Why Your Next Fridge or Dishwasher Might Be on Backorder

Navigating rising costs, limited stock, and global supply chain shifts as a homeowner

When your refrigerator stops cooling or your washing machine starts shaking like a jet engine, the last thing you want is sticker shock at the store—or a long wait for a backordered part. But thanks to a new round of tariffs recently enacted by President Donald Trump, appliance buyers and repair customers may soon find themselves caught up in the ripples of global trade policy.

Even if you don’t follow politics, these new tariffs are worth paying attention to—because they will affect the price (and availability) of everything from dishwashers to dryers in the coming months.

Why Tariffs Affect Appliances (and More)

At their core, tariffs are taxes on imported goods. Companies that buy products or components from other countries—like motors from China or electronics from South Korea—now have to pay more at the border. That extra cost often gets passed down the line to you, the customer.

Courtesy of Chanaka

Trump’s proposed plan included a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and steeper levies on goods from specific countries like China. And since appliances rely on international parts and labor—even for brands labeled “Made in the USA”—the impact will be felt across the board.

How the Appliance Supply Chain Actually Works

Modern appliances are global jigsaw puzzles. A single washing machine might include:

A motor from China

Circuit boards from South Korea

Steel framing from Germany

Plastic housing molded in Mexico

Final assembly in Vietnam

Even U.S.-based manufacturing isn’t immune. American-made dishwashers or refrigerators often use imported steel and aluminum, which are now tariff targets too. That means higher production costs, even for companies trying to keep operations stateside.

And that’s where the supply chain bottlenecks begin.

What Homeowners Can Expect in the Short Term

If you’re wondering whether appliance prices will jump overnight—the answer is, not exactly. Some retailers and manufacturers have been stockpiling parts and finished goods to buy time. These “safety stock” reserves may delay the effects for a few weeks or months.

But once those inventories run low, prices are expected to climb. In fact, experts predict some common household appliances could see price hikes of 10–25%, depending on the model and how many of its parts are impacted by tariffs.

Here’s what that might look like:

Refrigerators & Freezers: $150–$500 increase (especially models made in Mexico)

Washing Machines & Dryers: $100–$400 increase (Samsung and Whirlpool models affected)

Microwaves & Ovens: $50–$200 increase (reliant on Canadian and Mexican components)

Dishwashers: $75–$300 increase (many assembled in Canada or with Canadian parts)

Courtesy of Tiger Lily

And for repairs? Replacement parts might be harder to find and slower to ship—especially for older models with less common components.

What You Can Do Now

For Dallas-area homeowners, here’s how to stay ahead of potential supply chain delays and cost hikes:

If You’ve Been Thinking About Upgrading, Don’t Wait

Appliances nearing the end of their lifespan (especially 8+ years old) are good candidates for replacement now—before prices go up.

Look for Open-Box or Clearance Sales

Retailers will likely try to clear pre-tariff inventory quickly. If you can find last year’s model, you might save a bundle.

Consider Repairing Instead of Replacing

If your appliance has a minor issue, repair might be more cost-effective. Local services can often fix problems for less than the cost of a new unit—and without the supply chain headaches.

Plan Ahead for Repairs

If you’ve got a laundry machine or fridge with a known quirk, don’t wait for it to fully fail. Parts may take longer to source, and scheduling repairs will get more competitive.

How This Affects Dallas Homeowners

For homeowners in the Dallas area, this means more than just sticker shock at the appliance store. Expect longer wait times for appliance deliveries, especially for specialty or high-efficiency models. Items that rely on imported parts—like dishwashers with smart features, energy-efficient water heaters, or smart home-compatible appliances—may see the sharpest delays and price hikes. Even appliances labeled "Made in the USA" can still include imported steel, plastic, or internal electronics. So while local retailers may try to soften the blow, once pre-tariff inventory runs out, prices will go up—and stock could get thin.

The Bottom Line: Be Prepared, Not Panicked

While the full extent of Trump’s proposed tariffs is still unfolding, one thing’s clear: global supply chains are complicated, and even small changes in trade policy can create big ripple effects for consumers.

If you’re in the market for a new appliance—or know yours is on borrowed time—it pays to stay informed, plan ahead, and act when it makes financial sense. Whether you're upgrading your kitchen or just trying to keep your washer running another year, a little forethought can go a long way in avoiding surprise costs.

And as always, your local appliance repair experts are here to help. At Appliance Rescue Service, we’re keeping a close eye on how tariffs impact availability and pricing—and we’re ready to guide Dallas homeowners through these shifting times with honest advice and reliable service.

Tariff Trouble: Why Buying New Appliances Just Got Pricier

Tariffs are more than a trade term—they’re shaping how much you’ll spend on your next appliance.

