Did you ever wonder what that drawer was for under your oven? If your answer is “Of course, it’s for storage”, then you may want to continue reading! We put together some common misconceptions about ovens to ensure you’re getting the best use out of yours. These tips can help any oven owner!

The Warming Drawer

That drawer under your oven? It’s actually for keeping food warm. It’s a perfect place to keep food that just came out of the oven nice and warm, without continuing to cook it. It’s especially convenient if you need to cook a separate item in the oven at a different temperature. Take the first part of your dish, put it in the warming drawer, adjust the oven’s temp, and throw in the next part of your dish! It is actually not recommended that you store anything in there, even pans. The constant change of temperature will negatively impact just about anything you are thinking of storing in there.

Don’t Open The Door!

We know it’s tempting to open the door during the cooking process, but that could change the oven’s temperature by nearly 20 degrees when you do. Try to utilize your oven light as much as possible to get a peek at your food. This is especially important if you are baking anything in the oven.

Calibrate The Oven’s Temperature

Whether the dial or screen is reading 400 degrees…how certain are you that it is correct? Invest in an oven thermometer to double check it. This is a great way to get ahead of any problems in the future. If you notice that the thermometer does not match the temperature indicated on your oven, regardless of it indicating the temperature is actually higher or lower, then it’s time to give us a call!

Energy efficiency has become a growingly important feature when choosing an appliance. Whether you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint and/or save on your electric bill, consider these models:

Washing Machine – Electrolux EFLW42

This incredibly efficient washing machine made by Electrolux only uses 60 kWh per year, which is 15 less then it’s closest competitor. Incredibly, it doesn’t sacrifice features to use this little of energy. This washing machine uses a patented system which offers improved wash actions, temperature control, and smart load sensing. Furthermore, there is a 20-Minute fast wash feature and it utilizes a specific mode to specifically target stains.

Dryer – Miele PDR908 HP

Miele created this electric dryer which is leaps and bounds more efficient than its nearest competition. With an estimated wattage of 87 kWh per year, it uses over 30% less energy than the next most efficient dryer on the market today. Similarly to the Electrolux washing machine, advanced features were not sacrificed to achieve this level of efficiency. Through heat pump technology, this ventless dryer can maximize time and energy saving. It also has a full touch screen display to access 35 different programs and has WiFi connectivity.

Dishwasher – 9 Separate Miele Models

Miele did it again with 9 of their dishwashers as well. These models range from 199-210 kWh per year before their closest competition comes in with models at 220 kWh per year. The nine separate models all come with a great range of colors and features for you to chose from. If you are in the market for an energy efficient dishwasher, then Miele should be your preferred brand.

Refrigerator – Galanz GLR10TRDEFR

The competition for most efficient fridge was exceptionally close with the Galanz model beating out a Beko model by just 2 kWh per year. Coming it at 292 kWh per year, the retro looking Galanz model would be a perfect second fridge for a garage, man cave, or she shed. It will look great all while saving a lot of energy!

In the last decade, everything in our lives has been altered by technology in some way. Some of the changes are subtle, and some are drastic. Most of these changes make our lives way more convenient, especially when it comes to technological advances in home appliances. And it’s only going to get even more convenient. Here’s a look at the appliances of the future.

Self-Cleaning Ovens

Now you may be thinking, “Wait, don’t we already have self-cleaning ovens?”. We do, but the self-cleaning option is usually just an extremely high heat setting that burns off all the debris inside your oven. This process makes your home extremely hot for a couple of hours, and can smell pretty nasty. Thankfully, the new self-cleaning options will include steam, that will clean grease and grime without extreme heat or chemicals.

Self-Cleaning Countertops

No matter how often you wipe down your kitchen counters, they never seem to stay clean. In the future, you may not have to worry about that anymore. Thanks to nanotechnology, the countertops of the future will be able to “vacuum” themselves by pushing any crumbs or debris into a receptacle to be emptied.

Smart Refrigerators

The fridges of the future are perhaps the most exciting. These advanced appliances will be able to alert you when food is about to go bad. They can even give you recipe ideas to use up the almost-expired ingredients. They will even be able to push these foods to the front of the shelves, so you definitely won’t forget to use them up. Talk about sustainability!

Excited for the future yet? So are we! But in the meantime, remember to think of Express Appliance Repair for all your appliance needs of the present. Call for an appointment today.

Your refrigerator is the hub of your kitchen. It’s the center of your family’s eating and snacking habits and gets used all day long. When it comes to making a big purchase like a new fridge, you want to make sure you’re getting a reliable model. Here are the most reliable refrigerators available in 2020.

Whirlpool

When it comes to refrigerators, Whirlpool has built a reputation of creating the best and the most reliable. Almost all its latest models are rated high in both consumer reports and reliability. They have been making fridges for over 100 years, after all, so they definitely know what they’re doing. In fact, according to a Puls study surveying hundreds of repair techs to determine the most reliable brand of refrigerator, Whirlpool secured the top slot. We all know repair techs know what they’re talking about!

