Kelly's Korner - Baby, It's Cold Outside

Hey, All!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving - we had about 25 people at my sister's, everyone talking at the same time, lots of good food and good times.

But I want to remind you of a few things:

It is still not advisable to use the self-clean feature on your oven - with less than a month till Christmas, if the computer boards go out, it may not be possible to get them fixed before Christmas.  Repair technicians are still fully booked and it may not be easy to get someone out to look at your appliances as fast as you want.

Furnace check-up:  It has been really cold here and I'm sure in other places.  If you haven't had a fall check-up on your furnace, get it done now.  Make sure that everything is running smoothly and you have a fresh filter in place.  (hint:  if you want your whole house to smell good, drip a few drops of your favorite essential oil on your filter - pine, lavender, cinnamon, etc. - and the smell will go throughout the house when the furnace is running).

Water pipes:  Now this is something that came to me in the middle of the night - make sure your garden hoses are unhooked from faucets and drained and stored for the winter.  Mine is not, but the #3 son is on it today!  Water freezing in the hose can cause weakening and burst hoses.  Also, wrap or get those styrofoam faucet cover doohickeys for the outside faucets.  A burst water pipe is NO fun!

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Don't forget your pets - if it is too cold for you to be outside, it is too cold for pets, too.  If you have dogs that sleep outside, make sure they have plenty of bedding out of the wind and wet.  And if it is freezing out, make sure their water bowl is not frozen.  It is tough this time of year for the wild creatures and they like to find warm places to sleep, too.  Make sure your crawl spaces are secure and not home to our furry and feathered friends.

Seems like there is always something to do, no matter what the season, huh?  Gutters to clean, leaves to rake - take care of your home so it can take care of you.

Have a great week!

Kelly's Korner - It's the Little Things...

Hey, All,

Wow, I don't know about your area, but Fall has fallen here really fast.  Labor Day weekend, football games, kids back to school and COOLER WEATHER!!!!!  I actually got chilly and had my fuzzy slippers on last night.
 

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With Fall staring us in the face and Winter coming, people will be gearing up to get their appliances ready for more hearty everyday cooking and the holidays (yipes!).  I just want to point out a few small things that W L May can provide for you to help you with that.

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For our account customers:  We used to publish and mail out a monthly flyer with our top selling items.  Thanks to the digital age we have this flyer on our website.  It is called "Every Day at W L May"  and list the top parts for all appliances and the manufacturers that we carry.  This is a great tool for your stocking items and can be downloaded in several formats - reference in pdf, Excel for inventory purposes, and CVS import.  Prices are good through the end of the year unless one of the factories raise prices unexpectedly.  You will find this under the "Flyer Pricing" tab on our website.  If you are an account customer but don't use our site for whatever reason, or just would like to have a paper copy, let your account manager know and we can email or snail mail you a copy.

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And it's not too early to get stocked up on those high volume items:  Bake elements, ignitors, drip pans, maintenance kits, belts, pumps and all that.  If you are not getting notifications of our weekly specials, let us know.  These are items usually found on the flyer that we've discounted even more for the week.

And for you other people out there - if you need work done on your appliances call your local tech now and get those repairs scheduled.  The closer to the holidays it gets the busier they are, so get a jump on it and get that repair scheduled.


Have a great week!

Kelly's Korner - Appliance Maintainance

Hey, All!

Everyday I get asked if the cost of parts and repair are worth doing or just to get a new appliance.  Totally up to you, but rule of thumb is that if the cost of repair is over half the cost of new, go ahead and replace.

