Holiday oven advice:
Use the self-cleaning mode more than once a year (otherwise, you will have a smoky mess).
BUT don’t clean your oven right before cooking a big holiday meal, because the oven heats SO high during cleaning that any already weak part will give out. If it’s ever going to fail, THAT’S when it will happen… Every holiday, appliance repair companies are swamped with calls for this reason.
So clean your oven well in advance of Thanksgiving or Christmas cooking.

But if your DO need oven repair, call Maslyn & Sons Appliance.

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Did you know that microwaving your damp sponge for 45-60 seconds can kill all that nasty sponge odor? Give it a try!

If any of your kitchen appliances need repair, give us a call… we work on most makes and models.

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Refrigerator & Freezer
If you’re like most people, chances are your refrigerator/freezer is one of the largest energy users in your home, gobbling up about 20% of your household’s annual energy costs. Why? Because it requires electricity to operate, and it’s on 24 hours a day (costing from $7.55 to $24.00 per month).

Keep It In Good Shape
A refrigerator works best when it’s kept in good condition. So check the door seals. If a seal is cracked, or you feel cold air leaking out, the seal should be replaced.
A 19-year old, 22-cubic-foot side-by-side refrigerator/freezer costs about $283 per year to operate. But a brand new high-efficiency refrigerator costs only $178 per year to operate — a savings of $105 each year on your energy bill.
Unplug It
If you have an extra refrigerator or freezer and don’t keep it full, you could save $283 a year simply by unplugging it.
Use The Right Settings
Check your thermostat controls. To work most efficiently, your refrigerator should be set between 38°F and 40°F. The freezer temperature should be set at 0°F.
Go For High Efficiency
Newer refrigerators use half as much energy as older models of the same size, so they cost half as much to run. Be sure to compare cubic footage and purchase price, as well as estimated operating costs. The yellow EnergyGuide label can help you in your decision-making process.
The yellow EnergyGuide label on new appliances can be a valuable resource in helping you select a new appliance. It will show you the estimated annual operating cost, which can help you make the decision that’s right for you.
Defrost It Regularly
If you have a manual defrost freezer, don’t forget to defrost regularly. More than 1/4 inch of frost makes your freezer work harder to keep your food (and the frost) frozen.
Keep It Clean
Dirty condenser coils could lead to higher operating costs. Coils, found on the back or bottom front of your refrigerator, should be checked and cleaned at least twice a year.
Keep It Level
A refrigerator that’s not level may cause the door gasket to seal improperly, letting cold air leak out. Set a glass of water on top to check. Adjust the legs until the water looks level.
Keep It Cool
Keep it in a well ventilated, dry and cool space. Refrigerators and freezers near ovens, stoves, water heaters, clothes dryers or other crowded or warm places have to work harder.
Keep It Closed
A refrigerator works more efficiently when you open its door as little as possible. So make your decisions before opening the door and get everything you need quickly and at one time.
To check door seals on your refrigerator and freezer, place a flashlight inside and close the door. If you can see light with the door closed, it’s time to replace the seal.
Keep Foods Covered
Covering foods will reduce moisture buildup on the inside of the refrigerator. Also, wipe moisture from bottles and other containers before placing them back in the refrigerator.
Keep The Heat Out Of Your Refrigerator
Before you store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer, allow them to cool slightly. That way, your refrigerator or freezer won’t have to work to cool them off.
Flip That Switch
You can save energy by keeping the Energy-Saver Switch turned on (which actually turns the anti-sweat heater off). Anti-sweat heaters prevent moisture build-up on the outside of a refrigerator, which is generally not needed in areas of low humidity like Southern California. Check your owner’s manual for directions on your model’s switch.
Keep It Full
Refrigerators operate most efficiently when they are full, but not overloaded. While it’s true that frozen foods help to keep the air cool, over-packing food in either compartment can prevent cold air from circulating properly. Refer to your owner’s manual for the correct capacity.
Don’t Cool It If You’re Going To Throw It Away Anyway
Why cool something you’ll probably throw out anyway? If you’re going away for a few days, get rid of foods that are likely to spoil. If you’ll be gone for more than a month, consider cleaning out your refrigerator, unplugging it and leaving the doors open.*
* Caution: Some older models are impossible to open from the inside, a hazard for children and pets. Also, older models may have difficulty restarting.

From http://www.sdge.com/residential/resEERefrigerator.shtml

If your fridge or freezer is giving you troubles, call Maslyn & Sons Appliance repair for Freezer Repair or Refrigerator Repair in Orange County.

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When Maslyn & Sons Appliance comes out to our customers’ homes in the fall, many of you are baking and cooking and whipping up delectable treats. Here is one easy, no-bake fall treat that is sure to delight everyone and is a favorite at parties and potlucks!~

Apple Dip

Ingredients
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

OPTIONAL:
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
or
1 (8-oz.) package toffee bits
or
1 c peanut butter + 1/4 c milk
or
16 caramels unwrapped and melted with 1/4 c water

Preparation & Serving
1. Stir together all ingredients until well blended with no lumps
2. Add your optional add-ins.
3. Serve immediately with fresh apple slices. Or it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

**We miss seeing you, but we don’t want your appliances to go out. We know a way to solve that quandary! Have Maslyn & Sons out to do appliance maintenance (we are more than just appliance repair!). Look for upcoming tips on appliance maintenance.

