Welcome to our comprehensive home appliance guide, where you can get expert level info on everything from purchasing and installing new appliances to improving or repairing existing appliances. 

The Homeowner's Guide to Home Appliances

OAKLAND — Have you noticed that your dryer isn’t working as well as it used to? Is it taking longer to dry your clothes? Is your dried laundry full of loose lint? Believe it or not, these issues can all stem from a clogged lint filter. When a dryer’s lint filter isn’t cleaned between loads, it can inhibit operating efficiency and result in longer drying times. Plus, when the filter is full, it can’t properly capture lint, which will instead end up all over your freshly dried clothes. What’s more, cleaning your lint filter is an important safety measure. Every year, thousands of house fires are caused by dryers, and a good number of these result from clogged lint filters. Read more

<h1>Moshe Spund: Assembling a Livelihood</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
OAKLAND — As a kid, Moshe Spund enjoyed taking things apart and reassembling them, but he never thought he’d one day make a career out of it. “I’ve always had an interest in knowing how things work,” he affirms. “To me, it’s like a puzzle. If something isn’t working right, I enjoy the challenge of figuring out what’s causing it and how to repair it. Still, I never considered a career in appliance repair until I saw an online job listing. When I went in for the interview, I was skeptical, but once I started, I fell in love with the trade.”
In 2018 (roughly five years after he started as an appliance repair technician), Moshe and his longtime friend, Natan Framowitz, decided to join forces and start their own appliance repair company. “Natan and I have known each other since we were kids, and after I started doing appliance repair, I convinced him to join me in the trade. Eventually, we wanted to be more independent and provide better service for our clients, so we started our own business.”
Today, as owner of FixEm Appliance Repair, Moshe says his favorite part of his job is interacting with customers. “I enjoy meeting new people, getting to know them, hearing their stories and sharing some of mine. Along the way, I try to provide the best service I can and offer advice on appliance maintenance.”
A resident of Richmond, Moshe spends the bulk of his free time outside. “I’m a pretty outdoorsy guy, so I try to enjoy the California weather as much as possible,” he affirms. “I enjoy going hiking, skiing, and camping in places like Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.”
In his life and career, Moshe espouses the value of positivity. “I try to do at least one positive thing every day,” he says. “Whether I’m dealing with a client or a complete stranger, I make it a point to be kind and act in a selfless manner. I don’t like negativity—I’m all about keeping things positive and doing right by others.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Moshe says he’d probably start a new business. “I like to keep busy. I have a hard time imagining a life of just sitting on a beach and drinking margaritas. That may be fun for a while, but it would get old pretty fast.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What was your first job?
A: I was an assistant manager of the furniture department at Office Depot.
Q: Music or talk radio?
A: Talk radio. I listen to NPR a lot.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: India.
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: I like healthy snacks like fruit.
Q: What’s the most death-defying feat you’ve ever attempted?
A: A while back, I was working on acquiring a skydiving license. I stopped after six or seven jumps, but I’m still hoping to go back and complete it one day.

Owner

A glimpse into the life and career of Moshe Spund, owner of FixEm Appliance Repair.

Moshe Spund is owner of FixEm Appliance Repair, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (925) 386-6928 or by email.

Moshe Spund: Assembling a Livelihood

OAKLAND — These days, most ovens come with a feature called “self-clean.” At first glance, this seems like a great feature—after all, if your oven cleans itself, that’s one less task you have to worry about. However, as convenient as it sounds, this feature can potentially cause serious problems. When in self-clean mode, an oven will reach an extremely high temperature. In some instances, this extreme heat can actually cause the oven’s control board to overheat and burn out. Not surprisingly, this will cause the oven to shut off and become inoperable. What’s worse, since the oven door locks shut during self-clean (a protective measure to ensure no one opens it during cleaning), Read more

