It’s the Rodney Dangerfield of kitchen appliances. Your dishwasher “gets no respect” with multiple washes a day, overloading, and food left all over its inhabitants, it is easily your hardest working kitchen helper. If yours is like mine, with each passing year of use, you begin to say a little prayer each time you close that door, hoping it won’t fail you.
The sad news is that most people do nothing to prolong the life of their dishwasher. They use and abuse it and when it quits, they have a bad day and go to the big box store to get sticker shock. It doesn’t have to be that way. With a few simple maintenance steps, done every 6-12 months, you will extend the life and productivity of your dishwasher. Plus you’ll be thinking green, instead of spending it.
Here are a few easy things to check:
- Make sure that your unit is level – An easy way to know that it’s not, is if your machine growls at you making noises or loud vibrations during operation. The long-term result of this is potential water leaks and early unit failure. You can quiet your dishwasher by unscrewing the base plate along the bottom-front. Remove it and you’ll probably see a time capsule of family life over the years. Take a picture of it for the family album, then move on to balancing the washer by using a wrench to raise and lower one or both front feet. Turn the unit on but leave the door slightly open. With each adjustment close the door to see if it is becoming less noisy. Also check the unit’s mounting screws by opening the door and looking around the opening for them. They are usually along the top. Tighten or replace as needed.
- Check the rubber or plastic gasket – It lines the inside of the door for a tight seal. Locate the end of it an carefully pry it out of the groove that it sits in. Clean it throughly and make sure that the groove is free of debris. Dry the gasket and carefully put it back in place. This item is easily replaceable with brand and model number.
- Clean the filter screen – This is located in the bottom-interior of your dishwasher. It’s designed to catch large food particles or other debris. This needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent blockage. As the filter ages, it may begin to get small holes and should be replaced to prevent harm to other parts of the dishwasher. This item is easily replaceable with brand and model number.
- Clean the sprayer arm(s) – The small holes in this part can get clogged with minerals from the water or from food particles. Remove the arm(s) and clean the holes from time to time to ensure they stay in proper working order. You can clean them by removing the arm and soaking in vinegar or clean with a pipe cleaner or tiny brush.
- Dishwasher odors – If you begin detecting an odor from your dishwasher, it’s the first sign of a clog somewhere in your kitchen drain. If you’ve cleaned the filter and the smell persists, it’s time to move on to your plumbing. Check your backflow. This is located under the sink, where the dishwasher and garbage disposal drain. Usually there is a small band clamp holding the hose in place. Put a bucket under the hose and loosen the clamp. Remove the hose and clean out any clogged matter. Do this every 6-12 months.
If all else fails call Allied
– We’ll do our best to make your dishwasher the lean, mean cleaning machine that is once was. Come to think of it, we can assist with plumbing issues on any appliance that you have. Call anytime for an immediate phone quote and fast, knowledgeable service.
Allied Reddi-Rooter – Water you waiting for? Call or contact Ray today for a free estimate. 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.
When it comes to home improvements, bathrooms are among America’s favorite focal point. Below are a few thoughts on popular improvements, in order of affordability and ease-of-installation.
Kwik-Sip In-faucet Drinking Fountain
Kids love, LOVE this! At the push of a button, your bathroom faucet magically transforms into a drinking fountain. No more squeezing your head between the lavatory and the faucet, drinking from one’s hands, or keeping cups on the side of the sink. Perfect for brushing teeth or filling the steam iron, this inexpensive attachment makes your bathroom hydration experience one of pure joy. Fits all standard faucets and features an adjustable height and spray pattern. Tip: A similar gadget is available for the outdoor use (instead of drinking from the garden hose): the EZ Flow Drinking Fountain Faucet is a self-closing bubbler that attaches to your exterior faucet.
Power Shower Heads
Ever since the introduction of lo-flo technology, taking a sublimely soothing shower can be a challenge. At Allied, we’re big fans of strong flows and variable settings. Add in a handheld feature, and our joy is unbounded (especially when we are washing the dog). Below are three top choices for good, strong shower heads:
Speakman Anystream – With 3 settings (tingling spray, dense stream, and gentle rinse), “powerful and invigorating” is an apt description of this head. Speakman is a company with a good reputation for quality and is commonly found in both homes and institutions across the country. Solid brass construction, attractive, and available in 5 classic finishes.
