To Repair or Not to Repair - Which Small Appliances Are Worth Saving?

To Repair or Not to Repair – Which Small Appliances Are Worth Saving?

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Should You Bother Repairing Inexpensive Appliances?

When an appliance stops working the way it’s supposed to, you have two options: repair or replace. If an appliance costs thousands of dollars, getting it repaired will likely help you save money in the long run. But when it comes to smaller appliances, it might make more sense to buy a new appliance outright. Some smaller appliances cost just $100 or less, so appliance repair services may be out of the question. But if the appliance needs a quick fix, you might as well have it repaired before investing in a new model. Learn more about repairing and replacing small appliances from the professionals at Absolute Appliance Repair.

Microwave

The most common small appliance is the microwave. This handy device can heat up your food in just a few minutes, so it tends to get a lot of use.

When to Replace: If your microwave is making strange sounds or fails to heat up your food, it’s a sign you should probably replace this appliance. Larger, internal issues are usually a bad sign. Microwaves usually last around five to ten years and go for around $100 each, so replacing your microwave shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

When to Repair: Smaller issues are usually easy to fix, such as the inside light not coming on, the door getting jammed, or the plate stops rotating. A professional can easily swap out the bulb or adjust the door to solve these issues.

Toasters and Toaster Oven

Right behind the microwave, we have the toaster oven, another easy way to heat up a meal. There isn’t a whole lot that can go wrong with these appliances, but plenty of problems can still occur.

When to Replace: If the toaster oven is completely unresponsive, you should probably have it replaced. Internal damage or melted parts are also a bad sign.

When to Repair: If you’re having issues with the timer, the temperature seems to be off, or the door won’t close, having this appliance repaired might make a lot of sense.

Coffee Maker

A must-have for those that need a little extra help starting their day. For some individuals, the coffee maker is the most important appliance in the house, getting used at least once a day.

When to Repair: If you invested in a high-end coffee maker or espresso machine, you might want to have a professional look things over before you put it in the trash.

When to Replace: It’s usually best to replace your broken coffee maker, especially if it was relatively inexpensive in the first place. You can find new models for less than $50, so repairs aren’t usually worth the money.

The more money you spend on an appliance, the more you’ll want to consider having it repaired. If an appliance was less than $50, replacing it might make more sense. For larger kitchen repairs, contact the professionals at Absolute Appliance Repair for your appliance repair in San Francisco.

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How to Recycle Appliances Large and Small

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Get Rid of Your Old Appliances with These Simple Steps

Looking to buy a new appliance? Just remember that you have to get rid of your old one first. While you might be tempted to simply throw out your old appliance, many waste management companies might not accept these kinds of items, especially if they weigh several hundred pounds. But tossing your old appliances into the landfill is also bad for the environment. Many appliances, including air conditioners and refrigerators, use chlorofluorocarbons to cool the air, which contribute to ozone depletion. Burning these appliances in a landfill will release these chlorofluorocarbons into the air, but you can avoid this if you have them recycled instead.

Not sure how to recycle your old appliances? We’ve got you covered.

 

Find a Local Company

Your first step will be to find an appliance recycling company in your area. You can try doing a simple Google search, contacting your municipality or EPA office, or you can search for these kinds of companies at Consumer Energy or on the official EPA website.

 

Having a New Appliance Delivered? Ask Them to Haul Your Old One Away

If you’re thinking about recycling one of your old appliances, chances are you need to order a new one. In that case, you can try finding an appliance manufacturer in your area that’s willing to haul away your old appliance at no extra charge or for a small fee. You can kill two birds with one stone and feel good about saving the environment.

 

Always Consider Making a Donation

Does your old appliance still work? If it does, you can always donate it to someone in need. Take a few minutes to reach out to some non-profit organizations in your area and see if they need whatever you’re trying to get rid of. Why recycle when you can give your old appliance a new life?

 

Let the Appliance Cool Down

As you get ready to recycle your appliances, make sure you give the appliance enough time to cool down. Unplug the machine and let it rest for a few days before you try to shimmy it onto a truck or have a local company move it for you. Otherwise, the appliance may still be overheated, which can cause injury during the moving process. You might also want to wear gloves if you’re trying to move the appliance yourself in case you encounter a hot surface or leaking chemicals.

