Get Off the Bottle – Bottled Water Vs. Purified Refrigerator Water

April 26, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

Does it surprise you that buying bottled a water for a year could cost you $600? At $1 – $2 per bottle it adds up quickly. Since Earth Day was earlier this week, Home-Tech needs to mention as well that 2 million tons of bottles get dumped into our landfills each year. (Only 23% of bottles are recycled.) We are going to recommend that you give up the bottle and try the refreshing taste of purified, ice cold water right from your refrigerator. As you know, Home-Tech knows a lot about refrigerators and their features since we sell and repair all the top brands. Most models now come equipped with an excellent water purification system.

Bottled Water Doesn’t Mean Pure

Many times bottled water is TAP WATER. If your bottle doesn’t say spring water on it, then chances are it’s coming straight from a municipal water source. Chemicals from the plastic bottles can also leach into a bottle of water as well. And, there is no regulation of bottled water by the federal government. A study done by the Environmental Working Group in 2008 found chemicals in every brand tested. You don’t have these concerns with a refrigerator purification system because you know exactly what is being removed from your drinking water.

Drink Up from the Whirlpool® Side by Side Models

The filter for the Side by Side Refrigerator Models (6ED2FHGXVA, 6ED2FHGXVQ, EC3JHAXRL, EC3JHAXRS, ED2DHEXWB, ED2DHEXWL, ED2DHEXWQ, ED2FHAXSB, ED2FHAXSL) reduces these common contaminants:

Chlorine taste & odor
Particulates
Mercury
Lead
Alachlor
Cysts
Atrazine
Benzene
Asbestos
Chlorobenzene
O-Dichlorobenzene,
Tetrachloroethylene
Ethylbenzene
Endrin
Toxaphene
Lindane
Styrene
Turbidity

This filter does not remove beneficial flouride. And it’s best to change it every 6 months.

The Trickle Down Theory

If you buy bottled water and you don’t have a new refrigerator with a water purification system in it then consider the $600 a year cost savings (plus energy savings by getting an EnergyStar model). Just with what you’re saving on bottled water you could have a brand spanking new refrigerator sitting in your kitchen with all the latest and greatest features. Home-Tech is here to help you with any appliance purchase you might ever need. Our appliance experts are fully educated on every brand and feature of refrigerator that we sell. Start your process by browsing in our online appliance store or come on in to one of our two showrooms. We are happy to show you everything and do the math with you. With Home-Tech, water purification and refrigeration is easy.

Filed Under: Appliances, Refrigerator

Celebrate Earth Day With A Green Laundry Appliance Solution

April 22, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

On Earth Day, all of us pause to think about our environment and perhaps make a commitment to doing more to help preserve it. Home-Tech is always striving to bring you the latest in “GREEN” appliances. The pureWash® appliance is our latest recommendation to you. We are now an authorized dealer offering this cutting edge appliance that completely eliminates any laundry detergent and other chemicals from being discharged into laundry waste water.

Bye-Bye Bad Detergent Chemicals!

This appliance removes dirt from your clothing without the use of detergents! No chemicals are needed because pureWash® does it all. It adds enhanced oxygen and photo-catalytic oxidizers to the cold water supply. It eliminates the use of harmful chemicals, using the strength of oxygen to turn your water into the most powerful and efficient cleaning agent possible. Did you know the average family of 4 uses 37 plastic containers of laundry detergent a year? Wouldn’t it be great if all of that wasn’t going in our landfills?

Time Saver

This appliance is a real time saver for you! You will have no more hassle in measuring detergent, fabric softener and bleach. Tired of separating “darks” from “lights” before doing your laundry? Those days are long gone! Since cold water is used only, there are no worries of clothing bleeding or shrinking. Detergents remove stains but, in the same process, shred fibers from your expensive clothing, taking away their newness. Have you noticed your brights losing their crispness, and your darks looking more dull? All these negative aspects of damaging your clothing are no longer . . . with pureWash®. And your clothing will dry faster without detergent residue on it.