Delta 7-Setting Hand Shower – The clear winner in the category of “Best Handhelds”. Seven spray settings, a lengthy hose, and an easy-to-use control dial. Highly rated for ease-of-installation and long stream, this is idea for homes where mobility may be an issue. Limited lifetime warranty and 3 finishes.
Moen Velocity – Looking for a rain shower experience? The Moen Velocity scores high numbers for temperature control, water feel, and overall usability. The 8″ head has two settings: higher-pressure spray and a gentle setting. Truly luxurious, it’s available in 4 finishes and inclus a limited lifetime warranty.
Urinals
Yep, its true – urinal installation in home bathrooms (granted, its usually in man-cave) is increasingly popular. Modern designs and materials bring long-deserved elegance, beauty, and fun one of the hardest-working devices in the business. Thanks to advances in flush-less technology, LED lighting, and design approaches that are the envy of MOMA, today’s urinals (a.k.a., “the ultimate toilet”) are truly an enhancement to one’s home.
Water you waiting for? The professional plumbers at Allied Reddi-Rooter are on-hand 24×7 to help improve your bathroom experience. Call or contact Ray today for a free estimate. 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.
1. Instant Hot Water Dispenser
– This one device will change your entire kitchen routine for the better, instantly. At the touch of a button, enjoy scalding 200-degree water without waiting for the kettle to boil. This inexpensive time-saver serves up coffee, tea, hot cider or any hot drink – instantly. Forget the microwave…an instant hot water dispenser cooks hot cereals/baby food, blanches vegetables, thaws frozen foods in seconds without any spillover to clean up later. With instant hot water, clean-up is a snap: remove labels, candle wax residue, crusty leftover dishes. we bet that the more you use one, the more uses you’ll find.
2. Pot Filler Faucet
– Today’s kitchens can easily and affordably resemble those of the finest professional chef. One key “must-have” feature: a pot-filler faucet. Both practical and attractive, pot-fillers can be “deck-mounted” like a standard faucet or wall-mounted. Both styles have articulated arms that fold out when you need to fill a pot, then fold flat to stow neatly out of the way.
Unlike traditional kitchen faucets, however, pot-fillers are installed near your stove, giving you three big advantages:
• No more carrying heavy pots of water from the sink to the stove (goodbye wrist strain).
• Filling pots at the stove frees up your sink for food preparation.
• Identifies you as a serious cook (and makes you the envy of your friends).
3. Sink Sprayer
– The least appreciated of kitchen gadgets, the sink sprayer is arguably the most useful kitchen tool since the invention of the faucet (have you seen the brush attachment?!) Whether you are rinsing the sink after doing the dishes, creating bubbles in a car-wash bucket of suds, or giving the baby a bath in the sink, the sink sprayer is the go-tool tool of choice.
Water you waiting for? The professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter are on hand to help with your kitchen plumbing upgrades. Call or contact Ray today for a free estimate. 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.
Free-flowing and well-maintained sewer are one of the wonders of modern plumbing. But when a line is in trouble….well, it stinks.
As full service plumber (commercial and residential), Allied Reddi-Rooter’s skilled technicians can repair or replace damaged sewer lines that run between your home and the street.
Line Maintenance – Who’s Responsible?
In almost all instances, the property owner Is responsible for maintaining the sewer lines connecting the “premises” to the sewer “main,” which is at the point where the street meets the sidewalk or curb.
What Happens if I Don’t Make the Repair?
Flooding (think about what’s in THAT wet spot on the ground, eeewww), basement backups, and groundwater contamination, to name a few things. Additionally, you may be found to be in violation of local and state health codes.
Repair: Well Worth the Cost
Whether it’s your home, your apartment building, or your business, a fully functioning sanitation system provides good health to everyone involved.
Allied Reddi-Rooter offers sewer line installation, repair and replacement to resolve many sewage/drainage issues including:
• Blocked pipes (“if you didn’t eat it, don’t flush it”)
• Cracked, broken or pipes that have shifted over time due to the affect of weather conditions on the soil
• Rusted or corroded pipes that are restricting the sewer flow
• Tree roots (a common problem in our area, especially if there are weeping willows in your neighborhood)
Water You Waiting For?
Allied offers traditional and state-of-the-art approaches to sewer line analysis and repair. From sewer cameras to high- pressure water jetting (or calling in a backhoe operator if it’s really severe), our trained professional plumbers are skilled in the following areas:
• Water main trouble
• Lines in basements or under slabs/ driveways/lawns/streets
• Crawl spaces
• Historically sensitive homes/ buildings
Call or contact Ray today for a free estimate. 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.