Shane's Appliance Repair

What Not To Do on a Do It Yourself Repair

If you are a do it yourself type of person, I give you kudos! I am not much of a do it yourself, fixer kind of person. It just doesn't usually work out for the best. My husband on the other hand... Yeah, he is a do it yourself kind of guy. If it needs fixed, he can fix it... We joke around here, my name is 'Me Break' his name is 'Me Fix'... We do make a pretty good team!

At any rate... Today I want to touch on a WHAT NOT TO DO topic! This is kind of a, well... What I would consider a common sense kind of thing, but apparently this What Not To Do is not common sense for everyone!

Without Further Ado... From the Appliance Master's Shop to the Appliance Master's Wife's Computer Blog... Here is a What Not To Do for ya!

Recently we had a dishwasher come into the shop. It was a dishwasher that someone tossed, for what ever reason. It was in decent shape and not very old. It was Stainless Steel, had integrated controls and had a Stainless Steel interior tub. A pretty nice Dishwasher, in my book. Based on the age and condition, it went up on the lift table in my husband's shop. When we can, we will give them a second life! My husband began testing and running the dishwasher. He noticed that the drain hose on the unit had been replaced at some point, but didn't seem to fit how it should. Someone had replaced it with a drain hose that was for a different model. Upon inspecting the drain hose, he found that there was an extra line coming off of it, a line that didn't belong. When he inspected further, this is what he found....

Do you see it? Let's look a little closer....

Now, I know my picture is bad, but what to his wondering eyes did he find?? You guessed it... A casing for a .308 round! WWWHHHAAATTT!!! No way! Kudos for being resourceful, Dude! I would have never thought about using a casing and clamp to plug a small hose...

But, Wait for it... It does get more interesting! ...

It was a live round... A LIVE ROUND! Holy Baloney Sandwich! A Live round!

So, this is what NOT TO DO! First and Foremost.... Do not, at anytime, what so ever, never ever put a LIVE Round in any of your appliances! ... Just not smart!

Now, don't get me wrong... I love guns and ammo just as much as the next woman... But, I would NEVER, EVER attempt to repair anything by trying to plug a hose with a live round! YIKES!

Second, If you are doing a repair yourself, use the proper replacement parts for your model. Do not try and substitute a different part. Always remember you can order parts online through our website at http://www.shanesappliancerepair.com/parts.htm and they deliver straight to your door step!

Until Next Time!

Preventative Maintenance - Schedule NOW

It is that time of year again!

SUMMER! WOO HOO!

My Favorite Time of the Year!

The time of year has come when it is getting hot out. For us, in the appliance world that means REFRIGERATOR SEASON! For me, it means a lot of calls about refrigerators not cooling. For Shane, my husband, that means a lot of late nights working to keep everyone's food cold and Ice Cream frozen!

This time of year everyone is so wrapped up in working outside! No shame in this, I am too! I love to be outside. None the less, it is because of the season that the inside stuff is kind of put on the back burner.

Of course we service refrigerators all year long. However, this time of year we see many more refrigerators that begin to not cool properly. Summer time is the worst time for this to happen. Unlike the winter months when you can put your stuff in a cooler and set it outside until the Appliance Master comes, when your refrigerator stops cooling in the summer, you can loose HUNDREDS of dollars in food.

Throughout the year dust, debris, pet hair and other air born particles clog up the 'breathing' components of your fridge. The more this debris builds up, the harder your fridge has to work to keep cool. Combine this build up of debris with the hotter temperatures, you wind up with double whammy of causes for major fridge issues.

The harder your fridge has to work to keep cool the higher the probability your fridge will have a major, untimely problem.

You may ask "Why is it more likely to happen in the summer?" ... The reason is, as the temperatures outside rise, your refrigerator has to work harder to keep everything inside cool. Often times this means that control boards go bad or compressors can't kick on. The machine is working harder than any other time of year to keep your milk cold and your ice cream frozen.

One of the best ways to keep your refrigerator running its best is to have a Preventative Maintenance performed on your fridge. When this service is performed regularly it helps to lower the chances that your fridge will have major problems later on.

Please, do not confuse this statement with "your fridge will never have problems." We can NOT guarantee that an appliance will never have problems. This service is meant to help lower the probability that you will have major, untimely issues.

The added bonus, for all my fellow "go green" people, having this service performed will also help to increase the energy efficiency of your fridge.

I, myself, am running a little behind this year. I meant to get this out in April or May so that we could all be ahead of the game. However, it is never too late! Call and schedule your Preventative Maintenance today!

Keep in mind, if you schedule to have a preventative maintenance done on your dryer at the same time YOU GET A DISCOUNT on the second appliance! Maintenance charges are $85 for the first appliance and $45 for the second! I will even go a step further for our customers.... Now through September 30, 2015 ONLY, IF you head on over and 'like' our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/shanesappliancerepair) AND you mention THIS blog post when you schedule your preventative maintenance I will give you an additional discount, $80 for the first and $40 for the second!*

*You must mention this blog when you call in to schedule the appointment, not during the service call. Maintenance calls are not service calls. If you are having a problem with your appliance these discounted rates do not apply. This offer is only good on Preventative Maintenance calls that are scheduled between NOW and September 30, 2015.*

Also, please remember that we at Shane's Appliance Repair are located in Colorado. We service the Colorado Springs/Monument/Falcon/Fountain Areas! If you are not sure if you are in our service area please call our office! For Contact information please visit our website at www.shanesappliancerepair.com and click on the "Contact Information" tab!

If you are like me, you love to bake things around the holidays. It is one of my favorite things to do this time of year! I like to bake everything from pies, cookies, candies and cakes to the holiday meals with all of the fixings. I love to include my two girls in this adventure. It is so fun to gather in the kitchen and pass along all of those family recipes and traditions that I made with my mom and sisters.

Hosting these fun activities in my kitchen means that my Range becomes very... Well, lets say messy! Stuff boils over on top and in the oven, things get spilled everywhere. My range becomes so... well used... that every time I turn it on you can smell the stuff from last time burning even more. Plus, whatever we are baking or cooking now just adds to the mess. By the end of our adventures in Holiday Baking we normally have set the smoke detectors off, at least once!

Of coarse the top gets "wiped off" every time when we are done, removing the loose debris. But it does not get cleaned all the way. The inside of the oven seems to get forgotten until I turn the oven on to bake something else and smell it burning the last creation's mess off. Not to mention the sides of the range that are unseen and never thought about. You know, the little crack between your range and your counter that seems to collect EVERYTHING and never gets cleaned! That is the one! Probably the nastiest spot in any kitchen!

Well, I am here today to give you a few tips for getting your range back into tip top shape after the holidays. I always like to wait until after Christmas to do this cleaning. Simply because we generally continue to bake, cook and create all the way through Christmas Day and sometimes through the New Year Holiday as well.

The fun and exciting activities have now ended. It is time to roll up your sleeves, put on your yellow "I'm getting down to business" scrubbing gloves and jump right it!