Save Loads of Money

According to Proctor & Gamble CO., the average family of four goes through 300-390 loads of laundry year. The average cost of laundry is $0.39/per load. pureWash® is a purchase that will pay for itself in a little over two years. (AARP, July 2011) It is expected to pay for itself in 5 to 6 months by cutting out the hot water. Your water heater will only have to heat for showers and dishwasher cycles. You will also save on the cost of detergents, bleach and fabric softener for normally soiled clothes.

Smell You Later

If you have sensitive skin, infants or children and use expensive detergents that say “chemical free” – think again. You will never have to worry about these issues again when you purchase pureWash®. Have you ever forgotten a load of laundry in the washer and found it later with a mildew-mold like smell? No worries. That mold and mildew feeds on the residual detergent that is left in your clothing. The absence of detergent, with pureWash®, will eliminate those foul odors that we are all too familiar with!

Install It and Forget It

In under 30 minutes, Home-Tech can install the pureWash® appliance for you. Once it’s up on the wall, water line hooked up and a power source attached, it is ready to go to work. And it’s expected to work for well over ten years! It is designed to be used on any brand, make or model – top loaders and front loaders both. Earth Day is a great day to consider this product. There is a fantastic informational video to view here or stop by one our two showrooms or call us at 800-800-8356. We’d be happy to answer any additional questions that you might have.

Filed Under: Appliances, washer

5 Reasons to Choose the Maytag Maxima XL Washer

April 19, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

What if you had a washing machine that practically did laundry all by itself? Wouldn’t it be awesome to get home late from your son’s baseball game, throw his dirty uniform in the washer and then be able to completely forget about it and go to bed? When you got up in the morning you could pull it out of the washer and not only would it be spotless, it’s also dry and ready for his game that day. This isn’t a fantasy. It’s reality with the new Maytag Maxima XL’s new Overnight Wash & Dry cycle. Pretty slick, huh? If your life is busy, too busy to hassle with laundry, you are going to love this new Maxima XL washer. You should head on over to one of Home-Tech‘s showrooms to check this out.

Fresh Smelling Clothing

The new Fresh Hold® Option with Dynamic Venting is new technology in the Maxima XL washer keeps your clothing fresh and allows you to start drying right in the washer. Don’t you hate it when your clothes have sat in the washer for awhile and get that weird smell? With the Fresh Hold® option the washer keeps circulating air for up to 12 hours after the wash cycle ends. There is a very quiet and efficient fan in the back of the washer that continues to circulate fresh air. This means no more odors and with intermittent tumbling every hour it keeps everything fresh and helps keep wrinkles from setting in. This feature costs only pennies per cycle.

Just Enough Detergent

Have you ever wondered how much detergent to use? You don’t have to anymore. The Maytag Maxima XL dispenses detergent automatically. You can just fill it up and forget about it for the next 12 loads of laundry. It allows you select detergent concentration and water hardness. It also ensures detergent is dispensed at the right time to penetrate fabrics and virtually eliminate pre-rinsing. And it provides better cleaning using less detergent.

Power Spray Technology

This sprays the perfect amount of water and detergent directly onto clothing to start instantly cleaning soils and stains.

PowerWash Cycle

This 3 step process enables the best cleaning in the industry. There is an extended wash sequence that keeps the detergent and water continuously moving through your clothing to help loosen stains and ground in dirt. This washer has a built in water heater which allows you to wash at higher temperatures for stubborn stains. On select models steam can enhance the cleaning process as well. The thorough rinse with clean water removes any final dirt and detergent.

25 Towels In One Load!

With 4.1 Cu Ft capacity, the Maxima XL washer is rated to wash up to 24 pounds of clothing. Most of our customers wash a typical large load at 13 pounds. So you see, this washer capacity really has all of your laundry needs covered. Many of you prefer to wash your towels on the cold cycle to keep the color fresh. Of course if you need your towels sanitized use the handy sanitize cycle which washes at a higher temperture level.

Ready to Take the “Chore” Out of Laundry?

Home-Tech’s appliance experts are on hand in one of our two showrooms to demonstrate this product for you. You can also shop online day or night on our appliance website. See the details of the Maxima XL washer now. You can always call Home-Tech to speak to us at 1-800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Appliances, laundry, washer

Home-Tech Community Involvements for Spring 2013

April 1, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

For 32 years Home-Tech has given back to the community and participated in the events of the communities in 5 counties that we service. Beginning with an event on March 16th, Home-Tech employee owners have had a full calendar and a lot of fun.

