Is It Worth It to Fix an Appliance?
This is a question our appliance service technicians are asked fairly often, and that makes sense—you don't want to throw out an appliance that just needs a bit of repair work to get back in excellent condition, but you also don't want to get repairs that are just not going to be adequate to revive a failing machine. The answer to this question really comes down to a couple of key factors: the age of the appliance and the nature of the issue.
In most cases, when it comes to appliance repair, Edison, NJ technicians at Mr. Appliance can take care of a reliable, cost-effective repair with long-lasting results. There are, however, a few situations where replacement may be the better choice. Suppose an appliance has already passed the length of time that it would normally last, and it is showing multiple signs of malfunctioning. In that case, a repair is possible—but because it's so old, it's likely that another component will soon fail, and you'll need repeated service calls for appliance repair. Edison, NJ residents in that situation are likely better off going straight to replacement. That's also true if an appliance is suffering from a broken component that is prohibitively difficult or costly to replace.
At Mr. Appliance of Edison, we use the 50% rule of thumb to decide whether or not a repair is actually worth it for you. In simple terms, if repairing your appliance costs half or less of what buying a new one would cost, then it’s better to repair it. If you’re not sure what you should do, we’ll walk you through the right solution during our service call. If we assess that you would be better off buying a new machine, we’ll suggest it without hesitation. Our priority is your satisfaction and not making a quick buck.
What are the most common appliance problems?
Some of the most common household appliances problems you’ll face are:
- Smelly Washing Machine
- Inefficient Refrigerator
- Clicking Igniter on Gas Stove
- Broken Garbage Disposal
- No Power at an Outlet
- Leaking dishwasher
- Clothes dryer doesn't get laundry dry
- Wobbling Washing Machine
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, call us immediately, so we can solve the issue before it turns into a bigger nightmare. To learn more about common appliance issues and how to detect them, check out our appliance troubleshooting guide for owners.
Is It Okay to Install an Appliance On an Uneven Floor?
Generally speaking, this is a bad idea. We get it—some floors are just not perfectly level, especially in an older house that has done a lot of settling over the years or in a basement room with a concrete floor that slopes toward a drain opening. But an uneven floor really can have a significant negative impact on the performance of certain appliances and even cause them to need appliance repair. Edison, NJ homeowners can avoid that in a couple of different ways.
For example, your washing machine and dryer need to be sitting on a reasonably level floor because their operation causes quite a bit of vibration, and the load needs to be balanced to keep spinning smoothly and efficiently. If a washer or dryer is on a sloped floor, it can cause the machines to work harder and burn more fuel than you have to pay on your utility bills. It can also cause them to "walk" around the room due to the vibrations, which is obviously a bad sign for the machines and anything in their path. The best way to deal with this is typically to have a leveling pad installed before putting the machines in place.
Another example is if you have a refrigerator sitting unevenly on a surface, it can lose efficiency and even suffer damage. But if your kitchen floor isn't all that even, don't despair—most refrigerators come with "leveling legs" that can be adjusted as necessary to make sure the appliance is level even if the floor is not. Sitting even and level will help maintain the performance of the unit and avoid unnecessary wear and tear damage.
Is Dryer Vent Cleaning Really Necessary?
It absolutely is. It's surprising how many homeowners don't really understand the importance of dryer vent cleaning to keep their dryer operating efficiently and, much more importantly, to keep their property and household safe. Your clothes dryer uses a vent hose or pipe to remove hot, humid air from drying laundry and vent it outdoors, while lint is supposed to go into the lint trap. But as the months and years go on, lint gets into the vent and blocks the flow of air out of the machine.
That blockage causes the machine to work much harder and longer to dry your laundry, so it's a lot less efficient because it must use more and more energy while at the same time delivering poorer results. But that's not the worst of it. The dryer can create an electrical spark that sets the highly flammable lint on fire, sending flames shooting through the walls of your home on multiple stories. This actually happens far more frequently than most people know—nearly 3,000 dryer fires are reported in the United States every year, causing property loss, injury and even death.
It makes no sense to put your family and home at risk when the risk can be mitigated easily with professional dryer vent cleaning once or twice per year. How often you need dryer vent cleaning will vary based on the needs of your household—a typical family likely only needs it once per year, but if you have a large family or use your dryer more than average, it may be prudent to have it done twice per year.
How Long Does an Edison Appliance Repair Appointment Take?
It makes perfect sense that you want to know upfront the amount of time that you need to block out in your schedule for appliance repair. Edison, NJ residents lead busy lives and don't want their valuable time wasted. However, there's no way to give you an accurate time estimate without knowing more about the work that you need done. Here are three of the main factors that influence the length of time it takes to complete Edison appliance repair services:
- Service Technician Availability: The repair work can't get started until your local service technician has arrived at your property. We understand that your time is precious, which is why we focus on getting there when we say we will and working efficiently without cutting corners.
- Problem Complexity: Appliances are complex machines, and while some repairs are simple, others can be a lot more difficult and time-consuming.
- Necessary Parts: While we do keep commonly-needed parts in stock, there are some situations where a part that we don't have available needs replacement, and in that case, it's necessary to wait to have it ordered in.