<h1>Natan Framowitz: Unlocking Potential</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
OAKLAND — Natan Framowitz might never have known he had a talent for appliance repair were it not for the encouragement of a close friend. “Around 2014, my longtime friend, Mo, started doing appliance repairs and convinced me that I should join him in the field,” he recounts. “I was hesitant at first—the idea of people relying on me to fix their appliances was a bit intimidating. But soon after I started, I realized I had a knack for it. I found I was able to fix things that other technicians couldn’t, and it basically became second nature.”
In 2018, after three years working together at the same company, Natan and Mo decided to team up and start their own appliance repair business. Today, as co-owner of FixEm Appliance Repair, Natan says his favorite part of his job is interacting with customers. “Doing service calls gives me the opportunity to meet a lot more people than I would otherwise. Even though I’m only there for an hour or so, I enjoy talking with customers and making those small connections.”
A resident of Oakland, Natan spends the bulk of his time outside of work on creative pursuits. “My main hobby is making music,” he details. “That’s how I relax—whenever I’m stressed, I just grab my guitar and start playing, and the whole world gets erased. I’m also in the midst of building my own acoustic guitar.”
In his life and career, Natan espouses the value of believing in one’s self. “Never give up on your goals—believe in yourself and you’ll get there,” he says. “Even if you’re unsure whether you’ll succeed, don’t be afraid to try. As I mentioned earlier, I was hesitant about doing appliance repair, but I didn’t let my doubts stop me. Because of that, I ended up unlocking potential I didn’t even know I had. So, don’t be afraid to take that first step. You never know what hidden talents you may discover.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Natan says he’d spend more time making music. “I’d probably build a little home recording studio where I could chill out and pass the time exploring music.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: If you could immediately master any musical instrument, what would you choose?
A: The bagpipes.
Q: What kinds of music do you like? 
A: I mainly enjoy rock and heavy metal, but lately I’ve really been getting into jazz.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: Before I started doing appliance repair, I was more of a night owl, but I’ve since become an early bird out of necessity.
Q: What’s your favorite dessert?
A: Vanilla ice cream.
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I would go back to a time before cellphones and social media, when people had more palpable connections with each other.

A glimpse into the life and career of Natan Framowitz, co-owner of FixEm Appliance Repair in Oakland.

Natan Framowitz is owner of FixEm Appliance Repair, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (925) 386-6928 or by email.

Natan Framowitz: Unlocking Potential

COTATI — Cleaning your stovetop may seem like a simple task, but if you aren’t careful, you can accidently cause problems with its functionality. In particular, you need to prevent moisture from getting into the wrong places. For example, if the stove’s burners get exposed to too much cleaning solution, they can cease to function until they dry. Additionally, if moisture gets behind the control knobs, it can potentially affect the electrical components directly behind them. To prevent these types of problems, it’s important to use the right amount of cleaner on your stovetop and apply it correctly. Rather than spraying the cleaning solution directly onto the stovetop, spray it onto the cloth you’re using to wipe it down. Read more