Lets start with the oven part of your range. My first rule when it comes to cleaning your oven is NEVER run your self-clean feature longer than an hour. Although your range gives you the option to run it for longer, I DO NOT recommend it! Some ranges do not offer the 1 hour cycle. If that is the case, after an hour simply cancel the self-clean and it will turn it off. The reason I do not recommend running the self-clean for longer than an hour is because it makes the oven get very, very hot. All of that hot air vents out of your oven directly below your control board! In turn, you run a very high probability of literally melting your control board. Now, unless you are trying to con your husband into getting you a new range, melting your control board is not a good idea. They are generally very expensive to replace and in some cases the control board may not be available as a replacement part. So, like I said, only run your self-clean feature for an hour. Then turn the unit off, allow it to cool, wipe the unit out and repeat if necessary.

My personal method for cleaning the oven is to run my self-clean for an hour. Let the unit cool completely. Then wipe it out using just water and a damp cloth. Now, instead of running another self-clean cycle I like using baking soda and vinegar to get it good and clean. This method is efficient and does not involve the use of the harsh chemicals found in oven cleaners. So, following the self-clean and wiping out of the unit, I sprinkle Baking Soda in my oven (if you have a gas range be careful not to get it down the slots where the oven ignition is). Get it on the door and on the bottom of the oven, it is my opinion you cannot use too much. So sprinkle away! Next, take your handy spray bottle full of white vinegar and start spritzing the baking soda to make it begin to bubble. Get it good! Let it sit for a while and work, maybe 30 min to an hour. Then, using a scrubber, steel wool or an SOS pad begin to scrub in small circles to remove the build up. If the build up is bad you can always let it sit for a while longer, re spritzing it as needed to keep it bubbling. To clean the sides of the oven simply put some baking soda on your scrubbing utensil and spritz it with the vinegar and begin to scrub the sides, spritz the sides with more vinegar as needed. Then when you are all done, use plain water and a damp cloth to begin wiping the unit out. Get it good and wiped out and it will be sparkling and ready to be baked in again. For tougher jobs (like boiled over Strawberry Rhubarb Pie that has been baked on since Thanksgiving) you may need to repeat this step.

When it comes to oven racks, don't submerge them in your sink. Just give them a wipe down with your damp cloth and they should be good.

Now, lets move on to the top of your range. I use a very similar method, okay it's pretty much identical to the oven method. Sprinkle with Baking Soda, spritz with Vinegar and scrub well. Wipe it down really good with clean water and it is back to the nice shiny top you had before you began your holiday baking! Again, if you have a gas range, be careful not to get the baking soda and vinegar into the spark modules and rivets for the gas to flow through. If you have a coil top range, the type of range with burner bowls, the baking soda and vinegar does an amazing job of cleaning the bowls out without ruining the finish like most harsh cleaners. Also, if it is simply time to replace the burner bowls you can order them online by clicking here. Simply enter your model number and get new, quality replacement bowls.

Don't forget about that little drawer on the bottom of the range. I keep my cookie sheets down there. Sometimes when I pull out the drawer and find a mysterious french fry down in there or a piece of sausage off of a pizza. Therefore, I take the opportunity to give it a quick clean. I vacuum it out then wipe it down with clean water. This is the simplest part of cleaning the range so why not hit it up while you are already doing the rest?

Don't stop there... We are almost done!

Prior to being the "Appliance Master's Wife" I would have NEVER thought about cleaning the sides of my range. Out of sight, out of mind... Right?!? If you have not done this before, please proceed with caution. I have seen ranges that come out of the nicest, cleanest homes that make me want to vomit from seeing the sides. It can be quite disgusting and you will be shocked at what you see! Just a warning. Needless to say, the sides of your range should be cleaned as well. Even though you and your company never see it, if you decide to upgrade your kitchen and try to sell your range you will regret not having taken the time to clean it on a regular basis. Not to mention the embarrassment of having the Appliance Repair Man out to fix your range and him sliding it out to find a disgusting, smelly mess on the sides. So, don't forget to clean down the sides of your range. Carefully, slide your range forward and give the sides a good cleaning. Again, I like to use baking soda and vinegar. I put some baking soda on my scrubber, spritz it with vinegar and scrub away! I would not recommend steel wool or SOS pads on the sides as you don't want to ruin the paint. After scrubbing it down, give it a good wipe down with clean water. Your repair man with Thank You! :-)

Don't push it back into place yet. There is one more minor thing to take care of....

Prior to pushing your range back into place, it is a good time to clean the floor under the unit and the wall behind the unit. I will leave the cleaning technique up to you, but don't just think to yourself 'oh, I'll do it later.' We both know that will not happen! Also, keeping the floor under and around your range clean can prevent rodent activity under and behind your range. This is also a good time to check for evidence of mice and clean up any droppings you may find. Again, Your Appliance Repair Man will Thank You!

Now that your range is clean from top to bottom and inside and out, you can push your range back into its designated spot and carry on with your normal baking regiment!

I hope you have found this useful. Enjoy your Holiday Baking! Most of All, from my family to yours I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!

Common Misguided Belief

Front Loading Washers and Agitator-Less Washer

Every mom out there knows the feeling of having a mountain of laundry to do. With a family of 5 the laundry around here is non-stop. Even doing a load, sometimes two everyday I still end up with several loads to do on the weekend. The dirty laundry simply seems to reproduce faster than I can keep up with it. Naturally, one would jump on the opportunity, as they see it, to get a washing machine that 'washes more laundry at once.'

Today I want to touch on this and let you know about one of the biggest misguided beliefs about front loading washing machines and agitator-less washing machines. This is something I hear about, in one way or another, on a regular basis from our customers.

One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to front loading washing machines and top loading agitator-less washing machines is that you can wash more laundry at once. Don't fall into this misguided belief. This is simply not the case. Do not let this misguided belief be the sole reason you purchase a front loading washing machine or an agitator-less top loading machine. You will be very disappointed. Not only will you be disappointed in the quality of clean but you will be disappointed in the life of the machine.

I, being the Appliance Master's Wife, have had the opportunity to use many different washers. It is my opinion that your cloths get a better clean with front load and agitator-less washers. This is not to say that there are not good top loading washers with agitators out there. However, they just don't offer the same quality of clean that you can get from a front load or an agitator-less washing machine. Furthermore, the agitator-less and front load washers generally are more energy efficient. They use less water and the cloths get spun out better, allowing your dryer to save energy as well.

That being said, I have had so many people proclaim that, again in my opinion, some of the best washing machines on the market are pieces of junk. They say they don't clean well and they have so many issues with them. Upon further conversation with them I discover that they have the misconception that they can wash twice as much laundry in the unit based on the fact that there appears to be more room in the tub. Yes, there is more room in the tub, there is no agitator in there. However, these machines were not designed or engineered to do twice as much laundry in one load than the normal top loading washer with the agitator. A load of laundry is a load of laundry no matter what machine you are using, unless you are using a true commercial (I'm talking Laundry Mat Commercial not "commercial quality" stamped on a regular washer) Washing Machine.

When over loading a washing machine not only will your cloths not get clean but you are significantly reducing the life of your machine. You are putting more weight in the unit than it is designed to hold. Have you ever tried to carry a load of sopping wet jeans or towels? It is HEAVY! When you believe you can wash 8 pair of jeans per load instead of 4 or 5 you are creating way to much weight in your machine. Your machine was not engineered to withstand that kind of use over and over again. The result is laundry that is not cleaned properly and a washing machine that breaks down sooner and more frequently than it would under "normal" use.

