Everyone wants to keep their home and family as safe as possible, and that starts with your electrical appliances. These are an integral part of the functioning of your home, but you can avoid electrical hazards with a few savvy moves. Here is what you need to know to keep your electrical appliance working at optimal levels with minimal risk to your home:

Minimize Extension Cords

Everyone has been there. You need to plug in an appliance, but there are no outlets nearby. It seems that extension cords are the obvious solution. However, long-term usage of extension cords can prove problematic. An extension cord used regularly for a high-watt appliance can lead to overheating and electrical fires. If you will be using your appliances regularly in this position, you should have an electrician install an outlet in the proper position.

Use GFCI Outlets

Your appliances should

Is there anything more frustrating than dealing with a broken-down appliance and not knowing if your warranty is going to cover repairs? When an appliance breaks, you should first look at your appliance warranties to see what they are likely to cover. You paid for this protection, and it only makes sense that you would rely on it when something goes amiss.  Here is what you need to know about coverage under an appliance warranty so that you can get the most out of any necessary appliance repairs: 

Understanding Your Basic Appliance Warranties

Generally speaking, most appliances come with a standard manufacturer's warranty. This tends to cover repair or replacement costs if the unit breaks down shortly after purchase. In other words, it protects you from manufacturing defects and subpar parts as long as you are subjecting it only to normal wear and tear.  Keep in

Did you know that the cleanliness of your clothes and linens relies on more than just laundry detergent and fabric softener? Your washing machines and dryers require maintenance to create fresh-smelling laundry. Whether you have a front-loading or a top-loading washing machine, you need to know how to maintain your appliances for clean laundry:

Leave the Washing Machine Door Open

Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to maintain your washing machine is to leave the lid open after a wash cycle. This allows your laundry appliances to dry thoroughly and minimizes the likelihood of mould and mildew growth on the interior. Without following this one simple step, you may unknowingly seal in moisture between washes.  Additionally, you should try to empty your washing machine as soon after the load finishes as possible. 

Regular Washing Machine Cleaning

Even though you add detergent to your clothes when you

Is one of your appliances throwing an error code, but you aren't sure exactly what it means? Appliance error codes hold the keys to making the repair or modification necessary to get the appliance working again. The problem for many homeowners is that they need to figure out where to turn to learn more about specific error codes or what a particular code means.  For more guidance on how you can interpret fault codes, keep reading:

Where Should You Look for an Appliance Error Code?

You know that your appliance isn't functioning at the moment, but you aren't sure why or where to look to get to the bottom of things. Error codes usually appear in a set place across all appliances. For example, refrigerators typically display appliance error codes on the bottom around the grate.  Here are a few other places you might want to

Many homeowners are now seeking ways to boost their energy efficiency and keep more money in their pockets at the end of the month. Not to mention, improved efficiency with your appliances can help them last longer and save energy through the use of renewable energy systems.  If you’re thinking about how you can modernize your existing appliances, here are a few upgrades you can make today: 

Upgrading Appliances to Energy-Efficient Models

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply replace your old clunkers with something new that can save you tons on energy consumption and costs. If you have the budget to upgrade even one of your existing appliances, start with the oldest one first. Newer models are bound to be more energy efficient than those that have been around for decades.  Many people don't have the budget to consider making these energy efficiency

When you purchase a new appliance, you’re often asked if you want to add an extended warranty to your new investment. Often, appliances come with a standard manufacturer's warranty, but that doesn't mean that it covers everything that could go wrong.  Your systems and appliances are protected to some extent, but what exactly does an appliance warranty cover?  Learn more about what you can expect from your home appliance warranty below: 

Home Warranty Vs. Homeowners Insurance

Before we can dive into what you can expect from an appliance warranty, it's important to understand the key differences between a home warranty and a homeowners insurance policy. Home warranty coverage often covers repair costs for an appliance that breaks and protects it from wear and tear.  On the other hand, insurance policies only kick in if there is major damage in the home, like a flood or

At Mike’s, we repair a wide variety of appliances—dryers, stoves, fridges, freezers, and more. There are times, however, when appliances are beyond repair. You can’t just throw these appliances on the curb to be trashed—you need to dispose of them properly.   In this article, we’re going to explore Manitoba’s appliance recycling program—a program that will give you a rebate if you recycle a qualifying fridge or freezer:

Recycling a Fridge or Freezer With the Manitoba Appliance Recycling Program

When you recycle an eligible full-sized fridge or freezer through the Appliance Recycling Program, you’ll receive a $30 rebate per fridge or freezer (to a maximum of three per household). The fridge or freezer must be at least 20 years old and at least 10 cubic feet.   Your old appliances will be picked-up, free of charge, by PureSphera Recovery and Recycling. When they

Investing in a set of home appliances is costly, so you want to do everything you can to keep them running for as long as possible. Routine appliance maintenance can go a long way toward protecting your investment. Of course, you will want to outsource this regular maintenance to a qualified repair shop that understands the importance of this. If you’ve been on the fence about whether appliance maintenance is a good investment, here’s what you need to know:

Less Costly Repairs

Are you tired of shelling out for costly repairs on your appliances? Many homeowners are surprised to learn just how much they could save money in the long run if they just signed up for regular appliance maintenance. You’d be able to target potential safety hazards and issues before they become serious. Often, repairs have a waterfall effect. When one thing breaks, it

  When it comes to your appliances, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You and even your children can benefit from knowing a few basic electrical safety tips to prevent major accidents and harmful injuries. Keep you and your loved ones safe by following some of these must-do tips to avoid electrical hazards in your home:

Avoid Water & Electrical Systems

It might sound like common sense, but many people still forget that you should never touch something electrical with wet hands. This often surfaces in the kitchen when you might move between appliances and the sink. If you're touching water or have water on your hands, be sure to dry it thoroughly before you touch any electrical equipment.

Replace Damaged Cords

Another tip for electrical safety is to ensure that your cords are in great shape. All of your electrical equipment should have the wires encased rather than exposed. If the extension