Black Friday and Cyber Monday for Service Technicians

Posted on November 28, 2011 by magicappliance

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have now become the traditional day to go shopping either in-store or online. Did you know that these are also the the busiest days of the year for service technicians?

According to Roto-Rooter, the weekend after Thanksgiving is the busiest time of the year for their service technicians. The primary reason is that you tend to heavily use your appliances during this time. Also, you tend to have many guests over for the holidays and they may not be so caring when handling your appliances.

If you are in need of a repair, don’t hesitate to call us at 847-465-9966

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Microwave Service Tips

Posted on September 13, 2011 by magicappliance

Microwave Safety Tips

1. Always use microwave safe dishes

2. Do not use aluminum foil or anything with metal on it. (unless your microwave specifically allows it. Check your owner’s manual)

3. Wipe the seal off with a wet rag and dry it thoroughly as often as needed

4. If also a vent unit, clean the filters once a month by soaking in dishwashing detergent

Tech Tips
1. Do not twist, bend, or slam the door in any way

Posted in Appliance Lifetime, Appliance Maintenance, Microwave | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

New site for Local Services – Thumbtack

Posted on February 16, 2011 by magicappliance

I just listed our company on Thumbtack. It looks like a great service. Check out our listing and tell us what you think.

Magic Appliance Repair

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Appliance Replacement Cost

Posted on January 18, 2011 by magicappliance

Our most popular blog post to date has been where we discussed the overall life expectancy for each appliance. This is an update to that post where we will layout the overall replacement cost. The next time you are looking to replace vs. repair an appliance, look at the overall life of the appliance and then the cost to replace. Most appliance repair companies (including ours) will come out and provide you an estimate at a very low cost and that can be included if selected for the repair.

Take a a look at the the table below the next time you are looking to replace your existing appliance

Home Appliance – Replacement Cost

  Life Span in Years Average Cost to Replace
Microwaves 8 $500
Ranges, electric 16 $1000
Ranges, gas 19 $900
Refrigerators, standard 14 $1500
Washers 12 $500
Dryers, electric 14 $500
Dishwashers 12 $500
Food waste disposers 13 $200
Posted in Appliance Lifetime, Appliance Repair | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Disposal Repair Tips

Posted on January 7, 2011 by magicappliance

If the unit jams/hums:

1. Turn the unit off. After turning the unit off, remove anything that has fallen into the grinding chamber.

2. Turn the unit off. After turning the unit off, insert an “unjamming” tool into the bottom and turn clockwise. Once the tool turns freely, remove whatever was causing the jam.

3. If the unit is dead, press the red reset button located on the bottom of the disposal – if the unit begins to hum and the reset trips again, it is still jammed. Repeat step #2 and #3.

Tips:

1. Always run water in the sink when you operate the disposal

Posted in Appliance Maintenance, Appliance Repair, Disposal, appliance repair tips | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Dryer Repair Tips

Posted on September 9, 2010 by magicappliance

I think everyone would agree with me that one of the most annoying things in life is when your clothes have gone through a cycle, they are still damp. This not only can ruin your clothes by too much drying but also a big waste of time. Keep your clothes dry by following these tips.

If the clothes are not drying:

1. Make sure the dryer is not pushed back too far and causing the exhaust duct an air flow restriction.

2. Make sure the clothes are coming out of the washer almost damp dry. If the washer is not spinning the clothes damp dry, the dryer will not dry the clothes in a normal amount of time.

3. Cleaning the dryer filter before each load increases the efficiency of the machine and this also decreases the chance of causing a fire.

Tips:

1. Follow the proper loading procedure and machine operation and never overload the dryer.

2. Turning your clothes inside out and using the delicate cycle can reduce the pilling effect on certain fabrics.

Posted in Appliance Maintenance, Appliance Repair, Dryer Repair, appliance repair tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Washing Machine Repair Tips

Posted on September 3, 2010 by magicappliance

The washer and dryer are the two most commonly repaired appliances in a household, they also have the shortest life expectancy.

Here are some tips on extending the life of your clothes washer and dryer.

