DIY Troubleshooting

There are many things on appliances that you might be able to fix yourself. The trick is to know what you need to fix. Luckily, that could be an easy fix.

Find out the make and model of your appliance. Once you have that, look up the owner's manual for it. There is almost certainly a section on troubleshooting in the manual.

Follow the steps to determine the error code, and look up the problem online. If its a bit more complicated than you'd like to handle, just give us a call and we can work with you on fixing your appliance!

Ignition Lighting?

Gas powered appliances depend on some sort of ignition process in order to work.

Often times these igniters can get covered with soot and buildup.

If your appliance isn't working, you might just need to clean the igniter. Regardless, once a months its a good idea to check on the igniter to see if it needs cleaning.

50% rule

Appliance repair can get very costly, often going into the hundreds of dollars. Is it worth keeping an appliance that is so costly to repair?

A good rule of thumb is the 50% rule.

The 50% rule is simple: If your appliance is 50% through its life or repairs will cost 50% of what its worth, its a better idea to get a new appliance.

We are open to buying your broken appliances to use as parts and sell you a new one!

#1 thing to remember with all appliances

Preventative care is always better than corrective care. This means that upkeeping your appliances, such as keeping them clean, is much less expensive than having to replace a part or all of it.

We are dedicated to help you know your options with both needs. We run this blog to help give you preventative tips, and also run our business to help you get your appliances working like they need to.

Give us a call or stop in today if you're in need of help!

Things to do before the repairman arrives

There are a few things that you should keep in mind before the repairman arrives at your house to fix your appliance. It will make life easier for both you and for the repairman.

Time
We tend to be pretty good about our appointments, but sometimes things run over or under time. Its a good idea to have some extra time before and after the appointment set aside in case this happens.

Know what's wrong
Be able to communicate how your appliance isn't working, and how it may be on the fritz. If you have the make and model of the appliance before you call us, we can be even more prepared.

Watch where you're going!
We might need to get some equipment in and out, and maybe even the appliance. Make sure there is a cleared path for us to get around.

Down, boy!
Make sure your animals are put away. it is safer for you, us, and them. We want to make sure there aren't any accidents!

Payments
Its a good idea to ask how much repairs might cost. If you ask us before hand, we would be happy to give you an estimate.

The 50% Rule

Your washer has broken down, do you repair it or get a new one? It can be a tough decision, but there's a rule of thumb that may help.

"The 50% Rule" states that if your appliance is 50% through it's life span, and the cost of repairing it would be equal to 50% of buying a new appliance, you should probably just buy a new one.

Luckily we have a wide selection of appliances at our stores if you are in need of a new one! Stop on down to check them out today!

Tips to make your repair go quicker

There are a couple of things that can make our job helping you a lot easier. Let's go over them!

Brand

Knowing which brand your appliance is helps us narrow down what the problem may be, and how we can correct it. Certain brands operate in certain ways, and if we know which one it is, it makes it that much easier for us to fix it!

Model

Knowing the model further narrows down what the problem may be. Like with brands, certain models tend to wear out in very specific ways.

Life span of appliances

Eventually your appliances will wear out. Here is the average lifespan of some of the most common ones:

Appliance	Years
Air-Conditioners	8-15
Boilers	20-35
Compactors	6
Dehumidifiers	8
Dishwashers	9
Disposers, Food waste	12
Dryers	13
Exhaust Fans	10
Freezers	10-20
Furnaces	15-25
Gas Ovens	10-18
Heat Pumps	16
Humidifiers	8
Microwave Ovens	9
Range/Oven Hoods	14
Electric Ranges	13-15
Gas Ranges	15-17
Refrigerators	9-13
Washing Machine	5 -15
Water Heaters	10-11

Christmas is Coming! Is Your Oven Ready?

If you're wanting to ensure that your Christmas dinner goes off without a hitch, NOW is the time to check your appliances. If you find that your appliance is in need of maintenance or a new appliance, call us at 208-344-6700 or stop by 607 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706 Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM.