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One good thing to help extend the life of your appliances is regular maintainence and cleaning - here are a few things that need to be on your to-do list

• Keep your stove clean - regular cleaning of not only the oven, but under your burners, too.  Use care when cleaning the control panel as squirting cleaner on any electronics could short them out.  Do not use abrasive cleaners or scrubbies on these either.  Squirt cleaner on your sponge or soft cloth and use that.  I've had people tackle their control panels with Comet and steel wool and have taken off all the markings on the panel.  Do not use foil under your elements!  In oven or on top.  This can dramatically shorten the life of the elements.  New drip pans are relatively inexpensive.
• Clean out your microwave weekly - more often if a mess is made.  If you look inside you will see a small cover about 4 to 5 inches square.  This is called a wave guide cover and helps distribute the microwaves around the oven.  If this gets cover with food debris you may see sparks that may cause damage to your microwave.  You can loosen baked on food by putting a bowl of water with a splash of lemon juice and running the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes to steam and loosen the food particles.  Use care in cleaning the controls also.  The electonics can short out if too much cleaner is used.
• Clean your vent hood of accumulated dust and grease both outside and in.  If you have just a grease filter (no charcoal in it) you can either soak it in hot soapy water or run it through the dishwasher.  If you have a charcoal filter, replace it.
• Check the filters in your dishwasher for debris - pieces of paper or plastic, twist ties, large pieces of food, etc.  Check your racks for wear - if you see bare metal, ask your tech or call W L May for rack "goop".  Run a cleaner like Affresh, Glisten or Dishwasher Magic through it.
• While you are running the cleaner through the dishwasher, if you have a garbage disposal, dump some ice cubes and run it through along with Disposer Care, Plink or Affresh (all found at W L May!) to keep it smelling nice.
• Clean out the refrigerator and freezers inside and out.  Don't forget the condenser coils.  If you don't have a frost free freezer, defrost before the ice gets to 1/2" thick.  Do not use sharp objects (knife, ice pick,etc.) as you may damage the liner.  A hair dryer will help melt that ice faster.
• Clean your dryer and venting system of lint both inside and out - take off the front panel and get the vacuum or brush around the outside area of the drum and motor.  You should be cleaning out the lint trap on every load.  Wipe down the outside, too.
• Run some Affresh or Washer Magic through your washer to clean out any sludge.  Use care when using a pre-wash on your clothes and getting that on your machine as it could eat into the finish and cause rusting.  Wipe it all down.

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.

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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!

Kelly's Korner - How to Find a Good Appliance Repair Company

Hey, All,

So you go to put a load of clothes in your washer, load up the clothes, add detergent and turn it on and NOTHING!!  Or you go to pull a pint of ice cream out of the freezer and everything is melted or defrosted.  What do you do?

Do you try to fix it yourself?  Call Mr Fixit next door?  Or call a professional appliance repair company?  If you are sure of your repair abilities and/or of your personal Mr Fixit, then fine, but what do you do if it's beyond your abilities?  Yellow pages?  Google?

Your best sources would be friends and neighbors - check to see who they use. They will give you an honest opinion on the experiences they've had.  Angie's List is another.  If you use Google, Yahoo, or the Yellow Pages, it is buyer beware!  Do some thorough checking on a company before you call them.  It is probably a good idea to do this in a non-emergency situation so you are not panicked when an appliance does break down.

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Some questions to have answered are:

• Do they take debit/credit cards?
• Ask questions about their charging system - do they charge a service call no matter what?  What is the total amount of the repair going to be?
• If they have to come back to finish the repair, is that going to be an additional charge?
• How long have they been in business?
• Are they insured in case something gets broken or damaged?
• What is their guarantee on parts and labor?
• Ask for references
• What kind of training have the techs had - are they factory authorized to work on your appliances?

I did a previous blog about questions that a servicer needs to ask, so take a quick look at that and have all the information ready when you call - it saves a lot of time on both ends.  Also, make sure that the area that the tech is going to be working in is clean and cleared out - he more than likely will have to move the appliance out to work on it.

Having a good appliance repair company on call is a great idea - not only will they come out for the emergencies but will recommended preventative maintenance calls and products to help your machines run better - cleaners, filters, etc.

Have a great week!

3 Dryer Makers and 6 Service Kits

A clothes dryer is probably the simplest of the major appliances. There are a limited number of moving parts, they are easy for the lay person to understand, and for the most part the same designs have stayed in place for years. Since a clothes dryer is so simple it can also be one of the easier things to service. As a pro repair person, its probably a job you love. The easy diagnostics and and easy servicing make it appealing, it also makes it the kind of project a do-it-yourselfer might try to tackle.

