Archive for January, 2012

Kind acts of service help build relationships within the community

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of San Antonio is passionate about helping families of the community who are in need. Their organization is committed to changing lives. They believe change starts with the members of the community.

When Mr. Appliance® of San Antonio heard that they could help RMHC by fixing a broken refrigerator they decided to step in and help. Thanks to Mr. Appliance of San Antonio, the staff and volunteers at RMHC of San Antonio can spend less time worrying about their appliances and more quality time supporting the families at the Ronald McDonald House®.

Mr. Appliance of San Antonio Supports RMHC

Paul Berry, director of operations at Mr. Appliance of San Antonio, makes it his goal to build relationships not only with his customers, but also with the community. Berry says that its opportunities like these where relationships are formed and lives are touched.

Berry believes that Mr. Appliance of San Antonio commitment to RMHC comes from Mr. Appliance’s code of values, where respect, integrity and customer satisfaction are the priorities.

“The first code of value is to treat others as we would like to be treated, and that value is the foundation of our Mr. Appliance partnership with RMHC,” said Berry. “Mr. Appliance of San Antonio considers it a privilege to partner with an organization like RMHC that gives so much to families in need.”

Mr. Appliance of San Antonio hopes to encourage other companies and organizations to join in warming the hearts of those in need. Any act of service can make a difference. Whether it’s fixing a refrigerator, replacing a sink or providing a meal, hearts will be touched.

“The Ronald McDonald House® program provides a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost to families,” said Jennifer Smith, senior director, RMHC. “Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child- not where they can afford to stay or where they will get their next meal.”

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New Year, New Home

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Kitchen Safety

By Lillyan Baker

New year, new opportunities indicates weekly trips to the gym, carrots instead of candy and an opportunity to break bad habits. How about a resolution that goes beyond 2012 and keeps your children and home safe for years to come? This year, make it a priority to childproof your kitchen and clean beyond the countertops to keep your family happy and healthy all year long.

“Your kitchen never gets a day off,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp. “Between hot appliances and sharp cooking utensils, kids can often be in danger of hurting themselves. Fortunately, homeowners can prevent most accidents by making a few simple adjustments and educating their children about kitchen safety.”

Follow these resolution tips from Mr. Appliance to keep your kitchen clean and your kids safe:

Refrigerator

  • Keep items not safe for kids on higher shelves. Place juice boxes, apple slices and cheese sticks on the lower shelves for a healthy snack within your child’s reach.
  • Soak refrigerator removable parts in the sink with warm, soapy water to remove stains from food spills to keep new produce as fresh as possible.
  • Position refrigerator shelves to make it difficult for children to climb inside and close the door leaving your kitchen with a dangerous hide-and-seek spot.

Stove and Oven

  • Turn pot and pan handles in and away from the edge of the stove so curious hands can’t pull them down.
  • Remove oven racks and wash them by hand with warm water and soap to remove caked on food that can burn in your oven.
  • Establish a “safety zone” marked by a small rug or area of the kitchen to keep kids several feet away from the oven while it’s hot.

Microwave Oven

  • Wipe interior microwave surfaces with a mixture of two tablespoons baking soda and one quart water to remove food stains and keep your microwave clean for future use.
  • Encourage children to use an oven mitt when removing a hot plate or bowl.
  • Heat a microwave-safe bowl of vanilla extract for three minutes to give your kitchen a fresh scent.

Dishwasher

  • Keep the dishwasher closed when you’re not loading or unloading. Sharp utensils inside can be dangerous to children.
  • Create a “safety zone” when opening the door to a steam-heavy dishwasher to avoid burns from the hot steam. Teach children to wait for dishes to cool down before unloading.
  • Give your dishwasher a fresh start to thoroughly clean your dishes. Remove food residue by running an empty dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar.

Most of these resolution tips can be accomplished in a matter of minutes and keep your home safe and energy efficient, too!  If you find a problem that you can’t handle, contact an appliance repair professional to help.

