Sometimes it is not in the budget at the moment when it is time to buy a new appliance. One option to avoid going into debt, is to buy a previously owned appliance or a scratch and dent appliance. It is possible to get a fully functioning used appliance for much less than a brand new one. There are some very important guidelines to follow to avoid buying a non-functioning used appliance.

Best way to buy a used Appliance

Buying Used Appliances from individuals

Facebook Market Place, Craig’s List, Let Go and Next-door are all great ways to find a lot of used things. Appliances being one of those things. In my experience, sites like this are the riskiest options when looking for used appliances. Most of the time you are relying on the seller to be completely honest about the functionality of the appliance they are selling.

I recently had a customer call me to look at a used dryer they bought. The felt seal had been ripped and the dryer had continued being used for quite some time. My customers complaint was a metal on metal sound when the used dryer was running. I took the dryer apart and found that the drum had rubbed on the front support for so long it thinned the metal to the point it had to be replaced. The person who sold it to them didn’t know that the cost of that repair was more than they sold the used dryer for. So my customer bought the used dryer for $200. The cost to repair was going to be $300. For $500 you can buy a new dryer. After showing them some used appliance retailer websites near by, they decided to cut their losses and buy another used dryer. This time from a used appliance retailer.

The only time I would consider buying a previously owned appliance from an individual is if the price was so low that even if it didn’t work I wasn’t out much money. $50 for a major brand used appliance is hard to pass up and won’t break the bank if it doesn’t work out.

Buying from a Used Appliance Retailer

In my experience, buying from a used appliance retailer is the best way to ensure you get a functioning used appliance. There are some stores that deal in new and previously owned appliances. There are some appliance repair companies that also sell used appliances. Most of these types of retailers will offer a short term warranty, anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. That way if something does go wrong that company will come out and either make the repair for little to no cost or swap the used appliance out with another one. Buying from a used appliance retailer limits the odds of wasting money on a used appliance that doesn’t work properly.

Some new appliance retailers sell new appliances that have some cosmetic damage for a discount. They call these scratch and dent appliances. You can find really good deals on brand new appliances at a scratch and dent appliance sale. The only problem is that the selection is not great. You may really have to search for weeks to find what you are looking for. Sometimes the stars align and you find one that suits your needs. I wish you the best of luck and hope this information was helpful.

Click HERE to find a used appliance store near you

I am asked almost every time I repair a refrigerator that has stopped cooling what is the best temperature to set the fridge and freezer. Most manufacturers have a suggested temp setting for the fridge at 37 degrees. 40 degrees is the “magic” number. Below 40 degrees bacteria is not able to grow. That is why things begin to spoil sooner when the temp in the fridge is not below 40 degrees. Freezer temp is also suggested by most manufacturers at 0 degrees.  There are a few manufactures that recommend -2 degrees. From what I have read this is for optimal ice production. Refrigerator Repair Homewood, Refrigerator Repair Vestavia, Refrigerator Repair Mountain Brook, Refrigerator Repair Hoover.

If your fridge doesn’t display the actual temperature you may want to get an inexpensive thermometer to ease your mind. If you discover the temps are warmer than the set temps, here are some things to check before having to call for service.

What to check if your fridge is warmer than the set temperature

1. Door seal/Door not closed

If the door seal is damaged or not creating a proper seal warm air is allowed in side and makes it difficult to maintain the set temperature. If the fridge door is not closed all the way the same thing can happen. I often find something inside the fridge not allowing the door to close all the way. Could be a large container that is too big for the shelf or even just something stored in the door thats too tall or hitting on a shelf when the door is trying to close. If the freezer door is not sealing or left open it will affect the fridge temp as well. When the freezer door is left open the warm air that is allowed in condensates then freezes. This often causes a snow like build-up of ice on all contents and surfaces of the freezer when left uncorrected for a significant amount of time. A simple inspection of the door seal may save you a service fee.

2. Condenser coils/condenser fan

Most refrigerators these days have a fan that draws room temperature air across the warm condenser to dissipate the heat produced during normal operation. Dust forms on the coils over time and can prevent air flow. Cleaning your condenser coils once a year will insure proper air flow. If you are able to access the compressor compartment of your fridge you can verify the condenser fan motor is running. I have found insulation from the surrounding housing come loose and stop the fan from turning. You will want to unplug the refrigerator before attempting to remove an obstruction from the fan. Refrigerator repair Homewood, Refrigerator Repair Vestavia, Refrigerator Repair Mountain Brook, Refrigerator Repair Hoover.