KitchenAid

KitchenAid ranked second in that same study, and since KitchenAid is owned by Whirlpool, we’re not surprised. The same quality standards are in play with KitchenAid fridges, so you can be sure whichever model you choose, you’re going to get your money’s worth. This brand is also known for emphasizing functionality and paying close attention to detail, so they make great fridges for large families, home chefs, or any other home.

Samsung

A Samsung refrigerator makes a great choice if you’re looking for reliability and the latest technology. Their fridges are physically durable and last a long time, while the brand is leading the way in appliance Smart technology. If you’re looking for features like the Family Hub, where you can connect all your apps and phones to the fridge, then a Samsung fridge is definitely the right choice. Samsung also ranks third in the Puls study, so you don’t have to compromise craftsmanship for convenience.

Even the best-made appliance can malfunction from time to time. Luckily, for appliances like your trusted dishwasher, malfunctions are easy to spot. If you notice any of these telltale signs from your dishwasher, then it’s time to call the repair company.

Dishes Coming Out Dirty

The first sign that something isn’t quite right with your dishwasher is when the dishes stop getting clean after running it. There could be many different reasons for this. Maybe you’ve switched to a different generic detergent. Maybe there was a large serving spoon blocking the spinning arm. Maybe you’ve just overfilled your machine. Once you’ve ruled out these common issues, and your dishes still aren’t getting cleaned, it may be time to call in the pros.

Leaking Water

If water is pooling on the ground under your dishwasher when it’s in use, you definitely have a problem. First, check the door itself for any cracks or misalignments. Next, check the door gasket along the edge for any issues. If it’s not a physical defect letting the water out, you might have a bigger problem. Call an appliance repair company right away.

Dishes Not Drying

If you open your dishwasher to a load of wet dishes, it’s obviously not drying properly. Drying issues with your dishwasher are usually caused by either the heating element itself or a malfunctioning high-limit thermostat. Both these problems should be left to a professional to fix.

Won’t Turn On

Nothing is more frustrating than a loaded dishwasher that won’t start. First, check the power sources and look for a burnt fuse. If you can’t locate the source of the problem, you may have a burnt-out motor or an electrical malfunction. Time to call the repair company.

For these dishwasher malfunctions or any other appliance needs, Express Appliance Repair has you covered. Call for an appointment today.

When we wash our clothes, we’re mainly thinking about getting them clean. Getting that dirt and grime off is obviously a priority, but what about germs? Most people assume clothes are getting sanitized when you throw them in the washer, but are they? Let’s take a closer look.

What You Can’t See

If you think about all the dirty things you’ve thrown in your washing machine over the years, you can probably imagine what’s lurking in there. Studies have shown that 60% of home washing machines test positive for the presence of harmful bacteria. This is because the average washing cycle doesn’t kill germs. And yes, throwing your wet clothes into the hot dryer does kill some of those germs, but not all.

So, how do you kill the germs?

An easy thing you can do to prevent germs from building up in your washer is to only wash certain items in hot water. Things that should only be washed in hot water are:

• Cloth Diapers
• Bed Linens
• Undergarments
• Towels
• Cleaning Rags
• Pet Beds and Toys

Besides washing these things in hot water, you should also wash them separately from other items. For example, don’t wash your underwear with your t-shirts. Keep undergarments as a separate load of laundry.

Use Bleach on Your Whites

Using bleach on a load of white clothes can not only keep them bright and white, but it can also help kill those pesky germs in your washing machine. Once a week, wash a load of white with the recommended amount of bleach. You can even run an empty load once a month with a cup of bleach to keep it sanitized.

Remember, Express Appliance Repair is here for all your washing machine needs. Call for an appointment today.

No matter how well we take care of them, appliances break. It’s just a fact of life. Some malfunctions are easily fixed, some aren’t. So how do you know when you should call the repair company or when you can let it wait? Let’s take a look.

Broken Glass

Any glass components on appliances, like a door on an oven or washing machine, should be repaired right away by a professional. In fact, if there’s broken Glass on an appliance, especially on an appliance that heats up like an oven, it shouldn’t be used at all until repaired. Glass can crack further when heated, or even shatter, so to avoid a potentially dangerous incident, call Express Appliance Repair right away.

Broken Heating Elements

Heat is nothing to mess with. So if your appliance has a heating element that is broken or malfunctioning, discontinue use until you can have it repaired by a professional. Never try to rewire an appliance yourself.

Refrigerator Temperature

When a refrigerator isn’t maintaining the proper temperature, your food may not be staying as fresh as it needs to be. When food isn’t kept cold enough, bacteria can grow, causing your food to spoil or even be toxic to eat. So if your fridge or freezer isn’t staying cold enough, call the repair company right away.

