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October is National Fire Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of fire safety and the steps we can take to protect our homes and loved ones. At Westside Appliance Repair, we understand the significance of this annual event, as we’ve witnessed firsthand the devastation that can result from appliance-related fires. In this blog post, we’ll share crucial tips on preventing appliance fires, with a focus on dryer vent cleaning and gas fireplace maintenance and repair.

Dryer Vent Cleaning: A Hidden Danger

While dryers are a staple appliance in most homes, they can pose a significant fire hazard if not properly maintained. Lint, dust, and debris tend to accumulate in your dryer’s vent system over time, creating a highly flammable environment. Here’s how you can prevent a dryer-related fire:

Regularly Clean the Lint Filter: After each load of laundry, make it a habit to clean the lint filter. A clean filter improves the dryer’s efficiency and reduces the risk of a lint build-up (a huge fire hazard).

Inspect and Clean the Vent Line: Inspect the vent line for any obstructions or build-up. If you notice a significant accumulation of lint, it’s time for a thorough cleaning.

Professional Dryer Vent Cleaning: Contact us annually to perform a comprehensive dryer vent cleaning. They have the tools and expertise to clean even hard-to-reach areas.

Gas Fireplace Maintenance and Repair

Gas fireplaces are a convenient and cozy addition to many homes. However, they too can pose a fire risk if not properly maintained. Here are some steps to keep your gas fireplace safe:

Annual Inspection: Contact us to schedule an annual inspection to ensure your gas fireplace is operating correctly. We will check for leaks, inspect the ignition system, and clean the burners and logs.

Keep the Area Clear: Maintain a clear area around the fireplace. Keep flammable materials, such as furniture, curtains, and decorations, at a safe distance.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Gas appliances can produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that is harmful when inhaled. Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home, especially near the gas fireplace.

Know How to Turn It Off: Make sure everyone in your household knows how to turn off the gas supply to the fireplace in case of an emergency.

Timely Repairs: If you notice any issues with your gas fireplace, such as strange odors, pilot light problems, or unusual sounds, contact us for a timely repair.

At Westside Appliance Repair, we prioritize safety and the well-being of our customers. We offer appliance repair services, including dryer vent cleaning and gas fireplace maintenance and repair, to help you maintain a secure home environment. Our certified technicians are skilled in handling various appliances and ensuring they operate safely.

National Fire Prevention Month serves as a reminder to take steps to safeguard our homes and loved ones from potential fire hazards. By following the tips mentioned above and prioritizing regular appliance maintenance, you can significantly reduce the risk of appliance-related fires. For professional assistance with your appliance repair needs, don’t hesitate to contact Westside Appliance Repair – your trusted partner in fire prevention.

Thanks to gas fireplaces, with a simple flip of a switch or a turn of a key, you can have a warm, toasty fire blazing at your convenience. Gone are the days of worrying about lingering embers or having to add more firewood to feed the flames.

While there is less maintenance needed for gas fireplace compared to their wood-burning counterparts, gas fireplaces still need proper annual maintenance to continue working their best. Here are some simple steps to extend the life of your gas fireplace, so it can continue to work safely and efficiently:

Annual Inspection

Are you afraid to use your gas fireplace? Have no fear – hire a professional to inspect and clean your fireplace annually. An annual inspection can ease your fears by thoroughly examining your gas flow, pilot light, valves and venting to make sure everything works properly. The Gas Fireplace Professionals at Westside Appliance Repair can even install items that make your gas fireplace easier to use, like a wifi-enabled gas fireplace starter.

Cleaning

Cloudy safety glass? Dusty embers? While the exterior of your gas fireplace can be wiped with a damp cloth as often as needed, you may want to consider calling a professional to deep clean your gas fireplace. Chemical cleaners, including normal glass cleaners, can damage the finish on your gas fireplace (and they are also very flammable).

Replacing Glass or Logs

Your gas fireplace is designed to handle high temperatures, but overuse or lack of maintenance can damage its internal components, like your gas log or glass embers. Consider replacing these every couple of years to keep your fireplace fresh and functional!

To schedule your gas fireplace maintenance, contact us today!

If you see your appliance repair technician on their phone or playing a video while working on your repair, rest assured they are not checking their Facebook newsfeed or catching up on the latest podcast. We’re proud to provide our technicians with as many resources as possible, and in our current digital era, this includes phones with access to online manufacturer data sheets, service bulletins and troubleshooting videos. While our technicians are certified factory-trained and natural problem-solvers, each appliance’s make and model is a little different. For unique repairs, they tap into these resources to get your appliance up and running faster – our goal is to complete as many repairs as possible in one trip!

Today’s appliances are more like computers than machines. With multiple control boards and multiple sensors, it is imperative that our technicians have access to all technical documentation relating to each specific appliance. Each appliance has different technical data necessary across each brand and model, which can be quickly and easily found through our manufacturer’s online resources rather than flipping through service manuals. In the times of COVID-19, many manufacturers are opting to only provide digital tutorials, videos, and online manuals on repairing their newest models instead of offering in-person training.

Do you have an appliance in need of repair? Give us a call at 515-276-8899, text us at 515-203-2787, or schedule your repair online!

At Westside, we always try our hardest to be as efficient as possible so we can repair your appliances in one service trip. During this global pandemic, we’ve made this goal a priority. Limiting the number of trips per repair not only saves you time and money with an additional service trip – it also limits our technicians to possible COVID-19 exposure by going to fewer homes each day while still keeping up with the increased demand.