Aside from the unclean laundry and undo damage to your washer, you will also be reducing the life of your dryer. Due to the excessively large load you shoved in your washer your dryer has to work harder to dry that larger load of laundry. Also, chances are your washer is not getting all of the water spun out of the load and therefore it takes longer than it should to dry the laundry. Let alone the fact that the same weight issue I described with the washer you will also experience with your dryer. The working parts of the dryer are not made to withstand the over sized load's weight either and therefore you will experience undo wear on the rollers, idler, belt and motor in the dryer as well. This will cause your dryer to have components wear out much sooner than they should or would under "normal" use.

When looking for a new or a used washer do not fall into this misguided belief that you can wash more laundry in a front loading machine or a top loader without and agitator. This is simply not the case. You will be disappointed in the quality of clean you get and you will be disappointed that the machine has a lot of issues with breaking down.

All of the above being said, I do highly recommend using a front loading washer or a top loading agitator-less washer. When used properly by the owner they are absolutely great machines. I will continue to stand firm in my belief that when used properly you get a much better quality of clean when using a front loading washer or an agitator-less washing machine. I will continue to use the top loading agitator-less washer myself as well as continue to recommend them out as they are great machines.

Always remember to read your user manual. If Purchasing a used machine you can normally find a PDF copy of the user manual online.

The following Blog was posted on my, Alexis', personal Blog.  I have had a lot of views and such on it so I figured I would Share it on here.  This is the story I had titled "Planting our Roots in a Whole New Place."  I hope that you like the read and I appologize that it is not appliance related...  My personal Blog and a Business Blog are posted on Blogger by Google+.  Please feel free to head over there and look them up.  I do copy all of the Appliance Blogs to the website for easier access.  The appliance Blog is titled: "The Appliance Master's Wife and the personal Blog is titled: "The Tale of a Wife and Mom" ...  Thanks for Reading

Seven years ago my husband and I decided to uproot our little family and plant our roots somewhere else. We did not just get a wild hair up our butts and decide we wanted to move. We were faced with a reality; we needed to get our son the help that he needed so that he could advance in his education. We had no idea what the future would hold or what path the Lord would lead us down. We decided to take a leap and have faith in the Lord. Here is the story of why and how we decided to plant our roots in the Colorado Springs area.

At the end of our Son's Kindergarten School Year we reflected on how the year had gone. Our son is not the regular run of the mill kind of child. He was born blind and is also autistic. He was not happy in the school he had attended. It was clear in the fact that many days I would have to pick him up from school early. He did not make any progress that year. He spent a lot of time crying and unhappy. I think that this was due to his inability to communicate his wants and needs. The school district that we lived in simply did not have the resources or knowledge to help our son the way he needed helped. I am great full to the teachers and staff who did what they knew how to do to the best of their ability. However, it just wasn't a good fit for our son. He needed more.

My husband and I sat down and we discussed the options for his education. What kind of school does he need? We determined that a school with staff and professionals whom had the knowledge and resources to help blind children would be best. We had previously visited the Nebraska School for the Blind in Nebraska City, NE to have some assessments done. The Nebraska School for the Blind was some 7 1/2 hours away from our home town, where both of our families lived. This travel time did not include stops to refill with gas or get food. When we took the trip it took us over 10 hours to travel to Nebraska City. Let alone the fact that we would still need to travel several hours to get specialized medical care for him and the town really didn't offer much as far a job opportunities. What other options were out there? We discovered that there was a School for the Blind in Colorado; Colorado Springs, CO to be specific. We did some checking and found that the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs, CO was only four hours from our home town. Colorado Springs also had medical facilities and specialists in town who would be able to treat our son if the need ever arose again and the city was large enough to offer a variety of different job opportunities.

In early June that year we, my husband and I, decided to take a weekend trip to Colorado Springs, CO. We wanted to check out the town, the job opportunities, medical resources and most importantly The School. We had arranged a meeting with the principal and a director at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. When we arrived in Colorado Springs we went to work checking out the town. When we opened the phone book (yes, I said Phone Book... We didn't own smart phones back then) to see what kind of Appliance Repair Companies were in town we were both shocked at the number of companies. Coming from a small town where there were only two local companies we were quite confident that my husband would not have a problem finding a job. The medical resources that we had previously been required to travel three hours to get were right there in town. We visited the school and were absolutely amazed with it. We liked the town as a whole.

On our drive home it was very clear that our minds were made up. There wasn't much debate about what we needed to do. The city of Colorado Springs offered us so much more than Nebraska City. The only pro to Nebraska City was that they had a Valentino's Restaurant and Colorado Springs did not; that wasn't enough though. No matter what it took we would be moving to Colorado Springs so that our son could attend the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. We were excited about the town, the job opportunities and the school. On top of that we would be moving to a town that had the medical resources that we would need for our son. Prior to us moving to Colorado Springs anytime we needed Medical Treatment, outside of the normal pediatric stuff, we had to travel to Denver to see a specialist. We decided that we, as parents, needed to do this for our son.

Upon our return from our short visit we knew it was time to get to work on making it happen. For some this would be an easy task. Find a home and move. Well, we are not exactly the rich kind of family that just has money sitting around. The plan was that my husband would go to Colorado Springs, get a job, find a home and then we would move the family down there. Like I said, we aren't exactly the rich kind of people. This was going to be a struggle to maintain a home for the kids and myself in Nebraska and have my husband four hours away seeking employment and a home and trying to pay for that. However, if there is one thing my husband is good at it is taking something that seems impossible and making it possible. He is a fighter; a survivor.

A couple of weeks after our visit my husband decided that the best thing to do was for him to just go. Ride the wave and see what happened. If we waited around until we had more money in the bank we would probably still be waiting. So, with a full tank of gas, a suitcase full of cloths and the last $50 we had in our account he left one morning to head to Colorado Springs, CO. A whole new place. An unknown place. When he arrived he had no where to sleep, but the truck. He had no job. He had no money except the $50 he left with; not even enough money to get enough gas to get back home. It was a sink or swim kind of situation.

Upon his arrival in town he picked the company with the most advertisements in the phone book and went to their shop. They were closed by the time he arrived. He parked outside their shop and waited for morning. That morning he walked in and got a job. After a few days, his boss at his new job gave him a small advance in pay so that he could get a hotel room. It was one of those nasty, scared to sleep in this place kind of hotel rooms. The cheapest he could find. I recall him telling me that when he checked in the clerk asked if he wanted to pay for the night or just and hour. Gross! None the less, it was a place to shower. He stayed a couple of nights at this place. When he received his first pay check, at the end of the week, he upgraded. Although the place was still not ideal, it was better than the last and rather then pay by the night or by the hour you could pay for the night or the week.

My husband worked all day then tried to find a house in the evenings. One day when he was on a service he was talking with the customer about how he was new to the town and what he was doing. The customer told him that he had a rental available that he knew would be suitable for a family. He said that he had gone to collect the rent and the house was empty. Shane arranged for the kids and I to drive down that weekend to look at the house with him. It was a nice house, what we needed and the right price. It was decided. God had sure dropped a blessing in Shane's lap that day. The man renting the house had respect for the situation we were in and did not charge us rent the first month or a deposit. Shane stayed in the house that first month alone as we made arrangements to get the whole family moved.

