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Offering information and fun for the appliance repair industry and interested do-it-yourselfers since 2013.

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Phone: 1-800-377-8881
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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Filters, Bags and Cleaners...Oh my!

(Flickr user Ruud Hein/CC)
Have you ever heard of a tickler file? A tickler file is an old time sales tool. It is often a little more like a list and you are not tickling cause laughter, you are tickling to bring on sales.A tickler file is a list of prior customers that may have needs for your product or service again. How can that be useful for an appliance repair company? Accessories.

When an appliance is repaired, if all that is done is the repair, it is likely that you will not be hearing from that customer until something else breaks and they call you. For those clients, a tickler file is of little help.

What if you also sold them a water filter, or some cleaners,or compacter bags, or fresh drip trays for their range? These items can be harder for the consumer to find. Some servicers carry a "display briefcase" of accessories that they open while doing a repair, curiosity from the consumers opens the door for that repair person to make an extra sale.

If a  service company also sells appliance accessories this is where a tickler file can be useful. Keep a record of customers who purchase water filters, compacter bags and/or appliance cleaning products. After an appropriate period of time, reach out to those customers to offer to replace their supply.

There are a lot of ways you can contact the customer. Email or a direct mail postcard can do the job, or if you have more time to spend a call can work. Don't make your contact the next week, but try to time things so your contact will reach them at the same time that the product will be used up and in need of replacement. This can also be a great time to follow up with the client on the repair if the products were purchased when a repair was done on their appliance.

One last thing, don't overdo it. There can be a fine line between annoying pest and helpful guest. You want to be helpful. If done right, using a tickler file can be helpful to your bottom line and you will be providing your customer with a service of saving them a hunt to find those replacement products. Naturally, if your own supply is lacking in accesories, give W.L. May a call and we can help get you set up.

       For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Wednesday Weekly Stock: Dishwashers

Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few dishwasher parts and related items.

Affresh Line Art W10282479
W10282479
In a previous post, we told you about Glisten & Dishwasher Magic. This week we are also featuring Whirlpool's solution to dishwasher cleaning. Affresh as a brand started as a cleaning product for front load washers. Due to it's success the product line expanded to include a product for cleaning dishwashers. Like original Affresh, the dishwasher cleaner uses a puck that is put into the machine while a normal cycle is run. The part number for a three pack of those pucks is W10282479.

Universal Dishwasher Install Kit DWK-6572DW
DWK-6572DW
In addition to cleaning the dishwasher, parts to install the dishwasher are also regularly requested here at W.L. May Company. USD makes a universal installation kit that includes a straight pigtail, fill hose, elbow fitting, and other install supplies. It's part is DWK-6572DW.  This same kit can be gotten with a elbowed pigtail as part DWK-6572SSDW.

EZ Flo 6ft Stainless wrapped dishwasher hose 41045
41045
In our last dishwasher stock post we told you about the 5 ft. stainless steel dishwasher hose from EZ-Flo (Laloo). This hose is also available in a 6 ft length under part number 41045.

W10685193
Dishwasher hoses usually come with an elbow fitting. In the case of Whirlpool, these size of the fitting is a little unusual. Most dishwashers use a 3/8 x 3/8 elbow, Whirlpool uses one that is 3/8 X 3/4. For this specialized elbow, use Whirlpool's number W10685193.

675813
Lastly we close out this week with a part that is not hard to find, but occasioanlly seems to be hard to request. This is the thermal fuse link used on the control board for Whirlpool dishwashers. You may know of it under its prior part numbers, 3376359 or 3375557. Today the part is sold under part number 675813 and we have it on hand to satisfy your stocking needs.

In addition to the items we just mentioned we also are featuring a few items mentioned in prior dishwasher stock suggestion posts. These are Glisten cleaner, part 19045, Dishwasher magic, part 12012, and the Dwip pan, part DWP24.

        For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Kelly's Korner - Summer Refrigeration

Hey, All!

