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.

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Throwback Thursday: News Recap April 9th, 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:

• 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

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 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

Happy Easter!

      

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...

Denim tip: If your jeans smell, put em in the freezer. Then defrost, marinate & pan sear over butter. Transfer to baking sheet & put in oven
— dieworkwear (@dieworkwear) March 22, 2015

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

Electric stove in my house .. when people are cooking i turn it off when they're not looking hahaha
— Aaron Wanat (@AaronWanat) March 21, 2015

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

New gas range has WiFi. And an app. And OTA firmware updates with baking jokes to pass time. I guess that's IoT? pic.twitter.com/3JQCkXhTR2
— Evan Brown (@evandbrown) March 8, 2015

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

Cooktop? Where? pic.twitter.com/kOdlXXPl0F
— Bailey the Cat (@BaileyBlueCat) March 22, 2015

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

The real reason I moved to Chicago: this beauty being in my home kitchen. #1946 #roper #gasrange #cookingchicago pic.twitter.com/ncnu2lWdT4
— Proletariateats (@proletariateats) March 10, 2015

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

Oops what are the odds I drop something on the corner of my cooktop and bam it breaks #smh #oops pic.twitter.com/Bn0DUQcAyg
— Lauryn Taylor (@lauryntaylorby) February 24, 2015

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

I proper hate cooking on electric cookers kmt
— ?Aisha? (@HiMyNameIsToyo) March 7, 2015

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

if you're going to do this terrible thing to your stainless steel gas range just give it to me pic.twitter.com/NuchaZITNd
— Lauren Noto (@LNoto16) March 4, 2015

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

Ran out of oven cleaner? Simply mix washing up liquid, baking soda, and some vinegar into a paste, and get scrubbing! pic.twitter.com/5N8QnPTEdC
— Appliances Online (@appliancesAU) March 24, 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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