 

Seal Doors Before Transporting

Don’t forget to seal all appliance doors and openings before you start moving your appliance. Grab a roll of duct tape and secure these openings to make sure they don’t fly open in the middle of your move. No one wants to get whacked in the head by a freezer door.

 

If you’re not ready to recycle your old appliance, consider calling the appliance repair professionals at Absolute Appliance Repair in San Francisco Bay.

Top Appliance Brands of 2018

Top Appliance Brands of 2018

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At Absolute Appliances Repair, we know our fair share about the best and brightest appliances on the market. We understand the importance of, not only replacing appliances when they need replacing, but of choosing brands you can trust so that you’re not overspending or replacing appliances again and again before you should need to.

If you’re looking for a new fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer, or dryer, here’s a list of the top rated appliance brands of 2018.

 

Whirlpool

In the United States, Whirlpool is a go-to appliance manufacture for everything from washers and dryers to kitchen gadgets. The company is global but has their head office based in Michigan and employs over 92,000 individuals from around the world. Whirlpool is recognized as a leader in home appliances and is the parent company to several other appliance providers such as Maytag, KitchenAid, and Amana.

As of this year, Whirlpool has had the most sales and least required machine servicing compared to other appliance providers. While we at Absolute Appliance Repair won’t choose a favorite in terms of branding, we certainly can’t find fault in Whirlpool, their high standards, or the quality of their craftsmanship.

 

LG

The brand stands for “Life’s Good”, and they offer a variety of products, including not only home appliances, but also mobile and tech gadgets. From the refrigerator to your cell phone, LG has got you covered, and has become a name for low-maintenance and high-quality products. After Whirlpool and their many children companies, LG takes the cake in terms of products sold and need for maintenance or servicing.

The LG style standard seems to lean toward modern simplicity with a luxurious feel. Stainless steel and smooth lines are the 2018 line’s signature look, although you get more than looks when you buy an LG. Again, we at Absolute Appliances Repair try not to pick favorites, but if it came down to an LG and a lesser brand, we recommend paying just a little bit extra to avoid needing constant servicing in the future.

 

Frigidaire

A leader in kitchen appliances, Frigidaire provides stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves, along with laundry tools such as washers, dryers, and 2 in 1 centers. Frigidaire is the third least serviced brand of appliances in the United States with a high sales record and a large fan following. When it comes to brand loyalty, those who use Frigidaire are very serious.

They may not offer as many bells and whistles or additional electronics as brands like LG, but what they do make, they make well. You can check out their supply online, and gain access to their owner support center, for help with any machine issues that may arise.

 

For more information on our repair services, contact us at Absolute Appliances Repair. Our experienced staff are happy to hear from new and returning clientele, and we’re always ready to answer any questions you might have and offer a reasonable quote on work that needs to be done. Don’t let your appliances become outdated and unusable, contact the experts today and we’ll help keep your appliances working like new.

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How a Dryer Can Damage Your Clothes

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If you’ve ever noticed that, over time, some of your clothes don’t look or fit like they used to, it’s not your imagination. There’s substantial scientific evidence that supports the idea that drying clothes in a dryer does irreparable damage to them. Dryers are at fault for clothes that shrink, clothes that lose their color, and clothes that wear thin and tear. To get to the bottom of just how our dryers are damaging our clothes, we’ll take a look at the studies that have been done on the matter. However, it’s important to remember that if you notice anything wrong with your appliances that point to a possible malfunction, you’ll want to contact us so we can come out and take a look to perform washer or dryer repair if needed.

The Incredible Shrinking Clothes

Researchers have taken pieces of cotton/synthetic and cotton fibers, along with blended fabrics, and marked different areas on the pieces. Then, they measured the distances and angles between each mark that was made. Putting the pieces of fabric through various washes was done, followed by either a high-heat cycle, a low-heat cycle, or air drying. You can perhaps guess how each turned out.