Wow!  Where did April go?  Time seems to fly by faster every year!  I wonder why that is?  It seems like when we were kids, summer lasted for-e-ver!  Now they are gone in a blink.  Getting old bites!  lol  I was on staycation all last week and it went by so fast!

So with spring in full bloom and summer around the bend, you know your refrigerator is going to be used alot - whether it's grabbing a popsicle, or your kids think it is a fast way to cool off, those doors will be opening and closing alot.  NOTE:  Do NOT let your kids stand in the door to cool off!  Your refrigerator works harder and your electric bill goes up.  Good recipe for disaster!

Check your door seals - stick a dollar bill or a piece of paper in the door and close it.  Now pull on the bill or paper.  If you feel resistance then you are good.  Do this all the way around. Now check for flexibility.  If it is flexible and has no cracks, you're good.  Clean out those folds in it all the way around.  This will prevent any nasty odors. If you see gaps where it contacts with the door or there is no resistance on the paper test, it is time to replace them.

Check your water filter and replace if need be.  With summer comes an increase in water and ice usage, and you want your ice and water as clean as possible.  Also, if you have an onboard icemaker, check to make sure that is working properly.  It is always a good idea to totally dump the ice in the bucket at least once a month and clean it out.  This way the ice left in the bottom doesn't smell or taste funny from sitting there forever.

Take a thermometer (we have them here) that you can set inside the fridge and freezer and check your temps.  Refrigerators should maintain a 40 degree or below temp and your freezer should be at 0 degrees.  Deep freezers should be at -10 degrees.

Clean out underneath your fridge and don't forget to clean the coils - this will prevent your refrigerator from working too hard.  Because, as the temperatures outside rise, your fridges and freezers work harder to keep things cold.

If you have any problems or concerns, contact your favorite appliance technician for a checkup.  Better to make sure things are shipshape now rather than wait until something really bad happens.  The techs are really busy during the summer, too.

Time to clean out any old stuff, unidentifiable things or science experiments, too, to make room for all those ice cream bars, popsicles and otterpops!

Have a great week!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Monday Motivation

Oscar Wilde Motivational Quote


  What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.-Oscar Wilde

           For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, April 24, 2015

Friday Featured Client: Express Appliance of Twin Falls, Idaho

One of the best things a parts distributor can see is when clients exhibit success by growing their company. That tells us that they are providing a good and in demand service to their community. It also tells us that we have done our part in keeping the parts supply flowing quickly, because we know that a delay in getting parts is one of the most frequent causes of poor online reviews.

Recently, a customer of ours showed some growth by opening a new store in Twin Falls, Idaho. Russ, from our Boise branch shares with us pictures from the Grand Opening of Express Appliances new Twin Falls location.

Contact Info:
Express Appliance
1170 Blue Lakes Blvd N
Twin Falls, Idaho
Phone: (208) 733-7500


If you would like YOUR company profiled as a featured client send an email to rob.m@wlmay.com

For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Throwback Thursday: News Recap April 23rd, 2015

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. So without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:
  • The "how to load a dishwasher correctly" argument raged on with no agreement in sight. LINK
  • Finish is a popular solution for solving spotting from phosphate free dishwasher detergent. Here are their new ads. LINK
  • Wrinkled Sheets? Good Housekeeping says you're doing it wrong. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • A major fire burned through a building at GE's Appliance Park LINK 
  • Within a few days GE workers were able to return to work. LINK
  • The Electrolux North America CEO resigned. LINK
  • In less than a week after the fire at Appliance Park, GE was sued for it. LINK
  • It's not only the Appliance Division being sold by GE. LINK
  • Electrolux expects to save over $350 million by acquiring GE. LINK
We found an article that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:
  • Thanks to Shorpy for this 1948 kitchen image. LINK
  • Who made the first washing machine in Newton, Iowa? Apparently that is a bit unclear. LINK
  • In India, a man is making tiny gadget versions of larger things, check out his tiny refrigerator. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • We probably won't see these in the US, but this is some pretty COOL technology. LINK
  • Front load washers were under scrutiny by CBS Miami. LINK
  • Appliance Retailer posted an interesting article about 4 major appliance makers and their approach to marketing. LINK
We close with few just for fun stories:
  • Too much peer pressure to act "green"? You are not alone. LINK
  • This just for fun, but still, there is something scary about these pictures. LINK
  • Just like a washing machine needs balance, so do our lives. LINK
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Refrigerator Servicing Items

Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few refrigerator parts and related items.

