Do you have a convection setting on your oven? Are you not sure how to use it or when it should be used? This blog will go over everything you need to know to use your convection oven properly.

What is a convection oven?

A convection oven is an oven that has a special fan on the interior that blows hot air around. It also has a vent on the back of the appliance. You can’t tell the difference between a convection oven and a regular oven just by looking at them.

How does a convection oven work?

When using the convection setting in your oven, the inside fan turns on and circulates air around your food. This action keeps the temperature even throughout the oven and around your food, which results in more even cooking. This consistent temperature cooking can happen because the setting blows hot air towards the food you’re cooking and directs cold air away from it. For example, when cooking a 20-pound turkey, a convection oven allows you to cut an hour or so off the cooking time compared to a regular oven.

How do you properly use a convection oven?

Before using your convection oven, the most important thing to do is to read the manual for your specific oven. Most convection ovens require you to set it at a lower temperature than you would for a regular oven. So, if your recipe requires you to set your oven to 350, you may need to set your convection oven to 325 instead. However, the difference in temperatures could depend on what you’re cooking. Your convection oven manual should explain how you need to set the temperature for different dishes.

Are you having an issue with your convection oven? No problem! Express Appliance Repair is here for all your appliance repair needs. Give us a call today!

Getting fresh ice whenever you want is a modern convenience most of us take for granted. That is, until you reach for fresh ice and nothing is there! While a broken ice machine in your kitchen isn’t exactly an emergency, it’s still frustrating. Here’s what to do when your ice machine stops working.

Ice Machine Not Ejecting Ice

If there’s ice inside the ice mold but not dispensing, then your water supply to your ice machine is probably still working fine. However, this indicates a mechanical or electrical problem. One potential easy fix is the metal bar known as the “control arm”. This device determines if the ice bucket is full and no more ice should be made. To fix this, check the control arm to see if it’s set correctly. Reposition it into its “on” mode. Wait about 30 minutes. If this doesn’t fix the problem, it may be a problem with the motor itself. Time to call in the pros.

Ice Machine Not Making Ice

If your ice machine isn’t producing ice cubes at all or filling the tray, there is most likely a clog somewhere in the water supply line. This means that the dispenser is not getting the water it needs to make ice. It is probably best to get some guidance from a professional in these situations before trying anything on your own. An average person can easily turn a clogged water line into a broken water line.

Replace Your Filter

An old, dirty, or clogged water filter could cause problems for your ice machine. Try changing the water filter to see if this fixes the problem. If you haven’t changed it in the last few months, it may be the issue.

Need help with your ice machine? Give us a call. Express Appliance Repair is here for all your appliance repair needs.

Even if you don’t use your oven every day, it’s still one of the essential appliances in your kitchen. And when your oven isn’t heating correctly, it can be frustrating. Ovens are an appliance you don’t want to tinker with–it’s best to leave all the oven repairs to the professionals. However, there are ways to tell if it’s time to call in the pros before your oven stops working entirely. Here’s how to potentially know if your burners and oven are heating correctly.

Burners Won’t Light

If you have a gas-powered stove and your burners aren’t lighting, it could potentially be an issue with the gas line, pilot light, or ignitor. If you attempt to turn on the burner and hear clicking, but it doesn’t turn on, it’s probably an issue with the pilot light or gas line. If you don’t hear any clicking, then it’s probably the ignitor. However, if you have an electric stove, it’s almost always a wiring issue if the burners aren’t turning on. Regardless of the cause, it’s important to call a professional before any of the issues get worse.

How to Test Your Oven Temperature

If your meals consistently come out of the oven undercooked, it may be time to test your oven temperatures. First, purchase an inexpensive oven thermometer at a hardware store. Then, follow these steps:

1. Place the thermometer in the center rack of your oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees
2. After 20 minutes, check the temperature on the thermometer. If it reads between 345 and 355, it’s doing its job.
3. Take a few more readings every 20 minutes for up to two hours. Add up all the readings and divide by the number of times you checked. If the average is between 345 and 355, your oven is heating correctly.

If you perform an oven temperature test and find that your oven isn’t reaching that 345-355 range, it’s time to give us a call. The experts at Express Appliance Repair can get your oven working correctly soon!

When you use an appliance almost every day, it’s easy to get into a habit and not take advantage of other settings it has to offer. Your dishwasher, for example, has several different water temperature controls. When should you be using the hottest setting? Can your dishes get clean using warm water? Read on to learn more about the importance of your dishwasher’s water temperature controls.

Water Temperature and Clean Dishes

Although it’s not just the water that cleans the dishes in your dishwasher, it does play a significant role in the process. When your dishes don’t get clean enough, one of the reasons could be that the water isn’t getting hot enough. Cold or lukewarm water just doesn’t have enough power to remove food or grime from dirty dishes. But it’s important to note that sometimes if the water is too hot, it could contribute to spotty or streaked glasses, silverware, and dishes.