<h1>Dane Marcy: Mechanically Motivated</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
COTATI — When asked what moved him to become an appliance repair technician, Dane Marcy says he was merely recapturing a missed opportunity. “I actually should’ve started working in appliance repair a lot sooner,” he says. “I’ve always been mechanically inclined—as a boy, I used to tinker around with everything from bikes to lawnmowers. When I was a teenager, my dad’s fiancée worked for an appliance company and I wanted to get a job there. However, it was too far from where I lived and it didn’t make sense for me to commute for $7 an hour.”
After high school, Dane started working in the construction field, only to have his professional aspirations put on hold following the 2008 recession. Fortunately, just as one career path was coming to an end, he stumbled upon another. “I was browsing online one day and saw an ad for an appliance repair technician. It reminded me of the job I’d missed out on as a young man, and it still sounded fun, so I applied. I was hired, and since the day I started, I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Today, as service manager at Kelly’s Appliance Center, Dane says he enjoys both the technical and customer service aspects of his job. “I enjoy diagnosing problems, especially the tricky ones, where you really have to dive into the machine and use your deductive skills. I also like making customers happy. When I’m able to get someone’s refrigerator or washer working again, it makes their day, which makes mine in turn.”
A resident of Rohnert Park (where he lives with his wife, Jessica, and their daughter), Dane spends his free time on a variety of pastimes, from outdoor activities to brewing beer. “I love getting out and going camping, fishing, snowboarding, off-roading—basically, anything related to the outdoors,” he affirms. “I also brew beer at home, especially in the winter when there’s not as much to do outside. Other than that, I like to read and just tinker around with various projects I have going in my garage.”
In regard to his professional career, Dane espouses the importance of honesty. “I was raised by a single mom and we didn’t have much money,” he recounts. “When the washer or fridge would break down and she had to call a repairman, she was always worried about getting ripped off. Now that I’m an appliance specialist, I keep that perspective in mind when dealing with customers. I try to put them at ease by being honest and making the experience as positive as possible.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Dane says he’d become a highly refined mountain man. “If I could afford it, I’d probably buy a home in the mountains and spend my days fishing, hunting, and hanging out with my family.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite brewery? 
A: Mission Brewery in San Diego.
Q: What’s the most death-defying feat you’ve ever attempted? 
A: Attempting tricks while snowboarding. One time I came pretty close to being hospitalized.
Q: Who makes you laugh? 
A: My wife.
Q: Do you collect anything? 
A: Old or unusual clocks. My grandmother used to collect them, so I’ve sort of carried that on. I don’t have too many, but if I’m at a garage sale and see a neat one, I might pick it up.
Q: What’s your favorite snack? 
A: Little Debbie Swiss Rolls.

Service Manager

Dane Marcy: Mechanically Motivated By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter COTATI — When asked what moved him to become an appliance repair technician, Dane Marcy says he was merely recapturing a missed opportunity. “I actually should’ve started working in appliance repair a lot sooner,” he says. “I’ve always been mechanically inclined—as a boy, I used to tinker around with everything from bikes to lawnmowers. When I was a teenager, my dad’s fiancée worked for an appliance company and I wanted to get a job there. However, it was too far from where I lived and it didn’t make sense for me to commute for $7 an hour.” After high school, Read more

Dane Marcy is service manager of Kelly’s Appliance Center, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (415) 523-0016 or by email.

Dane Marcy: Mechanically Motivated

SAN RAFAEL — When purchasing a new stove or refrigerator, many homeowners mistakenly assume these types of appliances come in standard sizes. In reality, appliance sizes can vary considerably, so before you visit your local retailer, it’s important to measure the space where your new appliance will go. Since there’s no such thing as a “plumb” home, thoroughness is crucial for getting an accurate measurement of your space. For example, if you’re measuring for a new refrigerator, there are a number of dimensions you need to take into account. Face the refrigerator and measure its height on the left side from the floor up to the highest obstacle (either the ceiling or a cabinet). Read more

