Appliance Service FAQ

I have an old refrigerator/freezer that doesn't work anymore, and I need to get rid of it. What can I do?

The best option is to take it to your local landfill. However, the law does require that you have the refrigerant evacuated first. Your local appliance repair company should be able to do that for you.

 

What We Offer, Mr. Appliance of Clearwater

At Mr. Appliance we service all major household appliances including washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, ice machines, dishwashers, cooktops, ovens, ranges, stoves, microwaves, vent hoods, trash compactors, and garbage disposals. Some locations also provide repair service for commercial equipment, reconditioned appliances and parts.

 
Mr. Appliance of Clearwater - 28870 U.S. Hwy N Suite 300. Clearwater FL 33761

727-280-6088

www.mrappliance.com

Make your fridge work for you and save some energy

Make your fridge work for you and save some energy. As the months begin to warm up with spring and summer weather, take the time to use what you've got with these tips that will not only color your energy green but your pocket too.

A Healthy Fridge
Your schedule is not the only thing packed during the week, with parties, potluck dinners and your kid’s friends, so is your fridge. Your fridge is designed with certain shelves and drawers for a reason, so use them. Keep juice and condiments in the door shelves and fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer. This will move most items to the outer edges of your fridge to clear space for leftovers and other food.

From cookies to countertops, vanilla extract can smell your kitchen fresh all week long. Cover up the fish from last night’s dinner by heating up a microwave-safe bowl of vanilla extract for three minutes. Then grab a rag or paper towel and use it to wipe surfaces for stubborn stains and residue in the microwave. To eliminate fridge odors, pour vanilla extract into a bowl with a paper towel and wipe down the refrigerator walls.  Your kitchen will smell like fresh baked cookies without the baking!
Check and care for the rubber seals surrounding the inside of your fridge by using mild soap twice a year to prevent them from drying out, cracking or splitting. Use your money to test the seals by placing a dollar bill halfway inside the refrigerator door. If the dollar pulls out easily, then your losing money in more than one way and it may be time to replace the rubber seals.

The Dwyer Group, Inc. Announces 2012 Donations, 2013 Continued Support of RMHC®

Providing Comforts of Home to RMHC
For the fourth consecutive year, the franchise companies of The Dwyer Group, Inc. have committed $100,000 to its “Charity of Choice,” Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®).

In addition to donating $100,000 to the Charity in 2012, the companies’ franchises donated more than $150,000 through in-kind donations at Ronald McDonald Houses across North America.

“Being in the home services industry, our brands are a natural fit for RMHC because we can provide the in-kind services their Ronald McDonald Houses need to stay in good working condition,” said Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO and chairwoman of The Dwyer Group. “We feel this has been the perfect relationship with a charity, and we look forward to another year of helping RMHC provide stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy.”

The Dwyer Group, Inc., is a holding company of the seven franchise businesses Aire Serv®, Glass Doctor®, The Grounds Guys®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® and Rainbow International®.

RMHC was established in memory of McDonald’s founder and franchise icon Ray Kroc, a strong advocate for children, in 1984. The cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House®, provides a “home-away-from-home” so families can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. .

“The families that RMHC supports derive strength from each other, volunteers, staff and corporate donors like The Dwyer Group,” said Timothy Kennedy, Sr. Director of Development, RMHC. “On behalf of the more than 12, 000 children and families we serve every day through RMHC family-centered programs, I thank The Dwyer Group for this amazing commitment to our families.”

Funded by corporate donors and individual support, the charity’s 324 Houses are located in 32 countries around the world.

“The Dwyer Group’s generosity and donation of goods, services and cash will go to support core programs, like the Ronald McDonald House which empowers families while facing the illness of a child,” Kennedy said. “Our programs allow families to focus on what’s most important, their child.”

Out with the Old and in with the New!

Put Away the Sweaters, Pull Out the Mop & Broom
The end of a long and cold winter is an exciting time, but along with the blooming of flowers and warmer weather comes the daunting task of spring cleaning. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, crank open the windows and bring your home back to life with these spring cleaning tips from Mr. Appliance.

“Maintaining the general upkeep of your appliances can save a lot of time and money in the long run,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “Don’t neglect your appliances and start cleaning them now to avoid future problems.”