Sparks or Smoke

Anytime you smell smoke or see sparks coming from an appliance, turn it off, unplug it and call a repair company right away. A smoking or sparking appliance can be extremely dangerous, so to avoid a disastrous electrical fire, call the experts immediately.

For these or any other appliance malfunctions, call Express Appliance Repair right away. Our expert techs come with fully stocked trucks, and in most cases, can fix your appliance the same day. Don’t try to fix that appliance yourself. Call the pros!

We are living in an exciting time for appliance technology. Every year, more advancements are being made to improve the function and convenience of the home appliances we use every day. Today, let’s take a closer look at the newest washing machine tech, and the cool new options the latest models feature.

Downloading Wash Cycles

Perhaps the most exciting of these new features is the ability to download different wash cycles depending on your specific needs. No more being limited to the 3 or 4 cycles that come included on older models of washing machines. Now you can go online or use an app on your phone to download a specific cycle and use it right away.  LG’s latest models, for example, allow you to download custom cycles similar to “hand wash” or “delicate” for particular fabrics or items. Imagine the convenience of buying a new piece of clothing or linen and knowing you can find the perfect wash cycle to care for it properly, with a few taps on your phone. Amazing!

Smart Washers

For those of us that dread laundry day, smart washers can take out a lot of stress. New smart technology enables you to program your washing machine to turn on at a certain time or change the temperature mid-cycle. It can even alert you on your phone when a load is ready to be transferred to the dryer.

Allergy Settings

Everyone seems to have sensitive skin these days, but new washing machines are trying to combat that with allergy settings. New washing machine models, like the Bosch Series 8, have an “allergy” setting that removes up to 99.9% of allergens in fabrics, like dust and pollen, making it a game-changer for those who are sensitive to those irritants.

Whether you have a washing machine featuring some of this new technology, or an older model, the experts at Express Appliance Repair can help! Give us a call today.

Your oven is often the hub of your kitchen. It’s where all your family’s meals are prepared and it’s a centerpiece of get-togethers for the holidays. It can be quite an inconvenience when something goes wrong with your oven, and it may be tempting to continue using it if the problem doesn’t stop the oven from working completely. We advise against this and stress that you should ALWAYS call a professional repair company at the first sign of a broken oven. Here’s why.

Broken Glass

If there is a crack in the glass door of your oven, do not turn it on. When the integrity of the glass is compromised, like with a crack or chip, heat can put further stress on it, causing it to shatter or even explode. Glass oven doors should be replaced right away, and the oven should not be used until doing so.

Overheating

If your food suddenly ends up burnt every time you use your oven, there’s most likely a serious problem with either your temperature sensor or the heating element itself. It’s not safe to continue using your oven if you can’t control the temperature. Call a repair company right away.

Strange Noises

Ovens should always be silent, except for the slight whirring sound of the flame turning on. If your oven is making clicking, banging, clanging, or any noises at all, something is wrong. Don’t continue using your oven until you have it checked by a professional.

Gas Concerns

If you have a gas-powered oven, it is even more important only to use it when it’s working properly. Gas leaks are incredibly dangerous and can be disastrous. If you smell a natural gas leak anywhere in your home, leave and call the gas company immediately. If you’re having issues with the pilot light of your oven, or the burners are not lighting properly, discontinue use and call a repair company right away.

Express Appliance Repair is here to help with all your oven and home appliance needs. Call for an appointment today!

Home appliances don’t last forever, but many of them, like washers and dryers, are made to last. If you have an appliance that’s experiencing some issues, it may be less expensive to repair it, and get several more years out of it before it’s time to replace it altogether. Let’s take a look at the benefits of repairing an appliance vs. replacing it.

Age Has a Lot to do with It

Depending on the age of your appliance, repairs may be the better option. If your appliance is 5 years old or younger, it should have many years left with just a repair. However, if your appliance is nearing ten years or older, it may be time to shop for a new one. Appliances are made to last many years, but when you know there are new, modern models out there that you wouldn’t have to spend time and money repairing, it’s best to weigh your options. Nevertheless, you should have the pros at Express Appliance Repair take a look first before buying a whole new appliance.

Cost for Repair vs. Replace

Small, easy repairs like replacing a belt on a dryer or a motor on a refrigerator are generally inexpensive. Be sure to get an estimate from a qualified, professional repair company. If the cost for the repair is significantly less than it would be for a new appliance, it makes more financial sense to pay for a repair.

Appliance Performance Overall

If your appliance has been reliable over the years and has always worked properly, aside from the current problem, a repair will most likely get it back to working order. If your appliance breaks down often and this isn’t the first time you’ve had to call a repair company because of it, it may be time for a new one.

Not sure if your appliance is repairable? Ask the experts at Express Appliance Repair. Call for an appointment today!