Sunday, December 21, 2014

Appliance Maintenance Tips

Never attempt to repair your oven or stove unless you have the proper training.  It could be very dangerous You run the risk of seriously injured. A small outlet can carry enough current to kill  a person
There are preventive measures you can take to to reduce the need for repairs.  By not taking time to maintain your oven it could be using more electricity then needed. Follow these tips and you can prolong the life of your oven,stove or range and avoid costly repairs.

Money saving tips that will make your oven, stove or range and reduce your energy cost.

One thing you can do is keep your unit clean. Clean the control panel clean by removing the knobs and buttons and cleaning with a mild detergent clean the control panel with a non abrasive mild cleaner
You can use baking soda and a warm damp cloth. You can scratch the glass or porcelain if you use a abrasive cleaner
Your drip pans should be clean and shinny to properly radiate heat back. You should replace your drip pans every two years. And never cover with foil it can cause an electrical short.
Look for bubbles or blisters on the heating element if you see any this is a sign that the element is no good
You should clean the gaskets around the doors and if the gasket is brittle replace it.
If  your oven is a self cleaning unit do not use oven cleaner on the oven. If you use these tips you will prolong the life of your oven and avoid costly repairs.






Dryer Repair Tips






No Heat
Your dryer needs three things to work.
• Heat
• Tumbling
•Air flow
Your dryer needs 240 volts to heat it will run on 1120 volts but it wont heat.  Go to the breaker and turn it off then on again if it works great you might have had a power surge. You should be fine. If it keeps tripping the breaker  call for service .  If you have 240 volts but no heat it could be the heating element, thermal cut off, terminal block or the thermostat. Call for Appliance repair specialist.

Dryer wont tumble
If  you hear the motor running but the drum is not tumbling it is most likely the belt. While your in there you should check the pulley if it is bad change it because the belt will not last long with a bad pulley

Dryer is not working at all
Check the breaker if you have 240 volts then check the door switch.  If is is broke change it this will keep the dryer from running.  IF THIS IS ALL GOOD CALL APPLIANCE REPAIR SPECIALIST.

Heats but takes to long to dry
If the drum is turning then you should pull the vent off the back of the dryer and make sure the air flow is strong if you have good air flow check the vent ducts in the house if they are clogged clean them out. If it still takes to long cal appliance repair specialist.









Ice Maker Repair Tips






No Cubes
The first thing you should do is make sure you have water at the water valve. If you have water at the valve then check the valve with a ohm meter to make sure it is good. If it checks good then check the water filter.  If it test good then activate the ice maker and check to see if you are getting voltage to the valve change the valve you should be good to go. If you don’t get voltage change the ice maker.


Cubes to small

Change the water valve on the refrigerator.

Leaking water
If you see water on the floor it could be your water dispenser if you see water coming from the dispenser change the water valve. It could be your water valve. If icicles are forming from the ice maker change the water valve.






Dishwasher not cleaning like it used too?






After your dishwasher finishes are your dishes not as clean as you would like.  This my not be the dishwasher it could be the the water temperature.  When you run the hot water at your sink does it take a time for the hot water to come out.  If it does this could be the reason for your dishes not coming as clean as you would like.  Try this. Before you turn the dish washer on run the hot water at your  sink until the water is coming out hot then start the dish washer.  By doing this the dish washer will fill with hot water and all the soap will devolve and your dishes will come out clean



13 money saving tips that will extend the life of your washing machine and lower the cost of energy.


To reduce the need of repairs, use the following preventative measures. Proper maintenance and care is essential in keeping your washing machine running efficiently. Improper care will cause your unit to overwork by using more electricity to keep you clothes clean than if properly maintained. By following these tips, you can prolong the life of your washing machine and avoid many costly repairs.



  1. Make sure that the washing machine’s feet are level to prevent an imbalance in the machine that may cause loud noises and added wear and tear on the unit.
  2. Make sure water faucets are in good condition. Connect to faucets carefully; improperly connecting to the faucets can cause major water damage to the home. Turning faucets on and off before and after you wash can extend the life of you hoses. This also prevents hard water buildup.
  3. Rubber Hoses, over time, get worn out, brittle and leak. It is recommended that hoses be replaced every 5-7 years.
  4. Check to ensure drain hoses are not impeded from draining. Remove kinks and other stoppages. Improper draining may cause the pump to overheat and burn out.
  5. If your washing machine has a lint filter, remove and clean regularly to prevent clogs.
  6. Do not overload with clothes because the added pressure on the hoses can cause them to burst.
  7. Use the proper amount of detergent (see detergent box instructions) for your washer and water hardness. Don’t use too much detergent because too many soap suds will cause the washing machine to work harder and use extra energy. Detergent dissolves in water temperature over 55 degrees F.
  8. Save money and energy by washing in warm water. Washing clothes in hot water uses twice as much energy as washing in warm water.
  9. Presoaking is recommended for soiled items while shorter cycles are recommended for delicate items.
  10. Washing one large load is more efficient than washing two smaller loads.
  11. Washing small loads with a large water level will prevent proper cleaning because there is reduced agitation.
  12. Check that the spin cycle is spinning properly because putting wet clothes in the dryer will use more energy in the dryer.
  13. Check belts regularly to see if they need replacement. Worn or stretched belts will cause the washing machine to work harder.
By following these tips, you can prolong the life of your washing machine and avoid many costly repairs. Still having issues? Give us a call at (239) 234 5484 .








