Kitchen Safety: How to Prevent a Cooking Fire

The holidays are coming and that means lots of cooking and time spent in the kitchen!

Did you know that HALF of all residential fires are caused by cooking accidents in the kitchen?

Take these precautions from Appliance Rescue Service in Dallas, Texas to prevent any kitchen accidents this holiday season:

Don’t Deep Fry Your Turkey in the Kitchen.

Many people like the taste of fried turkey during the holidays – us included! – but plan to do your frying outdoors if at all possible. Grease fires are very common when a ton of grease is used indoors, and those grease fires can be difficult to put out. If you ever find yourself with one in the home, pour baking soda or salt – not water! – on the fire.

Never Leave Food on the Stove Unattended.

If you’re boiling, frying, or grilling anything on your stove or cooktop, plan to be in the room at all times – particularly if you have a gas cooktop with a flame.

Keep the Cooktop Clean.

Not only do you need to make sure your cooktop is clean and without grease, but you also need to make sure that there aren’t any hot pads, plastic bags, etc. close to the cooktop that could catch on fire.

Check All Appliances Before Leaving the House.

Get in the habit of swinging by the kitchen on your way out the door to make sure all burners and appliances are turned off completely.

Establish a “Kid-Free” Zone.

Teach children to be safe around all kitchen appliances. The American Red Cross recommends having children stay 3 feet away from the cooktop area.

If you’re concerned it might be time for your appliances to get a tune up before the holidays, call us at Appliance Rescue Service, the top appliance repair company in Dallas, Texas! We’d be happy to come inspect your appliances and make sure everything is in excellent working order before the holiday season. Don’t delay in calling – we may need to order parts and we want to make sure everything is in perfect condition before Thanksgiving! 

5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Garbage Disposal

As the holiday season approaches, the last thing you want is for your garbage disposal to go out! You’ve got company to host and meals to cook, and no time for garbage disposal repair!

Before we enter into the crazy holiday season, remember these 5 tips for extending the life of your garbage disposal from Appliance Rescue Service:

1.  Cold Water Only

You may think you’re helping to kill germs and clean the disposal when you use hot water, but think again! Hot water makes food in your disposal mushy and more likely to stick to the edges. On the other hand, cold water will harden the food, preventing sticking as it grinds.

2.  Follow with Water + Dish Soap

After the disposal is done grinding the food, put a little dish soap in the stream of water and allow the disposal to keep running for another 30 seconds to a minute. The dish soap and water will help clean the disposal and drain pipe, all while preventing a clogged drain by adding a little extra run time.

3.  Run it Once a Day

Make an effort to run the garbage disposal once a day. Running it regularly will prevent any buildup or residue in the disposal and keeps everything is good working order.

4.  Citrus Freshens

Any time you are cooking with lemon, lime, or oranges, throw the peel in the disposal instead of the trash! The citrus peel is great at providing friction on the blades that breaks down any residue, and it also freshens and disinfects naturally.

5.  Remember what NOT to Throw In the Disposal

While garbage disposals can handle a lot, there are certain items you should never put in the disposal:

·     Non food items: glass, rocks, etc. have no place in a disposal – unless you want to break it.

·     Starchy foods: pasta, potato peels, rice, etc. will cling to the blades and cause clogged pipes.

·     Fats: oil and cooking fat should never go down the drain.

Hopefully these tips keep your garbage disposal running smoothly through the holiday season and beyond! As always, if you ever need an appliance repair company in Plano or the surrounding Dallas area, you know that Appliance Rescue Service is here for you! 

3 Tips to Get Your Oven Ready to Bake and Roast This Season

It’s fall, which means the season for baking and roasting is right around the corner.

 

Not only do you need to stock up on vegetables to roast and butter for baking, you also need to make sure your oven is in its best working condition so that your meals turn out perfect every time.

Need some tips to get started? Try these from our team at Appliance Rescue Service, the top appliance repair company in Dallas!

Clean Your Oven

When was the last time you cleaned your oven? If you can’t remember, then it’s time! Typically, you’ll want to clean it at least every 6 months. While you can use the ovens self clean option, we do not recommend it. Because the self clean option makes the oven extremely hot to melt away debris, there is just too much risk that something will get damaged in the process. Instead, make a baking soda and vinegar paste and apply it all over the inside. Then, take a scouring pad and hot water and wipe it clean. Easy and all natural!