How to Tell if Your Dishwasher Has a Temperature Problem

A dirty or damaged spinner could be the reason for spotty dishes. However, your water temperature is more likely the issue. Contrary to popular belief, the heating element in your dishwasher is not responsible for heating the water. It heats the air that dries your dishes. If your water is not getting hot enough, and you still have hot water in other areas of your home, it could be an issue with the water line connected to your dishwasher.

Call in the Pros

If your dishwasher’s water temperature controls are not working correctly, it’s time to call in the pros. Although there are ways to fix certain home appliances yourself, when you’re dealing with temperature issues, it’s best to leave it to the appliance experts. Express Appliance has years of experience and can get your dishwasher running hot again in no time. Give us a call today!

Cooking for a family almost always includes your oven. You’ve begun to rely on your oven over the years to help you get dinner on the table night after night. And to keep that trusty oven working correctly, you should be cleaning it regularly. But with all the oven cleaners available, how do you know what is and what isn’t safe to use? Here are some things to avoid using when cleaning your oven.

Harsh Chemical Cleaners

Many oven cleaners you’ll find at the store contain chemicals like butoxydiglycol or sodium hydroxide. According to the EWG, both substances can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. Therefore, you need to wear gloves while using these types of cleaners. However, when you put these chemicals into an oven, which gets very hot, the chemicals can become even more irritating. Most appliance experts recommend avoiding harsh chemical cleaners altogether and opting for more natural varieties.

Is my oven’s self-cleaning function safe?

The self-cleaning function on your oven can be very convenient. But is it safe? When your oven “self-cleans”, it’s just getting super-hot to burn off all the residue and film that can build up in your oven over time. While the self-cleaning cycle can produce a lot of fumes and foul smells, it is essentially safe. To cut down on the fumes, use your self-cleaning function on a day when you can open all the windows in the home. Never use the self-cleaning setting if you don’t have working carbon monoxide detectors in your house.

Don’t Use Harsh Sponges on Your Glass Door

That glass oven door can get grimy, so it may be tempting to use a heavy-duty scrubber on it. But harsh or rough sponges could scratch the glass. Instead, use a microfiber cloth and a mix of baking soda and vinegar to get rid of stubborn stains.

Remember, for all your oven or home appliance needs, Express Appliance Service is here for you!

There are three problems that most owners of a fridge with a water dispenser will experience. The dispenser may dispense the water too quickly, too slowly, or fail to work entirely. In most cases, you might need professional help. However, there are some things you can try if that water is dispensing slowly.

Fixing a slow water dispenser

Slow water dispensers are usually because of low pressure from the water dispenser. Your suspicions can be confirmed if the ice maker produces hollow or smaller ice cubes. Here are some steps you can take to remedy the situation and get your water dispenser working again.

Check/Replace The Water Filter

Your water dispenser’s water filter is the first component you’ll need to check when you notice your water is dispensing slowly. Most water filters need to be replaced every six months. Therefore, if you’ve used your water filter past the 6-month mark, then it should probably be replaced. An older water filter is a likely cause of a slow water dispenser.

Damaged or Kinked Water Line

Damaged or pinched water lines could be the reason for a slow water dispenser. You’ll need to inspect the water line outside your fridge to check it for damage. If you don’t see any damage, make sure there are no “kinks” in the tube.

Air pockets

If the water sputters out of the dispenser, it means that there could be some air in the water lines. You’ll need to eliminate the air if you want the water to flow out in a steady stream. You can do this by running the water continually until the sputtering stops.

If these tips don’t work, it’s time to contact a professional. Give Express Appliance Service a call!

If you have shopped for a new washing machine recently, you have likely seen that some models now offer a steam option. These models are a bit more expensive than other laundry machines. While steam might seem like a nice feature to have, you might be wondering if the feature is worth the additional cost. Here we will explain that the answer depends on your budget and your cleaning needs.

What Do Steam Cycles Do?

If you own a floor steamer, you know that steam can clean and sanitize hard surfaces. A washing machine equipped with a steam cycle uses a combination of water and steam to clean fabrics by making your detergent work better. It can also sanitize fabrics and help remove wrinkles depending on when the cycle is used. For example:

• During pre-wash, the steam cycle helps the water better penetrate the fabrics.
• During the wash cycle, the steam helps improve the detergent’s cleaning power by dissolving it better.
• During post-wash cycles, steam can sanitize and remove any hard wrinkles during washing.

When Does it Make Sense to Buy a Washer with Steam?

You can expect to pay a bit more for laundry machines that offer steam cycles. The good news is that the option is becoming more mainstream, especially with models meant for home use. A washer equipped with steam cycles is worth it if you:

• Have kids, especially those who participate in outdoor sports
• Frequently need to pretreat or pre-soak clothing to remove stains
• Have health concerns, such as allergies to dust mites or are concerned about exposure to bacteria

Keep in mind that you need to be careful and pay attention to what fabrics you wash while using your washer’s steam function. Steam can damage some materials, so be sure to pay attention to fabric care labels.