Celtic Fest – Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton – March 16th

Home-Tech’s Jon Hayo and Jeff Hendershott set up the Home-Tech booth at the Central Park in Lakewood Ranch and enjoyed a day with all the Irish celebrators. Many residents stopped by our booth to say hi, pick up a chocolate filled coin and learn more about our Service Agreements and repair services. The children at the event participated in a treasure hunt and also came by to nibble on some chocolate. There was a dog parade, Celtic music, dancing and even a visit from a real leprican!

StarStruck – March 23rd

Once again Home-Tech sponsored the winning contestant at the StarStruck gala and dance competition. Nannette Staropoli, sponsored by Home-Tech, took home both the Audience Favorite and Top Fundraiser awards. Congratulations to her and all the celebrity, professional and spotlight dancers who performed wonderfully. Steve Marino, Home-Tech CEO and Sonya Sawyer, Home-Tech CFO (both former winners) attended with their spouses and had an enjoyable evening dancing at this benefit for the American Red Cross.

Home-Tech Open House – Bradenton Showroom – March 23rd

Home-Tech hosted an Open House for our Service Agreement customers in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Not everyone has had a chance yet to check out our beautiful new showroom so we celebrated a year of it being open. We shared a custom baked and decorated cake, refreshments and incredible deals on Whirlpool, Maytag and Kitchenaid appliances with our fun Spin & Win Discount Wheel.

Home-Tech Hob Knobs – Sarasota Chamber Event – April 4th

Coming up this Thursday evening, beginning at 5pm, Jon Hayo and Jeff Hendershott and other employees from our north showroom will attend the Hob Knob event at the Ed Smith Stadium on 12st Street in Sarasota. This is a fun event with lots of great food to try. Home-Tech will once again be serving up our famous grilled Kielbasa and Pineapple recipe. We will be giving away a 6 bottle table top wine cooler. When you think of great food, we also want you to think about cooking it on fantastic kitchen appliances which we sell and service.

GO RED Luncheon – American Heart Association – April 5th

Nine of the lady employees from Home-Tech will be attending this luncheon on Friday at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Pointe Resort and Spa. This is the 10th year of Go Red for Women. Home-Tech will be donating a brand new washer and dryer again this year for the raffle to help raise money for the cause.

Open House – Fort Myers Showroom – Saturday, April 6th

We have invited our customers and the public to attend a fun Open House in our Fort Myers showroom. There will be Spin & Win discounts on appliances and great refreshments. If you haven’t ever visited one of our showrooms before, this would be a great time to start. Our appliance experts will be there to answer any questions you have about appliances or any of Home-Tech’s services. You can also call us at any time at 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Appliances, Community Service, Uncategorized

From Our Homes to Yours – A Special Recipe

March 29, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

As you may know, Home-Tech specializes in service and sales of appliances and air conditioning. We are very hopeful that everything you cook up for each holiday is delicious and that all of your equipment is always working at its best. (If you have any break-downs, you can call us. We offer emergency service even on holidays). But Home-Tech employees also specialize in sharing recipes at these special times of the year. We have a tried and true recipe we would love to share with you which was contritubed by Brandy, the wife of Home-Tech employee, Noah who is in our Marketing Department.

Mom’s Easter Cake

Mom’s special Easter Cake was no ordinary cake. It was the most delicious, moist and creamy chocolate coconut cake I would ever have. To this day I make it a tradition with our growing family and look forward to this extra special treat every Easter.

1 Box Chocolate Cake (Any Recipe)

1 16 Oz Can Cream of Coconut *typically found with the wine and mixed drinks section of the grocery store.

1 Coolwhip

1 Bag Jelly Beans or Robins Eggs Candies

1 Bag Shredded Coconut

Green Food Coloring

Bake chocolate cake as directed on the box. Once cake is removed from the oven, cool for around 15 minutes and poke holes all over the cake with a fork. Pour the Coconut milk, covering the cake completely and put in the fridge to set.