Check the Oven Temperature

Did you know that your oven temperature can be off by 20-30 degrees? It’s true. We often get calls about ovens not being properly calibrated. Before you call for an oven repair in Dallas, try testing it yourself by setting the oven to 350 degrees and putting a probe thermometer on the middle rack. Check it periodically over an hour’s time to see how accurate the temperature reading is. If you are concerned about an issue, call us for an oven calibration service.

Put a Pizza Stone in Your Oven

Adding a pizza stone to your oven adds mass to the oven. It’s smart to store a pizza stone on the bottom rack of your oven, because as the oven heats up, the stone with absorb the heat as well and keep oven temperatures more steady as the oven opens and closes, perfect for keeping roasts cooking evenly and cookies too.

Hopefully these tips get you prepared for the fall baking season, and if at any point you notice your oven needs be serviced, call us at Appliance Rescue Service – the best appliance repair company in Dallas, Texas.

Washing Machine Tips: How to Clean Sport Uniforms

Fall is in full swing, which means your laundry room is likely bustling with laundry. And if you have anyone in your family who plays sports – football, baseball, soccer, etc. – it’s likely you’ve seen a stinky uniform or two come through your washing machine and dryer.

Getting a sports uniform clean and fresh can be difficult, but our team at Appliance Rescue Service in Plano, Texas is here with a few tips to make your life easier:

1.  Wash it as Soon as Possible

This isn’t always possible, but the sooner you wash the uniform, the easier it is to get dirt, stains, and unpleasant odors out of the uniform. If you can’t wash it right away, at least pre-treat the stains with a stain remover to prevent them from setting in.

2.  Pre-Rinse Dirt

This may seem like a no-brainer, but your washing machine is not a miracle maker. The caked on mud from a wet day at the soccer field is going to go somewhere. Prevent that dirt and mud from clogging up your washing machine and causing Plano washing machine repair by pre-rinsing all caked on mud and dirt before it gets laundered.

3.  Add Vinegar and Baking Soda

One of the simplest ways to remove unpleasant odors from sports uniforms is to add a little white vinegar to your bleach dispenser. Adding the vinegar neutralizes the odors, leaving your uniform clean and fresh. Baking soda is also a great laundry booster and odor neutralizer, helping remove stains and odors. Sprinkle a little in after adding your detergent and clothing.

4.  Air Drying is Best

After laundering your uniforms, skip the dryer and let them air dry instead. Heat and plastic/synthetics don’t go well together, and many uniforms and gear have plastic letters or synthetic fibers that can get warped or all-together ruined in the dryer. Play it safe and air dry instead. If using a front loading washing machine, always remember to leave the door cracked after unloading. This lets the washing machine air out, preventing mold or mildew that can cause Plano appliance repair.

Here’s to a successful sports season, and as always, if you need washing machine repair in Plano, McKinney, or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, give Appliance Rescue Service a call today!  

Icemaker Not Making Ice? This Could be Why

In our experience, icemakers often last around 3-10 years, so with that being said, they tend to be less reliable than the refrigerator itself. Often, the refrigerator is working great, but the icemaker is not making any ice. It’s a problem.

If you are experiencing issues with your McKinney icemaker not making any ice, here are some possible reasons:

1.  Faulty Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve is the part of the icemaker that controls how much water gets to the icemaker. If you know that your water pressure is good and your icemaker has power, then a faulty water inlet valve could be the culprit. These can just break on their own, or they may get stuck due to mineral build-up over time from the water running through.

2.  Temperature is Too High

This is a simple one you can troubleshoot on your own! Icemakers produce ice best when they are running at a temperature below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If your freezer is running around 10 degrees or higher, try bumping the temperature down a few notches and see if it begins to produce ice more efficiently. Sometimes it’s an easy fix that saves you the cost of any icemaker repairs!

3.  Faulty Ice Maker Assembly

Unfortunately, if one of the above does not fix the issue, you may need a new icemaker assembly. Most manufacturers do not sell the icemaker parts separately, so a new assembly may be in order. At Appliance Rescue Service, we always do everything we can to ensure a specific part cannot be ordered to fix the issue before recommending an entirely new icemaker assembly.

If you need appliance service in McKinney or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, give Appliance Rescue Service a call today! Our team is expertly trained in all icemaker repairs – along with refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, cooktop, and washer/dryer repairs.