Cody's F.A.Q.s

Dishwashers 101

Q: How can I make my dishwasher clean better?
A: To begin, always read your user's manual for their recommendations.  We may not always agree, but it is a good place to start!            
Do you have hard water? A good way to tell is if you see a white residue buildup around your faucets over time. Those are mineral deposits from hard water.  If you have hard water, use a combination of one tablespoon detergent and one tablespoon of powdered water softener, White King or Calgon brand.  However, if you have a water softener in your home, use a little less detergent, as it tends to foam more.
How hot is the water out of your sink?  Your water temperature will make a huge difference in how well your unit cleans.  Typically, your water temperature should be around 140 degrees.   Always run your water at the sink until it is hot prior to starting the machine.

Q: Should I use powder, liquid, or tabs?
A: We recommend you toss the liquid.  It tends to foam up too much and “gunks up” in places you don’t want.  If you use powder, we recommend Cascade.  Now, a word about powders – if you use powder, the big box from Costco might not be such a good deal if you only run your machine once a week.  The reason is that what makes dishwasher detergent clean are phosphates.  And phosphates don’t like damp conditions or getting old!  Well, of course!  Who does?  If your dishwasher detergent gets clumpy, throw it out!  The phosphates have activated and will no longer do the job.  Store it in a cool dry place for best performance. And tabs are pre-measured and wrapped so prefect to use.

Q: Can I use liquid detergent (for hand washing) in my dishwasher?
A: No!  No!  No!  Way too foamy!  So rinse those dishes well after you wash them off at the sink prior to loading. 

Q: Do I need rinse agent?
A: Weather you use the liquid, little hangy baskets, or tabs with the balls in them, rinse aid is important.  As a matter of fact, some makes of dishwashers require it!  It helps the water “sheet off” of the dishes, and viola, no spots!  Read your manual for your manufacturer’s recommendation.

Q: Is how I load the machine important?
A: In a word, yes!  But that is not to say that you should not always run a full load, as opposed to just a few items.  Water and energy conservation are important.  Just make sure that the spray arms can spin freely and you can pretty well pack it in.  Just use common sense in loading; if it looks like water wouldn't get to it, it probably won’t.

Q: Do I need to wash my dishes prior to loading them into the machine?
A: You may have seen the commercials that show someone putting and entire cake in the dishwasher and it comes out clean, but in the real world, that is just not the case.  Always scrape the debris off the plate prior to loading.  And that includes every grain of rice!  You don’t necessarily have to wash them, certainly; just scrape them well and you should have no problems!  If your unit starts to smell bad, you have food debris that needs to be cleaned out.

Q: Is it okay to run the machine at night or when we are away?
A:  Well, if you are a gambler, go right ahead.  Those units use a lot of water, and if something goes awry, it may leak all over your beautiful flooring.  And if you have experienced a leak and ruined your flooring, you now know you will never do it again. It is just prudent to be home to minimize any damage in case of failure.  If you don’t like to run your unit because it is just too noisy, there is probably a cause!  Our company also has a fabulous little leak detector we sell that will screech until you come running.  (It also works for washers, behind refrigerators, or even the water heater.)

Why you should change your water filter every 6 months

The life of refrigerator water filters is dependent upon the volume of contaminants in the water as well as the amount of use of the filter.  Well water is more likely to contain contaminants not found in publicly treated water and may need even more frequent filter changes.  As a rule of thumb, the filter should be changed at least every 6 months.

Failure to change these carbon-block filters every six months allows contaminants to saturate the filter, forcing the filter to leak contaminants into the processed water.  In a nutshell, after the life of the filter has expired, the water you are drinking will be even more contaminated by the buildup of what you were filtering out in the first place!

Remember, your ice is also affected.  It comes from the same source.  So, if your ice becomes smelly, cloudy, or has little floaties it is time, my friend!

Dryer Vent Safety and Maintenance

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,000 clothes dryer fires occur annually.  These fires account for and average of 10 deaths, 310 injuries, and more than $67.7 million in property damage!

The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires was a lack of maintenance, followed by unidentified or unknown-type mechanical failure. 

Clothing (in the dryer) was the most common source of ignition of dryer fires, followed by dust, lint, or fibers.

If your unit is taking a long time to dry, it is time for a check up!  Delay can not only cause your dryer to break down due to stress on components but it can be an indication that you are heading for a dangerous situation!

• Cody’s Appliance recommends your clean your lint filter EVERY SINGLE LOAD. It cuts down on drying time, saves energy, and discourages lint buildup.
• Do not use dryer sheets. Studies have found that dryer sheets leave a residue in the dryer and can be harmful to the machine as well as contribute to vent lint buildup.
• Have your vent professionally cleaned twice a year. It is an absolute must, especially if your ducting runs up to the roof, under the house, or has elbows. Cody’s Appliance can put you on a maintenance schedule. Just ask!
• Do not use plastic vent material. It is not to code and it is a fire hazard! If you have it, call us, we can change it out for you.
• Do not push your dryer back too far against the wall, pinching off the vent. It simply won’t dry well.
• Keep it clean under and behind the dryer. Cody’s Appliance recently found a lighter and a book of matches underneath a dryer, next to the igniter, during routine maintenance. Disaster averted!
• If there is a vent issue, call us. Do not vent your unit into the laundry room. It’s dangerous to do so. Also, do not put a nylon stocking at the end of the vent to catch lint. The air needs to flow freely to work properly.
• Check to make sure that the exterior vent (outside the home) is not obstructed by materials stacked up in front, or critters making a nice warm home in there!

These simple steps can save you time, money and possibly your life!