When ready to serve: Dye Coolwhip green and cover cake. Put shredded coconut in a large bag and shake up with several drops of green food dye. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the cake and top with candied Robins Eggs or Jelly Beans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Share Your Recipes

We invite you to share a recipe that has been in your family and is special to you. And if you need us this weekend, we will be there for you for appliance repair or air conditioning repair service.

Filed Under: Appliances, Uncategorized

The Deal with the Dial – Washing Machine Cycles 101

March 25, 2013 By Air Conditioning Repair

Have you noticed that over the years the dial on washing machines has changed? Long gone are the days of simplicity with your home major appliances. As technologies advance, the equipment becomes more efficient, better looking and maybe even a little intimidating. Don’t fear the dial! Home-Tech, southwest Florida’s leader in appliance sales and service, is here to help you “sort out” any laundry questions you may have.

What’s bulky?

You certainly don’t ever want to personally be thought of as bulky. But is bulky bad in laundry terms? Is bulky the same setting as heavy duty? Is bulky the same setting as sheets? Your washer dial might have all three of these as settings – bulky, heavy duty and sheets. So how do you choose?

Let’s start by defining heavy duty as the washing machine manufacturers do. The heavy duty cycle will be a longer cycle with more water in it than other cycles. So it’s perfect for clothing that is really dirty. Not everyone today gets their clothing really dirty. There’s a big difference between playing a round of golf, working an office job or welding all day. And anyone with children can tell you there’s a big difference between what little boys do to their clothing versus what little girls do. This setting is good for sturdy items such as jeans, towels and heavily soiled items. If you are finding that your laundry is always just lightly soiled, you may never use the heavy duty cycle.

The bulky setting is good for items that take up a lot of space in the washer, like blankets, comforters or sleeping bags. This setting will use extra water as well to make sure the items are soaked through and well balanced during the wash cycle. Bulky is a good setting if you decide to wash a full load of towels as well.

If you have a sheet setting, this one is easy. Use it when you wash your sheets! Here is a great article with more tips on taking care of your bed linens.

How Cool is Quick Wash?

Do you need your lucky golf shirt cleaned for your match tomorrow morning? Stat! If you have a Whirlpool Cabrio WTW5500X model you can have it clean in a snap. You will be amazed at the speed of the Quick Wash Cycle. This is designed to clean small, slightly soiled loads in less time. The load will also dry faster because the spin speed is increased too. If you have the matching Cabrio dryer, you can finish drying your load in 13 minutes!

Dialed In

If you have any questions about your laundry or if you need new laundry appliances you can call the experts at Home-Tech for help. 800-800-8356 can be your laundry HELP LINE. We are always here to help you with repairs or new purchases. Stay tuned for part two of this article on dealing with the dial. Next time we’ll solve the mystery of getting your whites brilliant and you will learn all about the sanitary cycle.

Filed Under: Appliances, laundry, Uncategorized

The Lonely Back Burner. Celebrate the Unsung Hero of Cooktops

March 21, 2013 By dishwasherrepair

Photo Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/setothetech/4899871287/

You know they are there…two or three smaller empty spaces on your stove or cooktops that go longly unoccupied. Those larger, bigger, more powerful burners get all the credit, the overachieving front row. Isn’t it time you spread the love around? For too long, the back burners have been under rated. Sure, on big holidays they save the day keeping the gravy at the perfect temperature without clumping. Cooktops and the smaller burners are made to be used, and we mean for more than just heating up the tea kettle. For most of us, you use the small burners for the small saucepan, which are typically used to heat up soup, warm milk, melt butter or making rice. But, it can do oh so much more! Today, for the first time in a long time, celebrate the back row of burners!

Why Cooktops Need the Small Burners

The simplest answer to that question is this: because of the cookware. In the most basic of cookware sets consumers will purchase, the standard items are the tiny, but mighty, 1-quart saucepan, 2-quart saucepan, the multi-purpose 5-quart stockpot, the 7″ fry pan and its big brother, the 9.5″ fry pan. Really, to effectively heat the larger saucepans or fry pans, a larger heating element is required on the cooktops. For example, check out the Electrolux 30″ Drop-In Electric Cooktop. This model, the EI30EC45KB, has stainless steel trim and a smooth ceramic glass surface that is sleek in style and easy to clean. It has 4 elements including a powerful quick boil element that boils water faster when you need it and a Flex-2-Fit element that adjusts up to 3 sizes. The precise Express-Select electronic controls allow you to go from simmer to boil easily.