If machine is not turning on:

1. Make sure the lid is closed properly.

2. Make sure the timer and all of the controls are set properly.

3. Make sure both water faucets are turned on.

Practical Tips:

- Follow the proper loading procedure and machine operation

- Never overload the machine

Posted in Appliance Repair, appliance repair tips, clothes washer repair | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Cash for Appliances – Was it worth it?

Posted on September 2, 2010 by magicappliance

As Angie Hicks from Angie’s List mentions in her blog post, Cash for clunkers for kitchen appliances, you should really ask yourself if you need to go out and buy a new appliance or simply call a pro to perform regular maintenance. We suggest that you do this during your annual spring cleaning, to ensure your appliances have a long life.

We suggest you perform the following maintenance items on all of your appliances:
1. Clean the coils on your refrigerator annually and check door seals so they are airtight.
2. Check air filters monthly and replace as needed.
3. Replace washer fill hoses every five years.
4. Avoid overloading the washing machine.
5. Have the exhaust duct on the dryer inspected and cleaned each year. Clean the lint filter before each use.
6. Don’t allow heavy grease buildup on the oven interior.
7. Have regular service as recommended by the manufacturer.

When it is time to replace your appliance, you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is it really broken? The trouble may be a short in the plug, a tripped circuit breaker, or a bad surge-protector outlet.
2. How old is the appliance?
3. Have you had trouble with the unit before? If it’s performed well, it might be worth fixing it.
4. How much will it cost to repair the unit?
5. What would a similar appliance cost?

When you are ready to hire a professional, make sure to do the following:

1. Find a repairman that specializes in your appliance.
2. Call a few appliance repair companies and ask some questions about the specific repair.
3. Be sure to describe to them in detail the problem.
4. Is there a written guarantee on the work performed and installed parts? If so, how long is the warranty?
5. Ask about the training of their techs. Today’s appliance repair work demands a high level of skill and understanding of a variety of mechanical and electrical systems.

Let us know your experience if you used the Cash for Appliances rebate program.

Posted in Appliance Maintenance, Appliance Repair, appliance repair tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Dishwasher Repair Tips

Posted on September 1, 2010 by magicappliance

Have you ever ran your dishwasher and found that they do not actually clean your dishes? If so, you will enjoy this series of tips.

If the dishes are not getting clean:

1. Make sure the water is hot enough. It should be at least 140 degrees, which is hot enough to severely burn you, so please use a thermometer and not your finger. If it is not hot enough, turn the hot water heater thermostat up to a higher setting and see if that resolves the issue.

2. Make sure the lower spray arm is unobstructed and turning freely.

3. Make sure the floor inside of the dishwasher is clean and free of debris.

4. Make sure you are following the proper loading procedures and use the
proper amount of detergent and make sure the detergent is fresh (check the expiration or best if used by date).

5. Mold may grow in your dishwasher if you use it infrequently. The mold can be removed by using the normal dishwasher detergent and running the dishwasher, without any dishes.

If the door is not closing:

1. Make sure the latch assembly is unrestricted and latching properly. Also, make sure nothing is blocking the door from opening and closing properly.

If the unit is leaking:

1. Make sure you are following the proper loading procedures, including proper type and amount of detergent.

2. Run the unit through one cycle while empty – if it doesn’t leak, it’s probably a loading problem.

3. Make sure the racks are positioned properly and make sure the door is unrestricted around the opening.

As always, if you would rather have a pro help you out, please contact us.

Posted in Appliance Repair, dishwasher repair | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Stove and Oven Repair Tips

Posted on August 13, 2010 by magicappliance

This is our continued series on home appliance repair tips. We will discuss a few common Electric and Gas Stove and Oven repair tips.

  • Electric Burner- If your burners are not heating: Make sure they are sitting correctly in their seated position
    • Electric Burner- If your oven is not heating: Make sure the dial is set on the manual cycle and not the automatic time bake cycle.
    • Gas - If the top burners are not lighting: Wipe off the burner with a hot, damp rag and then allow to dry completely
      • Gas -If your oven is not heating: Make sure the dial is set on the manual and not the automatic cycle

        Should you need advice from the pros, you know where to find us.

        Posted in oven repair, stove repair | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments