appliance repair

Proper usage and care tips for garbage disposal units

 

Garbage disposal units are extremely helpful. They are designed to get rid of unwanted leftovers, discarded peels, and other types of expired foods. However, we end up taking these units for granted as a result of which we keep pouring in everything. Consequently, the units end up getting clogged. Ultimately, they just stop working. This is when we feel the need to a commercial garbage disposal repair shop at our place. However, it is important to note that this situation would never if your properly take care of the garbage disposal unit.

While garbage disposal units are pretty good at disposing off the unwanted food leftovers, it is important to remember that they are not dustbins. So, you cannot throw in literally everything that you find and expect that it will not get clogged.

Safe usage and maintenance of garbage disposal units

When it comes to the proper functioning of garbage disposal units, it is important to remember that there are some safety tips! In this article, we discuss the tips for safe usage and maintenance of garbage disposal units. These include:

Run the disposal everyday

Make sure that you are running the garbage disposal unit daily. Otherwise, the parts can freeze up or start to corrode. Furthermore, sometimes, the leftover food inside gets dried up and hardens. This often results in clogs, odors, and fugus inside the disposal. These clogs can also lead to the buildup of harmful bacteria.

So, even if there is nothing to dispose, make sure that you are running the unit at least a few times a day with water regularly. This is like exercising to keep the body in shape! So, consider it as exercise for your garbage disposal unit.

Do not use hot water

A lot of people have the misconception that hot water is good for garbage disposal units. While it is true for other things, it does not apply in this case. When you use hot water, the food inside the disposal unit can get melted up. As a result of this, the food will end up clinging to the sides of the disposal unit.

At the same time, cold water tends to harden up the food which makes it easier to be grinded by the disposal unit. It then goes into the drains. So, let the garbage disposal unit do its job properly and avoid throwing hot water inside it.

Cut waste into smaller pieces

Before throwing any waste food inside, try to cut it all into smaller pieces so that the blades do not get damaged. Do remember that the blades of a garbage disposal units can only provide limited power. So, you do not have to expect miracles like grinding bones and huge meat chunks. This is something that your garbage disposal unit cannot do. So, cut the waste food into smaller pieces for easy disposal.

Grind citrus fruits inside

Full of vitamin C, citrus fruits are not just great for the body but also for your garbage disposal unit. once in a while, toss an orange or a lemon inside. The peel of citrus fruits is a great way to clean the insides of the disposal unit. At the same time, it will also eliminate unpleasant odors from inside the unit. Hence, they are a great refresher for the garbage disposal units.

Ending note

In case you do not want your garbage disposal unit to run into unwanted troubles, make sure that you are following all the above-mentioned tips. Still, if you run into problems, call a commercial appliances repair Springfield company right away! Delaying will only make things worse and the clogged food inside your disposal unit will become hard.

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Refrigerator Repair: Common Refrigerator Myths

The refrigerator has been around for a long time and due to this, there are plenty of myths surrounding it. Here are some of the most common myths as given by refrigerator repair professionals:

You don’t need to maintain your refrigerator

When people buy a refrigerator, all they want is a unit to keep their food cold. Due to this, many have a feeling that they don’t need to maintain it. There is nothing that is as misleading as this.

Just as your car needs periodic oil change, you need to take good care of your fridge for it to function efficiently. Some of the things you can do to extend the life of your fridge include: regularly vacuuming the condenser coils, regularly inspecting the gasket, among many other things.

When you notice an issue with your refrigerator, you should fix it immediately. The last thing you can do is to ignore it.

You need to run your refrigerator for a few hours and you will be set

This is a common misconception with people that want to save some energy. They think that by running the fridge for a few hours then shutting it they will effectively keep the food in it cool and fresh.

You should note that when you switch the fridge off, the temperatures inside will start rising which will lead to spoilage of the food. Do you want your food to remain fresh? You should keep the fridge running 24/7. The only reason you should switch it off is if you don’t have any food that you want to keep fresh.

It doesn’t matter where you place the food

Did you know that some areas aren’t ideal for certain foods? This is because the temperature in all areas of the fridge isn’t the same. For example, the doors are warmer than the rest of the fridge; therefore, you can’t place foods that need low temperatures there.

To help you out, here are some of the ideal places where you should place the different foods:

Top shelves: The temperatures here are a little warmer; therefore, you should reserve these areas for foods that don’t need to be cooked. Some of the foods to store here include: leftovers, juice, soda, and ready to eat foods.

Bottom shelves: This is usually the coldest area; therefore, you should place the foods that are prone to spoiling. Some of these foods include: eggs, meat, and dairy.

