How to Prepare Your Appliances for Moving

How to Prepare Your Appliances for Moving

 

All the excitement of moving into a new home can quickly go out of the window when you realize just how much work you need to do to get settled into your property. For instance, you don't just need to re-paint the walls, change the carpets, and check that the roof is in good condition, you also need to think about how you're going to get your appliances safely moved over to your new home. While you can always turn to an appliance rescue team to help repair anything that doesn't work by the time you reach your new home, it's best to keep the risk of damage to a minimum.

 

If you're worried about getting all of your belongings to your new property in one piece, then the following tips might be able to help. But of course our first tip is to hire some professional moving help. And for that, we recommend Bellhops.

1.     Unplug the Fridge in Advance

Before you call your Dallas moving experts to come and transport your belongings, one of the first things you'll need to do is clear out your fridge and turn it off. Pull all of your food out into coolers and throw anything away that you're not going to take with you. Switch the refrigerator off at least 24 hours before moving and clean it out thoroughly.

 

Once your fridge has defrosted, wash and dry the surfaces, and remove any containers within so that you can transport them separately.

2.     Clean and Prep Your Stove

 

Like the fridge, your stove needs to be cleaned thoroughly, and the racks need to be removed before you start moving. If you have a gas stove, it's crucial to make sure that the gas supply is turned off before you begin disconnecting anything. Be cautious, as gas lines can be fragile. If you're nervous, it may be worth calling your gas company to ask for assistance.

 

Tape down any elements and knobs to make sure that you don't lose any parts during the move either. If anything does get lost, remember to call your local appliance repair team in Dallas for help as soon as possible.

3.     Prepare the Washer, Dryer, and Dishwasher

 

Moving large and heavy machines like washers, dryers, and dishwashers can be particularly challenging. It may be a good idea to clean the units before your move by running a cycle and letting the unit dry out before you tape the doors closed.

 

If you've got the bolt that was used to keep the internal drum of your washing machine sturdy during delivery, you can re-attach that to ensure that the drum doesn't move around too excessively during your move. Additionally, remember to remove all the hoses you need to take with you and pack them separately in a box for safe keeping.

4.     Don't Forget the Little Things

 

Finally, when you're getting ready to move to your new neighborhood, don't forget about the little things. For every appliance, make sure that you unplug the unit and secure the plug to the back of the machine with packing tape.

 

For smaller appliances, remember to cover them in bubble wrap and place them carefully in boxes ready for your move.

 

 

 

5 Tips for Perfect Baking with a Convection Oven

Do you own a convection oven?

Have you always been mystified on how to use it properly? 

At Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas, we know it can be confusing to know when to use your oven’s regular baking settings – and when to use convection. If using your convection oven, here are 5 tips for perfectly baked meals every time:

 

1.    Use Low Sided Dishes

Convection baking works by circulating air in the back of the oven via a fan and exhaust. By circulating the air, it helps prevent hot or cold spots throughout the oven and makes food cook more evenly. Low sided pans work best for cooking in a convection oven because they allow the air to circulate more evenly around the food. 

2.    Lower the Temperature 

If modifying a standard recipe for convection baking, plan on lowering the temperature by about 25 degrees. It’s just that much more efficient.

3.    No Overcrowding

You want the air to have plenty of room to circulate throughout the oven, so be sure you are not overcrowding the oven. When using multiple racks, just make sure they are not stacked too high with food.

4.    Shorten Cook Time

Due to the efficiency of a convection oven, it is recommended that you also shorten the cook time. Begin checking on the food halfway through cooking, and then more frequently as it gets closer to time. 

5.    Avoid Convection for Certain Dishes

There are certain dishes that do not benefit from convection cooking, in fact it hinders their ability to cook evenly. Skip the convection setting for custards, cakes, soufflés, and breads.

 

We hope these tips have helped you learn more about your appliance, and as always, if you are experiencing issues with your convection oven and need convection oven repair in Dallas, be sure to call the expert Dallas repairman at Appliance Rescue Service. 

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Refrigerator Storage Tips: Where to Store Fresh Fruits & Veggies

If you’re the gardening sort, then chances are your garden is bursting with color about now. Fresh tomatoes, peppers, maybe even a melon or two.

Even if you don’t have a garden, the local farmers market or grocery store are also full of fresh seasonal fruits and veggies. It’s easy to want to stock up when everything look so delicious – but where do you store everything? 

