We depend on our household appliances every day to cook our food, wash our clothes and help make life easier. Since most of our appliances deal with water and electricity, it’s important to make sure we’re using them safely and taking care of them to prevent dangerous accidents. Here are some of the top household appliance safety tips.

Check Power Cords

It may seem like common sense, but household fires can often start from worn, frayed electrical cords. Make sure your cords are in good shape and don’t show any signs of fraying or cracking. Also, make sure the cords aren’t laying in areas that tend to get wet or damp.

Have Proper Outlets

Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets should be installed anywhere where water and electricity are within 6 feet of each other. Make sure the appliances in your laundry room, bathrooms, kitchen and outdoor areas are equipped with the correct outlets to prevent water from interfering with your electricity.

Unplug Damaged or Broken Appliances

If you’re having an issue with an appliance and are waiting for a repair, be sure to unplug the machine right away. If the problem is electrical, it could be dangerous to leave it on or plugged in.

Have Regular Maintenance Done 

If you suspect there is an issue with a larger appliance like a refrigerator, washer, dryer or oven, make sure you call a reputable repair company right away. Ignoring issues or using machines that aren’t working properly can lead to more significant and even dangerous issues over time. 

Keep Them Clean

Regularly cleaning your appliances can cut down on minor issues that can lead to costly repairs. Keep the areas around the appliances clean as well and always wipe up liquid spills or messes right away.

Using these easy safety tips will keep your appliances working safely for years to come. If you have any questions or need a repair, call Express Appliance today.

Broken appliances can be a major inconvenience. One of the toughest questions as a consumer is – should you spend the money and replace your appliance or will a repair get you some more years out of it? Most of the time, calling an experienced technician will give you the answer that you’re looking for. If the problem is repairable, it will most likely cost you 20 to 30% of what it would cost to replace it.

Know Your Appliance’s Age

In order to know whether you should replace your appliance when it’s broken, you should know its general lifespan. Here is the average life of the most common household appliances.

• Refrigerator – A well-maintained refrigerator can last anywhere from 12-15 years.
• Dishwasher – Dishwashers tend to get a lot of regular use but can last up to ten years.
• Oven – Ovens are made to last and when taken care of, can last up to 15 years.
• Washer – A quality washing machine will last around ten years.
• Dryer – Dryers are a little more durable than their laundry counterpart and can last up to 15 years.

If your appliance is broken but still has plenty of life left according to the above list, it is probably a better bet to get it repaired rather than replaced. Of course, there are issues that can cause it to age quicker, so be sure to take care of your appliances regularly to get the most out of them. Ask a qualified technician if you’re unsure.

Under Warranty

If your appliance is under warranty, it would be more cost effective to repair it rather than replace. Always save all the paperwork that came with your appliance as well as any warranty information. Also, save all the invoices from any repairs done. Many repair companies have warranties on their work.

When in doubt, call Express Appliance. They will be able to assess your broken appliance and give you an honest assessment of whether a repair or replacement would be more appropriate.

If you’re in the market for a new washer, the main choice you’ll have to make is top loading or front loading. There are several different factors that go into this decision, like laundry room layout and budget among others. Let’s take a closer look at these two options.

Top Loading

Top loading washers have been around since the invention of the washing machine. A major benefit to this type of appliance is that it’s easy to load your clothes into. There’s no bending required, making it a better choice for those who have limited mobility. But because the door to this kind of washing machine swings upward from the top of the machine, you won’t be able to place it under a counter like you would with a front-loading appliance. Top loaders wash clothes with the help of an agitator which spins the items back and forth. Agitators use mechanical force, which can be tough on fabrics, causing them to wear or fade quickly. They also require a large amount of water compared to front loading. 

Front Loading

A front loading washing machine requires you to insert your clothes through a door that swings outward, just like a dryer. This means you can have a counter over your washer and dryer to make more practical use of your laundry room space. A front loading washing machine does not have an agitator, it uses a circular motion and gravity to wash your clothes as opposed to needing something to physically push clothes towards the bottom or top. Because of this, less water and detergent are needed to wash the same amount of clothes. This is also gentler on your fabrics, allowing them to last longer and maintain their color vibrancy. A front loading washing machine comes at a higher price point than a top loading, so this could factor into your decision as well.

Both types of machines are reliable and practical, so the choice is yours.

When was the last time you cleaned your oven? A dirty oven takes longer to heat up, works harder to maintain an even temperature and can even be a fire hazard. So what should you use to clean your oven? We’ve taken a closer look at the top oven cleaners so you don’t have to.

Baking Soda

Sometimes you don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy oven cleaners to get the job done. By making a thin paste of baking soda and water and spreading it on the inside surfaces of your oven, you can easily wipe off messes. This is a great choice for an environmentally friendly cleaner, or if you tend to be sensitive to cleaning chemicals. This only works on an oven that is cleaned regularly though, don’t expect it to work miracles.

