Appliance Repair

Getting Your Appliance FixedHow do you know when to call?Here's when you don't need appliance service: Your refrigerator water filter needs replacement. You should be able to do this yourself. If for some reason you can't, a handyman can do this for you. Your washing machine has an inlet hose that is leaking. Replace the leaking hose (I'd replace both hoses). No need for a service call. The dishwasher is not getting your dishes clean. There could be many reasons for this other than a malfunctioning dishwasher. Maybe the incoming water is not hot enough. Hard water can be a problem. There's not enough or too much detergent. You might need to use a rinse agent, or additive.Here's when you do need to call for service: Your refrigerator is not cooling. You've plugged and unplugged, and tested the electric outlet so that you know your fridge is getting power. Nevertheless, your food is spoiling. Call for service. Your washing machine suddenly made a loud grating sound, and ground to a halt. Now you can't get it to do anything. You need a qualified service agent. The dishwasher will start, fills with water, etc. but it just doesn't do anything. No noise, no water movement, no nothing. Your neighbor says, it's probaly the pump and/or motor.You get the idea. Some simple things like changing filters are not reasons to call for service. When appliances have critical failures, that can't be fixed by turning the power back on, etc. it's time to

Replace or Repair Your Old ApplianceFix the Old or Go to UAKC to buy a New One How bad is the old one? Is your old refrigerator making grinding noises, and keeping you up at night? Really, if you're worrying about having a refrigerator full of spoiled food, you've got a very good reason to consider a new refrigerator. You should be heading down to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center right now. How old is the old one? If your old refrigerator looks like this: ...then what are you waiting for. Seriously, these days if you get more than 15 years out of your fridge you are ahead of the game. Also, it's not unusual at all for people to hand down a 8-10 year old refrigerator when buying a new home or doing a kitchen remodel. We all have different ways of justifying a new purchase in our mind, and it's certainly reasonable to consider the age and likely failure of an old appliance to justify a replacement. How much is it going to cost to repair the old refrigerator? Well, just the trip charge is likely to cost you in the $50 range, and then there's finding the problem, getting the part which often needs to be ordered, and you know the rest. So, how much are you willing to spend to get your old fridge back in working order? My top price for repairing a refrigerator that is 8 to 10 years old is $250. If it's

Getting your appliance repairedWhen NOT to call for repairLast week my wife informed me that our dishwasher was broken. When I asked her what the problem was she said it just didn't work. It wouldn't even start. I asked her if she'd been under the sink that day. "Sure" she replied, "but what does that have to do with the dishwasher being broke." "It's simple. It is unplugged." I said, pointing to the dislodged dishwasher cord on the back wall underneath the sink. This would NOT have been a time to call for a repairman.Before calling for appliance repair be sure that cords, hoses, etc. are all connected. Also, open the breaker box and make sure that no circuit breakers have been tripped. Review your operating instructions. There may be a "before you call for service" section in the back of the manual. This is all designed to avoid the embarrassment and cost of paying for a service call when the only thing the repairman does is flip a switch.When TO call for appliance repairBeyond the obvious disconnections or blown fuses, call for service. The last time I needed service was just a few years ago, when the bottom of the freezer section in my refrigerator became covered with ice. I knew exactly what the problem was. There was a defrost drain tube in the back of the freezer section that was clogged and wouldn't drain, causing water to drain on to the freezer floor and freeze into a large

When should I replace a major appliance? Seems like an easy question to answer doesn't it? There is a chart below that shows the average life of appliances, but there really is much more that you should know, to decide if it is time for you to replace an appliance. The chart below shows the average life of appliances by category. So, if a refrigerator has an average life span of 13 years that means that some refrigerators last 20 years or more and others don't last past 5 years. There are many reasons for this. Some users maintain their appliances better than others. When was the last time you brushed the dust off your refrigerator condenser coils? Some owners simply use their appliances more often than others. Some dishwashers get used nearly every day, and others only once a week. Some brands and appliance models are built to last longer. Research your purchase to get the most durable appliance you can. There is a law of averages at work here. There is no way you can tell for sure whether any individual appliance will break down before or after its average life expectancy date. Of course, sometimes perfectly good refrigerators get "retired" because homeowners want to replace them with the latest and greatest models. Maybe they can justify a new purchase by moving the old unit up to their cabin, or give it to a son or daughter who is just starting

Remember the burger joint with the theme "Have it your way"? Why is it that it's so difficult these days to buy appliances your way? Some appliance retailers places have no way to get any information off the phone, others have only internet sales, and no convenient SouCal location. Still others farm out their delivery and service capabilities. And even others seem to not keep any appliances in stock. Worse yet, some of these mass merchants don't even have any employees that know anything about appliances. It seems they'd rather sell you a cell phone or gardening tools, than a new range or dishwasher.Let's make it easy for you to get what you want, when you want it, at a price you're willing to pay. And let's give you the selection you want, and the advice you need to make a good choice. Let's start thinking about the customer for a change. Here's what you get when you do business with Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center: A business that has been around for decades, specializing in major appliances and kitchen and bath fixtures. It's not just the business, but it's also the fact that Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) has veteran sales associates. Ask for Maida, Long, Ken, Joe, or Edward. Along with the rest of the pro's at UAKC, these folks know the business and can take care of your needs efficiently and professionally.A selection that is second to none. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center handles nearly all

Since 1991 Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has been servicing appliances throughout the greater LA area. Factory trained and authorized for most major brands, UAKC provides prompt, courteous appliance service. UAKC carries a large parts inventory to enable them to complete repairs on the initial visit. For professional, courteous service on your major appliances call Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center today to schedule your service call PH 800 387-2011 or schedule your appointment online. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center 12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105 Studio City, CA 91604 Service PH 800 387-2011 Sales PH 877 696-2987

So the dishwasher is making grinding noises and the dishes aren't getting clean. How much are you willing to spend before you call it quits and go shopping for a new dishwasher? There are some folks that say if the cost of repair is more than half the cost of a new one, then you should replace, but I'm not so sure that is a good rule of thumb. You might consider the age of the dishwasher first. Dishwashers last on average 10-12 years. If your dishwasher is approaching the end of its life cycle, then you should think twice about footing a big repair bill. Another factor would be costs of operation. New energy saving dishwashers often use only 4-5 gallons of water per cycle - some even less. The 10 year old guzzler uses many times that. Finally, you should know that investments in the kitchen have among the biggest paybacks of any home improvement you could make in terms of resale value of your house. If you elect to repair be sure to call Universal Kitchen and Appliance Center for prompt, reliable service. PH # 800 387-2011 If, on the other hand you're considering replacing visit the team at Universal Kitchen and Appliance Center, 12050 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, Ca. 91604 PH # 877 696-2982