Throwback Thursday: News Recap March 12, 2015

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on Facebook, Twitter 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:

• Dr. Duct gave us a few basic tips for extending the life of our appliances. LINK
• Popular Mechanics explained your refrigerator's inner workings. LINK
• BT gave us a guideline for how often to wash some of the more challenging items on your laundry list. LINK
• The Mother Nature Network advised AGAINST more frequent towel washing. LINK
• A few tweaks to your laundry agenda can result in fewer loads to wash. LINK
• Need to purchase a washer of dryer? Here are some things to consider. LINK

Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:

• Whirlpool was named one of the worlds most admired companies. LINK
• Whirlpool is working with compressor maker Embraco to develop new compressor designs. LINK

We found an article that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:

• A designer found a house completed in 1956, that has never been lived in. Everything inside is brand new, even including sales labels on the appliances. LINK
• Have you ever wanted R2D2 to greet you when you want a snack? Now he can, and he will also tell you if your refrigerator door is still open. LINK

Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:

• Scientists drew a connection between dishwasher usage and childhood allergies. LINK
• Scott Yales from BlogMutt was a speaker at the ASTI in New Orleans. He gave his impressions and some free advice. LINK
• Police apprehended an alleged appliance repair scammer. LINK
• France introduced some interesting legislation affecting appliance sales. LINK
• The science Times explained some of the issues about taking appliances online. LINK

We close with a  fun story:

• Don't "splash the plash" on those clean dishes. LINK

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

Weekly Wednesday Stock Ideas

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 into the world of refrigeration. Defrost problems are frequently the source of service calls. Often these call can boil down to the "defrost trio". That would be defrost timers, defrost heaters, or defrost thermostats.

WR51X443

This popular GE defrost heater, WR51x443,  is used on over 205 GE, Hotpoint models and many Kenmore models as well It is composed of two glass tube of approximately 10 inches with mounting brackets, wire harness and built into the harness defrost thermostat.

WR51x10031

Slightly less common, being used in over 199 GE/Hotpoint models as well some Kenmores, the WR51x10031 has a shorter glass tube and only one glass tube and bracket configuration. Like the WR51x443 it comes equipped with wiring harness and defrost thermostat.

SLT50

Unfortunately, over time, some parts are discontinued by the original appliance maker. When that happens with defrost thermostats, some people turn to this 50 degree general purpose clip-on defrost thermostat, SLT50.

5303918277

While we are talking about frost in the freezer, lets look at making that freezing water into ice cubes. For this there are, of course, a variety of icemakers. Nine older icemaker models from the Electrolux product family can all be replaced by the 5303918277. It has four round female connectors at end of wire harness and comes with adaptor that converts the harness to three round female & one round male connectors.

BPV31

A frequently used accessory (so much so that many guys buy the 12 at a time), the BPV31 is known as the "Bullet Piercing Valve". Designed to pierce copper tubing, this part is a "must have".

WR55X10025

Making ice requires freezing temperatures. To determine the temperature on many modern refrigerators, a thermistor sensor is used in conjunctions with a computer board, The WR55X10025 is a very common thermistor in GE, Hot Point, and Kenmore refrigerators. Many models use several of these sensors on one machine making this a good choice for truck stock.

FF10HBK1

The compressor is the heart of the refrigeration system. It is important that the right size of compressor with the right refrigerant is used. Also, without proper certification, the EPA does not allow sealed system work. If all the conditions are right, however, this 1/4+ HP compressor might fit your needs.

RO81

The relay/overload is used to complete the electrical circuit for the compressor as well as providing a surge of electricity to help start the compressor. The RO81 is for use on many older 1/12-1/3 HP compressors.

URCO810

To really get the compressor going some models include a capacitor for the compressor. Appliance makers traditionally have included a capacitor until recently when energy efficient designs have bypassed that need. The nice thing about the URCO810 is it is a "three-in-one" relay, capacitor, and overload that can be used on 1/12 to 1/5 HP machines with OR without a built in capacitor.

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

Kelly's Korner - The Mysteries of the Refrigerator

Hey, All,

One of the most mysterious appliances we use everyday is the refrigerator/freezer.  We pretty much take this appliance for granted that it will keep our food cold or frozen.  But how does it do that?

Well, without going into a huge physics lesson, when a compressed gas gets released it cools rapidly.  Have you cleaned your keyboard lately with a can of compressed air?  That can gets really cold really fast, huh?  Kinda the same thing happens in your fridge.

compressor

condenser coils

The coolant is a special chemical that alternates between a hot liquid and a cool gas.  This coolant, as a liquid under pressure, is pumped through the pipes by a compressor.   From the compressor, the liquid coolant travels through the condenser coils where it releases the heat it has drawn from inside the refrigerator.