Whatever model of laundry machine you choose, Express Appliance Service is always available if you need to repair it!

Taking care of your glass top stove seems easy at first glance; however, you begin to realize how complicated the process is. While it’s possible to reverse most effects resulting from damages, preventative measures can help you avoid the damages in the first place. Here is a list of some things you shouldn’t put on your glass top stove. They include:

Placing hot lids on cool stovetops while face-down

Extreme temperature differences between hot and cold items can cause damage. In short, placing a very hot lid on cool glass top stoves could damage the glass. Be mindful of this as you choose a location to place a hot item on. Keep pot holders or trivets handy whenever you are cooking.

Heavy cookware

It would be best to be extremely cautious when using heavy cookware (including those made from cast iron or ceramic) with your glass top stove. More importantly, it would help if you didn’t place them on the stovetop when you aren’t using them. While cooking with them, don’t slide them on the glass surface and be careful when lifting and placing them back down.

It’s important to note that glass top stoves have a weight limit. Keep this in mind if you consider using the surface as additional counter space. You should not only avoid putting heavy objects on the surface, but no objects should ever be stored on the surface.

Dirty pans and utensils

Placing dirty cooking utensils directly onto your glass top stove could result in additional damage. You should use spoon/utensil rests as you would on a gas stove. This helps prevent damage to the glass, and it will be easier to clean later.

Keep these tips in mind, and you will certainly reduce the chances of damaging your glass top stove. If you have any issues with your stove, give Express Appliance Service a call!

Your washing machine is probably one of the most used appliances in your house. We depend on our washers to keep our clothes clean and essentially keep our household running. But sometimes we forget that even washing machines need to be cleaned too. All those dirty towels, linens, and clothes day after day can take a toll on your washer. But don’t worry, keeping your washer clean is easier than you think.

Why do you need to clean your washer?

It may seem redundant to clean a machine that solely exists to clean, but hear us out. Depending on how often you wash and how soiled your loads are, the drum of your washer can become grimey. Dirt can build up, but condensation could also cause mold or a filmy buildup. We recommend giving your washer a thorough clean at least once a month.

Should you add white vinegar to your washer to help keep it clean?

Using white vinegar is an easy, natural, inexpensive way to keep your washer clean and grime-free. Here’s what to do:

1. Starting with an empty washer, add two cups of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum.
2. Run a normal cycle using the hottest water setting.
3. When the first cycle is complete, rerun an empty cycle using the normal setting and the recommended amount of laundry detergent.
4. For extra-dirty washers, or if your washer still smells musty, repeat steps 1-3.

Can I add vinegar with my clothes?

Besides washing your washer every month with vinegar, you can actually use it in regular loads of laundry. The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar is very mild, so it won’t harm fabrics. But it’s effective enough to dissolve soap film and even mold and mildew. Try adding ½ cup of white vinegar to a load of towels. It’ll help keep your colors bright and your fabrics smelling fresher for longer.

For all your washing machine and home appliance needs, keep Express Appliance Repair in mind!

If you own a dryer, cleaning the lint trap is a responsibility you should never neglect. Regular cleaning of your lint screen prolongs the life of your dryer, helps your clothes dry efficiently, and keeps your energy bills low. However, if you neglect your lint trap, you’re not only making your dryer work harder than it has to – but you’re also potentially setting yourself up for a fire hazard. Here are some simple tips on how to properly clean your lint trap.

Empty Your Lint Trap After Every Load

Every time you use your dryer, check the lint trap. And every time you remove clothes from your dryer, check your lint trap. Getting in the habit of checking your lint trap before AND after using it will ensure you never forget to empty it. To clean the lint trap – simply pull out your lint screen, pull off the lint, and throw it in the garbage.

Deep Cleaning Your Lint Trap

Besides emptying your lint trap after every use, you’ll also need to deep clean your lint trap and screen every three months or so. Here’s how:

1. Remove the lint screen. Use your vacuum’s hose attachment to remove any small bits of leftover lint.
2. Gently scrub your lint screen with dish soap and warm water using a dish brush. Then, lay it out on paper towels to dry.
3. While the lint trap dries, use your vacuum to clean the trap slot. Carefully use the longest, skinniest vacuum attachment to get as much lint as possible.
4. Replace the lint screen once it is fully dry.

Get Your Exhaust Vents Cleaned Out

Your dryer’s exhaust vents cycle outside your home. It’s essential to get these professionally cleaned out at least every two years. If you use your dryer frequently, like every day or every other day, you may need to get them cleaned out every year.

Not sure if your lint trap is working correctly? Let the professionals at Express Appliance check it out. We’re here for all your home appliance needs!