EMF-1
Our first item this week is not particularly refrigerator oriented. Still, it is worth mentioning. Every servicer needs a flashlight, and the EMF-1 is a pretty good choice. Not only will it shed some light on the situation at hand, but it the light itself is on a flexible tip to help shine light into some of those dark corners that can be found when performing an appliance repair. To seal the deal, the tip is also magnetic, which can come in handy if you happen to drop a screw or some other metal part.

HS10001

Another item that is not necessarily for refrigeration, but it often is. Leak Lock is a popular pipe joint sealant that can be used for refrigeration lines. It's versatile, though. It can also be used for pipe joints on gas appliances, water lines and more. Many people remember the products name, but not as many can recall the part number. It is HS10001.

SL300T
This next product is absolutely refrigerator oriented. When trying diagnose a refrigerator it is important to know how cold the refrigerator is getting. That number can vary depending on a number of factors. A great way to track fluctuations in refrigerator temperature is by using a data logger. In the old days this was a big box with round paper discs that would record the temperature with a pen on a chart printed on the disc.

Technology has really done a lot to improve the process. SL300T is a small sensor on a USB that can track data then upload the readings to your PC. You can put this small unit in a customers refrigerator then return later to pick it up with temperature readings stored on the device. Very handy at times.

In addition to these 3 items, we are featuring 6 other refrigeration related items this week. For more details, ask your account manager.

For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Kelly's Korner - Ahhh, Vacation!

Hey, All,

Yes, it is indeed that time of year I take my annual Spring Break.  I am at home catching up on all those pesky things that I've put off until now.

But seeing that it's that time of year for Spring Breaks, here's a few things to remember:

The kids aren't in school!!!  Duh!  Have daycare/supervision (if needed) lined up, activities (this includes chores!) for them to do if you can't take the time off.  If your children are older and don't need babysitting, schedule regular check-in times/texts.  Go over the household rules - basically which are; check with Mom or Dad before doing ANYTHING!

Whether doing a day trip or full week vacation, there are essentials that a parent needs to have on hand so get that bag stocked:

  • water
  • wet wipes
  • bandaids
  • tissues
  • snacks
  • small first aid and sewing kit
  • any medications you or your kids need
In this day and age with all the electonics available, having things to keep your children occupied is easy to do, but make sure they have their chargers and power cords.  But don't forget to have them turn them off and enjoy the vacation.

Most of all - stay safe, stay sane (yeah, right lol!) and have a wonderful time!

Have a great week!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Monday Motivation

       
                             Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what
                                            you’re going to do now and do it. ~ William Durant

             For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, April 17, 2015

Friday Morning Videos: Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer

Whirlpools Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer has hit the streets. Technical training is being held across the country. For those of you who have yet to come across one of these, you are in for a surprise. These dryers work very differently than traditional dryers. Whirlpool has a introductory video talking about the tech. It's worth a watch if you are not already familiar with these new dryers. Here it is...


               For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Thursday Trivia Challenge



Do you think you know all about appliances? Here is a short set of trivia questions to test your knowledge.

Questions
1. What is Plink?
2. When did GE first introduce a complete line of heating and cooking appliances?
3. What is Glide-N-Guard?
4. As of 2010, what is the average time for a load of laundry from wash to dry?
5. What is the part number of the common stainless steel, conventional coil Jenn Aire cartridge?
6. GE first introduced a self cleaning oven in what year?
7. What cleaning product is particularly good at removing adhesive residues on appliances?
8. According to Luxury Real Estate, what percentage of new builds have laundry rooms on the second floor?


