This year, you got paid for tossing out the clunker car. Next year, you'll be rewarded for getting rid of the energy-inefficient appliance. Many states will be sponsoring a "Cash for Appliances" program, similar to "Cash for Clunkers" in that you'll be paid for doing a big dump (or recycle) of your old appliances and buying those labeled with the Energy Star seal.

This is part of the federal government's economic stimulus plan -- it set aside $300 million in rebates for buying energy-efficient products, and state governments had to send detailed plans to Washington by to explain how they would give that money away.

So unlike Cash for Clunkers, each state is in charge of its own Cash for Appliances program.

All appliances that qualify for the cash for appliances program must feature the energy star label. Without this label, they can’t qualify for any rebate funded by the government. This certification indicates the appliance will help the owner conserve energy every month and therefore save money on their utilities.

One downside: Unlike cars, there's no lot you can wheel your clunker appliance to. New York is one state that's giving an incentive for recycling appliances by adding extra to your rebate amount if you show proof you recycled the freezer of fridge. But residents have the extra burden of finding out what they need to do with their old appliance before they can cash in on the new one.

To get the date and details of your state's own program, contact your state's energy department.

Act fast, when it starts in your state! That $300 million the Federal Government set aside goes fast when divided among all states and territories. California only gets $35.2 million for its massive population, so it definitely pays to be first in line at the appliance store.

Labels: Appliance News, Cash for Appliances

Maintaining your Dishwasher Dishracks
The plastic coating on your dish rack may wear off resulting in corrosion and rust. You can cap the damaged rack tines with slip-on rubber tips and touch up any metal showing with a liquid rubber type material. For best results, remove any rust present on the racks with sandpaper or a sanding block before applying the repair material.

Dishwasher Dishrack repair kits are available in white and light blue.

Cleaning the Spray Arm Holes of your Dishwasher
Over time, the small holes in the spray arm(s) of your dishwasher may become clogged with toothpicks, glass, paper, hard water scale, etc. Your dishwasher will perform better if you clean out the small holes from time to time.

It is a good idea to clean out any hard water and/or soap deposits in the wash system, tank, and pump system. To do this, run hot water at the tap. Put the empty dishwasher into the regular wash cycle. Wait until the machine has filled with water and begins to circulate the water. At this time, add your cleaning product (white vinegar or Glisten) directly into the bottom of the dishwasher.

Allow the machine to run the entire wash cycle. For best results, reset or advance the dishwasher to run again in the wash cycle without draining the treated water. We recommend performing this maintenance once or twice a year.

Dishwasher Filter
On many dishwashers, there is a filter near the bottom or under the lower spray arm that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Consult your owner's manual to find out how to remove and clean it. If the filter has holes in it, replace it to protect the pump and motor seals from particles that may be in the dishwasher.

Labels: Dishwasher Parts

We had an IceMaker problem the last couple of weeks and didn't understand just how difficult it is to live without an icemaker in a family of six! After thawing out the freezer (what a mess) and starting things up, we realized that the culprit was actually an ice cube stuck in the icemaker that was jamming things up.

Before jumping through hoops and buying lots of icemaker parts, make sure that you do the simplest money saving thing and defrost .. You never know how you can "Extend the Life of the Appliance".

If you do find that the problem is not a simple jammed ice cube - check the icemaker motor assembly - you can purchase a new one below.

Icemaker control module and motor assembly

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Another great tip is to make sure that the Icemaker Heater is working properly. The heater is under the ice cube mold. It is visible as a metal tube that runs the length of the ice mold on some models and looks alot like the heating element on some electric ovens. It does not always feel hot to the touch when operating in the freezer, it only raises the temperature slightly above freezing so the ice cubes come loose.

Labels: Icemaker Parts