Handling Problems with Viking Ranges

Many of our customers love to cook and purchased a Viking range. Viking is considered one of the best brands of ranges and ovens on the market so the decision makes sense. The nice thing about working with the owners of Viking ranges and ovens is that not only are they good cooks, they also take care of their appliances, and listen to our troubleshooting tips and follow our advice to avoid Viking repair services.

Even though the purchase price of Viking ranges tends to be higher than other brands, they’re not designed to last forever. Sooner or later the owner will experience a problem, giving our company’s techs the opportunity to work on a really nice piece of equipment. We’ve gotten pretty good at troubleshooting Viking ranges based on the service calls.

One of the more common complaints we get from the owners of Viking ranges involves the appliance not turning on. Sometimes this does turn out to be a really serious problem, and the electrical work on the fuses and electrical wires need to be replaced, but most of the time, we find the self-cleaning cycle to be the problem. If the customer has programmed a self-cleaning cycle, the Viking range won’t turn on. The problem occurs because the client failed to close the oven door completely, making it impossible for the range to clean itself.  We have the client shut the door fully. Most of the time this activates the self-clean, if not, we go the client’s home to check out the electrical system and look for a short or blown fuse.

Blown fuses have been the most common reason we’ve found for the Viking range igniter to not light. When the igniter continues to spark after the owner has started using the stove, the polarity has usually gotten reversed and needs to be changed back. Dirty igniters can spark and refuse to turn on. When we determine the igniter needs to be replaced, it’s been our experience the wire connector will also need to be changed.

We’ve gotten a few calls lately with regards to Viking ovens which weren’t turning on. While there have been some instances where this turned out to be a major problem which required different types of repairs, several times we found this to be the result of a the oven bulb. Over time it loosened. Tightening the bulb, and in a few cases replacing a burned out bulb, corrected the problem.

Malfunctioning broilers can be a problem with the Viking brand. The door, in particular, tends to be a problem. Most of the time this proves to be a simple problem that’s once again caused by the range’s self-cleaning cycle. Most of the time, the owner hasn’t given the oven time to cool down before trying to use it. The way Viking designed the ranges, the broiler door stays tightly locked until the appliance has completely cooled. Most of the time when the broiler won’t turn on, it’s because the owner turned the knob past the broiler position.

Make sure to visit our Google Plus page to get more tips and advice for your appliances.

You can also find us on Twitter at @ameriproapp and on Facebook 

Is Your Viking Oven and Range Ready for Holiday Cooking?

The holidays are almost upon us. That means you’re doing one of two things. If you’re not packing to go see friends and family, you’re most likely preparing to welcome holiday guests into your own home. If you fall into the latter category, you need to pull yourself away from your menu planning and evaluate the state of your kitchen appliances, especially your Viking oven and range. Be honest, are they really up for the challenge of helping your prepare a Chanukah or Christmas feast? You might want to consider calling a Viking appliance repair professional if you have any doubt.

It’s estimated that approximately 15% of the Los Angeles residents who stay home and cook their own holiday meals will experience some sort of appliance malfunction. For these people, the holiday is ruined. They find it very difficult to be grateful for cheese and crackers and other cold dishes when they were expecting ham, turkey, and steaming piles of mashed potatoes. Even though they’re surprised by the fact that their range let them down, when pressed, most appliance owners admit there were signs something was going to go wrong, they just didn’t pay attention.

If you use your Vikingoven and range on a regular basis, you’re already ahead. Many Los Angeles residents only use the oven a few times a year, and sitting dormant is actually quite hard on the appliance. By using your Viking oven on a regular basis, you already know how it cooks, and know that all the knobs, doors, ignition switches are working properly.

If you don’t use your Viking oven and range on a regular basis, you need to test it out. Don’t put this off. The sooner you test the Viking range and oven, the sooner you will know it works.

One of the mistakes people commonly make when it comes to their Viking oven is having unreasonable expectations. They stuff multiple items in the oven, and have all the burners going on their Viking range and expect everything to come out perfectly prepared. It never does. Yes, cooking multiple items at the same time will cut down on the amount of energy you use, but you need to be reasonable about the amount of items you stuff in the oven. You can’t overload it. Instead of trying to roast a turkey, bake three or four pies, and cook a green bean casserole at the same time, you need to look at your menu and ask yourself if there’s anything you can prepare in advance. Not only will this cut down on the amount of work your Viking oven has to do on the big day, but it also provides you with the perfect opportunity to determine just how well the oven really is working.

