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ENERGY STAR WASHER AND DRYER TIPS

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Washer Tips

  • Always use HE (High Efficiency) detergent.

    Front-loading clothes washers are designed to use High Efficiency detergent. Using regular detergent creates too much suds, which will affect the machine’s washing and rinsing performance. Over time, it can lead to odors and mechanical problems.

  • Fill it up.

    Clothes washers use about the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the load, so run full loads whenever possible.

  • Wash in cold water.

    Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer. Unless you’re dealing with oily stains, washing in cold water will generally do a good job of cleaning. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half. Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more.

  • Use a drying rack or hang clothes outside.

    Where and when possible, air-drying clothes instead of using a dryer not only saves energy, but also helps them last longer.

  • Avoid the sanitary cycle.

    This super hot cycle, available on some models, increases energy use significantly. Only use it when absolutely necessary.

  • Activate the high spin speed option.

    If your clothes washer has spin options, choose a high spin speed or the extended spin option to reduce the amount of remaining moisture in your clothes after washing. This decreases the amount of time it takes to dry your clothes.

  • Leave the door open after use.

    Front-loading washers use airtight seals to prevent water from leaking while the machine is in use. When the machine is not in use, this seal can trap moisture in the machine and lead to mold. Leave the door ajar for an hour or two after use to allow moisture to evaporate. Make sure children do not climb into the machine while the door is open.

  • Rinse the washer every month.

    Some manufacturers recommend rinsing the washer each month by running a normal cycle with 1 cup of bleach to help reduce the risk of mold or mildew buildup. Consult the product owner’s manual before attempting.

Dryer Tips

ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers because there is little difference in energy use among models. Here are some ways to reduce energy consumption when using your clothes dryer:

  • Use the moisture sensor option.

    Many new clothes dryers come designed with a moisture sensor, which automatically shuts off the machine when clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, but it will also save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.

  • Clean the lint filter.

    Cleaning the filter after every load will improve air circulation and increase the efficiency of the dryer. It’s also an important safety measure.

  • Scrub the lint filter regularly if you use dryer sheets.

    Dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter that reduces air flow and, over time, can affect the performance of the motor. Use a toothbrush to scrub it clean once a month.

Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site to learn more about clothes dryers and energy efficiency

Call Absolute Appliance Repair NOW if you have any problems with your washer or dryer!

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(415) 388-0690 Marin County
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HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR WASHER AND DRYER

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Left unattended, a burst washing-machine hose can spill hundreds of gallons of water an hour. Likewise, a dryer can erupt in flame if lint is allowed to build up inside the machine or its ducts. In 1999 (the most recent data available), dryers caused 14,600 fires, 20 deaths, and $86.8 million in property damage in the United States.

Preventing such mishaps is as easy as replacing a washer’s old rubber hoses, ideally with steel-jacketed ones that can’t split open. Or discarding the dryer’s flimsy — and flammable — vinyl duct and putting a metal one in its place. (Regular lint-trap cleaning, while necessary, won’t keep lint from collecting in the duct.)

Once you’ve made those two major upgrades, as shown on the following pages, get in the habit of checking hoses and cleaning ducts every six months or so. Hoses should be replaced every five years; tag them with the date you installed them so you won’t forget. Your appliances will last longer, run better, and use less energy. Here, Richie Isaacson of Affordable Appliance, in Randolph, Massachusetts, shows how to keep a washer and dryer running safely and efficiently.

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3 Essential Washing Machine Tips

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Washing Machine Tips from Absolute Appliance repairThe five most important household appliances in everyone’s home would have to be the washing machine, dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher and oven/range. Absolute Appliance Repair has useful tips for your appliances. If you follow each of these tips, you will make fewer calls to your appliance repair service & you’ll be able to keep these appliances around for a while.

Washing Machine Tip:

Always empty everything out of your clothes pockets

Before loading your washing machine, it is very important to check all the clothes pockets. Leaving items like coins, nails, screws, pens, etc., in your pockets, can damage your clothes and your machine. It is not uncommon for drain pumps to fail prematurely because of a foreign object getting stuck in the impeller. A forgotten fountain pen can destroy your favorite shirt.

NEVER OVERLOAD YOUR WASHER! If you want your washing machine to last a long time, don’t try to get your laundry done so quickly. Heavy loads & off-balanced loads will put a strain on the moving parts of your machine & wear them out. Over-loading & off-balanced loads destroy your washing machine! Don’t be in such a hurry.

Never start your machine and leave the house or go to bed.

It is very convenient to start a load of laundry before leaving the house or going to bed but what if the machine never stopped filling? Believe it or not, this happens more than you would think! A faulty inlet valve or water level switch can cause a washing machine to keep filling until someone notices the water leak on the floor and turns it off. If no one is around to notice, the damage to your house can be overwhelming!

 

Call Absolute Appliance Repair NOW if you have any problems with your washing machine!

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(415) 831-1259 San Francisco
(415) 388-0690 Marin County
(650) 525-0512 South SF / Daly City / Pacifica

 

 

HISTORY OF WASHING MACHINES

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Washing machines might be considered as one of the greatest inventions of science. Washing machines are there to help us out while doing laundry; they are used to automate the whole process of laundry and making it a child’s play.

In early times people use to wash clothes with hands and later on buckets were used to squeeze tumble and wash the clothes. The process was both painful and time consuming.

The first version of washing machine was not as dreamy as most people think but it was a blessing for many. The first washers created were more of a car engine then a washing machine and worked on a low speed one cylinder, the casing were also wooden and metal tubs were used. Back then washing clothes was a concept that was only to be used with hot water therefore the tubs were heated from below to create a good temperature. Apart from that there were no modern day fancy features in the machines and all the squeezing, twisting and tumbling were done by hand or manually. But with the advent of electronic motors, spinning system was introduced.

The first washing machine came into being in 1851 by James king and since that time there has been numerous modifications in the washing machines to make it according to the elevating demands of the modern times.

The first modern machine was introduced in the market in 1937 by General Electric. The invention of the washers was an instant hit and reached up to the mark of 913,000 units sold just in few years of being marketed. Since that time there have been number of washing machines producers from around the world and the modern day washing machine brings the same purpose of washing clothes but now it’s done with style and more convenience.