Easy- Off

Easy- Off is relatively inexpensive and is good for a more heavy-duty clean. Their fume-free formula cuts down on the harsh chemical smell that some cleaners tend to have. To use, apply a coating and allow it to sit for at least an hour, preferably overnight, and then wipe off.

Citrus Cleaners

There are a few natural oven cleaners available made with citrus oils. These tend to cost a bit more than other brands and don’t offer a heavy duty clean, but they still are more effective than just a soap and water or baking soda wipe down. These are especially effective on grease stains, as citrus oil is a known enemy of fats and oil.

Astonish

Astonish oven cleaners can actually be used on cookware as well, meaning you’ll get more for your money. These cleaners are good for heavy duty build-up but need to be rinsed off completely with water. They also come in large containers, so one purchase will last you months.

Whichever product you decide on, be sure to clean your oven regularly. It’ll work more efficiently and last longer.

An all-in-one washer and dryer combo machine is perfect for people who have a small living space or don’t have a separate laundry area in their home. Not to be confused with stackable separate washer and dryer units, the combo machine is a single appliance that washes and then dries a load of laundry. Because they use a condensation-based drying method, instead of the standard vented method of stand-alone dryers, they can be placed in pantries or under countertops without any issues. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of owning an all-in-one washer and dryer combo as opposed to two separate units.

Pros

• Most combo units are front-loading, meaning the clothes are placed in the unit by opening a door on the front that swings open. This type of design is usually preferred by customers for its convenience and more effective washing.
• Combo machines can fit in confined spaces and do not require ventilation, meaning you could have access to laundry in a small area like an apartment where you otherwise wouldn’t.
• Some combo units feature wheels, making them portable and allowing them to be moved easily.
• The convenience of not having to switch loads in between washing and drying makes a combo machine perfect for busy people on the go.

Cons

• Some combo devices do not have as much capacity as most standard washers, although newer models compare pretty well to standard capacity.
• Condensation based drying tends to take longer than standard vented dryer models.
• A combo machine takes anywhere from 2-3 hours to wash and dry a load of clothes, and since you’re not able to do two loads at a time like you can with separate units, a combo machine might not be the best choice for larger families.

If you have questions about your all-in-one washer and dryer combo machine or if it’s in need of a repair, call Express Appliance Service.

Are you getting frustrated every time you open your refrigerator? Can’t find anything you’re looking for? If your fridge has become a wasteland of half empty condiment bottles and mystery leftovers, it’s time to get organized. We organize our desks, our cars, our bookshelves, but when was the last time you organized your refrigerator? Using these easy hacks, you can set up your fridge in a practical way that will keep it cleaner longer. The main reason food goes bad is because we forget that it’s there. Organizing your fridge means less wasted food. Let’s get started.

Baskets and Bins

If you buy certain things regularly, like yogurt and or apples, having appropriately sized baskets and bins in your fridge can keep them in order while saving plenty of room for other items. You can find these storage containers at just about every store and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some even have handles that make them easier to be pulled out and put back.

Drink Dispensers

Canned drinks take up a lot of space in the fridge and they can fall and knock other things over. Using an inexpensive drink dispenser allows you to stack cans on top of each other, utilizing precious space, and makes them easy to take out. 

Label Everything

Labeling your storage bins and shelves not only keeps things organized, it gives gentle direction to other members of your household to put things back where they go.

Fridge Mats

Hate cleaning off those unknown sticky substances from your refrigerator shelves? Use cheap plastic placemats on each shelf. Every week you can take them out and wash them and put them back. 

Lazy Susan for Condiments

Condiment bottles get forgotten when you stuff them in the fridge doors. Use a lazy susan or turntable on the top shelf so they’re always visible and easy to access.

Using these easy hacks to organize your refrigerator will change your life! 

Are you tired of opening your dishwasher and finding pieces of food or grime still stuck on your “clean” dishes? It may not be your dishwasher’s fault. It turns out there is a right and a wrong way to load your dishwasher. Use these hacks to get clean dishes every time.

Skip the Liquid Soap

Liquid detergents tend to be less expensive, but they aren’t as effective at removing stuck on messes as powder or tablets. So as tempting as that bargain soap is, you’ll just end up spending more time and money to rewash dishes that should have been cleaned the first time.

Mix up Your Flatware

If you’re a stickler for organization, you’ve probably been keeping all your flatware together, forks with forks and spoons with spoons, etc. It turns out that it’s more efficient to get a little crazy with your flatware and mix things up a bit. Arrange your silverware tray compartments with spoons and forks together and some pointing up and some pointing down, the water will be able to be distributed more evenly, making for a more thorough wash.

Bowls on the Top, Plates on the Bottom

The top rack of your dishwasher is actually designed to stack bowls at an angle so they can get thoroughly cleaned without holding water. The same goes for the bottom rack, it is meant for arranging plates in such a way that they are cleaned as much as possible.