If you are looking to do one of these repairs, or if you are helping out a DIY person with parts, it makes sense to change out all the parts that are also likely to be wearing out when you do the repair. Luckily, most manufacturers offer kits that include all the parts that have a tendency to wear out. Usually, the kits cost less than buying the individual parts.

Here are maintenance kits for the three largest American appliance makers.

Whirlpool

• 4392065-Used on most 27" dryers. Contains  multi-rib belt (part 341241), drum support roller kit (part 349241T), idler pulley (part 691366), and installation instructions.
• 4392067-Used on some 27" dryers (frequently commercial machines). Contains multi-rib belt (part 661570), 4 support rollers (part 3396802), idler assembly (part 3388672), and installation instructions. 
• 4392068-Used on 24" dryers. Contains multi-rib belt (part 3394652) drum support roller kit (part 349241), idler pulley (part 691366) and installation instructions.

Electrolux

• 5304457724-"New Style" for machine from 2002-Present. Contains drive belt (part 134503600), rear bearing kit (part 5303281153), idler pulley/bracket assembly (part 131863000), upper front felt seal (part 5303937182), lower front felt seal (part 5303937183)
• 5304461262-"Old Style" for machine prior to 2002.  Contains 88" drum belt (part 134503600), bearing kit (part 5303281153), idler pulley (part 131863007), upper front felt seal (part 5303937139), and lower front felt seal (part 5303283286), needed adhesive and grease.

General Electric

• WE49X20697-Contains belt (part WE12M29), top bearing (part WE3M26), two white glides (part WE1M504), two green glides (part WE1M1067), and lower felt seal (part WE9M30)

The next time you are servicing a dryer, remember these kits. They can frequently save time by preventing further problems before they occur and by simplifying the parts ordering process. They can also save you money over the cost of buying the parts individually. Consider adding at least one of each kit to your inventory and remember to offer the kit to people doing their own service. Odds are that when they open the machine they will realize other areas that need maintenance as well and you will be the hero with foresight. Have a great day and happy repairing!

Kelly's Korner - Fall Cleaning and Maintenance

Hey, All!

Well, with the summer winding down, vacations over and school starting back, now is a good time for an appliance overhaul and here's a list you can check off:

Washer:  Any leakage?  Check hoses - both in and out - for cracks and wear and replace if necessary.  Run an Affresh puck through it to clean out internal gunk and leave it fresh smelling and give the outside a good wipe down.

Dryer:  Clean your venting system - unplug and move away from wall and clean out lint from exhaust tube then all your venting to the outside - now may be a good time to replace the venting - especially if you are using that old vinyl stuff - and replace it with rigid or semi rigid venting.  We have all this at W L May including brushes to clean.  Also, clean out any of that lint that is behind, under and in the dryer and give it a good wipedown.

Refrigerators/freezers:  If you have a water connection check for leaks.  Check your temps and make sure your food is staying cold enough (we have thermometers for this!) - also a good time for cleaning the inside and replacing filters.
Good time for a defrosting and clean out of old stuff.  Hunting season is upon us and we are expecting you hunters to bring home the venison!  Or, if not, stocking up on meats that usually go down in price this time of year.

http://www.likenuappliance.com/  Thanks, Robin!

Dishwashers:  Again, check your water connections - any little leak anywhere can really add up on your water bill not to mention damage to your flooring, substructure and foundations.  Check your racks for nicks and come on down to get "Goop" if you need it.  Run Affresh for Dishwashers and Disposals through to clean out deposits and leave it smelling good.

Ranges, cooktops, ovens: With the holidays looming (ick!) and regular dinner schedules back make sure everything is heating properly - we have thermometers for ovens, too! - and give everything a good cleaning or replace what is needed.

If you need repairs, call your repairman now.  As the holiday season (wince!) gets closer they get booked up fast.  And W L May has a great inventory of parts and cleaning supplies for your needs.

If I seem to be harping on cleaning lately it is only because preventive maintenance and cleaning will help your appliances to run longer and more efficiently.  Now I just need to take my own advice and get busy!  lol

Have a great week!

