About Me 0106: calabasas

What's a gal to do when she moves to a new town with her 10-year old washing machine, and it conks out on her right as she starts a new job? Learning who is reliable in a new town can be a difficult chore, but here in Abilene, I found a great answer in Don's Appliance Service.

Perhaps banging around in a borrowed farm trailer for six hours on the move from Brenham to Abilene had something to do with it, or perhaps the key factor was reaching its tenth birthday, but, at any rate, my washing machine did not work recently, right after I had filled my black Kenmore Ultra Fabric Care with a load of darks and hit "No" (I have had to hit "No" after "Start" to make the built-in computer bypass the detergent dispenser ever since some type of computer glitch struck six years ago; finding that bypass spared me from having to replace the entire motherboard). The machine filled as usual, but the moment agitation began, Holy Moly! It made a hideous grinding noise, as if it were chewing on rocks. I turned it off pronto.

I decided that a repair service was in order. My husband agreed. Since the machine is a Kenmore, we started with Sears. After waiting about four minutes on hold, I took the pre-recorded voice's suggestion to check out the Sears website. To do this, I had to register with the site. Once in, I learned that there would be a minimum $65 service fee. I worried that they might get here, find the problem, and have to make a second trip with the proper parts. Further, although I could schedule the date online, I had no control over the time of day. This was a serious problem for me, since I had just started a new job and could not take time off. Disenchanted, I decided to do further research.

I first called West Texas Appliance Parts and Service. Their fee for a service call was less ($58.95), and the hourly rate was $60. The person on the phone warned me that if the repairman needed to return with parts, there would be a minimum cost of $30 in labor for the second trip. I decided to check on some others.

The next number I called was for a service no longer in business. I had an informative dialog with the former business owner, Joe, and he referred me to Don's Appliance Service. Don was on another job, but he called me back within ten minutes. His estimate was much less, and he came over immediately. He found that the problem was the drive coupling, as he had suspected from our conversation. He offered me a choice of a $12.95 part or a heavy-duty one costing about twenty-five bucks. Curious, I asked him which was more appropriate. He asked me if I had ever had trouble with the machine before. When I told him no, he explained, "Well, you see, some folks constantly overload their machines with comforters, or too many towels and jeans at once, and after they've broken the coupling several times, I offer them the heavy-duty one. Too heavy a load will still break the coupler, but it takes longer." I was impressed by his honesty with me.

The repair was done in a flash, it was successful, and my total bill for parts, labor, and tax was $78.97. (Joe had predicted $125.) Don charged me $60 for the service call, but he listened to me on the phone first, and made only one trip. I do not know what the other companies would have charged for the part, but I could have started with $90 in labor for two trips due to not having the proper part (though, to be fair, the necessary part was so common that they would most likely have had it with them). What I really liked was that Don was there on the very same day that I called, within an hour. I did not have to make any arrangements with someone else to be there, nor ask for any time off. I was very pleased to make the acquaintance of Mr. Don Warren.

A caveat, though: he doesn't work on the computer parts. Avowing that a washing machine needs no more than three buttons, he prefers old-fashioned models, not the computerized plethora of cycles and controls afforded by computerized models. So if the problem could be with the motherboard, you should call someone else. But when you know you have a purely mechanical problem or a simple electrical one (like replacing the electrical harness or a lid switch), Don's your man. As an added bonus, Don claims to be the only repairman left in Abilene who still rebuilds motors. In some cases, rebuilding a motor might cost a customer far less than buying a new one--and on an older model it might not be worth replacing the motor with a new one, anyway.

Don's Appliance Service is located at 2234 Poplar in Abilene. His number is 325-675-8421. Don also repairs dryers and and other appliances.

Appliance paint is useful in updating tired appliances without breaking a budget. I figured this out when I had a white stained refrigerator door on a rent house. The refrigerator was totally useful, and I didn't want to throw it away just because the door was stained. I also knew that no one in their right mind would rent the unit if the refrigerator looked dirty. I gave appliance paint a shot.

There are many things you should know about appliance paint before determining if appliance paint is what you need. Here's everything you need to know about appliance paint and how to use appliance paint.

Overview of Appliance Paint

When deciding if appliance paint is right for you, you should realize that regular paint is never to be used on appliances. The paint will not bond to the appliance correctly and will flake or wash off very easily. Appliance paint is useful if you have one appliance that does not match the rest of your appliances. In addition, you should take care to purchase appliance paint that is heat resistant if using appliance paint on heat sources such as a stove or oven.

Types of Appliance Paint

A homeowner who is interested in updating appliances using paint should know that there are two kinds of appliance paint to choose from: spray paint and brush-on paint. Spray-on appliance paint is recommended for situations where an entire appliance must be painted. Spray paint will create an even finish that is free from tell-tale roller and brush marks. Brush-on appliance paint is best to touch up small scrapes and dents in your appliances. If you must fill in a dent or gouge in your appliance, make sure that the filler compound will bond with appliance paint.

How to Use Appliance Paint

If you think that appliance paint is right for you, here is a step-by-step guide to applying appliance paint:

1) Move the appliance to a well ventilated area. It is important that the appliance is unplugged before you wash or paint the appliance. You don't want to electrocute yourself!

2) Remove any handles or areas on the appliance that you don't want to be painted. A prime example is the handle on a refrigerator or freezer.

3) Thoroughly clean and dry all surfaces to which the paint will be applied. Make sure that all dirt and debris is washed away. Make sure the area is moisture-free before starting to paint. Moisture can affect the bond of the appliance paint.

4) If you have any rust spots you will need to treat them before applying paint. This will keep the rust from eating through the new paint and leave rust spots less noticeable.

5) Read the instructions on the appliance paint of your choice and paint your appliance using their directions. Follow any directions, no matter how trivial they may sound. You don't want your appliance to scream "my owner painted me because they were too cheap to buy a new appliance".

6) Allow the appliance paint to dry, and add another coat if necessary. Before moving the appliance back to its position, you will need to make sure it is completely dry.

7) Enjoy your brand-spanking new looking appliance that cost under $100.

My experience with appliance paint has been decent. For a landlord or first time homeowner with not a lot of cash to spare, a great can of appliance paint may be the answer to their prayers.

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About Me 0106

Friday, July 20, 2012

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Inspiration And Advice For Your Next Home Appliance Repair Project