<h1>Mike Patterson: Appliance Ace</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
SAN RAFAEL — Mike Patterson was pursuing a career in the wine industry when a series of casual interactions led him to an entirely different profession. “Many years ago, I was part of a group of guys that met regularly for breakfast,” he recounts. “One of these gentlemen owned a small appliance business and kept trying to convince me to work for him. He wanted to train me in the business so I could take over after he retired—I guess he saw something in me that impressed him.” After much persuasion, Mike decided to accept the offer and soon made a new career for himself in the appliance industry. “I found that I really liked working with appliances, from dealing with different challenges to helping customers find the right products for their needs.”
Having previously owned three separate appliance businesses, Mike now works in a part-time sales position at Martin &amp; Harris Appliances. “It’s kind of refreshing to be an ordinary employee again,” he says. “There’s definitely less pressure than when I was an owner.” When asked his favorite part of his job, Mike says he simply enjoys making customers happy. “I truly take each of my customers to heart, and I love to see the smiles on their faces when they get the kitchens they’ve always wanted. That’s the reason I continue to do what I do.”
A longtime resident of San Rafael, Mike expresses his appreciation for the diverse character of both work and life in the Bay Area. “My favorite part about being in the Bay Area is the sheer variety of things to do and see. I don’t think you could do it all in a single lifetime! The same goes for working here—it’s never routine; it’s different every day.”
Outside of work, Mike engages in a number of pastimes, from relaxing at his lake house to volunteering his time to charitable events. “I spend as much time as I can up at my lake house, boating around the lake and just kicking back and relaxing,” he says. “I’m also a member of the Elks, and I enjoy helping out with fundraisers and other events they put on. Next to the federal government, the Elks are the largest contributor to educational scholarships, and they’re also very big with the veterans, so I like being part of that.”
In his life and career, Mike believes it’s important to find a balance between living in the present and saving for the future. “My grandfather, who was the second most important man in my life, used to say, ‘You should live your life for today, because tomorrow is promised to no one; however, you should save a little something for tomorrow, too.’ As a young man, that had me scratching my head, but after all these years, I think I’ve finally figured it out.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he retired tomorrow, Mike gives a two-tiered response. “The first thing I’d do is take my boss out to lunch and wish him well in his continued business ventures. Then, I’d take a trip to Italy, because I love it there and haven’t been in a long time.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Coffee or tea? 
A: Tea.
Q: What’s your favorite local winery? 
A: I have two: Whitehall Lane Winery and Stags’ Leap, both of which are in Napa.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? 
A: If I don’t have anything going on, I like to just crack the window open and listen to the rain.
Q: The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? 
A: The Beatles.
Q: How do you like your eggs? 
A: Scrambled.

Mike Patterson: Appliance Ace By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter SAN RAFAEL — Mike Patterson was pursuing a career in the wine industry when a series of casual interactions led him to an entirely different profession. “Many years ago, I was part of a group of guys that met regularly for breakfast,” he recounts. “One of these gentlemen owned a small appliance business and kept trying to convince me to work for him. He wanted to train me in the business so I could take over after he retired—I guess he saw something in me that impressed him.” After much persuasion, Mike decided to accept the offer and soon made a new career for himself in the appliance industry. Read more

Mike Patterson is a sales associate at Martin &amp; Harris Appliances, a Diamond Certified company since 2009. He can be reached at (415) 347-6979 or by email.

Mike Patterson: Appliance Ace

Get expert info on purchasing and installing new appliances, improving or repairing existing appliances, and more.

Companies Rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise

Diamond Certified

this is testing for multicategory adding phase 2 sfsfsdfsdfsdfsdfsfsdf dfadadaddsa23423424234sdsd q32323qqwqwqw sasasas asasas 343

this is testing for multicategory adding phase 2

The Homeowner's Guide to Home Appliances

Sections in this guide

Search this Guide

What to Know at Each Step of Your Project

Tools in this Guide

The Diamond Certified Resource Home Appliances Blog

Search the Diamond Certified Resource Home Appliances Blog

Diamond Certified Expert Contributors Home Appliances

Search
Diamond Certified Expert Contributions

More
Diamond Certified Expert Contributors

Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member Today!

Consumers Rely on Diamond Certified Resource

See Other Guides

The Homeowner's Guide to Home Appliances

Sections in this guide

Search this Guide

What to Know at Each Step of Your Project

Tools in this Guide

The Diamond Certified Resource Home Appliances Blog

Search the Diamond Certified Resource Home Appliances Blog

Diamond Certified Expert Contributors Home Appliances

Search Diamond Certified Expert Contributions

More Diamond Certified Expert Contributors

Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member Today!

Consumers Rely on Diamond Certified Resource

See Other Guides

Browse Our Guides

Search
Diamond Certified Expert Contributions

More
Diamond Certified Expert Contributors