher energy efficiency rating are often more expensive. But these are often the better value, earning you back that investment over time with lower utility bills. Look for the Energy Star, an international symbol that tells you an appliance meets exceptional efficiency standards.

Power and Water Needed for Appliances

When installing new appliances, it's important that you have enough electricity and water to run them, and that the power and water are located in the right places. If you need to increase the electricity or move the locations of plumbing or wiring to accommodate the new appliances then the cost of installation will increase accordingly.

Appliance Repairs

The cost of fixing your appliances will vary greatly from the type of appliance and the extent of the repairs needed. When you purchase your appliance, it's important that you consider the length and coverage of the warranty. Many appliances are covered for just a few months. Others are covered for a lifetime. When your repair is covered by a warranty, it sometimes is only honored if you return the appliance to the manufacturer for the repair. Make sure you check the details of the warranty before calling a repair professional. Some appliances will cost more at the point of purchase but carry a longer or more comprehensive warranty and therefore may be a better buy overall.


For more helpful tips like these

Call us at

208-385-9074

Visit us at

www.wesappliance.com

Stop by at

530 N Orchard St, Boise

Business hours:

M-F: 9–6; Sat: 9-5

A great product for your stainless steel appliances

Protect-N-Shine is a great product that prevents smudges, fingerprints, and build up on your appliances. Watch their demonstration video!

If you have any questions,

Call us at
208-385-9074

Visit us at
www.wesappliance.com

Stop by at
530 N Orchard St, Boise

Business hours:
M-F: 9–6; Sat: 9-5

10 DIY Maintenance Tips : Part 1

We all have that fear. Your washing machine breaks in the middle of a cycle, flooding your laundry room. Your refrigerator shuts down after you just restocked with groceries. Or your oven stops working just before a large holiday meal. What many people don't realize is that these and other major appliance malfunctions can be avoided with just a little TLC.

There are simple appliance maintenance tasks that you can do on your own, with little investment (time or money) and no prior experience. Here are the first five of ten easy DIY tips for maintaining your appliances.

1. Verify your oven door has a tight seal. Without a proper seal, your oven can lose more than 20 percent of its heat. The result is that food takes longer to cook or cooks unevenly. To check the seal's condition, open the oven door and locate the rubber or fiberglass gasket around the perimeter of the door. Feel for any broken, torn, or deformed areas, and close the door to see if you can find any leaks. If you do, replace the seal.

2. Clean or replace dirty range hood or downdraft vent filters. Wash metal-mesh grease filters by hand in soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher. Charcoal or paper filters should not be washed. Replace them instead.

3. Clean stove-top drip bowls. Remove drip bowls from underneath your burner elements and pre-soak them in a cleaning solution for five minutes. Then hand wash and replace. Remember to clean drip bowls immediately after spills. If spills burn into the bowls, you might need to replace them.

4. Clean coils in your refrigerator. Dirt, dust, and pet hair can clog up refrigerator coils, restricting air flow and causing the refrigerator to work harder to keep cool. Once or twice a year, use a handheld vacuum to clean the coils and suck up any loose particles. The location of refrigerator coils varies by model, but most can be found either behind the kick plate (the front panel near the floor) or at the rear of the fridge.

5. Change your refrigerator water filter. Filters that don't efficiently remove contaminants and impurities could expose you to harmful water. Instructions for changing the filter vary by model, but most are as easy as turning the filter a quarter inch and popping it out or locking it in place. Perform this simple task every three to six months, depending on water usage.

Follow these quick and easy repair tips to keep your appliances running like new. Stay tuned for the rest of the list on our next blog post. 

Microwave Maintenance

Bill Krier, president and CEO of highly the rated Broad Ripple Appliance in Indianapolis, recommends cleaning your microwave regularly to remove food particles.

“Even though it’s stuck on there, the microwave is going to keep heating the food pieces,” he says. “After time it’s going to get hard as a rock.”

Krier says microwaves heat food particles at high temperatures, which can then burn the top and sides of the microwave. He recommends cleaning the inside of the microwave with glass cleaner.

To remove stubborn food bits, boil a cup of water or white vinegar in the microwave to loosen the food particles, which you can then easily wipe off with a sponge.