The experiment revealed some knowledge that most people already were aware of, like the fact that drying shrinks clothing almost twice as much as washing, and further, that tumble-drying shrinks twice as much as air-drying does. However, some new interesting facts about dryers were revealed, too:

  • When washing or tumble-drying is concerned, temperature does not actually affect the amount of shrinkage of clothes as much as most people think.
  • The hot water cycle for the washing machine shrank clothes just as much as the cold-water cycle.
  • The low-heat tumble-dry cycle shrank fabric just as much as the high-heat dry cycle.
  • What actually shrinks clothes most in a washer is the mechanical agitation.
  • What actually shrinks clothes most in the dryer is the forced air.

What About Fading Colors?

Tests on color were also performed; researchers found that most dyes don’t start to become compromised until around 340 degrees Fahrenheit, which is far hotter than any dryer should ever get. (If you have a dryer that ever gets this hot, you need to call us for repairs right away!) Therefore, dryers probably don’t cause colors to run.

Although colors don’t fade from dryers, the fabric itself does undergo some “running” of its own. Microscopic damage occurs each time fabric is put in the dryer. Although the damage itself is hard to see on clothing, all you have to do is check the lint trap to see it. Lint is what results from tiny tears in the fabric of clothing; over time, these tears cause clothes to fall apart.

How Do Dryers Contribute to Wear and Tear?

Researchers used cotton towels and rinsed them in a washing machine; then, they dried them in a dryer on high heat (about 150 degrees Fahrenheit), and then without heat. They did this for 20 cycles, and reported the results: After only 20 cycles, the fabric had already lost 50% of its strength! So after only 20 washes and dry cycles, the fabric became twice as easy to tear.

But what about dry cycles with no heat? The fabrics became 24% weaker after 20 cycles. To make matters worse, no matter what temperature is used for dry cycles, the tensile strength doesn’t level out over time; in other words, clothing damage doesn’t ever “slow down”, so each cycle pushes your clothes closer and closer to total ruin.

What Can You Do to Help Avoid Premature Damage?

Dryers save everyone valuable time and give a great deal of convenience to our daily chore schedules – but at a cost. While all dryers damage clothes, no matter the cycle, hot tumble-drying in particular takes a big toll on fabric. If you want to strike a balance between convenience and limiting the damage your clothes endure from the dryer, you should only use short dryer cycle times and low heat; the idea is to minimize mechanical action and exposing your clothing to the heat.

For more information on the best dryers for your clothes, the latest energy-efficient models, and more tips on how you can maximize the life of your clothes (and your dryer), contact our experts today – we can help with everything from tips and suggestions to maintenance to repairs.

Citations: Textile Research Journal, 2000, Vol. 70(8), pp. 739-743 Klausinger, S. L. et al., AATCC Review, 2012, pp. 51-57;

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Is Your Dishwasher Not Washing Your Dishes Thoroughly?

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Find Out What’s Causing Your Dishwasher to Skimp Around the Edges

If you’ve been using the same automatic dishwasher for years, you might notice that, over time, the machine fails to clean every inch of your dishes. You might have to run them through the same cycle twice or clean them by hand, which defeats the point of owning a dishwasher in the first place. There are lots of reasons why a dishwasher’s performance can deteriorate. Find out why your dishwasher isn’t performing as well as it used to and how you can fix it.

Are you having trouble with your automatic dishwasher? Contact us at Absolute Appliances Repair!

Clogged Filter

Every automatic dishwasher comes with a filter that’s designed to catch large pieces of food and other items that the machine can’t break down. Make sure you keep the filter clean by emptying it out every week or so.

Using the Wrong Detergent

Newer dishwashers are designed to work with enzyme-based detergents that eat away at foods instead of rinsing them down the drain. If you’re using the wrong type of dishwasher fluid or detergent, the machine might not be able to do its job properly.

Using the Wrong Cycle

Many modern units will come with lots of different rinsing and washing cycles for you to choose from, including those for heavy-duty pots and pans, eco-friendly washes that use less water, and those for smaller loads. Try using a different cycle to see if it makes a difference.