Crisper drawers: These are the drawers located at the bottom of most refrigerators. The purpose of the drawers is to provide ideal conditions for fruits and vegetables. As you might have guessed, these areas are ideal for fruits and vegetables. When placing the vegetables and fruits, ensure that they are separated so that they can maintain optimal freshness.

Door: The temperature on the door fluctuates due to the constant opening and closing. Due to this, you should keep the items that are less resistant to spoilage. Some of the best ones are: water, condiments, juice, and soda.

Keeping the refrigerator full saves energy

Some people think that when they fill the fridge they save energy as they keep all of their groceries cool at the same time. You should note that you will be damaging your fridge when you do this. This is because the compressor tends to work harder to keep the insides of the fridge cool.

In some cases, the compressor is unable to execute its work well enough leading to warm spots. As you might have guessed, this leads to food spoilage in the affected parts.

The freezer is an infinity box

Since the freezer is the coldest part of the fridge, some people have the notion that when they put things there, they will remain fresh forever. There is nothing that is further from the truth than this.

While the food you place there will go for a longer time without getting spoilt, it doesn’t mean that they will last forever. Commercial appliance repair Alexandria professionals recommend that you regularly take a look at the food there and eat it soon enough. If the food is getting spoilt, get rid of it as it will give your refrigerator an awful smell.

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Dishwasher Repair: Mistakes You Are Making With Your Dishwasher

While dishwashers have been around for a long time, many people tend to make mistakes that not only lead to the dishwashers consuming a lot of energy, it also leads to them failing to work. Here are some of the most common mistakes that people make as given by dishwasher repair professionals:

Using the wrong dishwasher detergents

For the dishes to be clean you need to use the right detergent. There are plenty of detergents in the market that you can go for. Ensure that you go for the one that is ideal for your machine.

Some people add a lot of detergent with the hope that the dishes will get extra clean. There is nothing that is as misleading as this. Using a lot of detergent leaves a film of detergent on the entire dishwasher, that is problematic to get rid of.

Regardless of how clean you want the dishes to be, always use the right amount of detergent. You don’t want to damage the machine, do you?

You are overfilling the machine

It’s good to maximize space when you fill the dishwasher, but you shouldn’t overcrowd it. You should note that when you overfill the dishwasher, you not only prevent the dishes from getting properly clean, you also tend to damage them as they bump into each other.

For the dishes to be properly clean, you should space them properly so that each of them has enough space that it needs to get clean.

You allow too much food in the dishwasher

Most of the modern dishwashers are highly effective at getting rid of food residues, but this doesn’t mean that you should allow a lot of food in the unit, especially if you have older models. This is because the older models don’t have the capability of removing the food residues that you leave on the dishes.

You don’t need to prewash the dishes to get rid of the food—scraping is enough to get the dishes ready for the dishwasher. You should always get the dishes as clean as possible before you allow them into the dishwasher.

You allow non-dishwasher safe items down the unit

When your dishwasher is functioning optimally, you might be tempted to put everything you come across inside it. Don t do this as you will end up damaging the machine forcing you incur expensive repairs. In some cases, the damages are so severe that you have to replace the entire unit.

Some of the things that should never see the insides of your dishwasher include: wood, delicate glassware, cast-iron, copper, and any other non-dishwasher safe items that you might be having in the house.

You are placing the different dishes in the wrong place

Did you know that different dishes clean well at different locations of the dishwasher? Many people don’t know this hence they put them at any place. This not only leads to the dishes failing to clean as well as they are supposed to, it also leads to them melting, warping, and even breaking.

For the bowls, cups, glasses, and oversized serving utensils to be thoroughly clean, you need to put them at the top of the rack.

Pans, pots, plates, and utensils tend to clean well when they are at the bottom.

It’s common for people not to pay attention to where they place the dishes especially when the restaurant is busy, but for them to properly clean and protect them from getting damaged, you should be cautious where you place them.

You are blocking the sprayer

The sprayer produces the water that you use cleaning the dishes; therefore, you should ensure that it’s working properly all the time. During the loading, some people tend to block the sprayer, which leads to dirty dishes.

For the sprayer to clean the dishes, it should reach all corners of the dishwasher and clean every dish. When you are loading the dishes, double-check that the sprayer has a full range of motion and it isn’t being blocked by a pan or large bowl.

If there is anything on the way, you should get rid of it immediately.

You don’t tune up the appliance

Did you know that the dishwasher is just like your furnace or air conditioner? You need to tune it up regularly. If you don’t, the dishwasher tends to develop problems that lead to it consuming a lot of energy. It also tends to break down after a short time.

For ideal results, you should make a habit of hiring an appliance repair Fairfax professional at least once a year to inspect the appliance and fix any issues it might be having.

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