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If you’ve ever opened your refrigerator only to find that your food is frozen, you know how frustrating and inconvenient it can be. Not only can frozen food lose its quality and taste, but it can also be unsafe to consume. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to diagnose and fix this common refrigerator issue.

1. Check the temperature settings: One of the most common reasons why a refrigerator may be freezing food is that the temperature setting is too low. Ensure that your temperature setting is set between 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the ideal temperature range for most refrigerators.

2. Check the air vents: If the air vents in your refrigerator are blocked or clogged with food or other debris, it can cause the air to circulate improperly and create cold spots that freeze your food. Check the vents and ensure that they are clear of any blockages.

3. Check the door gasket: If the door gasket is damaged or not sealing properly, cold air can leak out of your refrigerator, causing the temperature to drop and your food to freeze. Check the gasket for any damage and replace it if necessary.

4. Check the thermostat: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the problem may be with the thermostat. A faulty thermostat can cause the compressor to run continuously, resulting in a drop in temperature that freezes your food. In this case, it’s best to call a professional appliance repair technician to diagnose and fix the problem.

Cleaning your oven is an important step for household upkeep. It can also help prevent the need for costly appliance repair services over the long run. However, oven cleaning can be a messy and arduous task. It’s no wonder that many modern ovens come with a self-cleaning feature. You may have heard, though, that it’s not always safe to use this setting. Read on to learn the truth about the self-cleaning oven setting and if you should use it.

How the Self-Cleaning Setting Works

To understand the pros and cons of using the self-cleaning setting on your oven, it’s important to know how it actually works. Over time, your oven will most likely get soiled with spilled food and grease that gets stuck on oven surfaces and hardens as the oven heats up over and over. Getting your oven clean by hand means using cleaning solutions and lots of elbow grease to break up the baked-on food and scrub it all away.

The self-cleaning feature on an oven actually uses the oven’s own power to facilitate the cleaning process. When you run this cycle, the oven locks and then heats up to 800° (or more!) to actually burn off any food debris, turning it to ash that you can easily wipe away. You’ll still need to clean your oven racks by hand (they can get damaged if you leave them in during the self-cleaning cycle) and wipe off the ash from the interior surfaces, but you won’t need to scrub the oven walls to get them clean.

Will the Self-Cleaning Cycle Necessitate Oven Repairs?

The main worry when it comes to the self-cleaning cycle is that it will damage the oven and cause homeowners to pay for oven repair services. While running this cycle has been known to cause damage to heating elements, door latches, and electrical components, these instances are few and far between. In 99% of cases, the setting works as advertised and causes no damage at all to the oven.  

Overall, researchers and kitchen experts agree that you should feel confident using your oven’s self-cleaning feature. In the vast majority of cases, it’s been found to be an effective and efficient way to clean your oven with minimal labor and fuss.

Special Instructions for the Self-Cleaning Setting

It is possible that the self-cleaning process will produce some smoke and fumes, so it’s important to have plenty of ventilation when you run this cycle. If you have one, running the range hood may be a good idea to help minimize any smoke in your kitchen.

You should also keep in mind that the self-cleaning cycle takes time—usually at least three hours. Before you can use the oven again, you need to:

• let the cycle finish
• wait for the oven to cool down
• clean out the ash left behind

You may also want to time the cleaning process well ahead of any major cooking plans just in case there’s a problem along the way. While damage to your oven is highly unlikely, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

If you need guidance or oven repair help in Wilmington or the region, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. Our family-owned company has over 46 years of experience providing reliable appliance and oven repairs throughout the area. You can schedule an appointment or call us for emergency service 24/7. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

If you notice that your dishwasher isn’t performing the way it should, your dishwasher filter may be to blame. Regular cleaning can often take care of the problem, eliminating the need to call an appliance repair professional.

Dishwasher Problems Caused by a Dirty Filter

Common problems caused by a clogged dishwasher filter include:

• An unpleasant smell 
• Dishes that don’t come clean
• Dishwasher flooding

Why do these things happen? The filter at the bottom of your dishwasher collects food particles and other debris such as paper labels, stickers, and the like in order to prevent clogs and plumbing issues. When that filter gets blocked, any food that’s trapped can start to decompose, causing an unpleasant smell.

As your dishwasher runs, it recycles the water inside as it cleans. If there’s food or debris trapped in your filter, it can actually get caught up in the water and be put back on your dishes. That can mean your dishes come out dirty even though they should be squeaky clean.