Follow these tips from Mr. Appliance® for fresh and clean appliances:

Oven

Remove oven trays and racks and soak them in warm, soapy water. Oven racks left in the oven during self-cleaning will over-heat and turn blue.

Stove

Remove the cooled burners and use a cloth with dish soap and warm water to remove residue. To attack tough burnt on food, make a baking soda and water paste to gently scrub the electric burner coil.

Dishwasher

Using a small brush dipped in hot soapy water, go around the door of the dishwasher to clean the groves in the rubber seal. Place a dishwasher-safe cup of white vinegar on the top rack and run a normal cycle.

Refrigerator

Using a hand-held vacuum, remove the dust from coils underneath or on the backside of the fridge. Accumulated dust can cause the motor to overheat and costs more to run. Scrub the inside of the refrigerator with warm water and vinegar to remove residue and odor.

12 Common Kitchen Injuries


Keep Your Kitchen Safe
It’s a great day at Mr. Appliance, unless a spill on the floor or an oven-rack burns occurs. In a matter of minutes your heart of the home can turn into the most dangerous room in the house. safe this spring with 12 common kitchen injuries from NursingSchools.net.

Pepper burns: Hot peppers can burn your skin, and anything else you touch, including your eyes. Be sure to wear gloves.
Clean up spills: Spills on the floor can lead to accidents. Prevent these injuries by cleaning up spills as you go.
Oven burns: Your oven heats dishes up to hundreds of degrees, so it’s important that you’re careful not to burn yourself. Brushing the side of the oven, or touching something that’s too fresh out of the oven can burn. Be careful when working around the oven, and give dishes time to cool before touching them.
Chemicals in cabinets: Small children and pets can be injured or killed by hazardous chemicals kept in your kitchen. Use cabinet locks to be sure that they can’t get in.
Refrigerator falls: Stay organized and do not overly stocked in your refrigerator, pantry and cupboards. Otherwise, objects like heavy jars may fall when the door is opened.
Cutting bagels: Many people cut themselves while trying to slice a bagel. You should cut bagels using a table and cut through on its side. Keep a hand flat on top of the bagel to hold it down.
Falls: Using a chair with wheels, cardboard boxes or other unstable surfaces to reach higher spaces can lead to falls. Always use a stepladder to reach things up high.
Opened cans: Opened cans leave sharp lid edges that can cut. Use a mechanical can opener that has a magnet to hold the lid instead of trying to handle it.
Cutting board slips: Even if you’ve got steady hands, you can slip and accidentally cut or chop yourself. Always cut on a non-slip surface, or place a damp towel under your cutting board to prevent shifts.
Fire: Kitchen fires are common and dangerous. Turn pot handles inward, move flammable materials and stay close when cooking flammables like oil and fat.
Utensil drawer cuts: Place all sharp items away from the front of the drawer, and facing toward the back so that you don’t accidentally grab a sharp edge.
Contamination: Dirty sponges, not washing cutting boards and more can contaminate your food. Always be sure to use proper handling in the kitchen to avoid food contamination.

Live, Laugh & Learn with Lillyan: Sprinkle Fall

All in the Details

On a recent trip to a home goods store a wall of harvest caught my eye. The deep oranges, rich reds and chocolate browns that make up the season of fall had me craving a pumpkin spice latte and filled me with the sudden urge to reevaluate my scarf collection. My seasonal glow soon turned into a post summer glisten as I stepped outside and a curtain of heat unveiled the southern sizzle of leftover summer. My harvest hopes had been deflated with the realization that someone forgot to let Texas know that a new season is knocking at our sans-autumn leaf covered door.

To get myself into the skeleton and turkey season spirit, I decided to do an entire blog series on the most popular fruit (vegetable?) of the season, pumpkin. As I was strolling down the holiday-crowded aisles in preparation for the recipes, an ingredient appeared on my list I couldn’t find in the wall of spice, pumpkin pie spice. I’m sure if I had waited closer to Thanksgiving, the spice would be at the end of every aisle, alongside pie crust and coupons for whipped cream in a can. To avoid the rush and ride to another store, I decided to blend up my own pumpkin pie spice to be used for more than just pie. Think pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins and yes, even pumpkin pasta that this spice can be used for. So no matter where you are, New England to see the leaves change or Central Texas praying to see the thermometer change, sprinkle a little fall in your life with pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
3 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground cloves

Blend all ingredients together.

