News

How to Best Clean Grill Grates (and Keep ‘Em Clean)

It’s grilling season, baby! If you’re hoping to impress everyone with your skills, start with clean grill grates. When you don’t regularly clean your grill grates the right way, you allow unsavory and unsafe gunk to build up and coat your otherwise perfectly cooked meat and veggies. Turns out, high heat does not clean as… Read more »


Forget Energy Efficiency. Repair Your Appliances to Protect the Earth.

Earth Day is that one day reminding us we need to do more for our environment. If you have appliances you think might be on their last legs, think again. Before wishing your refrigerator, dishwasher, or oven farewell to the landfills, you might want to look into salvaging your appliances for a few more good… Read more »


How Long do Refrigerators Last on Average?

And How Can I Make Mine Last Longer? Before giving up on your current refrigerator and buying a new one, it’s important to understand how long refrigerators are expected to last, and how to take care of them to get the most value out of every refrigerator you ever own. How Long Do Refrigerators Last?… Read more »


Why does my new oven take such a long time to preheat?

The facts behind why modern ovens heat up slowly. If you’re reading this article, you are likely worried that something is amiss with your new oven. ‘Preheating shouldn’t take this long,’ you’re probably telling yourself. ‘Our old oven never took this long to preheat, did it?’  Relax, you’re not crazy—many folks are asking the same… Read more »


What should appliance repair cost? Am I being taken for a ride?

Everyone has a sense for how much milk and eggs cost, and what their grocery list will run in the final tally. But when the appliances break down that preserve and cook that food, it’s anybody’s guess as to what appliance repair costs. The problem is most people don’t know what’s involved with the repair… Read more »


How do I check the appliances included with my next home?

So you’re moving or planning to move into a new home or apartment? Congratulations! Now you probably have a home inspection checklist at the ready – test outlets and look for leaks – but what do you plan to do about some of the most valuable, and costly to fix or replace, elements in the… Read more »


Bosch or ASKO dishwasher not draining and pump keeps running

Do you have a Bosch or ASKO dishwasher that is not working properly, but you continually hear a whirring noise as though something is running even when the dishwasher is off? Your dishwasher may have a leak.  On ASKO, Bosch, and select other import dishwashers, there is a wafer in the bottom of the dishwasher pan. When… Read more »


Refrigerator Repair: When to DIY and When to Call in a Professional

One of the most difficult decisions a homeowner can make is whether or not to tackle a DIY repair or to call a professional repair technician. There is a time and a place for DIY and simple parts replacements, however, there are some aspects to appliance repair that may require more technical experience in order… Read more »


Ice Maker Problems and Repairs

Angie’s List recently interviewed Hometown Hero Appliance Repair‘s own Todd Daganaar, in order to answer all of your burning (freezing?) ice maker questions. Common issues with ice makers include: Failing to make ice Leaking Flooding “Generally, in any case, the ice maker itself will need to be replaced,” Daganaar says, as few manufacturers make separate parts for them.… Read more »


Appliance Owners Manuals

Question: Where can I locate owner’s manuals and documentation for my appliance? Answer: Most manufacturers supply this information on their websites. A few examples are below: For GE and Hotpoint Appliances, try http://www.geappliances.com/service_and_support/literature/ For Frigidaire and Electrolux Appliances, look at http://www.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/Product-Support-Manuals/ For Whirlpool and Maytag Appliances, check out http://www.whirlpool.com/manuals On LG Appliances, documentation is at… Read more »


Model and Serial Number of Appliances

Question: Where do I find the model and serial number for my appliance? Answer: There are as many possibilities as there are appliances, but here are a few common places to look: Refrigerators / Freezers: Usually the model tag is located near the top shelf of the fresh food section on a tag on the… Read more »


What to Do When Your Dishwasher Is Not Cleaning Dishes

Question: Why are my dishes coming out dirty, perhaps even dirtier than they were when I put them in the dishwasher? Answer: There are several factors in the performance of a dishwasher, and some of them can be easily addressed. Wash performance may improve if you do the following: Use rinse aid such as Jet… Read more »


Washing Machine (Laundry)

Washer problems and repair: Whirlpool, Maytag, GE and more Are you having problems with your washer, does it need repair? Below are some common symptoms you may be experiencing and tips to help you diagnose the problem. Symptom Things to check Washer won’t fill Check your water inlet valve, which supplies water into the machine… Read more »


Dryer (Laundry)

Dryer problems and repair: Whirlpool, Maytag, GE and more Are you having problems with your dryer, does it need repair? Below are some common symptoms you may be experiencing and tips to help you diagnose the problem. Symptom Things to check Dryer will not heat Check the heating element on Electric Dryer models. On most… Read more »