It was quite impressive that in just over a month's time my husband had obtained a job and located a home with no more than a suitcase full of cloths and $50 in his wallet. He had met some wonderful people whom were willing to help a guy out. None the less, we still needed to come up with the money to be able to move the family to Colorado Springs. We sold anything that we had that was worth any real value. We rented a moving truck, loaded up and we were off to plant our roots in a new place; to build a life for our family and give our kids the best that we could.

Some may have doubted that we would make it in a "new world" away from both of our families. The city was ten times larger than the small town we came from. We didn't really know anyone and didn't know what to expect. Some probably expected us to move back within the first year or two. I highly doubt that anyone expected for us to be where we are today. Hell, lets be real here; I doubted, at times, that we would be able to make it here. It was most defiantly not easy and was absolutely a very scary thing.

One thing is for sure, the whole process gave me a whole new respect for the man that I married. He left home for a town that was "foreign" to us, four hours away from his family. Beginning this journey with literally a small suit case, enough gas to reach his destination, a couple packs of smokes and $50. When he started the journey there was so much that was unknown. There were so many things that would make any other man turn around and go back to what was familiar and easy. Not this man, not my husband. He was determined to make it work, for our son, for our family, for us. He was determined to plant our roots in this whole new place and not just soak them in water and plant them back where they came from.

So, seven years later the roots are well planted and we don't plan to uproot them. We like the city that was so scary and held so many unknowns for us as a family. The city that we now call home. It has been a great adventure thus far. We have not yet reached the top of the mountain but we will continue to climb, fighting bears along the way if that is what needs to be done. We have and will continue to grow and learn and let our roots dig in a little deeper.

My Appliance has Broken... What do I do?

Part 2 - Replacing with a Used Appliance!

First and foremost, when something goes wrong with your appliance don't just toss it! I am as eager as anyone else to get a new range in my kitchen or washer in my laundry room. However, don't jump the gun!

It is absolutely my recommendation that you always pay to have a credible technician let you know what is wrong with the unit and give you an estimate for what it will cost to have it fixed.

Consider this. We charge $65 for a diagnostic call. If we eat out as a family 1 time this week, it costs us $65, easy. It is so very sad that household appliances have become "disposable." Much like a $7 toaster oven would be thrown out when it fails, people often just throw out their appliances and replace them. Part of this is due to the fact that people just assume that it is going to be expensive to repair it. This is not always true! It is always worth having it checked out! Most companies have a specific rate to have a unit diagnosed and often times this cost is subtracted from the labor if you decide to repair it. My point here is this: When your refrigerator stops cooling don't just assume that the compressor has gone bad. There are many reasons why a fridge stops cooling or is not cooling the way it should! ... There are many reasons why a Washing Machine doesn't drain. Don't just assume that the pump went out! ... It is this way with EVERY APPLIANCE! There are multiple things that can cause the same symptom. IT IS WORTH HAVING IT CHECKED OUT!

Who do I recommend? Small Business/Owner Operators. The fact of the matter is, the bigger the business, the bigger the overhead, the more people need their cut, the more expensive your bill. Call a Small Business! You will pay a cheaper rate and you will put food on the table and a roof over that family's head! Also, even if you have to wait a few days for an appointment, WAIT FOR IT! A Small Business is not going to be able to dispatch a technician that day! Often times there is only 1 technician within the company... Support the Small Business Owners in your area!

After you get your estimate you need to make a choice...

Deciding Whether to Repair or Replace

There is a lot that can go into this decision! Is the cost of repair economical? Is it going to cost you more to repair the unit than what the unit is worth? Do you have the money to repair the unit? How old is the unit? What is the overall condition of the unit? What will it cost to replace the unit?

If you have decided to replace your appliance there may still be some lingering questions! Should I buy New? Should I buy Used? What brand should I buy? What should I stay away from?

Buying a Used Appliance

For those whom do not have the money to replace a bad appliance with a new appliance, buying a good used appliance is always a great alternative. There are many resources for seeking out a good used appliance. Craig's List is always a good resource for those who live in or near bigger cities. You can also search your local news paper or find a local used appliance shop.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that the appliance you are purchasing is USED. Used appliances will also have issues just the same as new appliances and just the same as the appliance you are replacing. Most manufactures only offer a 1 year warranty on a New Appliance; don't expect the person you buy a used appliance from to give you any kind of warranty on a used appliance. If you are offered a warranty of any sort you are most likely paying for it in the cost of the unit. For example, what would normally be a $100 - $150 used appliance may run you twice that ($200-$300).

Working in the appliance field we do come across good used appliances from time to time. We do post them for sale. We always get asked if we offer a warranty. Our answer is always no. Although we do thoroughly check out all appliances before we sell them, there is no way for us to guarantee how long they will work before they have a problem. Here is a comparison. You go to the doctor because you have an illness, say a sinus infection. You ask the Doctor "how long until I get sick again?" Do you really expect that he can give you any kind of real answer? He can't! Just the same, an appliance technician cannot tell you that the motor on your washing machine only has 123 days until it goes out. It is impossible to determine. This is why we always have any used appliance we sell hooked up and available to be tested out prior to someone purchasing it.

No matter where you are buying a used appliance from it is your job as the buyer to make sure the unit is working when you buy it. That means make sure it is hooked up and available for you to test run prior to purchasing it. Once you purchase any sort of used item it is yours. Make sure you are given the opportunity to check the unit out prior to purchasing it. Also, if a company or person does offer you any sort of warranty on a used appliance make sure you know what it covers. Often times all of the major things that can go wrong will not be covered under that warranty. Do your homework, look over the entire warranty and make sure that it is something you are comfortable with.

What does the Appliance Master's Wife Recommend for Used Appliances

Being the Appliance Master's Wife I do get the opportunity to see so many of the different appliances that are out there. The first thing to keep in mind is looks are not everything! The appliance companies know how to market their appliances. They know that when people look at their appliance and see the cool colors used on the control panel or the awesome digital display the consumer will be more likely to look at it and think "wow, this is nice!" and purchase it over the one that doesn't look as fancy. Tisk, tisk, tisk... Do not judge it by the way it looks! The fancy look is simply a marketing tool! It has nothing to do with the way the unit runs; the truth is that it is a marketing tool used to draw your attention to that appliance. Also, just because the unit has "Quiet Pack II" or "Commercial Quality" or "King Sized Capacity" printed on the labels does not mean that it is any quieter or better or larger than the one that doesn't print that on the panel. Looks can be very deceiving in the Appliance World.

The next thing to keep in mind is all the bonus features that are offered on an appliance. Check out the features. Are they really something that you need? Will you use that feature? Keep this in mind when looking at appliances. That cool feature has to work somehow. Often times that means extra control boards and components. The question is not "will these components will go bad?" it is "when will these components go bad?" A general rule of thumb is the fancier the unit, the more bells a whistles the unit has the more expensive it is going to be to repair the unit when it breaks.

Let us break down my recommendations a little further. What should you look for on a used appliance? What should you stay away from?