Hard Water Stains

One of the most common problems people have with their dishwasher is that it leaves hard water stains on the glass, which can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re having company over. You may need to use more water softener in your system to help get rid of the salts that cause these stains.

It’s Time to Upgrade

Some automatic dishwashers aren’t made to last the test of time. Most models won’t last beyond twenty or twenty-five years, which means your current unit might be beyond repair. You can have an appliance repair expert help you decide if it’s worth fixing your older unit or if you should upgrade to a newer model. Find out how long you’ve had the current machine to see if it’s time for a change.

If you’re having trouble with your dishwasher, let the professionals take care of the problem by calling Absolute Appliance Repair in San Francisco. We know how to repair all kinds of models, helping you get the most out of every cycle. Contact us today to book an appointment!

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Is Your Refrigerator Using Too Much Electricity?

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Refrigerators have become essential in our day-to-day lives; however, not all of them are the same. In today’s world of high energy usage and high prices, you’ll certainly want a model in your home that provides you with the most use for the least amount of power. There are things you can do yourself to increase your unit’s energy-efficiency so that you can make sure that it doesn’t use too much electricity; however, if you ever need assistance with your refrigerator, you can always contact us! In the meantime, here are some things to keep in mind:

Keep Your Fridge Well-Stocked

The more your fridge has to run, and the greater the air displacement is, the more power it will use and the harder it’s going to have to work in order to cool your groceries down. When a refrigerator is empty, that air displacement is going to be high. Do be aware though, and be careful not to jam pack your fridge – having far too many items within it will limit the air movement too much, damaging energy efficiency.

Keep the Door Closed

More and more power is used every time someone opens the refrigerator door, because warmer air from the outside replaces some of the cooler air on the inside. It takes extra power and extra work for the fridge to bring the temperature level back down. Try to make a habit of opening the door only when necessary; take all ingredients out all at once rather than separately.

Watch the Temperature Setting

There is a small dial in refrigerators that control exactly how cold the temperature is set at; if you have it set too high, you’ll end up with a bunch of spoiled food. If you set your unit too cold, your food will be semi-frozen and you’ll waste money because your fridge will run too often. The recommended temperature for refrigerators according to Samsung is 37.4 degrees.

Maintenance is Crucial

It might be easy to just plug in your refrigerator and largely forget about it, letting it run until it dies years later. However, if you keep your eyes on a couple of things, you’ll find that it won’t use too much electricity and won’t die prematurely. Once every six months, unplug your unit so you can safely brush the condenser coils; if too much dust accumulates on the coils, it can cause your appliance to overheat, causing damage.

It’s important that you keep watch over your refrigerator in order to ensure that it never uses more electricity than it should. When your unit uses the least amount of energy possible, it will also cost you less money on your energy bills and will provide you with many years of good, energy-efficient service. For more information on energy efficiency and your refrigerator, or if you are ever in need of quality appliance repair, contact our experienced professionals at Absolute Appliances Repair.

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Which Home Appliance Brands Should You Depend On?

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As a homeowner, if you’re going to spend several thousand dollars on a new appliance, you need to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. No one wants to buy a major home or kitchen appliance only to have it fall apart or need repairs less than a year after it was purchased. Some home appliance brands offer more quality and durability than others. A new study shows which home appliance brands needed the most repairs within the first year after the unit was purchased. The data is based on how many service calls the company got over the course of 2017 versus how many total units the company sold. Don’t take a chance on unreliable appliances. Discover which brands deserve your hard-earned money.

  1. Whirlpool: 5,886 Sold, 21 Serviced – 3.56%

With a repair rate of just 3.56%, Whirlpool passed the test with flying colors. If you buy one of their washers and dryers, you can expect them to work for years to come.

  1. Amana: 528 Sold, 21 Serviced – 3.97%

Just below Whirlpool is Amana, a popular manufacturer of commonly-used kitchen appliances like automatic dishwashers and microwaves. Each one comes with a solid, sturdy foundation.