Did you know that there are certain parts of the refrigerator specifically designed to keep your fruits and vegetables fresher, longer? Read on to learn the tips and tricks of refrigerator food storage from Appliance Rescue – the appliance repair experts in Dallas, Texas:

The Magic of Crisper Drawers

Everybody has them, but do you know how to use them? The crisper drawers are designed specifically for fruits and vegetables, with a sliding vent that provides varying levels of humidity based on what each fruit or vegetable needs. 

High Humidity Setting

This setting is for things that wilt, so think green! All those leafy greens are likely to wilt and need more moisture to stay crisp and green longer. The high humidity drawer is perfect for fresh lettuce, and even heartier vegetables like cucumber, squash, carrots, green beans, and broccoli. 

Low Humidity Setting

Once you’ve set one drawer for “high” humidity, set the other for “low.” This is perfect for any fruits and vegetables that tend to rot quickly. This list can include cantaloupe, mangos, apples, berries, and basically any fruit is a safe bet in the low humidity drawer.

Counter Storage

There are some fruits and vegetables that just do better at room temperature. Keep your tomatoes, avocadoes, onions, bananas, and plantains out on the counter. If you notice any of them are their peak ripeness, you can then place them in the refrigerator in the low humidity drawer but eat in the next day or two. 

We hope you find these refrigerator storage tips useful when preparing to store your bounty of the season! And as always, if you run into an issue with your refrigerator or any other appliance, call the best appliance repairman in Dallas at Appliance Rescue Service.

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Buying a New Home? Don’t Overlook the Appliances!

Summer is a busy time for buying and selling homes, and if you find yourself in the market for a new home this summer, then don’t overlook the appliances! Here are a few tips from Appliance Rescue Service – your Dallas appliance repairman – on how to evaluate the home appliances during the moving process:

 

1.    Learn About the Appliances

Once you’ve worked through which appliances are staying and which are going, take a little time to get to know the ones that are staying – generally speaking – the oven, dishwasher, microwave, etc. Do you understand how they work? Does the current owner have the manuals still? Now is the time to ask the existing homeowner any questions before the deal is done and while you still have access to their knowledge on the subject.

 

2.    Repair/Replace Appliances

During the inspection process, the home inspector may call to your attention opportunities to repair or replace appliances. This is a good time to assess which appliances to fix and which to replace. Appliance Rescue Service can help you evaluate repair costs and whether or not a repair is optimal based on appliance age/issues. You may also want to consider upgrading to energy efficient appliances that will save more money in the long run. 

 

3.    Look at Replacement Logistics

Are you moving an existing refrigerator, washer, and dryer into your new home? Make sure they fit! Take stock of cabinetry widths, doorways, etc. that might dictate the size of appliance you can put in your new home. Also take a look at fitting and hoses to make sure that 1) there are no cracks and 2) they are the right size for the new space.

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If you have buying a new home and looking for a Dallas appliance repairman to help repair existing appliances or just have appliance questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Appliance Rescue Service! We are proud to be one of the best appliance repair companies in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. 

Ice Maker Not Working? Troubleshooting Ice Maker Repairs

It’s summer in Texas, which means it’s HOT! You grab a glass to go fill it with ice water, only to learn there is no ice in your refrigerator! It’s a frustrating predicament, but one that Appliance Rescue Service in Plano, Texas knows all to well. Here are a few tips on troubleshooting ice maker repairs in Plano when the ice maker is not working:

 

Is there ice in the mold?

If there is no ice in the bin, check the icemaker mold first. Does it have ice? If so, then it means that water is reaching the ice maker, but it’s not ejecting the ice properly. If this is the case, first look at the ice maker arm. Did it accidentally get bumped up into the off position? If so, just lower it and you’re back in business! If this isn’t your problem, there is likely a mechanical or electrical issue occurring, and you’ll wan to call for ice maker repair in Plano. 

Is there no ice at all?

If there is no ice at all, then you may be dealing with frozen water in the water line to the ice maker. Simply unplug the refrigerator, turn off the water line valve, and then get a bucket of warm water or a hair dryer and try to warm the water line. This will melt any frozen sections of the line. Plug the refrigerator back in, and hopefully you are back in business!

If this doesn’t fix the ice maker problem, or you see a clog in the line that is obviously not ice, then please call a professional appliance repair service in Plano, Texas.

Is the ice too small?

If you’re seeing ice come through, but it seems oddly small, chances are this is again due to a clog or the ice maker needs a little adjustment in how much water to fill in the mold. Try the steps above for unclogging a water line, and if that’s not the issue, look to adjust the dosing in the freezer mold.

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If these ice maker troubleshooting tips do not fix your ice maker problem, it’s time to call in the professionals. Call us at Appliance Rescue Service, one of the best appliance repair companies in Plano, Texas! We’ll have you back in business in no time!