My favorite part of working for a company as an appliance repair technician was when a customer would request me as their technician. It always made me smile no matter what the issue was with their appliance. Some customers would even rather wait till I was available then have another tech come to their house. Last fall I went to Atlanta to help the company I worked for train some guys to run that area. While I was there for several weeks, some customers waited over a week just so they could have me as their technician. I make an effort to establish a long lasting relationship with my customers. It is something that I have found to be very valuable now that I own my own business. Even though I am the only technician with my company, I still get calls based on previous customer’s reviews. Check out some of those reviews here.  (appliance repair Homewood, appliance repair Vestavia, appliance repair Mountain Brook, appliance repair Hoover)

Seeing the Results Already

This week I had three customers from my previous company find my business online. They called my previous company first and that company’s availability was over a week out. They had no idea that the new company they were calling was owned by the technician they had grown to trust. These customers are always so happy to see me. They could, just as easily, be unhappy to see me. I strive to make a positive impression on every one of my customers. I honestly want to make a difference in their lives. An appliance repair issue can be a nightmare. I try to make it as pleasant an experience as possible. Here is some information that I have shared to help make an appliance repair decision: buying used appliances. Keeping my service area small (appliance repair Homewood, appliance repair Vestavia, appliance repair Mountain Brook, appliance repair Hoover) I am able to take care of most appliance repair calls the same day or at least the next day.

I’ll begin as I’m pulling up to the gate to enter Shoal Creek. I was working for another company at the time. At that time I didn’t get many calls in Shoal Creek but was always excited about the ones I did get. If you are not familiar, Shoal Creek is a gated Golf Course community just over Double Oak Mountain where Hugh Daniel Drive and  County Road 41 meet. Very exclusive. There is a home in Shoal Creek that cost $30,000,000 to build! Expensive homes mean expensive appliances. Expensive appliances are expensive to repair. Hence, the excitement. Appliance repair Homewood, Appliance Repair Vestavia, Appliance Repair Mountain Brook, Appliance Repair Hoover.

The main road splits left and right as soon as you enter the gate. The whole neighborhood surrounds the golf course that is pretty much centered on the property. If you turn left but should have gone right it is a long way all the way around. Just for future reference. Not that that has ever happened to me. But I digress… I made it to the house.

Customer Education

There was a note on the front porch, which was a little strange but upon inspection the front porch had just been painted. She wanted me to use the side door to announce my arrival. As I did, she greeted me at the side entrance which led into the study where the offending Scotsman Ice Machine lived. Upon inspection I came to the conclusion that the recirculation pump was not working and needed to be replaced. I explained the operation of the recirculation pump. The fact that it pumps water up through spray nozzles which creates a funnel shaped spray patten that is sprayed onto an evaporator which is shaped in the form of the ice cubes. The evaporator gets really cold which chills the water that is sprayed on it. The water eventually gets so cold it begins to freeze to the evaporator. It takes about 35-40 minutes for the ice to form into the proper sized cubes. There is a thermostat on the evaporator that reads the temperature and knows when the ice has formed properly. That thermostat initiates a timer which runs for a predetermined amount of time until it triggers a switch to turn the cooling system off and open a reversing valve. Hot refrigerant from the condenser is allowed to flow into the evaporator. It melts the cubes just enough to allow them to fall from the evaporator and into the bin. Most machines produce 8 cubes at a time. Some of the new ones produce more with each harvest.

Conclusion

She was so impressed after I explained everything she said “You should be a Professor of Appliance Repair. You really know how to explain it in a way I understand.” I had never really thought about the skill I have developed just explaining things to customers every day for the last 10 years. Now I look forward to letting my years of experience bring a little understanding to what can be an unfortunate experience. It’s never a fun phone call for anyone to make. I take great pride in maintaining a level of customer service that has been lacking in an Industry that is thriving. Let me show you how an Appliance Repair company is supposed to be run. Appliance repair Homewood, Appliance Repair Vestavia, Appliance Repair Mountain Brook, Appliance Repair Hoover.