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How Long Will It Last?

Monday, January 9th, 2012

By Lillyan Baker

Pg. 50-51

From your microwave to your dryer, you never know how long they are going to last. That’s why we helped The Nest Magazine put together appliance tips for every appliance homeowner to know when it’s time to start Saturday appliance shopping.

Here is a sneak peak on a helpful tip for your microwave:

Try the Dollar Bill Test

Open your microwave door, place a dollar bill over the edge and close. If you can pull the dollar out, you need a new appliance.

Want more tips? Then check out The Nest Magazine’s Winter 2011 issue pg. 50-53 for information on when to replace, what to look for and how to make it last.

Always happy to give expert appliance advice to new nesters, empty nesters and everyone in between!

Pg. 52-53

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Appliance Technician Saves Home & the Day

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Charlie Goff, Owner of Mr. Appliance of Central Texas

By Ilianna Garcia, Mr. Appliance Corp. Intern

Local Hewitt, Texas resident escaped from her home unharmed when her dryer caught fire unexpectedly. Praise and recognition goes to Joe Dickson, a service professional of Mr. Appliance® of Central Texas. Thanks to him no one was hurt, and the home was miraculously not damaged.

Linda Gonzalez, the lucky-lady who escaped injury-free was cleaning her running dryer when it began to spark and create smoke. Within seconds the bottom of the dryer engulfed in flames, and Linda went running for the door. Coincidently a Mr. Appliance of Central Texas truck was across the street. Dickson ran into the home and threw the flaming dryer outside with his bare hands.

“He was so courteous,” said Linda Gonzalez. “I was so scared.”

Mr. Appliance of Central Texas urges homeowners to pay attention to their appliances, in particular to their dryers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission along with the United States Fire Administration (USFA) estimates that more than 15,000 fires break out each year because of lint buildup in dryers and dryer duct systems, taking the lives of almost two dozen people along with millions of dollars in property damage.

“I’m a service professional. Repairing appliances is what I do,” said Joe Dickson, service technician of Mr. Appliance of Central Texas. “Next time, call Mr. Appliance of Central Texas, to prevent a dryer fire.”

“Dryer fires are preventable with periodic maintenance to remove lint buildup inside the unit and the venting hose.,” said Charlie Goff, Owner of Mr. Appliance of Central Texas. “Following these tips and staying proactive will help prevent fires and potentially protect homes and save lives.”

Gonzalez, who has been living without a dryer for months, now was pleased to learn that Charlie Goff is donating a dryer on behalf of Mr. Appliance of Central Texas.

“I can’t thank Mr. Dickson and Mr. Goff enough.” said Linda Gonzalez.” It is because of them that I still have my home and my life.”

Follow these easy tips from Mr. Appliance to keep your dryer working properly:

  • Keep the dryer lint-free by cleaning the lint screen or filter before or after each load of clothes.
  • Hire a licensed appliance professional to clean the interior of the dryer chassis and inspect the rollers, belt, motor and heating system every year.
  • Keep the exhaust duct in good condition by disconnecting, cleaning and inspecting the duct on a regular basis.
  • Use semi-rigid or flexible aluminum ducting behind the dryer and smooth rigid metallic ducting through the wall to the outside vent.
  • Ensure that the exhaust only vent to the outside of the house and never to the attic or crawlspace.
  • The vents should be straight, with all excess venting trimmed off. Twisting or crushing exhaust piping restricts the airflow.
  • Try not to use screws to put your vent pipe together, because the screw shafts inside the piping collect lint and cause additional friction.

Make these tips part of your cleaning routine to prevent a dryer fire in your home. Gonzalez said, “I would tell everyone to call a professional to clean their dryer vent.”
For recipes, appliance and energy tips, follow us on Twitter @MRACentralTexasand @MrApplianceCorp and like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MrApplianceCentralTexas.

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