Appliance Care and Maintenance Tips
Caring for and maintaining your appliances is a great way to save on energy bills, help your appliances run efficiently, and help your appliances last their expected lifespan so you can avoid the need for appliance repair! Edison, NJ homeowners and business owners can significantly improve the performance of their machines with regular maintenance. Here are a few tips for some of your most important appliances!
Caring for Your Refrigerator
Refrigerators are hard at work and are constantly running all day and every day, ensuring that your food is kept fresh. In days gone by, homemakers had to spend a considerable amount of time and energy shopping for groceries almost every day because there was simply no way to preserve perishable foods at home. Enter the refrigerator, a miracle appliance that has taken away that time-consuming chore and made life more convenient for everyone.
As durable and efficient as refrigerators are, most people are well aware that they can't last forever—but they can last a lot longer than they otherwise would if homeowners take the time and effort to care for and maintain them properly.
One of the key things about refrigerators (and freezers) that many homeowners don't understand is that it's important not to overstuff your fridge. Overloading your fridge with food and beverages can block the cool air vent, preventing air from circulating properly along the inside perimeter of the refrigeration cavity. When this happens, your fridge won't get cool enough, which puts your food at risk for premature spoilage.
Did you know that regularly scheduled maintenance will ensure that your refrigerator lasts longer? With a refrigerator, there are different types of maintenance you and our experienced team of appliance repair experts can handle:
- Daily: Maintain a clean fridge and ensure that all food is covered to keep odors from moving through your fridge and into your freezer. Adding a box of baking soda to your fridge will also help absorb odors.
- Each Month: You can empty out your ice to ensure that it does not form a solid block or absorb odors from your freezer.
- Every 3 Months: Ensure that the door gasket is clean and still closes correctly. A refrigerator door that does not close all the way will put stress on the motors of your fridge. You may also clean the condenser coils, which are found at the back of your refrigerator. If they are not clean and are covered in dust, pet hair, and more, it will put stress on the fridge’s compressor.
- Every 6 Months: Does your fridge have a water dispenser? Replace the water filter to make sure that your water and your ice stay free of odors! To help locate the filter, you can try reaching out to the manufacturer or check out your owner's manual. The drain hole and drip pan should be cleaned as well.
If you have any questions about performing some of the maintenance duties above, feel free to reach out to the refrigerator repair experts at Mr. Appliance of Edison. If you need appliance repair in NJ, we are here for you!
How Often Should I Have Maintenance Done on My Fridge?
Refrigerators are hard at work and are constantly running all day and every day, ensuring that your food is kept fresh. Did you know that regularly scheduled maintenance will ensure that it lasts longer?
With a refrigerator, there are different types of maintenance you and our experienced team of appliance experts can handle:
- Daily: Maintain a clean fridge and ensure that all food is covered to keep odors from moving through your fridge and into your freezer. Adding a box of baking soda to your fridge will also help absorb odors.
- Each Month: You can empty out your ice to ensure that it does not form a solid block or absorb odors from your freezer
- Every 3 Months: Ensure that the door gasket is clean and still closes correctly. A refrigerator door that does not close all the way will put stress on the motors of your fridge. You may also clean the condenser coils which are found at the back of your refrigerator. If they are not clean and are covered in dust, pet hair, and more, it will put stress on the fridge’s compressor.
- Every 6 Months: Does your fridge have a water dispenser? Replace the water folder to make sure that your water and your ice stay free of odors! The drain hole and drip pan should be cleaned as well.
If you have any questions about performing some of the maintenance duties above, feel free to reach out to the refrigerator repair experts at Mr. Appliance of Edison. If you need appliance repair in NJ, we are here for you!
Caring for Your Dishwasher
Keep your dishwasher squeaky clean! It's important to clean your dishwasher since food, grease, and soap can build up inside. This means your dishes won't get as clean, and the food and debris can damage the filter and pump. Here are a few tips for cleaning and maintaining your dishwasher:
- Empty and rinse the filter. Clean the filter regularly by removing bits of food and debris and running the filter screen under hot water.
- Use cleaning tablets regularly. Deep clean your dishwasher once a month with dishwasher cleaning tablets.
It's also really important to understand the warning signs that indicate your dishwasher needs appliance repair. Edison, NJ homeowners can avoid needing a replacement for longer with a few simple repairs here and there. While there are some machines that rarely need repair services over the course of their service life or are prohibitively difficult and costly to repair, that doesn't apply to dishwashers. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, around 30% of dishwashers do need appliance repair within the first five years after they are manufactured.
The good news is, if they catch the problem early on and call for appliance repair, Edison, NJ residents can avoid a major hassle, and our experienced techs should be able to get it back in great shape quickly and efficiently. Here are some warning signs you need dishwasher repair:
- Cloudy glassware with lots of water spots after washing
- Wash cycle is finished, but dishes are still dirty
- Dishes are cool to the touch right after the wash cycle completes (they should be hot or at least warm)
- Unit takes noticeably longer than previously to complete a wash cycle
- Door can no longer support its own weight
- Visible leakage when the unit is running, or a puddle forming underneath
- Water isn't filling at the beginning of the cycle or isn't draining away properly after the cycle
- Unit is making strange sounds such as grinding, buzzing or screeching
Need experienced appliance repair? Edison, NJ residents and those in nearby areas, simply schedule your service by giving us a call!
Click to call
Change Location