Answers
1. Dishwasher deodorizer "pills" that come in lemon, orange and lavender scents
2. 1907 (Source: http://www.geappliances.com/build-with-ge/downloads/kitchens_of_tomorrow_today.pdf)
3. Plastic tracks that can be laid down to protect a floor while moving a refrigerator.
4. One Hour and 27 minutes. (Source: http://pressroom.geappliances.com/news/laundry_facts_07)
5. JEA7000ADS
6. 1963 (Source: http://www.geappliances.com/build-with-ge/downloads/kitchens_of_tomorrow_today.pdf)
7. Goo Gone
8. 61 percent (Source: http://pressroom.geappliances.com/news/laundry_facts_07)



Scoring
O-2 correct: You know a bit about appliances, but still have a lot to learn.
2-4 correct: You know a fair amount about appliances.
4-6 correct: You know a lot about appliances. Pass some of that knowledge on to someone.
6-8 correct You are an appliance star! Great job!


This is a monthly feature. To submit your appliance trivia questions (and answers) email: rob.m@wlmay.com with the subject line "trivia".

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Refrigerators

Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few refrigerator parts and related items.

A regular research we get here at W.L. May is for the thermostat for a refrigerator. When we get a request for the thermostat in a refrigerator, the first question is "cold control or defrost thermostat?" For the folks who want a cold control, we have a variety of OEM cold control thermostats in stock and can get many others that are less common.
SC1002
When the OEM thermostat is no longer being made, some servicers will turn to the "temporary universal cold control". It is part SC1002. Billed as a freezer control, it covers a temperature range of -6 to 39 degrees F.
ML50
When the requester tells us they are looking for a defrost thermostat, we also have most of the manufacturers originals available as well. Sometimes though, no research is requested and a technician will order part ML50 as a bare bone 50 degree universal defrost thermostat.

SLT50
Similar to the ML50, the SLT50 is also a 50 degree thermostat. The SLT50 differs in that it includes a mounting clip.
WR55X10025
As we consider thermostats, it should be noted that many newer models of refrigerator do not have mechanical thermostats. Instead they have gone digital. Computer boards regulate temperature as advised by sensors on the machine. GE frequently uses a part# WR55X10025 thermistor sensor to relay that information to the board.
WR13X10020
In addition to regulating the main cooling temperature in the refrigerator, the board often acts to regulate the timing of the defrost cycle. Frost buildup can occur because of probelems with the defrost system or simply due to a poor seal at the door. To help keep the door closed, GE uses a closer cam that mounts onto the lower hinge. Commonly that comes as an assembly, part WR13X10020.
WR02X11330
While we are at the bottom of the door, another part we get asked about frequently can be found here. The WR02X11330 fitting is a coupler for 5/16" x 5/16" water hose connections.
WR49X10173
Speaking of water lines, GE produced some stainless steel interior refrigerators from 2003 to 2007 that get so cold that frost can form in the water line near the dispenser causing blockages, To adress this service issue GE has released a service kit element to keep that water line thawed. It is part WR49X10173.
FF8.5HBK1
The heart of a refrigerator is its compressor. With a standard base of 4" x 6-5/8" this Embraco 1/4 HP for R-134a refrigerant is a good fit for some rebuilding needs on older units.

A mistake some amatures make when diagnosing a low cooling problem is thinking the compressor is always at fault for low cooling issues. The compressor can be fine, at least for now, if you are leaking refrigerant. To determine refrigeration leaks there are a number of techniques used, Bubble soap solutions, infra red dyes and UV lights, and "sniffer" meters.

RLD10

Our last item this week is one of those "sniffer" meters, UEI Test Equipment makes RLD10. This meter is sensitive to .5 oz per year R134A, R123, or R410A. The meter features a two position sensitivity selector allowing a user to zero in one the source of a leak by increasing the sensitivity. It also auto zeros when turned on and features an 18 1/2" long gooseneck probe.

