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Maintain Your Appliances and Save Money

by Sandi Pressley

You've seen it before. The washing machine stops washing, leaking on the floor. The stove cuts out just before a big meal. The fridge cuts out and spoils the food.

These disasters can be avoided or delayed with just a few easy DIY maintenance steps. And the best part is that you can do them yourself. Here's a few things to look for to take care of your appliances and potentially save money.

1. Check Your Oven's Door Seal

Your oven can lose more than 20% of it's heat if the door isn't sealed properly, creating a longer to cook time. Open the door and check the rubber or fiberglass gasket that goes around the edge of the door. If you feel any deformed, torn, or broken areas, or if you close the door and find any leaks, replace the seal.

2. Check Range Filters

Metal filters can be washed in a dishwasher or by hand. Replace charcoal filters (don't wash them).

3. Clean Stove top Drip Bowls

Clean the drip bowls underneath your burner elements by pre-soaking them for 5 minutes in cleaning solution. Wash by hand and place them back on the stove top. Try to clean them after spills so they don't get burned in next time the burner is used.

4. Clean Refrigerator Coils

Refrigerator coils can get clogged with dirt, dust and pet hair. This will restrict airflow and make it harder to keep it cool. Gently clean the coils once or twice a year with a vacuum. They can either be found behind the kick plate or in the rear.

5. Change Refrigerator Water Filter 

Old water filters can expose your to harmful water. Make sure you change them every 3 - 6 months, depending on how much water, and brand, you use.

6. Repair Rusty Dish Rack Tines 

Check your dishwasher racks for rusty tines. If you do find rust, it can easily be repaired with a sealant and replacement tips to cover the tines. This will keep your dishes and silverware from being ruined.

7. Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

Check your garbage disposal for any stuck items. Make sure the power is off and do not use your hands! Pour a combination of ice cubes and salt, or vinegar down the drain, then run cold water for 10 seconds and then turn on the disposal with the water still running. Never run the disposal without water. You can remove odors with citrus peels, or with odor removal packets sold in most stores.

8. Clean Dryer Exhaust

Check for lint in the dryer exhaust by loosening the clamp and pulling the exhaust hose from the back of the dryer. Pull out lint with your hands or gently with a hanger. Vacuum before you re-attach the hose.

9. Check Washing Machine Hoses

You can prevent your washing machine from flooding by checking hoses for leaks. Check for cracks, leaks, or weak spots. As a rule of thumb, replace hoses every 5 years.

10. Clean AC Filters

Cleaning your AC filter every 2 - 4 weeks will increase your AC's life, as well as maintain efficiency. Vacuum reusable filters, and replace disposable ones.

If you follow these tips, you'll hopefully be able to avoid costly appliance repairs or replacements.

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Albuquerque, NM 87120

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Learn More!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Appliance Repairs You Can Do Yourself and Those You Should Not

by Sandi Pressley

We take appliances for granted until they break. Then our entire day goes down the drain. A repair can be expensive and time-consuming. However, sometimes you can do the repair yourself. Here are 5 repairs you can do yourself, and two you shouldn't.

Replace the Thermostat in The Dryer

In most cases, the thermostat is the problem with a dryer that won't heat up. A new thermostat can be purchased at most hardware stores for under $80, a considerable savings over a dryer repair, which generally costs around $180. In your dryer manual, you'll find the location of the thermostat, and you can watch a YouTube video if you need further guidance if needed.

Clear the Drain in the Dishwasher

If your dishwasher isn't draining, it's likely that there is a clog. You can clear this up with a shop vac. You may be able to avoid costly dishwasher repairs by plugging in the vacuum hose, operating the vac for a few minutes, then testing the dishwasher again.

Replace the Fan in the Freezer

It could be a bad freezer fan that's causing your freezer not to keep things cold. This fan circulates the cold air throughout the freezer. If it's broken, cold air won't reach those areas. A new fan costs about $85 at your local hardware store. It can be replaced in a few minutes by unscrewing and connecting it, and then replacing it. You've just saved a lot of money.

Clean Coils in the Refrigerator

Dirty coils can cause your fridge to lose its cooling capacity. You can find them under or behind the unit, and they can accumulate a lot of debris, dust, and pet hair. If that happens, the coils can freeze up, rather than cool the inside. Clean coils by unplugging the fridge and sliding it out, then vacuuming, dusting, or wiping them down. Plug it back in and give it an hour to cool back down to its normal temperature.