For your Laundry Room

I LOVE the Maytag Neptune Line. Over all they are great machines. If you can get your hands on the right series, MAH3500 through MAH6500, you will be happy with your purchase! Maytag also offered a Neptune Drying Center at one point. This unit is AMAZING! If you have the room for it, take it! When it comes to washers and dryers the other two that come to mind that I have been impressed with are the Kenmore 600 Series Washers (these are Top Loading Washers) and Dryers, good quality clean, reasonable repair costs and overall pretty darn durable. The other units I like are the LG TROMM series; these are Front Loading. These machines, like the Kenmore 600 Series, are good machines. You get a good quality clean from them and they are reasonable, cost wise, to repair as well as pretty durable. My final laundry unit that I have to say I was overly impressed with is the LG Washer Dryer Combo. Not to be confused with a stackable unit, this unit looks like a front loading washer but is actually a washer and dryer in one. You simply put your laundry in and it washes it and then dries it. I was most impressed, and so was my husband, because this unit runs on a 110 plug, not a 220 AND there is NO vent for the dryer! Neither of us really expected it to do what it was supposed to do, but we were WRONG! It gives a great quality of wash to the cloths and then a thorough dry. This unit was awesome, so if you have limited room seek out one of these!

No matter what brand of Washer and/or Dryer you are looking at make sure to check it out completely. Do all the knobs or buttons on the control panel work. Does the door close properly. On front loading washers, is the boot seal (the seal between the frame of the unit and the tub) in tact and free from holes, rips and tears. On Dryers, when was the last time the unit was completely cleaned out? What kind of detergent was used in the washer? Did the previous owners use fabric softener? These are all important things to find out when looking at purchasing a used Washer and/or Dryer.

For Your Kitchen

When it comes to Microwaves I really don't have any recommendation over the other. They are all about the same. If you do have limited space you should check out the LG line of microwaves. The last house we lived in did have limited space in the kitchen. We had an LG microwave. The inner part of the microwave was slightly smaller than the normal microwave. However, on the side of the microwave was a toaster. It was so very handy. This line of microwave came with the option of getting the toaster on the end or a small coffee maker. What a convenience when you have limited space in your kitchen, not to mention that we lived there for 5 years, the unit was used when we moved in, and we did not have a single problem with it. Unfortunately, we had to leave it with the house when we moved. When looking at over the range microwaves they are all generally the same quality. Some more pricy and fancy than others, none the less about the same quality across all brands. When purchasing a used mhereicrowave make sure that the paint on the interior of the microwave does not have any exposed metal spots where the paint has been worn off; exposed metal in a microwave is a huge no, no. If you do find that there is exposed metal don't necessarily let this discourage your from purchasing the microwave; if it is priced right. If this is the only problem the unit has you can purchase the paint needed to touch it up. Also, find out when the charcoal filters were last replaced and determine if you need new ones. Click here to order new charcoal filters or touch up paint for your microwave. Enter your model number in the search bar to locate your filter. If you need help finding your model number click here. Next, make sure the door closes properly, without hassle and smoothly. Make sure the turn table plate is not cracked or chipped, they can be expensive to replace. The overall cleanliness of the unit is important too. Finally, make sure that you are getting the installation hardware.

On to the next appliance, Dishwashers! They are a great convenience to have in your kitchen. I absolutely recommend, hands down, a Bosch Dishwasher. You will pay a little more for a Bosch but you will be happy with it. Even used these are the best dishwashers, in my opinion. I also like KitchenAid Dishwashers. No matter the brand you find I recommend Stainless Inner Tubs over Plastic; just a personal preference. Also, like your Washer, all the bells and whistles are not necessarily needed. When buying used make sure to look at the baskets/racks. Inspect them for rust spots and insure that they are in good condition. Check the door and make sure that it closes properly and without problem. Bent hinges on the door can lead to leaks. If the unit has been sitting unused for any period of time make sure that when you hook it up and run it for the first time you keep a very close eye on it. Sometimes parts have the tendency to stick when they haven't been used for a while and seals have the tendency to crack. Pay attention and make sure the unit runs a complete cycle without leaking. Also, when you run the first cycle after hooking it up, while the unit is empty, I recommend that you allow the unit to fill with water then open it up, add a couple cups of white vinegar and let the unit run the cycle. This will help to clean up any built up gunk in the unit, as well as clear out any odors from it having sat without running for a period of time.

Moving on. Refrigerators are an essential part of every kitchen. When it comes to refrigerators it is important that you keep a few things in mind. First of all, all refrigerators have the ability to go out and take all of your food with them. It doesn't matter what brand they are or how old they are; it could happen at any time. That being said, I tend to like the Maytag and Whirlpool Refrigerators. No matter what brand you are looking at I cannot urge you enough to make sure the unit is up and running when you go look at it. This is important so that you don't get it home and have a non working refrigerator. Also, inspect the shelves, the glass, the bins etc. These can be pricy to replace. Don't just think "Well I can just get a new crisper drawer." They can be pricy and hard to come by. Finally, after you purchase a used fridge make sure you get a new water filter for the unit. You never know when the filter was last changed. Click here to order a new water filter for your fridge. Enter your model number in the search bar to locate your water filter. If you need help finding your model number click here.

Last but not least, every kitchen needs a range. When it comes to ranges I really like Maytag, Whirlpool and Frigidaire Ranges. They are good quality ranges, reasonable to repair and over all do a great job. That is not to say that other brands are not good either. When buying a used gas range it is important to determine if the current set up is for natural gas or propane, then make sure you get it converted to be compatible with the gas type that you have in your home. If conversion is not something you are familiar with make sure that you hire a knowledgeable technician to convert the range for you. When looking at electric ranges, specifically glass top ranges, make sure you inspect the glass surface for chips and cracks. It is very dangerous to use a glass top range that has chips or cracks on it and they can be very expensive to replace. If you are looking at a coil top electric range don't let the condition of the burner pans deter you from purchasing it. Burner pans are cheap to replace and can make a huge difference in the way the range looks. To order new burner pans for your range click here. Enter your model number in the search bar and locate the correct pans for your range. For help locating your model number click here. Before you buy make sure you check/try out all of the options and features for the range. Make sure that they are all working properly, you don't want to get it home and not have one of the features work.

I hope that all of this information will assist you on your journey to purchase a used appliance.  Above all,  when looking for a used appliance remember these two important things:

#1 Used is Used... Do not buy used and expect new! It simply does not work that way!

and

#2 Check the appliance out completely before you purchase it! Once you purchase a used appliance it is yours. Take the time to check it out and ask questions.

Getting your Used Appliance Home Safely

Now that you have found your replacement appliance make sure that you can get it to your home safely. If you are hauling it yourself make sure you secure it in your vehicle. You don't want to be headed down the road after spending $200 on a Dishwasher and have it get damaged. Some simple ratchet straps will secure your appliance nicely. If you purchased a Front Loading washer be extra careful when transporting them. If you do not have shipping bolts to hold the tub in place make sure that you do not drive too crazy. It is easy to break a shock or even worse the outer tub of the unit. If you purchased a refrigerator do not lay it down unless you absolutely have to. If you must lay it down make sure to stand it upright as soon as possible and make sure to leave it up right for at least 24 hours before you plug it in. If you do not leave it upright for long enough you will ruin the unit.

If all else fails you can arrange to have your purchase picked up by someone who is equip to haul appliances. It may be a little bit of an expense but it is worth it if you don't have the proper equipment.

Now that your new appliance has arrived at your home, it is time to get it installed!

Getting Your New Appliance Installed

It is always important to have your appliances installed by someone who knows what they are doing. Installation is very rarely a "slide this one out and put this one in." There is a lot that is involved. Hire someone who knows what they are doing. A professional is going to make sure that they cover all of the bases when installing your new appliance. They can also give you tips on how to maintain and care for your appliance.