           For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Kelly's Korner - Food Safety

Hey, All!

My apologies for missing last week.  The whole household came down with a very bad case of food poisoning from something from Easter dinner.  We haven't determined exactly what caused it as some of the family didn't get sick but ate the same things.  But it was not a fun 36 hours at my house!

So I want to talk a little bit about food safety. Having a knowledge of how to handle food preparation is key to help preventing food borne illnesses.  Food can be contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins, and by following a few simple rules, you can go a long way to preventing you and your family from suffering from any illness.

First of all, before preparing any type of food, make sure your hands are clean!  Hot water and soap go a long way to preventing contamination.  Frequent handwashing during prep is recommended, especially if you are handling meat and fruit and veggies.  Also, make sure your utensils and cutting surfaces are clean.  Clean these well between uses between meats and veggies/fruit.

Many kitchen places sell separate cutting surfaces for your different foods.  Having colour coordinated cutting surfaces will help - red for meat, green for fruit and veggies, etc.

When cooking meat, make sure it is thoroughly cooked - no pink meat in ground meat, poultry or pork.  Click here for a chart of safe temps for meat.  My #1 son has a nifty digital thermometer with a long probe that he uses all the time when cooking either in the oven or on the Traeger.  It is programmable and has an alarm that you can set to let you know when temps are reached.

When storing raw meat in the refrigerator, store it in the lowest bin next to the bottom of the fridge.  This way, if any meat juices leak, whether from the packaging or the drawer itself, it will leak onto the bottom of the fridge and not drip onto fruits and veggies underneath.

Now, some of the food we all ate Easter was either already cooked deli chicken from a local grocery store (which we have purchased numerous times) and packaged potato and macaroni salad.  Could it have been any of these?  Maybe.  I didn't purchase the chicken and was hesitant to ask how long ago it had been bought, and if it had been in the refrigerator since then or left out on the counter (family is kind of touchy that way).  Same with the salads.  But if you see a deli worker using unsafe food practices call them on it right away and refuse the food (handling raw chicken and then cooked with the same gloves is NOT kosher) and report to the store manager.  Yes, someone might lose a job but better that than many people getting sick.  Check the seals and expiration dates on prepackaged foods - disgard if tampered with or past the date.

Now, if you or a member of your family does get food poisoning, there are a few things to remember here, too.  Don't get dehydrated!  Even though you may not be able to get or keep much down, sips of water, ginger ale, Pedialyte, etc., are vital!  And keep pushing them even after the overt symptoms have stopped or you'll find yourself in the hospital.  Get out the Clorox wipes and make sure all surfaces are clean between trips to the bathroom - toilet, sink, floors, buckets, etc.  You don't want to get any other members of the family sick if they missed the first round.  If there is a fever, or symptoms persist - get to the doctor or emergency room.  Your illness could be part of a bigger issue and the Health Department may be notified if many people contacted the illness from a single source.

Now that I've thoroughly scared you or grossed you out - remember the old adage;  When in doubt, throw it out!  And wash your hands!

Have a great week!

Monday, April 13, 2015

Monday Motivation


I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. –Stephen Covey

               For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday Featured W.L. May Employee: Melanie Charlton

This is the part of the blog where we share a little about ourselves. Today we would like to introduce you to one of the people that help provide you with our famously fast and accurate customer service.

Name? Melanie Charlton

Job Title? Counter/Warehouse

Where did you grow up? Treasure Valley, Idaho

How long have you been with W.L. May? I have been with W.L. May since January 24, 2011 so this is my 4th year with the company.

What did you do prior to joining W.L. May? Prior to working at W.L. May I worked at Albertsons as the service deli assistant manager. I worked there for almost 4 years. Before that I worked at Home Appliance Service for 4 years and I have done a number of customer service jobs. I was even a stay at home mom for some time, but with 6 kids who wants to do that for very long?