Furnaces

75% of furnaces producing no heat during the winter are due to a lack of maintenance. If you've procrastinated having your furnace maintained, now is the time to do it. Its starting to get cold, and before you know it, we'll have snow on the ground. Give us a call today at 208-344-6700

One of the best ways to raise your property value

Boise's housing market has recently seen a major boom. So much so, that the market can't keep up with the demand. If you're wanting to make your house more appealing to potential buyers, you have to make your house stand out. One of the best ways to make your house more appealing is to get new appliances, like stoves, fridges, and washers and dryers. Its such a good method, HGTV ranked it among it's top 10 ways to raise property value.

If your appliance is in need of an upgrade, come see us today!

7 Top Hints When Working on Your Appliance

1. Be aware of sharp edges
2. Tie back long hair
3. Wear proper safety gear
4. Unplug the Appliance
5. Work in well lit areas
6. Remove all jewelry
7. Lift with your legs, not your back

If you're unsure about doing any work on your own appliance, call us at 208-344-6700 or stop by at 609 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706

Are you Cooking Christmas Dinner?

If you're cooking Christmas dinner, it might be a good time to check your appliances. Are they ready to handle the load of cooking for a whole family? If your appliances are up to the job, we can help.

Call us at
(208) 344-6700

Visit us at
http://www.expressapplianceid.com/

Or stop by at
607 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706

Moving Your Appliance

Whether its replacing them or moving to a new home, every once in a while, you need to move a large appliance. Here are some must-know tips when moving anything from fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, and everything else:

1. Completely empty the appliance
2. Clean the appliance
3. unplug all connections (power, water, gas, etc) and keep any disconnected part nearby
4. Wait till its good to move (don't move a friedge/freezer till they're room temperature, empty water reservoir, etc)
5. Make sure you have the proper equipment to move heavy appliances, such as a dolly or a shoulder-dolly lifting system

Call us at

208-344-6700

Visit us at

www.expressapplianceid.com

Stop by at

609 N. Orchard, Boise

Business hours:

M-F, 8-6; Sat 8-5

Managing Appliance Costs

We depend on our refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, hot water heaters, air conditioners, microwaves and the rest to help us maintain our lifestyles. Whether we need to install new appliances or repair existing gadgets, the money spent generally falls into the category of "sound investment." How much you'll pay depends on a number of factors:

Brand and Quality of Appliances

In the past five years, we've all become much more sophisticated in our appliance-shopping strategies. We compare prices with a few mouse clicks. We also can go beyond low price tags and look at quality. What do reviews say about that brand of toaster oven? What kind of problems have arisen for owners of that refrigerator model? A few minutes of research can quickly make it clear that paying for quality brands can save you big bucks in the life of an appliance. That research can also suggest what brands charge way more than the value of their products. If you're buying appliances as part of a major renovation, your contractor can be another source of information, guiding you to the best values.

Size of Appliances

Many appliances get more expensive as their size and capacity increase. Washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves and even trash compactors will often go up in price as their size and capacity increases. But understand that bigger isn't always better. Take into account the size of your family or the number of guests you serve as well as the available space you have for the appliance.

Appliance Energy Efficiency

Appliances that use less water and power and have a higher energy efficiency rating are often more expensive. But these are often the better value, earning you back that investment over time with lower utility bills. Look for the Energy Star, an international symbol that tells you an appliance meets exceptional efficiency standards.

Power and Water Needed for Appliances

When installing new appliances, it's important that you have enough electricity and water to run them, and that the power and water are located in the right places. If you need to increase the electricity or move the locations of plumbing or wiring to accommodate the new appliances then the cost of installation will increase accordingly.

Appliance Repairs

The cost of fixing your appliances will vary greatly from the type of appliance and the extent of the repairs needed. When you purchase your appliance, it's important that you consider the length and coverage of the warranty. Many appliances are covered for just a few months. Others are covered for a lifetime. When your repair is covered by a warranty, it sometimes is only honored if you return the appliance to the manufacturer for the repair. Make sure you check the details of the warranty before calling a repair professional. Some appliances will cost more at the point of purchase but carry a longer or more comprehensive warranty and therefore may be a better buy overall.


For more helpful tips like these

Call us at

208-344-6700

Visit us at

www.expressapplianceid.com

Stop by at

609 N. Orchard, Boise

Business hours:

M-F: 8-6; Sat 8-5

Do you know the life expectancy of your appliance?

