Certified Installs

Did you know that your oven’s self-cleaning function can cause damage?

doug — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 21:25:53 +0000

As professional appliance installers, we’ve seen plenty of situations where ovens go out right before the a family event. That can put your plans at risk and be very frustrating.

Ovens with high-heat cleaning functions can make it easier for you to clean your oven. The cleaning cycle uses extreme heat (sometimes up to 875 degrees). The oven chars any food remains in your oven making it easier to clear away.

While it does make cleaning easier, repeatedly subjecting your oven to such extreme heat can prematurely wear out some of its internal components such as electrical connectors and circuit boards. This can cause your oven to stop working prematurely.

We recommend that you do not use your high-heat self-cleaning function. Rather, we recommend using steam to clean your oven. Some ovens have steam cleaning functions built-in that use water and lower heat to clean the oven.

If that is not avialable, you can add a half-cup to a cup of water to an oven-safe pan and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Continue to heat the oven until the water is evaporated. Once evaporated, begin cleaning your oven.

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Why do I need to replace my water and drain lines when I get a new dishwasher?

doug — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:18:22 +0000

It seems a little unfair! You just purchased a brand new dishwasher and your salesperson is telling you that you need to replace your waterline, drain line and connection elbow.

There are important reasons to replace these items when you replace your dishwasher.

Before you give your salesperson a hard time, remember that a small leak, especially undetected can cause a lot of damage over time. While the outside of the waterline may look just fine, the gaskets both in the ninety degree elbow and the waterline are the first points of failure.

These gaskets can grow harder or more brittle over time and prevent a water-tight connection after they are disconnected from your original dishwasher.

Furthermore, when they are originally connected, they form a groove on the surface of the gasket that remains even after it is disconnected. The second appliance connected to the old fitting will have a much harder time forming a tight seal.

Normally, you will purchase an installation kit from the retail store where you purchase your appliance. If you forget to purchase one, your Certified installer carries extras on his truck. This will result in an additional charge.

The same applies to drain lines. Normally, the dishwasher will come with a new drain line from the manufacturer, but if you require a drain-line extension due to a larger-than-normal distance between your dishwasher and your sink, you should replace the drain line as well. Food and water deposits can cause the inside of your drain line to become coated and constricted. Replacing the drain line when you replace your dishwasher allows you to start with a clean slate.

For helpful information for those about to have a new dishwasher installed, visit our Dishwasher Service Page.

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Get an extra year added to your warranty for Wolf, Sub Zero and Cove products!

doug — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 18:22:22 +0000

If you purchased a Wolf, Sub Zero or Cove product from a qualified retailer and have Certified Installs complete your installation, you may be qualified to receive an additional year on your product warranty.

Here’s how it works:

When we receive an order from your retail store, we will enter the order into our system. You will receive a welcome text message with our contact information inviting you to confirm your appointment. When you call in, we will review some basic information with you and confirm your appointment. If we don’t hear from you, we will attempt to reach you via text and phone to confirm your appointment before your scheduled date.

On the day of the appointment, you will receive a reminder text and our technician will call you when he is on his way to your home.

Once the installation is complete, he will take some pictures of your appliances including the model and serial number, etc. That information will be added to our data system and our customer service team will be prompted to submit your installation information to the manufacturer. It ususally takes a few days for your information to be submitted to the manufacturer.

Once registration is complete, you should be eligible for the extra warranty. For more information on these warranties, visit the manufacturer’s warranty site.

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What is a High Loop?

doug — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 21:16:40 +0000

What is a high loop?

A high loop relates to the way that your dishwasher drain line is connected through the cabinetry to your disposal or plumbing under your sink.

Rather than having your drain line run along the bottom of the cabinet and up into your disposal, a properly installed high loop is installed in such a way that as the drain line leaves your disposal, it goes up and is securely attached to a high point in your cabinet as it runs to the dishwasher.

This can be done using clamps or straps or some other fastening device that securely attaches the drain line to the cabinet wall or countertop without crushing the line itself.