Cleaning range/stove burner drip pans

Drip pans serve a variety of purposes. From catching food and spills, to radiating heat back to the cooking surface. Patience is the key when you decide to clean drip pans. There are many different suggestions and methods for cleaning them.

• Place drip pans in a plastic bag, Zip lock or a trash bag, with ammonia diluted with water and seal the bag, letting it set for a while. Then scrub the pans with a scouring pad.
• Use a paste of baking soda and water to scrub.
• Soak the pans in hot water and then place them in the dishwasher.
• Use an oven cleaner.

All of these will work but the suggestion of ammonia can create health risks. There are also risks and hazards with the oven cleaner, so please follow the directions on the containers. Your best bet is to soak the drip pans in hot water for a while then use a nonabrasive cleaner and good old elbow grease. If time is of the essence, or you just don't want to bother cleaning them, replacements can be obtained at reasonable prices. The best thing you can do to keep drip pans clean is to clean them immediately after use or spills, once the burner has cooled.

WARNING: The last thing you want to do is wrap drip pans in aluminum foil. This is same as having bare wires exposed. It can cause short circuits, fire, or other serious problems.

Cleaning dishes more effectively in the dish washing machine
Soft water is highly recommended. It helps the dishwasher perform as designed. Test for hard water and purchase a water softener in necessary.
Scrape the dishes off before putting them in the dishwasher. A restricted wash system results in immediate filming and unsanitary conditions. Do not wash your dishes before washing your dishes! Don't confuse scraping with washing. We need dirty dishes to get clean dishes. The detergent needs the soil to do its thing and break down as it should.
Always purge the hot water at the sink until it is hot just before running the dishwasher. This will ensure the first fill is hot. Also, check to make sure that your hot water heater is set between 120-125 degrees. Most units are shipped turned way down. Keep in mind that hotter is not better. If you set the water any hotter, you're at risk of flash drying your dishes. This is when the environment in the dishwasher is so hot that after the final rinse, instead of the water running off the glass taking with it all its impurities, it is instantly baked on.
Choose the correct cycle. The average consumer wants to use the shortest cycle possible to save money and then blame the dishwasher for not cleaning. Shorter is not necessarily better. Once you've chosen the proper cycle, do not interrupt it.
Don't use a detergent that has a rinse aid in it and also put liquid rinse aid in the dispenser. This causes suds in the final rinse. Plain CASCADE® and a rinse aid in the dispenser are recommended.
For getting rid of film try a product called GLISTEN®. Follow the instructions, bearing in mind that you may need to do it twice. If this doesn’t help, you may have a larger problem with your dishwasher. GLISTEN® is also a deodorizer. It is recommended that you use it twice a year whether you need it or not. An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure.

Using Front Load Washers

Front load washing machines provide superior wash results compared to top load machines. They allow clothes to remain newer looking for a longer period of time, and save energy in the form of reduced water, detergent and electricity consumption.

• Sorting and loading the clothes correctly will provide the best results when used with a detergent approved for "HE" High Efficiency washers.
• Separate clothes that shed lint (chenille and terrycloth) from clothes that attract lint (synthetics, corduroy, velveteen).
• Pilling, which can look like lint, is produced by normal wear on cotton/polyester blend fabrics. To reduce pilling, wash these fabrics inside out, using the delicate wash cycle.
• To prevent "yellowing" of whites, use the hottest recommended temperature for each type of load.
• Retain the dark or bright colors by washing in cool or cold water.
• Read the labels on the clothing for recommended wash cycles, a simple but often overlooked tip.

Mr. Appliance is a subsidiary of the Dwyer Group, Inc., a worldwide franchise holding corporation supporting over 1,100 franchisees in the United States and 24 foreign countries. In addition to Mr. Appliance®, other Dwyer Group subsidiaries include: Aire Serv®; Heating and Air Conditioning, Glass Doctor®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter®, and Rainbow International®; Restoration and Cleaning. The businesses are diverse, but all are built upon the same philosophy of success - exceed the customer's expectations.

If you need any of the services below, there is a Dwyer Group subsidiary ready to help you. Just click on the link for more information.