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work? When I am not at work (second home) I love spending time with my family; two teenage daughters who are still at home and my grand-children, oh yea and I guess my husband. We love going fishing and camping all those fun things.

To what do you credit your success? I guess if had to pick something to credit my success to is my do-it-your-best attitude and support from my family.

Can you share one piece of advice for others in our industry? Have a positive attitude and with everything changing so often try to keep up with all of the changes, try to keep work at work and home at home.

Can you share something most people do not know about you? Something not everyone knows about me is, every time I wash my hands at work or at home I shine the bathroom faucet, I just can’t stand a spotted faucet.


For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Throwback Thursday: News Recap April 9th, 2015

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. So without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:
  • Glamour questioned some "dry-clean only" tags on clothing. LINK
  • Glamour suggested that proper loading can reduce the risk of clothing being damaged in the washing machine. LINK
  • Portage Life answered a question about dealing with a stinky disposal. LINK
  • Spring cleaning and food storage tips came from The Hanover Evening Sun. LINK
  • Huliq illustrated why we recommend using stainless braided fill hoses. LINK
  • Adequate Man offered advice for cleaning stuffed animals. LINK
  • BankRate had instructions for calculating your appliances energy usage. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • Electrolux reported winning design awards. LINK
  • Electrolux is adapting automotive manufacturing processes to appliances. LINK
  • LG and Samsung settled their dispute over alleged washing machine vandalism last year. LINK
  • Appliance product testing can use a lot of water. How Whirlpool reduces that impact.  LINK
We found an article that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:
  • Fox Austin had some ideas for turning your laundry area into a designer laundry room. LINK
  • The appliance manufacturers association, AHAM, disputed upcoming efficiency standards. LINK
  • How stuff works opened up a washing machine to show whats inside and how it works. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • The Numbers Whisperer warned about some questionable business myths. LINK
  • If you are thinking about replacing an appliance, Kiplingers may help you find a better deal. LINK
  • The company that makes soccer jerseys for the Indonesian team has a care label likely to offend many. LINK
  • Amazon rolls out the Dash button to reorder common household items. LINK
We close with a fun story:
  • Shorpy showed us the interior of a 1948 refrigerator. LINK
  • We got a smile from Cheezburger.com LINK
For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Washing Machines

Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information. This week we look at a few washing machine parts and related items.

CW-151

Generally speaking, for a clothes washing to work you have to have water. To get the water into the machine, you need a valve, The CW-151 is commonly used on many older model washing machines. It has two solenoid coils and is well known for it's blue plastic body.

134731220
Newer designs of machines made by Electrolux also have newer valve designs. This valve, part 134731220 is found behind the soap dispenser on Electrolux front loading washing machines. It comes with short fill hoses attached. Some other Electrolux models uses a similar valve with longer tubes attached to it.

70143
Valve failure is sometimes attributed to debris in the water line. To help prevent debris reaching the valve, some installers like to use hose washers with screens when the hook up the hoses. We stock EZ-Flo's screened washers in a pack of 100. It has a 20/20 mesh on the screen.  The part number is 70143.

TB123A
Whirlpool, Maytag and GE top loading machines all use a retaining lock nut for the inner tub. The TB123A is used to loosen that nut and get the service call completed quickly.

285352
A water leak can happen in a lot places. Valves are not the only culprit. Sometimes, on a Whirlpool or Maytag product, a leak can occur at the transmission inlet shaft. Replacing  the oil seal kit might be the solution. A common seal set is part 285352.

W10358149
Before you jump to checking out the seals, or the valve, it might not hurt to make sure you don't have something as simple as a leaky hose. Whirlpool washers often use a drain hose inside the machine that includes a coupler at the rear wall of the machine. They use the number W10358149 to identify that part.
SSD6
A less specialized drain hose is the SSD6. This is a 6 foot length of corrugated drain hose. In includes a step down fitting on one side and a built in gooseneck on the other side. The same style of hose is also available in an 8 foot length.
24002
Finally we look at product designed for cleaning and deodorizing the inside of a washing machine. For those who do not like the "hockey puck' style of Affresh cleaner, Washer Magic liquid may be their product of choice. A 2x strength cleaner we have it in stock under part number 24002.