REFRIGERATOR NOT COOLING

It could be a couple of things. If your refrigerator is not cooling the first thing to check is the condenser fan motor.  It is located at the bottom of the refrigerator in the back near the compressor.  Pull the refrigerator out and put your hand near the bottom of the refrigerator and see if you can feel the fan blowing. If the fan is not running and the compressor is replace the fan. If the fan and the compressor are running check the freezer if you dont hear the fan in the freezer running it is bad replace it.  If the evaporator fan is running and you see frost on the back wall of the freezer you have a defrost problem. If you see frost that would be like the tip of the ice burg behind the freezer wall is a big block of ice that will need to be thawed out.  You will have to turn off the refrigerator and leave the freezer door open for 4 or 5 hours.  Once you do that the refrigerator will run good for a few days.  That’s when you can call Appliance Repair Specialist out to make that repair for you.

There are things the homeowner can do to prolong the life of the equipment and save on utility expenses.
  • Have your  Air Conditioning system serviced seasonally: Primarily Fall and Spring.
  • Make sure you have a clean filter monthly and change it when it’s dirty. Always have several on hand but DO NOT store combustible material in your furnace closet.
  • Consider a digital set back programmable thermostat. You can save energy by programming the temperature set point where the system doesn’t run so much while your away.
  • The outside condenser unit coils need to be free of dirt, leaves, grass and whatever else may inhibit proper airflow across the condenser coil.
Once a month you should inspect the outside condenser coils and wash it if necessary. Turn the power off to the outside unit at the disconnect switch mounted on the wall next to the unit. If there is not one, turn the power off to the unit at the main breaker panel. Take a water hose and rinse the coil free of dirt and lint. Remember to turn the power back on after you have completely rinsed the coil. Remember that turning the thermostat down farther does not make it cool down faster.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for service, second opinions or just for a question you may have regarding your a/c and heating needs.

Friday, December 19, 2014

A/C Troubleshooting Tips

A/C Troubleshooting Tips

Don’t Ignore Air Conditioning Problems.
When you have a big air conditioning problem – like an air conditioner that quits during the hottest day of summer – it goes without saying that you’ll call for service. Smaller air conditioning problems are easier to ignore, but ignoring them is the last thing you should do. By calling for service as soon as you notice the symptoms of an ailing cooling system you can prevent the expense and inconvenience of a big repair job. You may also avoid the higher utility bills that typically accompany a poorly functioning air conditioning system. You should have your air conditioner checked when you notice any of the following symptoms:
  • Decreased air flow from the registers;
  • Strange noises coming from the air conditioner;
  • Moldy odors coming from the ductwork when the air conditioner is running;
  • The air conditioner cycles on and off more frequently than it used to;
  • The breaker for the air conditioner in the electrical panel keeps tripping (or the fuse keeps blowing);
  • Ice appears on your air conditioner or piping, either inside or outside the house;
  • Your outdoor fan in the air conditioner won’t come on.
If you notice any of the above symptoms, call us today to have your air conditioning system checked and serviced to avoid larger problems down the road.


Heating Troubleshooting Tips
Below is a list of common problems and things to check before calling a professional for a non-functioning heating system.
Thermostat Check

  • Is the system selector switch in the “heat” position?
  • Is the temperature set at least 3 degrees above current room temperature?
  • If your thermostat is electronic, are the batteries charged? Is the display showing?
  • Forced Air Furnaces Only: If your thermostat has a switch to control the furnace fan, switch the fan “ON”. (This switch will usually be located at the bottom of the thermostat, closer to the left side and will be marked “ON” and “AUTO”.) Listen to hear the furnace fan coming on. If you cannot hear the fan, go to one of the supply registers and see if you can feel any air coming up. If the fan is not running, there may be no power to the furnace.
If the thermostat is set properly, your next step is to check to see that there is power to the furnace.
Electrical Check – FURNACE

  • Your heating system may be equipped with an emergency shut-off switch for the furnace. If so, locate it and make sure it is turned on. In most homes the emergency shut-off switch looks just like a regular light switch and will be located on the side or close to the furnace. (Sometimes there is a second switch at the top of the basement stairs) It is quite common for this switch to be turned off accidentally. If the switch is ON, but the fan still doesn’t operate, proceed to the ELECTRICAL PANEL CHECK.
  • Some heating systems also have emergency cut-out switches that are activated when a door or service panel is removed. Often the furnace door is not replaced properly after a filter cleaning and the cut-out switch will prevent the furnace from coming on. Check to make sure all access doors are properly secured and fitted.
Electrical Panel – FURNACE
To make sure that the main power is on to both the furnace and air conditioner, locate the breaker or fuses in your home’s main electrical panel for the furnace and air conditioning unit. Make sure the breakers are not tripped or the fuses are not blown.
  • If your home has breakers, check to see if any are tripped. If a breaker has been tripped it will be in a position that is between ON and OFF. Reset the breaker (turn all the way OFF, then
    back ON).
  • If your home has fuses, check to see if the fuse for the furnace is blown. If so, replace it with the SAME SIZE fuse. Do not increase the size of the fuse.
  • WARNING: If a breaker keeps tripping or a fuse keeps blowing, you should contact a qualified service technician to inspect your system to determine why you are having problems.
Electrical Check Summary
If you have determined that there is power to the furnace and you are still not getting any heat, look for any troubleshooting guides that came with the furnace for additional help. If all else fails, please give us a call.