  1. LG: 917 Sold, 49 Serviced – 5.34%

LG is known for its extensive line of laundry machines, but the company has a strong portfolio of kitchen appliances with just over 5% needing repairs in the first year.

  1. Frigidaire: 2,573 Sold, 160 Serviced – 6.22%

Offering a sturdy line of kitchen appliances, Frigidaire remains a solid choice when it comes to appliance manufacturers. You can expect a decent return on your investment.

  1. Maytag: 2,699 Sold, 195 Serviced – 7.22%

Maytag knows how to make a reliable washing machine. Hardly any of the company’s washers and dryers needed repairs during the first year.

  1. Miele: 1,967 Sold, 153 Serviced – 7.78%

The folks at Miele are expanding beyond automatic dishwashers and laundry machines, so they’re still working out the kinks when it comes to stovetops, ovens, and refrigerators.

  1. Samsung: 2,449 Sold, 267 Serviced – 10.9%

Just over one in ten appliances needed some adjusting during the first year, making Samsung look like second fiddle compared to some of the other well-known brands on this list.

  1. Gaggenau: 367 Sold, 38 Serviced – 10.35%

Beautifully designed and yet a little overly complex, Gaggenau is throwing some customers for a loop when it comes to operating the machine.

  1. Bosch: 6,499 Sold, 727 Serviced – 11.19%

Affordable and attractive, Bosch appliances are built to last, but they’re not quite as reliable as some of the more expensive brands.

  1. Wolf: 1,992 Sold, 307 Serviced – 15.41%

Known for their overly large wall ovens and range hoods, Wolf knows how to construct a decent appliance, but installation can be tricky.

Not all kitchen and home appliances are created equal. If you’re looking for appliance repair in San Francisco, contact the professionals at Absolute Appliances Repair today!

When to Repair Vs. Replace Your Large Home Appliances

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How to Spend Your Money Wisely When Repairing or Replacing Appliances

Large home appliances are some of the most expensive items to a person’s name, right behind their car and the deed to their house. But many homeowners don’t spend much time thinking about or caring for their appliances until the damage has already been done. Suddenly, the refrigerator or the oven stops working, and the person has no idea whether they should repair or replace one of the biggest items in their home. This is a common dilemma for many homeowners. A person can save a lot of money when dealing with a broken appliance if they’re willing to do some homework.

Know the Life the Appliance

When dealing with a broken appliance, it’s important to understand the lifespan of the item. This will tell the person how much longer their appliance will last and whether or not it’s worth spending the money to have it repaired. The National Association of Homeowners recommends using these numbers as a reference:

  • Air conditioner: 15 years.
  • Dishwasher: 9 years.
  • Dryer: 13 years.
  • Garbage disposal: 12 years.
  • Refrigerator: 13 years.
  • Stove: 13 to 15 years.
  • Washer: 10 years.

These numbers can vary a bit based on the brand and whether the appliance has been well maintained over the years. If an appliance is getting towards the end of its lifespan, it’s probably best to have it replaced.

Check Your Warranty

Homeowners should also take the time to check their warranty information. If the appliance is still covered by the warranty, the person should have it repaired while they still can. Most manufacturers offer long-term warranties, so there’s a good chance that the item is still protected. Homeowners should also get in the habit of keeping a copy of their warranties in a safe place.

Consider Your Current Financial Situation

If the appliance isn’t covered by a warranty, the homeowner should contact an appliance repair company in their area to get an estimate. If the repairs will cost around 50% of the item’s total cost, it’s best to start from scratch and buy a new one.

If the person doesn’t have a lot of money when their appliance breaks down, they might have to have it repaired just to get by in the short-term. It all depends on what the person can afford. It usually makes more financial sense to replace the broken item sooner rather than later instead of spending money on intermittent repairs over the next several years.

Those looking for a company that provides appliance repair in Marin should contact Absolute Appliances Repair for the best customer service in town!