Wash Your Dishwasher

Every month or so, run your empty dishwasher. You can do the “Quick” setting or rinse cycle, just use the fastest cycle your machine allows. 

Check the Spinner

Every time you’re about to run your dishwasher, spin the spraying arm to make sure it’s clear of anything that may be blocking it. Doing this every time will save you the hassle of running an entire cycle without anything getting clean.

Use these easy hacks for clean dishes every time.

Dryer fires are more common than you think. Most of the time the fire is contained within the appliance and just burns out your machine, but the flames can spread. That is when a dryer fire can turn into a house fire. There are easy ways to prevent dryer fires, and these are things you should be incorporating into your regular laundry routine. Let’s take a look at some easy ways to prevent dryer fires.

Always Clean Your Lint Tray

This is the most important thing to remember when it comes to preventing your dryer from catching fire. Get in the habit of emptying your lint tray after every load of clothes AND checking it before starting a new load. Remove any lint you find, even it’s a small amount.

Check Your Vent Hose

Be sure to check your vent hose on a regular basis. White plastic hoses are unsafe, so if you still have one of these, replace it immediately. Aluminum hoses should be used and cut to length so there’s a limited amount of excess. Also, make sure there’s no kinks or crushed areas of your hose.

Clean Your Vent Line

Your vent line is located on the wall behind your dryer and goes to the outside. It sometimes can get clogged or lined with lint which can lead to fires. You can clean the vent line yourself or hire a professional to do so.

Keep Your Laundry Room Clean

Besides keeping your dryer clean, it’s also important to keep the area around your dryer clean as well. Vacuum that area regularly and keep the top of your dryer clear of boxes and clothes.

Keep the Inside of Your Dryer Clean

Get in the habit of wiping out the inside of your dryer on a regular basis. This will prevent the buildup of lint and debris.

Use these simple steps to prevent dryer fires.

We’ve come to rely on our appliances as much as we rely on the people in our lives. When you get up in the morning to make your breakfast and realize that your food has spoiled because your refrigerator stopped working in the middle of the night, or you go to put your just washed work clothes in the dryer and realize it won’t turn on, it can really disrupt your day. When you’re faced with a broken appliance, it might seem tempting to try to repair it yourself… DON’T! Not only can you cause further damage, you could possibly hurt yourself if you’re not experienced in appliance repair. It’s always best to leave things like this to the professionals. When searching for appliance repair in Freehold, look no further than Express Appliance Service. Why should you call us when your appliance isn’t working properly?

You’ll Save Money

When you hire someone to fix an appliance that isn’t working properly, you want it done the right way the first time. The experts at Express Appliance Service will be able to get your appliance back in top shape, meaning you won’t have to waste money on multiple repairs. A repaired appliance also means you won’t have to make a large investment on a new one.

Your Appliance Will be Serviced Safely

Home appliances, especially ones like refrigerators and washers or dryers, are made for heavy-duty responsibilities and require electricity and complicated inner workings. A trained service repair professional will have the proper tools and equipment to ensure your appliance is fixed correctly, without any unnecessary risks to you or your family.

Service Warranty

We know that when you’re searching for appliance repair in Freehold, you’re looking for a company that offers quality work. We are so confident that we can fix your appliance properly the first time, that we offer a two-year warranty on all our work.

Call Express Appliance Service today.

Do you own a Subzero refrigerator? Express Appliance Service has expert professionals trained in Subzero refrigerator repair.

Subzero, originally called The Subzero Freezer Company, was founded in 1945 in Madison, Wisconsin. The company’s founder, Westye Bakke, invented the very first free-standing freezer in 1943. They also were the first company to install built-in refrigerators in the United States. As a consequence, the retro 50’s look of a built-in is often associated with the brand. With over 70 years of research and experience with food preservation, Subzero creates refrigerators that are tested to the highest standards and built for beauty and performance. Here are a few of the models Subzero is most known for:

• Built In Refrigerators- Known for their sleek panels that blend in seamlessly with your kitchen design, Subzero full-size refrigerators have a classic modern look, without a hinge or grille in sight.
• Undercounter Refrigerators- Giving your kitchen, or even your dining room, a touch of luxury, Subzero undercounter refrigerators allow you to preserve food where it’s most convenient. You’ll be able to keep fresh produce beneath the kitchen island or beverages and snacks in the dining room, taking food storage to a whole new level.
• Wine Coolers– A fine wine collection should be taken care of properly. Subzero wine coolers not only control temperature, but also humidity, light and vibration, so your wines will be perfect to the last drop. Several models also have built-in security systems that are able to be connected to your home’s alarm.

Subzero refrigerator repair should be left to the professionals. Because of the substantial weight and height difference compared to other brands, Subzero full-size refrigerators require trained professionals to move and service them. Express Appliance Service has many specialty tools and equipment readily available to fix a problem with your Subzero appliance. Be sure to call us today for Subzero refrigerator repair.