Your dishwasher not draining might be the most troublesome problem caused by a clogged filter. When a cleaning cycle is done, the water normally drains away through the filter and into your plumbing system. If the filter is blocked, though, that water has nowhere to go and can back up, causing a kitchen flood.

Steps to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter

In order to avoid major issues with your dishwasher’s performance, you should clean your dishwasher filter regularly. If you use your dishwasher daily, a once-a-week cleaning might be in order. If you use it less frequently, you can opt for a once-a-month cleaning routine.

To clean the filter thoroughly, follow these steps:

• Remove the bottom rack to access the filter
• Remove the filter (keeping in mind some models might have two filters stacked on top of each other)
• Soak the filter(s) in hot, soapy water
• Scrub away any accumulated grease or debris
• Rinse the filter(s)
• Wipe down the filter housing with hot, soapy water
• Replace the filter(s)

The goal of this cleaning process is to make sure your filter is free of any blockages so that your dishwasher works the way it should. This simple cleaning routine can extend the life of your appliance and will ensure that your dishes come out sparkling!

If you’re still having issues with your dishwasher’s performance even after cleaning the filter, it might be necessary to contact your local appliance repair experts. If you need dishwasher repair service in Wilmington or the region, the team at All Brands Appliance Repair is here to help! With over 46 years of experience, our family-owned company provides both regular appointments and 24/7 emergency service. Call us today for all of your dishwasher repair needs. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

Even though your washing machine is designed to clean your laundry, the appliance itself can sometimes become dirty and smelly. Find out how you can remove and prevent unwanted odors via these deep cleaning steps.

Why Does My Washing Machine Smell?

First, let’s look at why a washing machine might develop a bad smell. In some cases, the ongoing presence of moisture might be enough to cause mold or mildew growth. This, in turn, can create a musty, moldy smell that can even pass to your laundry.

Soap might also be the culprit. If you use too much or the wrong type of detergent for your machine, a layer of soap scum can build up in the drum. This can encourage mold or mildew growth—and the unpleasant odor that comes with it.

Give it a Scrub

In order to get rid of a bad smell in your washer, start by getting rid of any grime or buildup around the door and dispenser unit. You can use a sponge, cloth, or even an old toothbrush to complete this step.

For a top-load washer, open the lid and scrub all the way around and under the hinges. For a front-load washer, wipe around the door, paying attention to getting any gunk off of the rubber gasket.

Next, scrub out the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener dispensers on your machine. Getting rid of buildup is key to making sure there’s nowhere for mold or mildew to hide!

Sanitize and Rinse the Drum

Once you’ve tackled the door and dispenser, the drum is next. To clean the drum itself, use bleach to eliminate any mold or mildew.

For a top-loading machine, pour four cups of bleach into the drum. For a front-loading model, pour in two cups. Then:

• Select the highest temperature wash cycle and let the water fill the drum
• Pause the cycle for 30 minutes to let the bleach do its work
• Run the full cycle and let the water drain
• Run a rinse cycle to remove all the bleach

This sanitation step will kill any existing mold or mildew, helping to get rid of any unwanted smells.

Clean and Deodorize

Once the drum is sanitized, it’s time to move on to cleaning and deodorizing. For this step, you’ll need baking soda and white vinegar.

• Mix together 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water and put it into the detergent dispenser
• For a top-loading machine, pour 4 cups of white vinegar into the drum; for a front-loading machine, pour in 2 cups
• Run a wash cycle with the hottest water possible

As with the sanitation step, you can opt to let the baking soda and vinegar solution soak inside the drum for 30 minutes once the water has filled. This is a great choice if you think your washer needs an extra deep clean.

Once the cycle has finished, check the inside of the drum and wipe away any remaining spots or gunk you can see. You can also run a final rinse cycle to remove all traces of the cleaning agents.

Repeat these steps any time you notice a smell in your washer. Or, include them in your regular household cleaning as a preventative measure. Either way, you’ll be able to enjoy a fresh-smelling washer and great-smelling laundry!

If you need help with stubborn odors or washing machine repairs in Wilmington or the surrounding area, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. We are a family-owned company with over 46 years of experience in the appliance repair field. For issues large and small, we’re here for you! All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

If you’re considering an induction cooktop for your kitchen, it’s important to know the pros and cons of this style before you make a purchase. That way, you can make an informed decision about what type of cooktop is right for your home.