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors has given a recommended life expectancy chart for various appliances.

Check to see how old yours is! If its time to put yours out to pasture and get another one, come see us today!

APPLIANCES	YEARS
Air Conditioner (window)	5 to 7
Compactor (trash)	6
Dehumidifier	8
Dishwasher	9
Disposal (food waste)	12
Dryer Vent  (plastic)	5
Dryer Vent  (steel)	20
Dryer (clothes)	13
Exhaust Fans	10
Freezer	10 to 20
Gas Oven	10 to 18
Hand Dryer	10 to 12
Humidifier (portable)	8
Microwave Oven	9
Range/Oven Hood	14
Electric Range	13 to 15
Gas Range	15 to 17
Refrigerator	9 to 13
Swamp Cooler	5 to 15
Washing Machine	5 to 15
Whole-House Vacuum System	20

Come see us at
609 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706

or call us at

(208) 344-6700

Estimate your appliance and home electronics energy usage!

The U.S. Department of Energy has created a nifty tool to calculate how much it costs to run any and all appliances!

Click here to try it out!

If you have any other questions call us at

208-344-6700

or stop by our location at

609 N Orchard st, Boise

A couple helpful tips!

Your appliance is on the fritz. Its making a "THUD, CLUNK, THUD, CLUNK" noise, and you're just not sure what to do. Before you buy a new one or have someone come out to fix it, find out the make and model of the appliance. When you know the make and model of the appliance you are needing repaired, it will help us pre-diagnose the problem.

Some sort of hose broke on your appliance, and it just stopped working. If you happen to know the part number of the part that needs replacing, we'll be able to get a new part ordered super fast for you!

Call us at Express Appliance at 208-344-6700 or stop by at
609 N. Orchard, Boise for more help or information!

How To Move an Appliance

The first thing to know is that dirt and grit under the foot of an appliance can increase the friction enough to damage flooring pretty easily. So the first step is to mop the floor. You should also have someone helping you. 

When its dry, the first step is to take a piece of cardboard that's big enough to have the whole appliance on it and still have some to grab on to. Tilt the appliance back onto its back feet, and slide the cardboard under the front feet.

The next step is to set the appliance down, and tilt it onto its front feet. Kind of wiggle the appliance so that it's back feet are on the cardboard as well. The whole appliance should be on there now.

Have fun moving your appliance around! Remember to be safe while doing it!

8 winter home maintenance to do's

Mid-winter is a good time to check for ways to reduce home energy consumption and prevent appliance and equipment breakdowns. Here are eight home maintenance tips to improve energy efficiency and keep appliances and heating systems running well.

1). Pay attention to changes in appliance and heating and cooling equipment performance.

Changes in appliance and equipment performance are often warning signs of larger problems. Troubleshoot and complete repairs as needed to improve energy efficiency and avoid costly repairs later.

2). Change the furnace or air handler air filter.

This should happen every three months, or more frequently, depending on the region. A clean air filter is critical to home air quality and to the proper furnace or air handler operation. Homeowners should periodically check the condition of the furnace or air handler's filter to determine the frequency necessary for changing the filter in their homes.

3). Clean or replace the humidifier filter, if equipped.

4). Make sure registers are obstruction free.

Drapes and furniture should be positioned at a considerable distance from the registers to enable proper air flow. Rugs should not touch the registers.

5). Seal the exterior.

Gaps and holes in a home's exterior will cause drafts and increased heating costs. Use expanding foam to seal exterior holes. Seal gaps around window and door frames with weatherstripping and caulking.

6). Clean out dryer venting.

Use a long dryer vent cleaning brush to remove lint buildup from inside of the dryer through the outside venting. Lint buildup in dryer venting is an extreme fire risk. A thorough venting clean out should happen at least once annually.

7). Thoroughly clean the refrigerator's condenser coils.

Use a bristle brush to clear dust and dirt from the condenser coils. Dirty coils will cause the refrigerator to have to work longer and will lead to premature wear of key components.

8). Replace the refrigerator water filter, if equipped.

Refrigerator water filters should be replaced every six months or more frequently.