We are a team of knowledgeable and certified technicians that provide certified residential appliance repairs all over the lower mainland. We have been servicing appliances for over 10 years helping our customers with all their appliance repair needs.
Extended warranties on major home appliances; if you have ever purchased a new appliance, odds are you were offered the option of adding 1, 3, or even five years to your warranty period.
These additional warranties can be tricky. In the heat of the moment, when you are close to completing your purchase, possibly spending thousands on a new kitchen package, adding an extended warranty on your oven for a few hundred dollars may sound very appealing.
However, extended warranties are not always so cut and dried; their real value depends on a combination of factors. For example, when considering paying $300 for a 3-year extended warranty on a $1,000 range, think about how likely the appliance is to break within that period and how much oven repair in Burnaby would cost if it did.
What do You Get with an Extended Warranty?
An extended appliance warranty is essentially an insurance contract for a stated period. These provide continued coverage after your manufacturer’s warranty period has ended and are typically available for 2-to-5-year terms.
Warranties are intended to cover defects with the appliance; they will not cover damage because of misuse, accident, or other external factors. A common situation is an overstuffed freezer blocking vents and over-taxing your refrigerator condenser, leading to burnout. This type of repair would not be covered under an extended warranty because it’s not the result of an appliance malfunction.
Terms and conditions for extended warranties vary dramatically, and it’s imperative to read all the fine print. Extended warranties are also per individual appliance, even if you are buying a package, which can really add up when you consider how many major appliances are in the typical home.
What are the Benefits of an Extended Warranty?
Extended warranties are not without their advantages, especially for big-ticket items. You get:
People like warranties because they provide peace of mind that it will be covered under the policy if something unexpected were to happen with their new appliance. And if the appliance cannot be repaired, it is usually refunded or replaced.
As long as you purchase your warranty when you purchase your appliance, you have the flexibility to choose the term that best suits your needs. Other terms and conditions of the policy, however, are not amendable.
Extended warranties always come with professional repairs but may not get your choice of company. For example, if you need oven repair in Burnaby, the warranty provider may only offer you one or two options.
The cost of appliance repair in Burnaby can be highly variable. With an extended warranty, you pay the predetermined fee upfront and this covers repairs, regardless of the actual cost.
What are the Drawbacks of Buying an Extended Warranty?
Despite their popularity, most consumer watchdogs caution againstbuying into extended warranty plans for several reasons.
The biggest downside to extended warranties is the cost – they are not cheap. When evaluating extended coverage, consider the cost of the insurance versus the appliance’s cost and the cost of repairing that appliance. For example, the average cost of oven repair in Burnaby is about $150, while a 3-year extended warranty will cost at least twice that amount, if not more.
Today’s appliances are quite robust, and for most consumers, they will never use their extended warranty coverage. When you purchase a problematic machine, issues tend to pop up right away when the appliance is still covered under the manufacturer warranty. Otherwise, many new appliances can go several years problem-free, which would surpass the extended warranty period.
Another factor that many people forget when purchasing their appliances is the existing manufacturer warranty coverage and warranties provided by certain credit card companies. Before you sign up for an extended warranty, check the manufacturer’s warranty coverage as well as the coverage available through your credit card provider, which can often offer protection for up to 2 years, free of charge.
Your refrigerator is a key home appliance that provides safe storage for the fresh and frozen foods you need to feed your family. Proper functioning of your refrigerator is essential to maintain food safety and prevent waste due to spoilage. As with any home appliance, problems may develop with your refrigerator that require fridge repair in Vancouver.
Some fridge problems may be simple enough to resolve yourself, but there are many common refrigerator problems that should behandled by professional fridge repair Vancouver technicians. To help you diagnose your refrigerator problems and decide whether to call for help, here we will outline a few of the most common refrigerator repair issues.
Refrigerator is Too Warm
Refrigerators are meant to stay cold – that is their purpose. So a warm refrigerator isa serious problem. If you notice that your refrigerator seems warm, you will need to have it repaired quickly, or you risk food spoilage and even illness.