     For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Monday, April 6, 2015

Monday Motivation

Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you’re not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were. ~ David Rockefeller

            For more education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Thursday Tweets: Gas and Electric Range Edition


While looking through our Twitter feed we found these tweets to share with you.

A search in the world of Twitter can lead to some surprising ideas. This one is not recommended...




If you are a bit of a joker, this tip might be fun. On the other hand, it could lead to a ruined dinner...




If being a joker does not come naturally, maybe this "smart range" can help you...




And even if this looks cute, it probably isn't the most sanitary approach to your cooking appliances...




If you want a cute kitchen, here is another approach to consider...




If your tastes run to the more modern, you too have options. However, glass cooktops can break. So be careful...




We would hate for you to have a broken appliance. That could lead to this opinion...




A few tweets we found just left us confused, like this one...




Finally, we offer a homemade oven cleaner recipe. Use at your own risk...




Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas: Ranges

Every week at W.L. may we have several items we feature as good parts to consider adding to your stock. These parts also have special pricing available this week. For pricing details, ask your account representative for more information.

Last week we focused on the dryers. This week we are returning to the kitchen to look at some range parts.

Lets begin with a few cleaning products. If you have a show room these are very good accessory items to have on display. Several techs we know of carry an accessory briefcase with cleaning products available for homeowners to purchase while they are servicing an appliance.

31464
Glass cooktops can be a challenging item to clean. Fortuantely, Whirlpool offer a cleaner specifically designed for glass cooktops. This 10 oz bottle of cleaner, part number 31464, is safe for all glass and ceramic cooktops. It can also be safely used on glass cookware and sinks. In the bathroom, it can also be used on shower doors and fiberglass shower stalls.

L304433208
Electrolux goes to market with their own version of a cooktop cleaner. They call their product Cerama Bryte, we carry it under their part number, L304433208. Like the Whirlpool variety, it can also be used for cleaning stainless and porcelain in a number of scenarios.

1860
In addition to glass cooktops, consumers also sometimes have difficulties with cleaning stainless steel. Summit Products comes to the rescue with Stainless Steel Magic, part number 1860. Coming in an aerosol can this product is great for cleaning stainless steel ranges, of course, but it also can be used to clean any type of stainless steel appliance.
7403P402-60

This infinite switch is used for both 6 and 8 inch burners on many Maytag and Jenn-Air Ranges. Part number 7403p402-60.

9759243
There are some Whirlpool ranges that have a thermal fuse at the back of the oven cavity. In appearance, these are very similar to dryer thermostats. Part number 9759243 is a very common part for this application.
SGR403
Over the years a lot of smaller range manufacturers have come and gone. Many of those old ranges from out of business manufacturers are still working well in the field. One of the more likely things to fail on a gas range is the oven igniter. Supco's SGR403 is suitable replacement for many older ranges round igniters. This  part also fits some newer machines, however we recommend using the manufacturers OEM part when possible.
MP15YA

Those same manufacturers also made a lot of electric ranges. For these a common request is for surface elements. For plug in surface elements that have a Y-shaped support under the calrod, For this, some servicers use part number MP15YA. It is a 6 inch diameter element rated at 1500 watts.
MP26YA

The big brother to the MP15YA, is the MP26YA. For 8 inch burners, the MP26YA is a 2600w unit that is 8 inch 5 turn.

MP26KA

 The last item we are featuring this week is also an 8 inch 5 turn 2600w plug in element. The difference is that this surface unit is designed for use when canning. Canning often uses heavier pots than the average consumer uses for cooking meals. The MP26KA features a reinforced support to accommodate the extra weight involved when canning.

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