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When moving your refrigerator, never lay it down. Always transport refrigerators upright. When you lay a fridge down, the compressor oil runs out of the compressor and into the lines. It needs time to run back down into the crankcase or you’ll fry your brand new compressor. Make sure if it HAS been laid down you give it ample time before pluggin it in – sometimes even 3-4 days.

If you have laid it down and plugged it in and you think your compressor may have seized, you can call Maslyn and Sons Appliance repair for your refrigerator repair, but if it is really dead, even WE may not be able to help it then, so try to never lay your fridge down.

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Did you know that Dacor appliances are American-made and family-owned and based right here in Costa Mesa, CA?

Check out this link… if it has trouble, you can copy & paste into your browser.

http://goo.gl/PFCD6

**Maslyn & Sons Appliance Repair repairs Dacor and most other brands of appliances.

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Maslyn & Sons Appliance recommends you clean the lint filter every load.

Even if you do that, you will likely find that dryer sheets leave a film on the lint screen. This can lead to problems with your dryer because this film blocks the air flow, which means your dryer has to use more energy and the heating unit is more likely to burn out sooner. Keeping the dryer lint screen clean will keep it working well and can nearly double the life of your dryer.

If you’ve tried cleaning with no success, you may just need to change your approach and actually WASH it every now & again.

Try this proven method (because not all of them work well) to keep your dryer working at top performance level.

You Will Need:
Dish soap
Old toothbrush or nylon scrubbing brush
Hot water
Sink, tub or bucket
Soft towel

Steps to Clean the Lint Trap:
Begin by filling a sink, tub or bucket – should be large enough to allow the trap to soak – with hot water.
Add a good amount of soap and agitate the water to mix.
Remove any loose lint from the lint trap. Wipe it with your hand or use a vacuum with attachments to remove it.
Place the lint trap into the hot water and allow it to soak.
Use the scrubbing brush to remove the loosened residue.
Rinse frequently to evaluate how much of the residue remains.
Continue soaking and scrubbing until the film is removed.
Rinse completely with clean water.
Dry the screen carefully with a soft towel.
Allow it to air dry completely before placing it back into the dryer.

Finally, you may periodically want to make sure your vent line has no kinks and is not clogged or blocked (or too long). (Consider having it cleaned out once a year or so.) The faster the dyer’s hot air leaves your house, the faster the clothes will dry.

If our tips are not enough to keep your dryer in tip-top working order, call Maslyn and Sons Appliance for dryer repair service.

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Its been HOT this summer. Although most of us try to avoid even USING our oven in the summer, sometimes we can’t avoid it (try telling that to the Maslyn Mrs. – she says she thinks ovens are ‘out of order’ from July to October )
But if you have to use your oven, here are some tips to keep use to a minimum and make sure heat doesn’t escape.

Multi-task. Plan meals around mains, sides and desserts that can be cooked at the same time (at around the same temperature) on different oven racks.

If you use more than one pan in the oven at a time, make sure to stagger them around the racks to maximize airflow inside the oven.

Don’t open the oven door to see if your cupcakes are done. You’ll lose about 20 degrees doing that (and release that heat into your home). Instead, rely on your eyes, nose, and a good oven light.

Keep the door-seal clean and check often to make sure it’s doing it’s job. A leaky seal is a sure way to waste energy and leave your kitchen (and house!) sweltering.

Clean the inside regularly, too. If the inside of your oven is squeaky clean, you can be sure the heat and energy is going into cooking your food and not the leftover pizza stuck to the bottom. (Just don’t clean the day before a big, special meal… this is the #1 thing that causes an oven to go out!)

If you can, close off the kitchen when you’re cooking. It will keep the heat in one room and cut on cooling costs for the whole house.

Glass and ceramic baking dishes cook food much more efficiently than metal pans. You can cook food just as quickly at a temperature 25 degrees cooler in a glass pan.

If you have a self-cleaning oven, set it to clean right after you’re done using it. It will use the residual heat to get started.

Turn it off. Rather than waiting for the buzzer or beep, jump the gun and turn your oven off before your food is done cooking (Make sure whatever you’re making can handle it — if you’re doing any baking, we’d skip this tip). Leave the door closed and let the heat inside finish the work.

Calibrate your oven by using a cheap thermometer to test the temperature. If your oven’s temperature gauge is even a little off, you could be wasting power and money and you might need to call Maslyn & Sons Appliance for an oven repair.

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We used to think an oil stain meant throwing away a favorite clothing item, but this little trick has saved many pieces now.
Did you know that you can remove oil stains on your clothing with chalk? First, rub regular white chalk on any oil stain you might have on your shirts or pants, then wash in the washing machine as normal. If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again.

However, if your problem is not mere oil stains but a broken washer and you need a washing machine repair, call Maslyn & Sons Appliance.

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If you don’t want your front-loading washing machine to start smelling musty, follow these two easy tips:

• Use only an HE (high efficiency) detergent which creates less sudsing and is designed for the modern front loader.
• Leave the door open between wash loads. This will decrease the mold build-up as it allows the tub to dry completely.

If you are already experience a musty odor from your washing machine, call us now at (949) 322-0106 to schedule a clean-up, and then practice these tips in the future to ensure the freshest smelling laundry!

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