As it hits an expansion valve, the sudden drop in pressure makes the coolant expand where it rapidly gets cooler and turns into a gas.  As this cool gas travels through the refrigerator evaporator coils located in the freezer section of the fridge, it absorbs the warm air from inside the refrigerator and freezer.  It then goes back to the compressor where it is squeezed into a hot, high pressure gas.  When it hits the condenser coils, it cools back to the liquid form and starts the sequence all over again.

evaporator

evaporator fan motor

damper assembly

Clear as mud, right?  Then, to complicate matters, inside your freezer section is a little motor and fan blade (normally called an evaporator fan motor) that blows the cold air from the evaporator into the freezer section.  This cold air travels through the wall into the refrigerator section via the damper assembly. This damper assembly has a little flapper door that you can adjust via your control panel to regulate how much cold air comes in.

So, now you know everything there is to know about refrigeration, right?  Wrong!!!!  And, on that note, I am going to leave this for another time with my least favorite three words:

TO BE CONTINUED

Have a great week!

Monday Motivation

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. ~ Jimmy Johnson

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

Thursday Tweets: More from the Laundry Room

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

A bit of fashion criticism brings us back to the subject of laundry...

Someone: omg u wore that shirt the other day me: yeah well in my house we have this amazing thing called a washing machine
— ?aƒ??a ?a???? (@SaFi_p0pZz) February 24, 2015

Sometimes the dirty clothes just scream "clean me". Other times not so much...

My laundry is staring at me.
— Riley (@VeniceRiley) February 25, 2015

Once a person gets started, they might start daydreaming...

So I just sat there and watched the washer for a solid 5 min trying to figure out where the water comes out from??
— ash brum? (@ashlyn_brumley) February 17, 2015

Eventually, an idea might strike...

Just realized that if I do laundry more often, the loads won't be as big. Now, off to go solve the rest of the world's problems.
— Maddie Gardner (@Maddie_Gardner) February 24, 2015

Too much daydreaming can lead to further laundry problems, though...

When you wake up and realize every pair of pants you have are still in the washer from the previous night: pic.twitter.com/ZLBSB3g2Up
— Phantom (@phantominfrisco) February 17, 2015

When comes time to dry the clothes, this Twitter user has an opinion...

If you put one small wash load into three dryers, you are a bad person.
— katey healy-wurzburg (@khealywu) February 17, 2015

Still, there are drying options. You could use a clotheline, but be careful...

Tip of the day, clotheslines save electricity over dryers in the summer,but remember where you hang them #ouch #oldmandown @Frigidaire
— elementernie (@elementErnie) August 1, 2014

Some folks use a laundrymat to dry their clothes. Sometimes that means a grungy old dryer, but maybe not...

S/O to the laundry mat on 13th street for finally up grading their dryers! ??????? pic.twitter.com/QTlSaVOYcE
— Teto (@OhTeto) February 17, 2015

That leaves laundry at home which does have at least one fringe benefit...

"Buck cozy in the warm clean laundry straight from the dryer." --- Marta pic.twitter.com/QbyKiuQsMp
— Cats (@Cats) February 25, 2015

And we all know, when it comes to laundry, it feels so good to get the job done...

"Does finishing laundry make anyone else feel like they have their life together for a split second?" — Stanford
— Yik Yak (@YikYakApp) February 25, 2015

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

Kelly's Korner - Yard, Garden and Patio Show featuring Matt Sander Landscaping

Hey, All!

This weekend I was priviledged to be able to spend several hours at the Portland Yard, Garden and Patio Show at my brother-in-law's display garden greeting people and answering questions.

Now, this show is, for me, the official start of my spring.  All the beautiful display gardens, plants, tools, yard art, etc., just get me itching to get dirty.  And with the mild winter we've had, I've already started.

Matt Sander Landscaping is owned and operated by my brother-in-law, Matt Sander, with his brother, Mark Sander, and nephew, Damian Sander, meeting their clients wishes and dreams.  They and their staff design and install all aspects of the yard of your dreams.  And their award winning display garden this year shows how, in even a small yard, you can have a place for everyone.


For a bit of serenity, there was a nice water feature that you could sit beside and let the waters calm you.  Water flows over the back wall into a pool that ou could have some water plants and fish.

They built 14' x 16' covered outdoor kitchen with a couple of eating areas - a beautiful table for you and guests, set and decorated by my sister, Kathy Sander, and a little bar area with a couple of stools so you can converse with the cook in style.  Areas under the grill and counter can house a small refrigerator and cabinets for storage.

After dinner, you and your guests can retire to the firepit with post-prandial cigars and beverages of choice and great conversation.

Kids at loose ends while the adults converse?  Keep them occupied for hours in this fun sand area.  No kids?  A nice hammock here would bring the beach to your backyard.  A good book and iced beverage and you wouldn't get me out of here all summer!

Matt and his staff listen to what your needs and wants are and design and install your perfect yard - not what they think you need but what you want.  If you are not fortunate enough to live in the Portland/Vancouver area and have Matt and company do your yard, then shop carefully for a landscaping company that will listen to you.

I had a ball talking with all the people that flowed through on Saturday.  If you are looking for ideas for your outdoor areas, visit your local garden shows for great ideas.

Have a great week!

Monday Motivation

The value of an idea lies in the using of it.-Thomas A. Edison

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