You are almost done, just one more thing to make arrangements for!

Disposing of Your Old Appliance

People often wonder what to do with their old appliance. Never pay someone to haul away your appliance! Many companies will offer Free Haul Away of your old appliance. This is always a great service. If you are offered free haul away take that extra step and find out what happens to your appliance when they haul it away. Often times your old appliance will end up at the dump or in the landfill. Do not let this happen! Appliances are 100% Recyclable! Whom ever you choose to haul it away make sure that it is going to get recycled. If the company that is delivering or installing your appliance does not haul them away for free a simple search of your local Craig's List will reveal some options. If you do not live in an area where Craig's List is popular check your local paper. There are people out there that will take it for free and insure that it gets recycled!

That concludes Part 2 of this blog. I hope you have found the information useful.

My appliance has broken...  What do I do?

Part 1 - Replacing with a NEW Appliance!

First and foremost, when something goes wrong with your appliance don't just toss it!  I am as eager as anyone else to get a new range in my kitchen or washer in my laundry room.  However, don't jump the gun!  

 It is absolutely my recommendation that you always pay to have a credible technician let you know what is wrong with the unit and give you an estimate for what it will cost to have it fixed. 

Consider this.  We charge $65 for a diagnostic call.  If we eat out as a family 1 time this week, it costs us $65, easy.  It is so very sad that household appliances have become "disposable."  Much like a $7 toaster oven would be thrown out when it fails, people often just throw out their appliances and replace them.  Part of this is due to the fact that people just assume that it is going to be expensive to repair it.  This is not always true!  It is always worth having it checked out!  Most companies have a specific rate to have a unit diagnosed and often times this cost is subtracted from the labor if you decide to repair it. My point here is this:  When your refrigerator stops cooling don't just assume that the compressor has gone bad.  There are many reasons why a fridge stops cooling or is not cooling the way it should!  ...  There are many reasons why a Washing Machine doesn't drain.  Don't just assume that the pump went out! ...  It is this way with EVERY APPLIANCE!  There are multiple things that can cause the same symptom.  IT IS WORTH HAVING IT CHECKED OUT!

Who do I recommend?  Small Business/Owner Operators.  The fact of the matter is, the bigger the business, the bigger the overhead, the more people need their cut, the more expensive your bill.  Call a Small Business!  You will pay a cheaper rate and you will put food on the table and a roof over that family's head! Also, even if you have to wait a few days for an appointment, WAIT FOR IT!  A Small Business is not going to be able to dispatch a technician that day!  Often times there is only 1 technician within the company... Support the Small Business Owners in your area!

After you get your estimate you need to make a choice...

Deciding Whether to Repair or Replace

There is a lot that can go into this decision!  Is the cost of repair economical?  Is it going to cost you more to repair the unit than what the unit is worth?  Do you have the money to repair the unit?  How old is the unit?  What is the overall condition of the unit? What will it cost to replace the unit?

If you have decided to replace your appliance there may still be some lingering questions! Should I buy New?  Should I buy Used?  What brand should I buy?  What should I stay away from?

Buying a New Appliance

There are so very many appliances on the market today.  There are so many brands and each brand has a whole line of different models.  My first rule of thumb...  YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! If you are buying a cheap Washer and Dryer Set you are going to get a cheap Washer and Dryer Set.  It will not clean well and it will not last long.  If you can, foot the bill and step it up!  It will pay off in the long run!  When I say "step it up" I don't necessarily mean to get all the bells and whistles.  I mean rather than purchasing this cheaper brand, step it up and look at the ones that are a little more expensive.

That being said, try to stay away from the 'fancy' stuff.  All the bells and whistles are not necessarily a better choice! Think to yourself "will I really USE that extra feature?"  Think about six months from now, a year from now when the new wears off.  Are you really going to use that extra feature or will you be doing laundry with out it because the coolness has warn off?  Something else to consider; that fancy option/feature has to work somehow.  That means even more components, most likely control boards, that WILL go bad.  That also means more complicated inner workings of the unit which in turn means a higher repair bill when it does fail.  Also, when looking at extra features consider how long this feature has been available.  The features that have a lot of problems take a few years to get axed from the models.  If the feature has been around for several years the engineers have had time to work out more of the kinks and problems with that feature.

The next thing to keep in mind is looks are not everything!  The appliance companies know how to market their appliances.  They know that when people look at their appliance and see the cool colors used on the control panel or the awesome digital display the consumer will be more likely to look at it and think "wow, this is nice!" and purchase it over the one sitting next to it that doesn't look as fancy.  Tisk, tisk, tisk... Do not judge it by the way it looks!  The fancy look is simply a marketing tool!  It has nothing to do with the way the unit runs; the truth is that it is a marketing tool used to draw your attention to that appliance. Look at all the features, check out all the models.  Also, just because it says on the unit "Quiet Pack II" or "Commercial Quality" or "King Sized Capacity" does not mean that it is any quieter or better or larger than the one sitting next to it that doesn't print that on the panel.  Looks can be very deceiving in the Appliance World.  

Be aware, do your research and don't make a spur of the moment decision.  Shop around!  Visit different stores.  Different stores sell different brands.  Call an Appliance Repair Company.  Ask them what they think is the best buy for your dollar.

Next, keep in mind that most new appliances only offer a 1 Year Limited Warranty!  After that you are on your own!  If you want to purchase an extended warranty make sure you read it carefully!  Often times the most major and expensive repairs will not be covered OR they will only cover the part and not the labor.  Often times it is even added into the warranty that in order to get the part covered you must have one of their technicians make the repair.  Beware, their technicians will charge you an arm and a leg for their labor.  We have had times where it is cheaper for the customer to buy the part through us and pay us our labor and they still come out owing less than it would have cost to pay the labor for the warranty service; let alone the cost of the warranty itself.  PLEASE if you consider an Extended Warranty read through the warranty carefully.  Don't let the salesman just talk you into it, chances are he receives a commission for selling it to you.  Read it carefully, ask questions and make sure that you are not getting duped.

Finally,  when you figure out what appliance you are getting you need to make sure it comes with everything you will need to get it hooked up and running in your home.  Most new appliances do not come with the installation equipment.  For example:  Most new washing machines do not come with new hoses for your water supply, most dryers do not come with an electrical cord, refrigerators do not come with a water supply line.  These are just a few examples.  After you figure out what appliance you are getting make sure to ask about the extras you will need when it is installed.  Don't just assume that the items needed are included with the purchase of the unit.  You can also consider asking the professional that will install the appliance if they provide any extras needed for installation.  Most companies have all items needed for installation in stock and on their truck.

Once you have covered all of your bases with purchasing the new appliance you need to get a few more details worked out.

Getting your New Appliance Delivered

Some companies offer Free Delivery of your new appliance.  The free delivery is nice.    However, if they charge a delivery fee it is always worth checking with your Appliance Technician to see what they would charge to pick up your new appliance, deliver it to your home and installing it for you.  You do have options and it is always best to know what your options are.