Be Part of the Counter Culture. Cooktops That Start a Cookware Revolution

The cooking elements on these cooktops adjust up to three sizes, so the element fits the cookware, not the other way around. The lonely back burners again have a purpose! And, check this out, these cooktops from Electrolux have touch controls. Heat is controlled by just the touch of a finger, resulting in a clean look uncluttered by knobs or dials. These controls are intuitive, precise and very stylish.

Want to know more about cooktops, burners and other kitchen appliance options? Contact Home-Tech’s appliance experts. They can help you find the right kind of cooktop for your culinary needs as well as your budget. Shop online or in one of our Showrooms. Need more information, you can call Home-Tech at any time for expert advise at 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Appliances, Cooktop, Home-Tech News, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: appliances, electrolux

The Fall of Refrigerator Magnets. An End of an Era.

March 12, 2013 By dishwasherrepair

Photo Courtesy of:http://www.tonjasgatherings.com/

Where have all the finger paintings gone? What about the alphabet magnets or the magnetic poetry set where your creativity could reign free? Times they are a changin’ and the end of an era is upon us. We are now witnessing the Fall of Magnets, a bare refrigerator door without magnetic powers. How has this happened you may ask? It happened when we all made the shift to stainless steel refrigerators. While stylish, they aren’t magnetic.

Refrigerator Door Bares All

Its a tough time for magnets these days with all of these fancy, shiny, sleek new refrigerators on the market. But fear not, there are solutions. Let’s say you have an Electrolux Standard-Depth French Door Refrigerator with IQ-Touch Controls, where can you find the room to post your child’s good grades, holiday art project or that wedding invitation that you can’t lose? Fret not, there are a few solutions available.

Choppa Board: A powder coated sheet of metal, the choppa board backed with powerful suction cups allows you to place a magnet board on most flat, nonporous surfaces without the need to drill, nail or use adhesives. The price is $20.
Adhesive Putty: This reusable solution works great on any surface. The best part is, there is no clutter of magnets. We recommend the Scotch brand Adhesive putty, as it is easy to remove and won’t leave big circles on your beautiful stainless steel refrigerator.
Lulalu clips: Lulalu uses a proprietary material that grips to smooth slick non-porous surfaces including stainless steel, glass, mirrors, tile, and wood. Non-adhesive, it leaves no marks or residue and is non-toxic. Each Click Clip holds up to 10 sheets of paper and is 2″ diameter. The clips start at $5.

The Stainless Steel Solution

You never need to worry when you have Home-Tech supporting your refrigerator or any of your appliances. Our appliance experts can offer solutions like this, helping to find a solution for even the most trivial question, like “What do I do with my magnet collection?” If you are looking for a new refrigerator, look no further than our Appliance Showrooms. Our appliance experts on staff are standing by to assist you finding the right appliance for your home. Have questions, call us 800-800-8356.

Filed Under: Appliances, Home-Tech News, Refrigerator, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: appliance sales, refrigerator, stainless steel

2013 Top Kitchen Trends: Accessorizing Appliances with Color

February 26, 2013 By dishwasherrepair

We know style is significant when it comes to the most important room in the house, the kitchen. But, as we all know some trends come and go, but for the most part, your appliances will stay the same. So why not go for the look you’ve always wanted? Did you know consumers have 24 color options when choosing their Viking appliances. Most recently, they added Cinnamon, Dijon, Kettle Black and Wasabi to their palette of color options.

Image courtesy of Viking

Our friends at Viking had this to say about the wide range of colors available for their appliances. “The addition of these finishes will give consumers, architects and designers more options to coordinate with personal tastes,” said Brent Bailey, Director – Industrial Design, Viking Range Corporation. He continues, “These new colors reflect in-depth research into color trends for the foreseeable future, while also paying homage to our culinary heritage.” The existing Viking color finishes available for appliances are: Stainless Steel, Black, White, Graphite Gray, Stone Gray, Taupe, Biscuit, Cotton White, Sage, Mint Julep, Sea Glass, Iridescent Blue, Viking Blue, Cobalt Blue, Lemonade, Racing Red, Apple Red, Burgundy, Plum, and Chocolate. Now consumers have 24 color options when choosing their Viking appliances.