Truck Stock Thursday: Frigidaire Dryer Maintenance Kits

Did you know that for Kenmore dryers with model number starting with "417", Frigidaire, Westinghouse, Gibson, or Tappan dryers made from 2002 to present there's a repair kit from Electrolux that is worth stocking? There is also a kit for older machines in those brands as well. Not only do these kits provide a convenient assortment of parts needed for maintenance service on these dryers, but they offer an exceptional value. The kits shave about a third of the cost off of what you would pay buying the parts individually.

For the newer models, your part number is 5304457724, this kit includes a new drive belt (134503600), rear drum bearing kit (5303281153), idler pulley/bracket assy (131863007), front drum support/seal (5303937182), lower front felt seal (5303937183), the special high temp adhesive to install the front parts, the high temp grease for the rear bearing assy, and really nice photo instructions that'll walk a do-it-yourselfer through the whole job.

On Models from 1992-2002 the kit is part number 5304461262. It includes a new drive belt (134503600), rear bearing kit (5303281153), idler arm & pulley (131863000), upper drum glide (5303937139), lower drum glide (5303283286) and instructions.

Kelly's Korner - Dryers

Hey, All!

Well, I'm back from vacation and rested and raring to go!

So, I was thinking about the most popular call I get from the do-it-yourselfers and that has to do with their dryers.  You'd think that this appliance would be a simple one to diagnose and fix but it's not.  The most popular of these calls is "My dryer is not heating so I need a new element."  Chances are your element is fine and there are several things to look at before you go spending your hard-earned dollars on something you may not need - and once hooked up is not returnable.

Remember to unplug your dryer before starting any work on it!

First of all, check your breaker box - dryers run on 220 volts and have two breaker switches.  The motor will still run on 110 but not heat.  Make sure both your breakers are on.

Next, check your element (unplug machine first!) - if you can see that the coils are broken/burned, then you will need a new element.  If the coils look fine then you're in for some deeper diagnoses.

Remember to unplug your dryer before starting any work on it!

Dryers have several thermostats (thermal fuse, high limit, thermistors, cycling thermostat, cut-off thermostat are just some of the descriptions of these) and can be located in several places - element housing, blower housing, back panel of dryer, front panel of dryer - it depends on the style and brand.  If this seems too complicated, now is the time to call your favorite appliance repair man.

And while you are waiting for him, now is the time for a little cleaning (and this needs to be done monthly).  Unplug your dryer and pull it away from the wall.  Clean all lint and anything else behind it  (oh, wow!  there are some of the socks you're missing!).  Unhook your venting, reach in the dryer duct and pull out any lint.  If this is really clogged this is probably the reason your dryer quit heating - no air flow and it blew a thermostat.  Then check your venting from the dryer end to the outside.  W L May sells all kinds of brushes to help clean these out.  You also may have some type of nature that has built a nest in the outside vent - nice warm, cozy place to help incubate those eggs!  W L May also has devices that will prevent unwanted tenants.

If you are confidant on your repair abilities, you can test for continuity on the thermostats with a multi-meter, or bring them in and we will test them for you.  Please bring your model number with you.  If everything tests fine then you definately need to call your repairman - there is something else that needs attention.  While he is there he should also check and make sure all components are in good working order - belt, rollers, pulleys, felts - to help your dryer to last longer.

Of course, with nice weather you can always use nature to dry your clothes - so string that clothes line and get out the clothes pins.  Personally, I love the way my clothes smell when dried outside and I like the scratchier feel of my towels.  If you don't, then use fabric softener in your rinse cycle.

Oh, and if you want some things to do with that lint that you clean out?  Makes for great firestarter (THE number one reason cleaning your dryer regularly is important - lint is highly flamable!) for campfires and fireplaces, use it to stuff pillows or stuffed animals with - it is already clean and smells good from the dryer sheets.  Or if you are really artistic, I've seen some pictures on the Web of people who have used it for art projects - like a reproduction of The Last Supper!  Wow!

Have a great week!