When a store offers free delivery make sure you find out what their free delivery includes.  Some places that offer free delivery will only deliver the unit to your curb.  If you want the appliance put in the garage for the technician to install they may charge for that.  If they have to take the appliance up the front steps to sit it on the patio they may charge.  Make sure that you know what that FREE service includes.  You don't want to have them deliver it, drop it off on the sidewalk and be left with a heavy appliance sitting on the side walk and no way to move it into the house or garage for the technician to install.  Also, make sure that the free delivery is not out of their delivery range.  Some companies will only deliver within a couple miles of their store.  Make sure ahead of time that they will deliver to your home.  Give them the address and ask them to confirm your home is located in their free zone.

If you choose to have the company you purchased your appliance from deliver your appliance and they charge a fee make sure you follow the same advice as above.  Often times companies will have these hidden charges.  Don't forget to ask if there is going to be additional charges for mileage, placing the unit in the garage, on the porch, etc.  Often times the customer does not find out about the hidden fees until it is too late.  Make sure to ask questions.  Make sure that you are clear on what they offer and what they charge.  Also, when the delivery is completed do not sign the delivery paper until you have taken the appliance out of the box and checked the appliance over for cosmetic damages.

Now that your new appliance has arrived at your home, it is time to get it installed!

Getting Your New Appliance Installed

It is always important to have your appliances installed by someone who knows what they are doing.  Installation is very rarely a "slide this one out and put this one in."  There is a lot that is involved.  Hire someone who knows what they are doing.  A professional is going to make sure that they cover all of the bases when installing your new appliance.  They can also give you tips on how to maintain and care for your new appliance.

You are almost done, just one more thing to make arrangements for!

Disposing of Your Old Appliance

People often wonder what to do with their old appliance.  Never pay someone to haul away your appliance!  Many companies will offer Free Haul Away of your old appliance.  This is always a great service.  If you are offered free haul away take that extra step and find out what happens to your appliance when they haul it away.  Often times your old appliance will end up at the dump, in the landfill.  Do not let this happen!  Appliances are 100% Recyclable!  Whom ever you choose to haul it away make sure that it is going to get recycled.  If the company that is delivering or installing your appliance does not haul them away for free a simple search of your local Craig's List will reveal some options.  If you do not live in an area where Craig's List is popular check your local paper.  There are people out there that will take it for free and insure that it gets recycled!

That concludes Part 1 of this blog.  Part 2 will talk about what to do when your appliance breaks and you decide to replace it with a used appliance.

Appliance Spring Cleaning Tips from 

the Appliance Master's Wife...

When it comes to Spring Cleaning it is easy to over look your appliances.  Appliances are very much like cars; you must maintain them!  If you maintain your appliances they will last longer and run more efficiently.  I have put together a list of cleaning and maintenance tips for your household appliances.  I, like many others, do not like to use harsh chemicals when cleaning; you will see that my tips below do not include harsh chemicals but yet remain simple and effective!  There is also a lot of information contained in this blog post so please feel free to book mark the page for quick reference in the future!  If you are a busy mom and wife like I am then you know as well as I do that tackling all of these in one weekend is impossible without falling behind on your regular duties and responsibilities!  Again, bookmark the page so that you can come back to it!

Many of your household appliances require regular maintenance parts. Here is a link to where they can be purchased. http://www.repairclinic.com/?RCAID=1000160  Simply Click this link, Enter your MODEL Number, Locate the part you need, add it to your cart, pay in the check out and wait 3-5 days for it to arrive on your door step!  Also keep in mind that this site offers parts for everything from Appliances to Furnaces to Lawn Equipment and much, much more!  You can also visit our website at www.shanesappliancerepair.com , Click on the PARTS ONLY tab and follow the link!  Also included on our PARTS ONLY tab is information about where to find the MODEL Number for your appliance!

Microwave Oven Cleaning and Tips:  

Fill a Microwave Safe Bowl with 1 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup White Vinegar. Microwave for 3-5 minutes until water boils. Let sit for 5 minutes, with the door shut, then simply wipe the unit out with a damp wash cloth. The Vinegar will remove any lingering smells.  I actually do this process several times per year.  If you burn a bag of Popcorn, you know how the smell lingers in the microwave for awhile.  Worry no longer, when you take the burnt popcorn out of the microwave simply perform this process and the odor is gone.  When your child explodes their plate of hot dogs and baked beans in the microwave and fails to inform you and you don't notice until the next evening when you go to defrost the meat for dinner; simply perform this process and wipe away the mess! Spring is also a good time to change the charcoal filters on your hanging microwave and a good time to vacuum out the front of the vent and give the outside of the unit a good wipe down.  To clean the outside of the unit simply dilute some white vinegar with some water (1/2 and 1/2 is strong enough) and give it a good wipe down.  REMEMBER that behind the touch pad is a control board, DO NOT spray your cleaner directly on this.  This is a sure fire way to 'fry' your control board!  **To purchase new Charcoal Filters for your microwave simply click the link above, enter your MODEL number in the search bar and locate your replacement filters!**

Range/Oven/Stove Cleaning and Tips: 

Sprinkle soiled surfaces with baking soda then spritz with White Vinegar. Allow to sit for 5-8 hours, depending on how 'caked on' the debris is. Then wipe out with damp cloth... If you do want to use your self clean option PLEASE remember to only run the unit on Self Clean for 1 hour then shut the unit off and allow it to cool down. The heat from your oven exhausts directly below your control board. Running the unit for too long can ruin your control board and be a costly repair!  If necessary you can do the self clean twice.  Let it run for an hour, shut it down to cool, wipe out loose debris and repeat.  NOTE:  DO NOT add the Vinegar and Baking Soda then run the self clean.  Choose one or the other or Run the self clean, wipe out loose debris then use the Vinegar and Baking Soda method to shine it up!!  When cleaning the top of the range you can sprinkle Baking Soda on the the spots where grease has built up and spritz with Vinegar.  Allow this to sit for an hour or so, depending on how tough the grime is, and then wipe it away.  DO NOT do this on your control pad, you will risk 'frying' it.  PLEASE NOTE, IF you have a gas range DO NOT use Baking Soda or Vinegar on the spark modules!  IF you have a Coil Top Range DO NOT use Baking Soda and Vinegar on the burners or the outlet where the burner plugs in! 

Dishwasher Cleaning and Tips: 

Turn on your sink faucet. Allow water to run hot. Turn water off at the faucet and start your empty dishwasher without detergent.  Allow dishwasher to fill with water and listen for it to start circulating the water. When the water begins to be pumped through the spray arms, quickly open the Dishwasher and pour in 2 cups of White Vinegar and close the door. Allow the unit to finish the cycle, you can stop the unit when it goes into the 'drying' cycle as it is not necessary to run that part of the cycle.  This process will clean built up debris from your pump and spray arms as well as clean the tub and racks. If you have hard water this process should be done every couple of months rather than once a year.  When this process is complete use a damp wash cloth to gently clean the seal.  Be careful not to rip the seal or make it come off.  Give the front of the dishwasher a good wipe down too!  Again, DO NOT spray cleaner directly onto the touch panel or buttons!  A good solution for getting the tough stuff off is Vinegar diluted with Water, 1/2 and 1/2 is always a good mix!

