"It seems to take care of itself."  "If it breaks down I'll call someone to fix it."  "If the repair is expensive, I'll skip the repair and buy a new one."  Our household appliances get used everyday but most people don't give them a second thought when it comes to repair and especially when it comes to regular upkeep.

Just Take a Quick Peek...

If you have 20 minutes to spare, you may want to check on a few simple things:

• The coils on the back of your refrigerator probably need cleaning.  If you haven't been cleaning them on a regular basis, your refrigerator's efficiency could be paying the price.
• While you've got the refrigerator pulled out, check the water line to the ice maker.  If it's plastic, look at it closely.  Older plastic tends to become brittle and crack which can cause water damage to your floor, walls and the ceiling below.
• Washing machine hoses can fray and become weak over time.  If they burst, you'll have a lot of water to clean up.  If your hoses are looking worn, you may want to consider upgrading them to stainless steel hoses.
• While you're peeking behind your washing machine, take a quick look at your dryer vent.  Is it connected properly?  If not, it might be sending dust and debris into the air. 
• Have you had the dryer vent cleaned?  If not, your dryer is working harder than it has to and may be taking longer to dry a load of clothes - costing you more money on your utility bills.  A clogged vent can also be a fire hazard if the debris build up is bad enough.  At the very least, check the vent termination outside to make sure it is clear of debris.

If you have any questions or concerns about your appliances, their safety or efficiency, our Bonfe Appliance Pros can lend a hand.

Make The Right Choice This Valentine's Day

 

My wife's birthday is on February 1^st, Valentine's Day is February 14^th AND she still celebrates the anniversary of our first date which is February 18^th.  Three gifts in a three week time period is always an insurmountable task for me.  I start to hint at the fact that I have no idea what to buy....."I have everything I need."  "I don't want anything."  No hints.  No ideas.  Just a virtual gift giving black hole that can only lead to failure on my part. 

If I do what she says and don't get her anything, I lose.  If I shop and find the "perfect" gift, she'll probably return it.  I lose.  If I just come out and ASK her for ideas, it means I don't know her well enough to think of something on my own.  I lose.

What to do?  Well, we all have to do SOMETHING before the 14^th, but what?  A few don'ts:

• Appliances are a bad idea.  I got her a vacuum once and the silent treatment I got in return lasted almost longer than the vacuum did. 
• Candy or flowers.  These ideas scream "I thought about this idea for 10 seconds, went online, entered my credit card number and voila - another successful Valentine's Day."  Unless you throw some originally into these gifts they probably won't be a big hit.
• Anything that even HINTS at self improvement - if you get her a gym membership, an elliptical machine for your home or a cookbook you might as well be signing your own death warrant.
• Gift cards are also a great way to show her that you remembered at the last minute and found yourself shopping at the gift card rack at your local Holiday or Super America.

You were probably hoping to get some GOOD ideas out of this article.  Sorry, but I'm out.  If you have any ideas that have worked for you in the past, make a comment on our Blog.  If you're one of the many readers out there who needs some help this year, I suggest checking into the Blog regularly before the 14^th!

Appliance safety and efficiency inspection for your refrigerator, stove top/oven, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer.

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