If you even suspect there’s a problem with your Viking oven or range, you need to get in touch with us at Ameripro Appliance Repair. We have the best Viking certified appliance repair techs in Los Angeles and use top quality parts. We’re ready and willing to provide any repairs you need. We’re available 24/7.

Simple Appliance Tips to Lower Your Energy Bill

Do you stare in horror when your electric bill arrives each month? If your energy expenses are way too high, there are a few simple things you can do to bring the price down.  By effectively maintaining your appliances, you can reduce energy costs and make your appliances last for years longer and avoid appliance repair issues.  Check out these tips to cut your energy bill this month.

Refrigerator

• Keep your refrigerator in a cool area and out of direct sunlight.
• If your refrigerator has rear external condenser coils, keep it at least a few inches away from the wall. By giving the coils a little room, air will flow better and the refrigerator won’t work as hard to stay cool.
• Don’t forget to clean the door seals at least twice per year. This will keep them from splitting, cracking, or drying out.  If you have cool air leaking around the seals, you should replace them.
• Take time to clean the external condenser coils every six months. By removing any built up dust or pet hair, you will make your refrigerator more energy efficient.
• Keep the door closed!  Don’t open it more than necessary.
• Keep your refrigerator at least halfway full. This will help it cool more efficiently.

Dryer

• Don’t forget to clean out the lint filter after every cycle.
• Only run the dryer when you have a full load of clothes ready. Set the moisture control sensor to avoid any excess dry time.
• Clean out the exhaust vent on a regular basis and make sure there are at least four inches between the dryer and the wall.

Washer

• Opt for front-loading washers. They use 70% less water!
• It saves energy when you wash clothes in cold water.
• Fill the washer to avoid wasted energy. Only wash a full load!
• Choose the high-speed spin option to get clothes dryer. This reduces drying time.

Using these simple tips, you can reduce your electric bill this month!  It only takes a few minutes to maintain your appliances, but it makes a big difference in your energy savings over the course of a year and can help you avoid needing appliance repair services in the future. 

You can get great appliance repair tips by visiting us on Google Plus

Do It Yourself Fixes for 3 Common Dishwasher Problems

My Dishwasher is Draining Into the Kitchen Sink

The cause behind this common problem is almost always a blocked drainage hose.  This is a fairly simple repair, so there is no need to call your local Maytag repairman to help you solve it.  Before you decide to purchase some incredibly strong cleaning agent to pour into your dishwasher you should first clean the drain out manually.  Powerful cleaning agents often do more harm than good since the corrosive chemicals that they contain can damage or corrode a hose.  In most cases a simple manual cleaning is just what you need to remove the blockage and get the dishwasher back to draining properly.  A dishwasher repair professional is going to tell you to do the exact same thing, except he will hand you a bill after he tells you. 

My Dishwasher Leaks

Leaky dishwashers are often much easier to repair than people realize.  There are basically only two main issues that cause dishwashers problems.  A bad door seal will cause water to leak from the dishwasher while it is going through its cycle.  You can check the rubber seal around the door of your dishwasher to see if it is damaged or irregular.  A bad door seal should be replaced immediately since it can quickly do more damage to your kitchen.  Your local appliance store will have a variety of door seals available for most brands, and if you cannot find what you need at the appliance store you can always head online to find a new seal.  The other cause of leaky dishwashers is improper loading.  If a dishwasher is not loaded properly the water jets are blocked and this leads to leaking.  Try putting fewer dishes in your dishwasher and this should solve the leaking problem. 


My Dishwasher Is Not Draining At All

If your dishwasher is not draining at all you have a serious problem, but it is relatively easy to solve.  The best quick fix for a dishwasher that will not drain is to check and see if the drain pipe or sink trap is clogged.  If this is the problem you can solve it by snaking out the drain.  If you try snaking the drain and find that you still have issues with how the dishwasher drains, you should check the hoses on the dishwasher.  A kink or bend in the hose can keep the dishwasher from draining properly, and if this is the problem you should replace the old hose with a new one.  You can purchase a new hose at your local appliance repair parts store.  You do not have to look for the exact brand name, you can simply use any hose as long as it fits.