At Appliance Service Company located in Lakewood New York, near Jamestown NY in  Chautauqua County, we service and repair all major household appliances including washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, ice machines, dishwashers, cook tops, ovens, ranges, stoves, microwaves, vent hoods, trash compactors, and garbage disposals. In some locations we also provide repair service for commercial equipment, reconditioned appliances and parts.

DO THIS NOW…OR SEE ME IN THE SPRING

With the cold weather setting in there are some things you need to remember concerning refrigerators in unheated areas.  Most manufactures state that the unit will not operate properly if the ambient temperature is below 50 degrees due to the fact that there is only one thermostat that controls both the refrigerator and the freezer sections.  If you have a unit that was manufactured earlier than 1980 there is a good chance that it will have 2 thermostats, one for the refrigerator and one that controls the freezer.  If this is the case then the freezer section should operate properly but the refrigerator part will not.  Food will freeze in the refrigerator section if the ambient temperature falls below 32 degrees and things will explode, it has happened to me.  I forgot to remove all the soda cans from my refrigerator I have on my deck and believe me when I say, exploding pop cans sounds similar to a shot gun – what a mess I had.  Stand alone freezers should operate properly regardless of the ambient temperature. 

For those of you with seasonal cottages that you winterize during the cold months don’t forget your washing machine and dishwasher.  If water remains in the fill valve or pump over the winter you will have problem come springtime when you move back into the cottage.  Freezing water will expand and damage both the fill valve and the water pump.  So when winterizing your cottage, remember to get all the water out.

Have a Great Holiday Season

Ron

PS    If your refrigerator has an icemaker don’t forget to drain the water supply line and disconnect it from the fill valve which allows the valve to drain.

Some repairs cannot be avoided but in many cases there are “best practices” that will eliminate the need for costly appliance repairs.

Washing machines:  If you own a high efficiency front loading machine be sure to use the correct type of soap.  Most soap manufactures offer a special soap with the label HE meaning for use with high efficiency machines.  It is very important that you use this type of soap with your machine.  Repeated use of the older or regular soap will cause damage to the main bearings in the newer high efficiency front loading machines, resulting in an expensive appliance repair.

Overloading your washer can cause damage resulting in a very common repair call.  Avoid this preventable appliance repair by being conscious of how many items you put into your washer each time you load it.  “Right Size” your wash loads to save money on both utilities and avoidable repair costs.  Remember to teach your children the proper way to do their laundry.

Another tip for saving money on appliance repairs for your washer is not to put rubber backed throw rugs into your washer or dryer.   The rubber backing will come off in small pieces and plug up the pump in the washer.

Clothes Dryers:  If it takes along time for your clothes to dry you need to make sure that the dryer vent is clear.  A plugged vent will not allow the moisture to escape and cause the clothes to stay damp.  Cleaning out a dryer vent doesn’t require any specialized knowledge so save yourself some money and avoid this appliance repair cost.  Remember to clean the lint screen every time you use your dyer.

For electric dryers that run but don’t heat, check the power supply to the dryer.  Electric dryers use 220 volt electrical supply.  If one leg of the power supply is disrupted then the motor will run but the heating element will not heat. So check your power before calling us for the type of appliance repair.  You may need an electrician not an appliance repairman.