A warm refrigerator is often caused by problems with the condenser coils. The first thing to do is to clean the refrigerator’s condenser coils. You should also check the condenser fan motor to ensure that it is running well. A professional fridge repair technician is best for resolving issues with the motor.
Refrigerator is Too Noisy
Your refrigerator should operate quietly, never at a volume that is intrusive. If your refrigerator seems to have gotten louder or is a making particularly loud noise, there is likely a fan issue, either with the condenser fan or the evaporator fan. Call for fridge repair in Vancouver to have the fans checked and replaced if necessary.
Refrigerator Is Constantly Running of Cycling
A refrigerator needs to run periodically to maintain optimal cool temperatures for food storage.A very common refrigerator problem is an appliance that runs constantly, or cycles too frequently. This cannot only be unnecessarily noisy, but it can significantly increase your energy costs, as a refrigerator is power-hungry appliance.
As with a fridge that is too warm, the most common cause of a refrigerator running too much is dirty condenser coils. If the problem is not resolved by cleaning the coils, check your temperature setting. If the fridge is set too low, it will have to run more often to maintain such a low temperature; turning it up may resolve the problem. If the problem persists, callfor professional fridge repair in Vancouver.
Refrigerator is Leaking Water
Water leaking from the fridge is a common problem that is often caused by a blocked defrost drain, or a clogged or frozen water supply line.
The defrost drain, which can become blocked by debris, is usually accessible from inside your freezer. You can try to remove the debris manually, or flush it using warm water. You can also find the defrost drain hose on the back of your refrigerator and clean that too.
Then check if the water supply line is clogged or frozen, unplug the fridge and close the shut-off valve.Inspect the water supply line for breaks or tears. If there are any, the line will need to be replaced.
Ice Buildup in the Freezer
While the freezer section is the ideal space for storing ice, it should not have significant ice buildup on its surfaces. If it does, this is usually due to increased humidity in the freezer. Keeping the door open for too long lets in humidity. A faulty seal also let’s in air, which increases humidity. Replacing the seal can resolve this issue.
Water Dispenser Isn’t Working
Many refrigerators include a built-in water dispenser, offering cold, fresh water anytime. A fridge’s water dispenser may stop working for several reasons. The water tub in the door may freeze, preventing water from reaching the dispenser. The inlet valve that opens to allow water to flow into the dispenser may be defective. Or your water pressure may be inadequate to push the water through the inlet valve. A fridge repair Vancouver technician will be able to diagnose and repair issues with your water dispenser and any other problems your fridge may be having.
Laundry becomes more difficult without a dryer. Whether it is making odd noises, shaking alarmingly, not drying items, or simply not turning on, something needs to be done. When looking for dryer repair in Coquitlam, timeliness is a necessity.
The clothes dryer is one of the most used appliances in the home and consumes a lot of energy. Having a clothes dryer is a key part for many families and individuals, for doing laundry quickly and efficiently.
The smell of wet, musty clothing that has sat in a ball in the washing machine is not appealing. No one wants to wear damp-feeling, or musty-smelling clothing. When it comes to needing dryer repair in Coquitlam, you want your dryer fixed as soon as possible.
Generally, the signs and symptoms that a clothes dryer is not working as it should be are obvious. Signs such as clothing coming out of the dryer still wet or damp, damaged clothing coming out of the dryer, loud noises and excessive shaking, and clothing not getting enough heat during the cycle are all warning signs that your dryer needs to be either repaired or replaced.
A modern clothes dryer can typically last between 10-13 years. Even though the warning signs from your dryer may sound or look extreme, most of the time, dryer repair is the solution, not dryer replacement.
If your dryer is an older model, or past the 10-year mark, it may be a good idea to consider replacing the dryer if possible. Older dryers can be more of a drain on your power bill, while newer clothes dryers are more energy efficient. If repairs are needed in the first few years after purchasing it, generally a repair will solve the problem completely.
It is easy to do a quick check before calling for dryer repair in Coquitlam, to make sure that your dryer is damaged or broken, and not just unplugged. It may seem like an obvious point, however, sometimes plugs get pulled, or partially pulled out of the wall. When this happens, the dryer may act like it could be broken, but it is fine. Before calling a repair, check the plug and the outlet to make sure. Checking the circuit breaker to your dryer, if you know how to do so safely, can also help determine what is wrong. If the dryer is plugged in properly and there are no problems with the outlet, a breaker could have been tripped.