Washing Machine Cleaning and Tips: 

Turn on empty washer. Do not add detergent. Allow unit to fill with water. When it begins to agitate pause the load, open the door (or for top loads just lift the lid), put it 1 cup Sun Brand Powdered Dishwasher Detergent and 1 cup of Bleach. (Sun Brand Powdered Detergent is very important, DO NOT attempt with any other brand) Close the door and allow the cycle to finish. This mixture will clean your machine better than any of the washing machine cleaners on the market.  Spring is a good time to give the unit a good wipe down as well! DO NOT spray cleaner on to your touch panel, timer or buttons!  It is also recommended that you hire a professional to come out and clean out your pump.  You would be amazed at the stuff that is pulled from washer pumps.  Everything from Socks and Money to Bra Under Wires and Jewelery.   I highly recommend having a professional do this as there are many times that one gets into this process and realizes that they got in over their head.  Another important tip for Front Loading Washers:  You should regularly wipe out the 'boot seal'.  This is the seal that goes between the frame of the washer and the tub of the washer.  It is important to keep standing water out of this area and remove hair and other debris that gathers there.  This 'boot seal' is expensive to replace and the smallest pieces of debris can rip it.  It is important to keep it free from standing water so that the seal does not develop mold.  Finally, it is important that when you are finished using the washer you DO NOT close the door all of the way.  Leave it cracked.  This also prevents mold and mildew from growing inside the unit.

Dryer Cleaning and Tips: 

We recommend hiring a reputable Appliance Repair Technician to perform a preventative maintenance service on your machine. A knowledgable technician will know how to not only open the unit up to clean the lint out of the entire unit, but they will also know how to put it back together... We get calls for Do It Yourselfers who can't put the machine back together...  Having all of the lint cleaned out of the unit will make the unit run more efficiently as well as lengthen the life of you dryer.  Purchasing one of those "do it yourself" vacuum attachments is a waste of money (in my opinion).  These products only get the lint that fell out of your lint trap and down that little shaft.  Lint accumulates in ALL parts of the dryer.  It is highly flammable and can smolder for hours!  The lint also causes undo wear and tear on the unit as well as makes them much less efficient.  This is also a good time to have the rollers, belt, felt and idler checked in your unit.  It is much better to replace these items when they begin to wear rather than wait until they are completely ruined.  It is also important that you check your lint screen.  The air flows through your lint screen during every cycle.  Even though you clear the loose lint at the end of every load, the screens can become plugged due to the nature of the tiny holes in the screen.  Here is how to check if you need a new lint trap.  Clear all of the lint off the trap.  Hold the trap under running water.  If the water does not flow through the trap the air does not flow through it either.  If this is the case you should consider replacing the trap.  Use the link and follow the directions above to look up the lint trap needed for your dryer!

Refrigerator Cleaning and Tips: 

Give it a good clean with Mild Dish Soap. Just give it a good wipe down inside and outside of the unit.  If you remove the shelves be very careful not to break them as they can be expensive to replace! Remember that on Stainless Steel Appliances you should always wipe with the grain!  This is important!  If you wash across the grain you will cause scratches.  Change your water filter!  This should be changed, on average once a year.  If you are just a family of two then you probably only need to change it about every 18 months.  If you are a family of 8 you should change it every 6-10 months.  Follow the directions at the beginning of this post to find the right water filter for your fridge.  Pull the unit out from the wall. UNPLUG THE UNIT!  It will not hurt the food inside the fridge to leave it unplugged for 30 minutes to an hour while you Vacuum out behind the unit. Be very careful not to damage anything.  If you don't feel comfortable doing this call a reputable Appliance Repair Technician. This is also a good time to clean the floor under the unit.  There is a lot of stuff that accumulates under there!  When you push the unit back in place be sure to leave 6-10 inches between the rear of the unit and the wall. This will allow the components in the rear to 'breath' and Prevent valves and water lines from freezing in the winter.  

I hope that you find this information helpful!  If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to find the answers you are looking for!  Please feel free to copy the URL on this page and SHARE it with your friends!

I am looking at a busy day today... Who am I kidding?  Everyday is a busy day!  To me, this is great news!

Yesterday I was on a call for a very nice lady!  She was a very mathematical person.  Intriguing, to say the least!  She was throwing around percents of how much cheaper I was than other companies and how much cheaper the price of my part was vs prices that she had found.  It was very interesting to have it all put in numbers/percents.  I was happy to hear her analysis and walked away from the conversation 100% happy in knowing that I am saving people so much money!

As the conversation continued, I was asked how I make any kind of money, considering my prices are so low.  I would like to touch on this with all of you that follow me and those of you that may view my blog. I am able to keep my prices low for several reasons. 

The first and fore most reason is that I am not greedy.  I make enough money to sustain my families needs and that is good enough for me.  I am not looking to get rich or buy all sorts of unnecessary "toys."   Although many of these unnecessary "toys" would be nice, but they are just that... Unnecessary.  Sure it would be nice to live in a bigger house, buy fancy vehicles for my wife and I, take my family on lavish trips around the world, have a boat and RV, let my kids and wife go on shopping sprees at the mall,  but it is all Unnecessary!  Maybe in thefuture some of these things could be possible, but only after years of saving and planning.  I also think that it is important to teach my kids the value of the basics.  If they were to grow up in a make belief world where everything was handed to them, I will have failed.  It is my belief that they should know the truth...  In the real world one must work and work hard to earn an honest dollar.

The second reason I can charge so little is that I have no overhead.  I am the owner, I am the technician, I am the man behind the scenes!  My company consists of my wife and I.   There is no one that needs their "cut" of what I charge.  The money that I  make in "profit" is enough to pay my household bills.  There is some money left, but all of that is continually reinvested in the company.  For those of you who remember, when I started about a year ago, I started with sharing a mini van with my wife.  I slowly saved up the money to put a down payment on a truck.  Then saved another couple of months and bought a tool box, and save another couple months to get signs on my truck. It continues each and every month.  Weather I am buying, little by little,more parts for truck stock or slowly replacing my 10+ year old  tools with newer ones.  I am always reinvesting money into the business to make it more efficient and stronger.

The Third reason I can charge so little is that I don't pay, not even a penny, for advertising!  One of the companies I worked for, here in the Springs, was paying thousands of dollars a month in advertising costs. This, I think, is silly!  It is my feeling that the best way to advertise is FREE advertisements!  All of my advertising is free of charge.  I don't pay for any of them!  My best advertising, which is worth more then a million dollars, is "word of mouth."  All of my customers are so pleased with me that they tell everyone that they know!  They are pleased with my services and repairs, customer service and friendliness, prices and rates. They are happy with me from the time they call me to the time they hand me payment for my services.  I offer things that other companies in this town do not.  I love to save my customers money, love to educate my customers and much more.  Other companies in this town would rather keep things to themselves, as it means more calls and more money for them.

This is just a few of the reasons that I am able to keep my rates low.  I suppose it is time to get a crack on today's calls!

Shane's Appliance Repair is proud to announce that it is now offering a "Shop-Drop" option! 

This is a wonderful way to save money on your repair bill! 

With the "Shop-Drop" option I only charge a $45 Labor charge plus the price of parts!

The new "Shop-Drop" option is simple:

• Call and make an appointment to drop the unit off
• Bring the unit to me at the scheduled appointment time
• I will asses and diagnose the unit and call you with an "estimated cost" of repair and estimated repair date
• With your approval, I will repair the unit
• Once repaired I will call you to let you know it is done
• You come pick up the unit