Unclog the Burner in the Gas Stove

Gas stoves that have trouble lighting or emit a gas smell might be the result of a clogged burner. If gas and electricity are working properly, you may just have to fix the burner. Once the gas is shut off to the stove, use a small brush and cleaning solution to scrub out the burner head. Restart the gas and the burner should light right up. 

When to Call a Pro

The fixes above are easy. But here are two things that definitely need a pro.

Repairing the Icemaker Broken on the Fridge

In the event that your ice maker unexpectedly stops working when still connected to water, the compressor is most likely to blame. In some cases, icemaker repair can cost up to $300. Icemakers are among the most expensive components of a refrigerator, and often require some major work to the refrigerator itself. This will need a pro, as things can easily be made worse if the repair is done wrong. 

Repair the Microwave

It is best to contact an expert if the microwave you own is more expensive and needs to be repaired. Do not attempt to make repairs yourself. Those devices can leak microwave radiation when not properly sealed, so call a pro for help before you start fiddling around. Or just buy a new microwave if it's old enough and a replacement will cost the same as repair.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

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Beautiful 5 bedroom Stillbrooke home in highly sought after planned community! Main level features grand open floorplan w/gorgeous custom staircase; spacious great room opens onto breakfast nook & kitchen w/granite countertops, island & breakfast bar. Cathedral ceilings & Clerestory windows makes this home bright & light. Flexible floorplan could be 2 living areas: office & 5 bedroom plus loft, OR formal dining, greatroom, 5 bedrooms & loft/media area. Master suite on main level has backyard access, spa like en suite & huge walk-in closet. Also, a secondary bedroom on main level. Upstairs features a huge loft/media room, 3 more very large bedrooms, & additional full bathroom. Lovely landscaped backyard w/water feature & fully walled for privacy. New carpet 2019, & updated SS appliances.

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Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

 

Quick Albuquerque Home Maintenance Tips

by Sandi Pressley

You might feel it better to just call a contractor every time something needs to be fixed in your home rather than doing it yourself. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you need to save some money, there are ways to make your own simple repairs and maintain items in your home.

Here's a few things in your home that you can take care of yourself:

Faucets

Faucets mostly leak because of worn out washers in the handles, as they're made of rubber and wear out over time. To replace them, shut off the main water supply, unscrew the leaky handle, and replace the washer.

Toilets

If you think your toilet might be leaking, add red water to the tank. Check the bowl in an hour to see if the water in the bowl is pink. If it is, there's a leak.

This is a simple fix if there is a leak. You just need to replace the flapper. To replace the flapper, shut off the water to the toilet, usually located on the wall behind the toilet. Empty the tank by flushing it.

Remove the flush chain from the lever, and then slide the old flapper up off the overflow tube. Slide the new flapper in place over the overflow tube, reconnect the chain. Double check everything is back in place and turn the water supply back on.

Plumbing

Here are some things to watch for to keep your pipes clear:

  • Fat buildup is the main cause for clogged drains. Do not pour fats or oils down your drain. If you do accidentally spill an oil or fat down the drain, run hot water along with a good portion of dishwashing fluid. The soap will emulsify the fat or oil and move it on down the pipe, clearing any clogs.
  • Use a hair strainer in the bathtub drain. Hair is the biggest cause of clogs in the bathroom. Make sure to remove hair after each shower from the strainer.
  • Drano isn't always the answer to a clogged drain. The acids in this type of product can actually cause damage to your pipes if used too much. Instead, first try a drain snake and pull the clog to the surface. If your kitchen sink is clogged, try plunging it before trying to snake the drain. If you cannot remove the clog using a drain snake, call a professional.

Air Conditioning

Its easy to forget about the air conditioner. But they can be spendy to repair when they do break down.

Regularly inspect the condensation hose to make sure that water can flow freely from the line. If there is standing water around where your condensation line drains, create a drainage path using a small garden trowel and line the path with gravel to keep mold and algae from forming.

Also make sure the screen around your air conditioner is free of debris to keep the air moving freely. Also be sure to replace filters every few months.

 

Check back on our blog every week for more real estate advice and local articles about living in Albuquerque. And make sure to follow us on Facebook for up to date real estate news for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

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 This wonderful Green Built Silver Rated DR Horton home is located near parks, shopping & walking trails. No neighbors behind the home. Huge loft, and even a downstairs office with French doors. All appliances are included. With a HERS rating of 60, this home is extremely energy efficient! 

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

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The Sandi Pressley Team
Coldwell Banker Legacy
10400 Academy Rd. NE Suite 100
Albuquerque NM 87111
505-980-2999
505-263-2173 / 505 293-3700
Fax: 505-212-0729

Quick links to this site are also SandiSells.net or SandiSellsHomes.com