Check the dryer door as well. When the door is jammed and cannot close properly, it can prevent the dryer from starting. This is a safety feature used to ensure that small children and pets will not get trapped in a machine. Be sure that the door closes properly, and that the seal is not loose or missing. If you think the door might have a problem, open dryer door, and press the switch lever, which is pressed down when the door is shut. If the light inside the dryer does not turn off when the switch lever is pressed down, the door switch may be faulty or need replacing.
Another issue could be the drum of the dryer itself. If the drum of the dryer does not turn during the cycle, items inside the dryer will not dry. That is how you get a musty, slightly warm soggy pile of clothing, which arguably is almost as bad as a cold, musty pile of clothing.
To properly maintain your dryer, make sure to empty the lint trap after every load. If you are not confident in repairing or assessing the problem with your dryer, dryer repair in Coquitlam is the best option to get your clothing smelling fresh and feeling warm.
If you had to pick one appliance to live without, what would it be? According to a recent survey done by How Stuff Works, it would not be your washing machine.
For about as long as people have been around, we have had to find ways to wash our clothes. But thanks to the invention of the washing machine, that particular chore is much simpler to manage than it was a couple of hundred years ago.
However, despite the outstanding versatility of the modern washing machine and all those neat buttons and cool functions, your washer is not invulnerable. Without even thinking about it, we regularly do things to our washing machines that may end up with needing an emergency call for washer repair in Vancouver.
So, while your friendly Vancouver neighbourhood washer repair technicians are always happy to help, avoiding these five things could save you from needing an appliance repair visit.
Forgetting to Empty Your Pockets
It’s so easy, but so many of us forget to check the pockets of clothing before starting a wash cycle. And we are not only pointing fingers at the kids. Car keys, loose change, and yes, even rocks, all these items are easy to forget about. However, they could be causing significant damage to your drum, not to mention scratching up the inside of your machine.
Washing Things that Really Shouldn’t Go into a Washing Machine
Just because the label says that something is machine washable doesn’t necessarily mean that you should put it in your washing machine, unless, of course, you really enjoy washer repair calls. Things like rubber-backed mats and lingerie should really be washed by hand. The backing of rubber mats tends to break down in the wash cycle, and all those little bits can clog your filter, or worse, end up in your pump.
And while it may be tempting to toss your bras into the wash, not only is it bad for the garment, but all those hooks could wreak havoc on the inside or your machine if they happened to get caught in your cylinder. If you have to wash your lingerie in the washing machine, use the delicates cycle and a mesh bag.
Using too Mach Laundry Detergent
More is not better when it comes to the amount of laundry detergent you use. Using too much detergent results in residue build-up and an unpleasant odour coming from your machine, both of which will transfer to your laundry. If your clothes are not coming out clean, you could try running a clean, empty washer cycle and washing again using less detergent; most brands have recommended usage, but generally, you don’t want to go over 1/3 cup.
If your clothes still aren’t coming out clean, there could be other issues at hand that warrant a washer repair service appointment.
Washing Items Excessively Covered in Pet Hair
This one can be a little tricky for pet owners because, let’s be honest, pet hair gets all over everything. Jackets, sweaters, pants, and blankets, there is no escaping it. However, as much as possible, avoidtossing items that are excessively covered in pet hair into the washer. Brush them off first. Wet pet fur can clump together, sticking to the inside of your cylinder and clogging your drain pipe.
Washing Very Small Items
Have you ever wondered where all those baby socks are going? No, you’re not crazy; tiny socks and other very small items, including face cloths and underwear, can get sucked into your washing machine’s vents and hoses, which could lead to flooding. Don’t wait for a soapy disaster to strike. Instead, use a mesh laundry bag for small clothing items.
Some of the most common washer repair Vancouver calls can easily be avoided by taking a few extra minutes to empty pockets or sort items into laundry bags. Take care of your washing machine, and it will keep taking care of your laundry.