 

The Benefits of Luxury High-End Appliances

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The possibilities when it comes to integrating convenience and appliances in today’s tech-savvy world cannot be overstated. These days, the finest ovens take cooking commands from smartphones and the top-of-the-line refrigerators can text you to pick up a dozen eggs. Every so often, manufacturers entice buyers with all kinds of new features and options for luxury kitchen appliances – some prove to be valuable and others – well, not so much. It might be hard to imagine life without your self-cleaning oven, but what about the refrigerator that has a television installed in its door?

Luxury Appliances for All Generations

Some of the most popular new appliances are those that have features that make life a little more convenient for more than one generation. Today’s modern family often includes people spanning at least a couple of generations, and oftentimes up to three.

For example, Bosch Appliances brand manager, Micaela Shaw, says that the company’s new best-sellers have features and designs that consider young hands, aging eyes, and middle-aged backs. Many control panels have larger numbers and letters that are easy to see, one of its dishwashers shines a light on the floor to relay the current status of the appliance, and one of Bosch’s ovens has a side door that eliminates the need to bend over a door to pull out that Thanksgiving turkey.

Another benefit of many luxury kitchen appliances is their smaller sizes; BlueStar features a 24” oven that easily fits into tiny spaces (perfect for the adult child or in-laws in the attached suite at home) and Blomberg offers a refrigerator/freezer that, at just 22” wide, fits easily into small kitchens.

The Wireless Revolution Comes to Luxury Appliances

“Smart” appliances that interact with you in new ways are rapidly infiltrating the scene, and they include everything from refrigerators that tell you when you are running out of an item to ranges that remind you to turn them off or clean them. Manufacturers seem to be moving along with the idea that people want to be able to connect with their appliances for everything – anything that offers a glimmer of the possibility of more convenience.

Nowadays you can find refrigerators with several different doors, freezers with compartments that offer individual temperature controls, fridges that let you re-order items right from their screens, dishwashers with new bottle-washing jets built right into their top racks, and more. Do you have any luxury appliances with new, modern features that make your life easier?

For Bay Area large home appliance repairs, contact Absolute Appliances Repair!

How to Care for Your Outdoor Appliances

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If you’re one of the many folks who enjoy evenings on the back deck, picnics out in the lawn, or afternoons enjoying a cold drink on your front porch, you already know how convenient outdoor kitchen appliances can be! While most people keep a fairly regular cleaning and maintenance schedule for their indoor appliances, too many forget about the ones they rely on for their outdoor refreshment. Whether you own an outdoor stove, an outdoor refrigerator, or anything else, you’ll want to care for your outdoor appliances so that you’re able to enjoy them for many years. Following are some tips to help you do exactly that:

  1. Maintain Regularly: The appliances you have outdoors are no different than those inside your home; they need regular attention in order to function properly for as long as they should. If you discover a problem, be sure that you don’t wait to call an appliance repair expert; the sooner you take care of a problem, the better your chances will be of warding off even larger, more expensive issues down the road.
  2. Cover and Protect: While we really don’t have to worry about the effect weather has on our appliances indoors, the outdoors presents a different problem. You’ll want to make sure that you provide covers for your appliances, whether it be a specially designed cabinet, an overhead roof covering, or even a fabric and plastic drape. Should foul weather approach, you won’t have to worry as much about hail, debris, or the like damaging your outdoor kitchen appliances.
  3. Secure: Mother Nature is anything but predictable, so you want to make sure your appliances are secured in place to prevent them from “wandering off” one way or another. Different items require different means of securing them, so you’ll want to check the owner’s manuals or ask your appliance installer what the best ways to secure them will be.
  4. Clean: Finally, be sure that you don’t neglect to clean your outdoor appliances. Be sure that you also keep coils, cords, and other parts in good condition so that you can enjoy the very most out of your outdoor freezer, stove, cooktop, or refrigerator. Check moving parts and working parts regularly to ensure they remain in good physical shape.

Should you notice anything out of the ordinary with your outdoor appliances, whether it be a cord that’s been chewed by a critter or a coil that’s been hit with the leaf blower, stay safe and be sure to contact a professional right away. For all of your large indoor appliances, contact Absolute Appliances Repair. We’ll be happy to help you maintain and repair your kitchen appliances properly, affordably, and safely.