Maytag Performa Dryer Won’t Start

NOTE: Before beginning repairs, remove power from the unit. This information applies to many models, but specifically those starting with prefixes such as PYE, CYE, PYE2000, PYE2300, and more. Symptom Things to check Maytag Performa dryer won’t turn on Check the thermal fuse. This is 95% of the time the culprit on this specific style… Read more »


Diagnosing defrost issues on refrigerators and freezers

One common failure in modern refrigerators that we encounter time and time again is a failure in the defrost system. You might notice that things are as cold as they should be in either section, and if you’re very attentive, you might see an ice or frost buildup on the back wall inside the freezer… Read more »


Troubleshooting UL or U/L Error Codes

The UL error code can be one of the most frustrating and elusive error codes to address on the high efficiency top load washer designs, including the Whirlpool Cabrio, the Maytag Bravos, and the Kenmore Oasis. At first glance, the error code seems to indicate an unbalanced load. Here are a few things to check… Read more »


Installing a Washing Machine Motor Coupling

At Hometown Hero Appliance Repair we are here to help you with all of your appliance service, maintenance and parts needs. We created this simple to follow tutorial to help you replace a motor coupler in a Whirlpool, Kenmore, Roper, Estate, or Kitchenaid washing machine. Please click link below to access PDF presentation. Whirlpool Motor Coupling… Read more »


News

2023 in Review for Hometown Hero Appliance Repair

Hometown Hero’s Month of Giving

Schedule a service call to support local charities!  November is our Month of Giving, when Hometown Hero Appliance Repair supports organizations making a difference in our community. This year, we asked our teams in Omaha, Kansas City, Des Moines, and Lincoln to recommend organizations to support in their hometown. From November 1-30, we’re letting you,… Read more »


2022 in Review for Hometown Hero Appliance Repair

Hometown Hero Named Small Business of the Month by Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Though our awards case continues to grow (we’re going to need another room soon!), we value each and every award as proof that we’re fulfilling our mission and saving customers’ days. If you’re happy, we’re happy, and the awards are just gravy. Read on for the full article by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce: They… Read more »


2021 in Review for Hometown Hero Appliance Repair

A Day in the Life of an Appliance Repair Technician

There isn’t much info out there about what a career as an appliance repair technician is like, which is a gap we’ve tried to correct with past articles. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the daily work schedule of our techs, as well as what’s expected of them on the job. 8 AM –… Read more »


Mark Kinney

When is it too late to switch careers? According to Mark Kinney, it’s never too late, since changing careers was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. At 26, Mark had already earned a bachelor’s degree in natural science, secondary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. He was several years into… Read more »


2020 – a weird but heroic year in appliance repair

How to Give Back to Your Omaha Community This Holiday Season

People who make giving a part of their life know that much personal joy can be gained through the act of selflessness. This year add more holiday joy to you and your family’s life by volunteering and giving back to the community. There are many deserving organizations in our area that can use the abilities… Read more »


Hometown Hero Appliance Repair Voted Most Professional Servicer in the US!

This January, at the Annual Service Training Institute put on by the United Servicers Association, the appliance repair industry’s premier national association, we were awarded the Most Professional Servicer award. As our president, Todd Daganaar put it, “We’ve put a lot of thought and effort into the service we provide and how we present ourselves… Read more »


Tide’s Laundry Pod Peeps: America’s Favorite Easter Treat Is Here To Ruin Your Laundry

When Cascade released their Pumpkin Spice Scented Dishwasher Detergent last fall to great fanfare, the public quickly learned the downside to such gimmicks. The hint of pumpkin spice flavor that remained after a cleaning cycle was reported to affect the taste of everything from orange juice to re-heated Runzas. The negative press and customer service… Read more »


Your Hometown Hero for the Holidays

Coming fast on the heels of the holidays is cold weather. As winter begins to bite through our coats, we all want to retreat inside our homes to bask in the warmth of fires, feasts and families. But it’s essential that we not lose sight of those on the edges of our communities, people and… Read more »


Your Hometown Hero is Now Factory-Certified by Sub-Zero / Wolf & ASKO

Hometown Hero Appliance Repair is honored and thrilled to announce that we have been handpicked by Sub-Zero / Wolf to be their Factory Certified Servicer for the greater Omaha area. While Sub-Zero is our latest factory certification, it certainly isn’t our only. We are also proud factory certified servicers for LG, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Magic Chef, Ewave, Speed… Read more »


Sub-Zero refrigerator training session

You might wonder, “how exactly does Hometown Hero Appliance Repair keep their technicians at the top of their game?” Well, that’s a great question. The answer, of course, is training, training, training. Most recently we sent two of our veteran Sub-Zero and refrigerator technicians up to the factory training school in Fitchburg, Wisconsin to tour the… Read more »