An Expert Opinion on Appliances of Color

Home-Tech relies upon our dear friend and ASID accredited designer, Keffie Lancaster of Lancaster Interior Design to provide her expert opinion on this re-emerging trend. ” Personally, I really like the Bamboo colored finish as it is fresh and reminds me of a spa. My clients seem to really like the Kettle Black, as well as the Stone Gray. The sleekness of these finishes offer a great deal of variety for placement in traditional and contemporary designs. The variety of the finishes allows for the ultimate in kitchen customization!”

Photo Courtesy of Viking

Keffie also discussed Viking D3′s knob and handle options for the appliances in this line. “The Viking D3 line is not only amazing but fun too! The fact that you can have custom colored handles is a great design element that has been overlooked for years by the appliance industry. I love the natural wood finishes which help the integration of contemporary designed appliances to juxtapose with traditional kitchen cabinets. The possibilities are endless! You can pop the wall color, the backsplash glass tile color or your floor color….whatever makes you happy….and let’s face it! Shouldn’t you be happy in the kitchen?”

Quality is Always in Style

There are so many great things about a Viking D3 kitchen. Not only does is suit your cooking style, it also fits your kitchen style. Come into a Home-Tech Showroom to see their full appliance packages in all of their gorgeous splendor. Packaging pricing is available, and as always, it comes with Viking’s 3 year signature warranty. And, keep in mind, that Home-Tech is always here for you for expert appliance repair. To learn more about the Viking D3 or other appliances, give us a call at 800-800-8356 to speak with an appliance expert.

Filed Under: Appliances, Dishwasher, Home-Tech News, Oven, Range, Stove, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: accessories, appliance sales, viking

The Laundry Game Changer: Why Your Washing Machine will Never Be the Same

February 19, 2013 By dishwasherrepair

Do you have sensitive skin or are allergic to the dyes and additives in laundry detergent? Can you imagine a world without the need for chlorine bleach? How about saving energy use, does that excite you? Well, let us introduce pureWash, an environmentally friendly appliance designed to work with your washing machine. It adds enhanced oxygen and Photo Catalytic Oxidizers to the cold water supply. To put it simply, water treated by pureWash aids in cleaning laundry and killing bacteria without leaving residual detergent in the fabric.

Get dazzling-fresh laundry without detergents, fabric softener, or even hot water
The pureWash laundry purifier uses the same technology previously available only to hospitals, hotels, and commercial laundromats for over a decade
Produce sparkling clean laundry without any chemicals or additives using cold water and your existing washing machine
Reduce your energy consumption per wash load by 80%
Never again have to buy detergent or fabric softener
PureWash consumes just 36 watts of electricity to power away dirt and grime

Wowing your Washing Machine with pureWash

Home-Tech recommends that you match the correct pureWash model to your washing machine. There are some HE or high efficiency washing machines that fill faster than others and therefore will need a “high flow” model. After having the proper model installed, your washing machine will take on a new life. The only use you will have for detergent will be for spot cleaning extremely soiled or stained items. Other than that, this appliance will do all the dirty work for you.

purewash clean pants washing machine hometech

Photo Courtesy of Millers Salt

Once the pureWash is properly installed by Home-Tech’s appliance technicians, you simply operate your washing machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. pureWash is designed to automatically turn on as soon as the washer demands water for the the wash cycle and again for any rinse cycles. The viewing window glows blue and you can see the production of enhanced oxidation bubbles in the tube through the window, so you can see it work!

Wishing for More Out of Your Washer?

Has your washing machine’s performance been spottier than your polka dot skirt? It may be time for a check up with Home-Tech. If you are in the market for a new washing machine shop our online appliance store for all the best brands and most popular models. Our appliance experts are available to answer any of your questions about appliances or even advice on getting the cleanest load possible out of your current washing machine. Call us anytime at 800-800-8356 to schedule service or to speak with Home-Tech.

Filed Under: Appliances, Home-Tech News, laundry, Techster’s Appliance and AC Tips Tagged With: appliances, Pure wash, washing machine