To help us with this goal, we depend on specific information from our customers before the time of service so we can arrive prepared! This information includes the appliance make, model, serial number, and a detailed description about the problem you are experiencing. From there, our technicians come to your home with a few ideas of what could be wrong with your appliance, and some replacement parts from our in-stock supply (we happen to carry the largest stock of appliance parts in Central Iowa)!

Providing us with the necessary information upfront allows us to service your appliance more efficiently:

1. What is the make, model number and serial number of your appliance needing maintenance or repair? (Need help finding your appliance’s serial number? Here’s a guide to help you locate it).
   
   
2. What was the purchase date of the machine and where did you purchase it from?
   
   
3. Is your machine under warranty or are you responsible for payment?
   
   
4. Can you provide a thorough description of the problem to help with diagnostic?
   
   
5. What days are you available to schedule your service appointment?

Make sure there is clear access to your appliance that needs repair

Cleaning up around your appliance will make your technician’s job easier and faster. Remove anything or anyone (small children and pets included) from the room or area around your appliance. This will give the technician space to work, as well as prevent any safety hazards for kids or pets.

Avoid using your appliance before your technician arrives

Discontinue use of any appliance needing service at least 3 hours before your appliance repair technician is scheduled to arrive. If your stove or oven is too hot, the technician may not be able to do his or her job. Be sure to keep it plugged in and connected to the gas line for our technician to run diagnostics.

To schedule your appointment, call us at 515-276-8899 or visit our online scheduler.

Is your washing machine getting a lot of use lately? With more time spent at home, you may be in deep with your spring cleaning or simply working towards keeping your home free of germs and allergens. Your washing machine is built to tackle large loads of towels, sheets, throw blankets, and even curtains and pillows. However, washing machines can easily collect dirt, bacteria and even fungus if they are not taken care of.

Disinfecting your washing machine is simple to do! Just run an empty cycle with hot water, put some distilled white vinegar and baking soda in, and let it sit for 30-60 minutes. Restart your machine, let the water drain, and wipe it dry when you’re done. We also recommend Affresh Washer Cleaner, which is specifically formulated to break up dirt and residue in your washer (available for contactless pick-up at our office in Urbandale).

Keep the door to your washer open after every cycle to help it dry out and prevent mold. Wipe down the inside of the machine – especially the rubber seal and gasket – to prevent mold and odors.

Here are a few additional tips on how to prolong the life of your washing machine, from the repair and maintenance experts at Westside Appliance Repair.

Contact us if you have any concerns about your washing machine today! At this time, we only service washing machines in Central Iowa (appliance repair services are unavailable in Sioux City at this time).

Shout out to the modern washing machine – that amazing, spinning innovation that tackles the toughest stains while being gentle enough for delicate fabric! While washing machines are built for years of hard work, there are some laundry habits you may be doing that may be harming the efficiency of your appliance. Here are a few tips on how to prolong the life of your washing machine, from the repair and maintenance experts at Westside Appliance Repair.

Do not overload the washer:

Do you have an “if it fits” mentality when it comes to putting clothes in your washer? When you overload your washing machine, clothes won’t be free to move around during the spin cycle to get clean. They will just get wet… and then get dry! Clothes in an over-full washing machine will not receive the equal amount of laundry detergent it needs, and water may not be able to properly soak your garments. Your clothes will not get as clean as you’d like them to be.

Also, overloading your washing machine adds extra stress to the motor and tub bearings. Stressing the washer could through your spinning drum out of alignment, working hard to perform its functions with the extra weight. The excess wear and tear on the motor will cause your machine to fail prematurely.

Garments should be placed in your washing machine lightly, placed in piles without pressing them down in the tub to make room for more. Never fill your machine up past the top of the tub, and consider aiming to only fill it up 3/4s of the way. Sorting your clothes by color and fabric material can help to keep your loads smaller.

Use the proper soap for your washing machine:

If you have a high-efficiency washer (which most washing machines are these days), you need to also use a high-efficiency soap. High-efficiency soaps are designed to create fewer suds because high-efficiency washing machines are designed to use less water. Look for the “HE” (high efficiency) label when shopping for your next detergent.

Using the right amount of detergent can not only go a long way in preserving the quality of your clothing, but it can also harm your appliance as well. Using too much soap can make your garments look dingy, causing colors to fade and material to stretch. It can also cause control errors on your washer and cause cycle failures from too many suds during a load. Also, avoid overly concentrated detergents that advertise having 6x the cleaning power of other soaps.

When was the last time you replaced your washer hose?:

Have you been using your current washer hose for 5+ years? If so, you are at a greater risk of a flooded laundry room and major water damage. Along with natural wear and tear, your washer hose can also loosen and kink from the washing machine’s vibration. Older washing machines use approximately 40 to 45 gallons of water per load. New, high-efficiency washers can use 14 to 25 gallons per load. With water pressure between 20 and 116 psi, washer hose failure can cause damage to your home in a matter of minutes.

If you haven’t checked your washing machine hose recently (or noticed signs that it is starting to leak), save yourself thousands of dollars by replacing yours today! We can install it for you as a solo maintenance appointment, or tack it on to another service such as a dryer vent cleaning, gas fireplace cleaning, or appliance repair.

Contact us if you have any concerns about your washing machine today! At this time, we only service washing machines in Central Iowa (appliance repair services are unavailable in Sioux City at this time).