What Is an Induction Cooktop?

Induction cooktops are relatively new on the market. They started showing up as a popular choice in the mid-2000s, but many folks are still more familiar with traditional electric or gas cooktop models. 

Induction cooktops are also electric, but they generate heat by way of an electromagnetic field below the glass surface of the appliance. That energy then gets transferred directly to the magnetic cookware that you use with an induction stove.

Induction Cooktop Pros

There are many reasons why induction cooktops are gaining popularity. These cooktops:

• Are extremely energy efficient
• Cook foods quickly
• Offer precise temperature control and even cooking

Induction stoves also have a great built-in safety feature. Since they work by transferring heat directly to magnetic cookware, the burner area itself won’t get hot if there’s no pan on it. So, if you accidentally turn a burner on or leave it on after removing a pan, you won’t risk burning yourself if you accidentally touch the surface.

Cons of Induction Stoves

The major downside to an induction stove is the price tag. Since this style is still fairly new, the cost can be quite a bit higher than a traditional gas or electric stove. 

Additionally, if you convert from a gas stove to an induction model, there’s the cost of redoing the gas system in favor of an electric system to hook up the appliance. This can get expensive, so make sure to factor that in if you go the induction route. If you already have an electric stove, however, no conversion is needed—you should be able to hook up your induction stove right away.

In terms of extra costs, it’s also possible that you’ll need new cookware if you change over to induction since pans need to be magnetic in order to work. If you have any aluminum pans, for example, these won’t work. Others may be good to go, but it’s important to check so that you can account for the cost of replacement cookware if needed.

Lastly, many people simply find the newness of induction technology to be a detraction. If you’re accustomed to cooking with gas, for example, switching over to induction might be an unsettling experience.

Unlike traditional stove models, you can’t see the action of the heating element with an induction stove, so you end up missing the visual representation of temperature adjustments. For some people, this is just too alien an experience and they find that they prefer the old-fashioned functionality of gas or electric stovetops. 

Ultimately, saying “yes” or “no” to an induction cooktop comes down to budget and personal preference. As long as your stove works for you, that’s the right one for your kitchen.

If you have questions about installing an induction cooktop or if you need induction appliance repair help, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. We’re a family-owned company with over 46 years of experience providing appliance repairs and service in Wilmington and the region. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On.

Whether you are replacing an old appliance or outfitting a new home, getting a new dishwasher is an exciting prospect! Before you jump in and start loading it up, though, it’s helpful to take a moment to get to know your machine before the first use.

Read the Owner’s Manual

Getting familiar with the owner’s manual of your dishwasher is most definitely a key step to take before you use your new appliance for the first time. This will help you understand what the different buttons and settings mean and what situation each setting is designed to handle.

After you read the owner’s manual there will be no mystery about what each button does or what a certain noise or light means. Knowledge is, as they say, power—and this knowledge will enable you to access the full functionality of your new dishwasher with confidence. 

Run the Dishwasher While Empty

Since the whole point of a dishwasher is to clean dirty dishes, it might sound counterintuitive to start off by running an empty load. This is an important step, though, and should definitely not be skipped!

First of all, it’s highly likely that the inside of your new dishwasher might have some dust or other small debris inside that has collected during the storage, transport, and/or installation process. Running the dishwasher while empty will clean all of this out so that you can wash your first set of dishes in a truly clean machine.

Secondly, you can look at this step as a test run. If there are any issues with the machine or with any of the connections to power or water, you’ll be able to identify and deal with them without having to navigate a dishwasher full of plates and glasses.

Select Your Detergent Wisely

The last thing to do before you wash your first load of dishes is to pick the right detergent. Your machine may call for a specific type of detergent. This will be covered in your manual, so check those recommendations before you make any purchases.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider the nature of your water. If you have hard water, for example, you’ll want to find a detergent that’s formulated to rinse clean even with the extra minerals found in hard water.

While it might be tempting to jump in and load your new dishwasher up right away, take these few steps before you reach for your dirty dishes. Your dishwasher and your kitchenware will thank you!

If you have dishwasher questions or concerns, or if you need dishwasher repair assistance, call the team at All Brands Appliance Repair today. We are your go-to appliance repair experts in Wilmington and the surrounding area. With over 46 years of experience, we’ve got your home appliance repair needs covered. All Brands Appliance Repair—Reputation You Can Count On!