Why is a high loop important?

The high loop is critical in the process of installing your dishwasher. If the high loop is not installed, food and water from your sink and disposal can collect at the low point of the drain line. This can cause foul water or decaying food to back up into your dishwasher causing odors or malfunction.

How should a high loop be installed?

Installers often use a bracket attached to an upper portion of the cabinet or the bottom of the countertop to permanently hold the drain line in that elevated position. Alternatively, some use zip ties.

This picture illustrates what you will see under your sink if a high loop is installed. You’ll see the dishwasher drain line exiting the disposal and then going up to the top of your cabinet as it makes its way to your dishwasher.

This may seem like a small detail but it can cause problems for you if its not done correctly.

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Certified Technicians are a little “Different”

doug — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 01:29:35 +0000

Why do Certified Technicians get better reviews on average than other installation companies. The answer is simple: They are better!

Why are Certified Techs better? Here are a few reasons:

We hire better. Certified is always hiring. We constantly scour websites and other sources for good employees. We search for intelligent, capable people that show a history of stability. All technicians must pass a background check and drug test and have a good driving record before they begin working.
We train better. New employees are put through an evaluation period before they begin training. They are then assigned to a professional trainer where they learn all aspects of installation, customer communication, and record keeping. Trainees must pass a live evaluation before they are able to visit customers without a trainer.
We watch carefully. We monitor technicians carefully. We constantly measure efficiency, reliability, customer comments, ratings, vehicle safety, etc., and communicate that information to the technician. Any issues are dealt with quickly and professionally.
We look better. Technicians are required to wear uniforms and drive professionally labeled vehicles.

Great teams to not happen by accident. Certified technicians are the heart of our business and so we take great care to make sure they are the best.

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A word about corroded valves

doug — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 02:49:06 +0000

When we show up to install a dishwasher, we need to turn off the water in order to remove the old unit and install the new one. The dishwasher waterline is typically connected to a valve under your kitchen sink.

Frequently, we find that this valve is corroded and no longer works. The water cannot be shut off with that valve. We then have to search for your home’s main water shut off valve.

Not all valves are the same

One reason that so many valves are corroded is that it is common to use low-cost gate valves when construcing a home.

We only use high-quality stainless steel quarter-turn ball valves to replace those in your home. These valves last significantly longer and have many fewer internal corrosion issues.

Ball Valves vs Gate Valves

With gate valves, the internal stem that connects the knob to the gate becomes increasingly likely to fail. Ball valves are more effective at forming a tight seal and have more reliability and longevity than gate valves, but tend to be more expensive.

Unfortunately, because ball valves can open and close immediately, they are more likely than gate valves to cause water hammer.

When a valve is quickly closed on water moving at high pressure through pipes, it can cause shock waves through the plumbing that create a hammering sound.

Under high enough pressure, water hammer can cause a pipe to weaken and break. For that reason, users are advised to turn the ball valve lever slowly to avoid water hammer.

We can help

In addition to installing your new appliance, your installer is trained to replace the corroded valve under your sink and will typically ask you if you would like to have that done. Additional charges apply.

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Is it dangerous to cook indoors?

doug — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 02:48:52 +0000

Regardless of your cooking method (whether you cook with gas, electricity or even wood) any type of indoor cooking can create air pollution.

Gas ranges can emit carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other pollutants. Heating cooking oil, fat and other ingredients at high temperatures can create high levels of pollutants.

These byproducts of the cooking process can result in health problems such as nose and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue and nausea and can be particularly problematic for those with breathing conditions such as asthma or lung disease.

“The best way to ventilate your kitchen is to use a properly-installed, high efficiency range hood over your stove. A high efficiency range hood has a high cubic feet per minute (cfm) rating and a low sones (noise) rating”.

Certified technicians can install a high efficiency hood and venting system which forces many of these polutants outside your home.

Work with your retailer to select your hood and then call Certified!

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/indoor-air-pollution-cooking

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