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t think about tariffs until they start messing with our wallets. And unless you’re deep into economics or international trade, the topic can feel like a blur of taxes, trade wars, and political debates. But when those abstract policies start affecting the price of everyday things—like your fridge, your washer, or even your coffeemaker—it suddenly becomes very real.

Courtesy of Markus Winkler

With new tariffs rolling out under President Trump’s administration, a lot of folks are asking: What does this actually mean for me? Will prices spike? Should I buy now or wait it out? And why does it seem like even the smallest appliance is getting caught up in all of this?

Let’s break it all down—plain and simple—so you know what’s happening, who it’s going to hit, and how it might change your next appliance purchase.

What Are Tariffs? 

Although many of us have our opinions on whether tariffs are good or bad, let’s take a look at what they are. 

Tariffs are taxes placed by the government on goods brought in from other countries. For example, if a company wants to buy phones from South Korea to sell here in the US. There’s a tax for bringing in goods from outside the country, rather than buying from local suppliers. 

That’s the basics. 

When it comes to the tariffs that President Trump is enacting, it hits home appliances on multiple levels. 

First we have the varying charges on goods imported from different countries. These are based on how that country has interacted with the US, and the tariffs that they charge us. There’s a complicated formula that was used, but that’s not relevant. 

Second, you have across the board tariffs that are being charged on all imported home appliances. 

Finally, you have tariffs that are being applied to steel and aluminum, which will also affect the price of goods made from those materials. 

Who Will Be Affected By Tariffs? 

In theory, tariffs are meant to increase our nation’s income, by taxing incoming goods.They are meant to help our economy by making imported products more expensive. This encourages businesses to buy and sell goods made in the United States instead.

However, what happens when companies are charged through the nose to bring in goods from other countries? We, the consumers, get charged through the nose. Prices go up because materials cost more, because of the tariffs themselves, and because supply is shrinking.

Courtesy of Freddy

So, in theory the companies who are importing goods will be paying. In practice? It’ll be us. 

How Will Tariffs Affect Buying New Appliances—And Why? 

Now for the meat of things. How are the tariffs going to affect buying new appliances? 

Some companies preempted the tariffs going into effect by raising prices ahead of time. Thermador, LG, GE, and Sub-Zero all did this. Thermador and LG both raised their Prices in January, GE raised theirs in February and Sub-Zero raised theirs in March. While none of these hikes were more than 25% at the time, it’s unclear how much they’ll go up in response to the  April 3rd tariffs.  

Here’s a breakdown of what we’re likely to see  for all of the different appliances.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Many major brands are manufactured in Mexico, so they’ll be hit with the tariffs for importing from there.  

Washing Machines & Dryers

Samsung and Whirlpool both have assembly plants in Mexico, again, import tariffs from Mexico. 

Microwaves & Ovens

Both have a large number of pieces (if not their entirety) made of steel and aluminum, even as many are assembled in the US. This means that they get hit with the charge for steel and aluminum imports. 

Gas Grills

Almost half of the choices you see in the store are all made in China, so they’ll get hit with the highest tariff currently on the books. 

Coffeemakers 

Yup. Even our coffeemakers are going to get hit since most of them from KitchenAid to Thermador are imported. 

Courtesy of Gerd Altmann

As tariffs go into effect, companies will start to bring in fewer units to limit how much they’re paying at one time. If they can’t guarantee the capability of selling what they have, they aren’t going to bring it in. This will mean we’ll start to see availability issues as prices are rising, or you’ll be charged extra to ensure that you get what you wanted. 

In fact, kitchen appliances are experiencing a double whammy: not only are many finished products imported, but even U.S.-made models rely on foreign steel and components now subject to tariffs. That means manufacturers face increased costs on multiple fronts — and consumers foot the bill.

An important thing to consider is that President Trump has already given a 90 day pause on certain tariffs, as well as being ‘open to negotiation’ from certain countries. So, trying to predict how and when prices will rise or fall is not worth the time. The situation is in flux from one day to the next, and we don’t know how it will shake out or how long it will take for things to settle. For that one, you can look back at how tariffs affect washing machines in President Trump’s first term. 

And whether shoppers feel panicked or patient often has little to do with pricing spreadsheets and everything to do with political outlook. Those hoping tariffs will pay off long-term are often more willing to ride out the discomfort — while others, feeling blindsided, are scrambling to buy before things get worse.

While tariffs may change the price tag on new appliances, one thing that won’t change is the value of a well-timed repair. If your current appliances are still hanging in there but acting up, our team at Appliance Rescue Service can help you extend their lifespan and avoid steep replacement costs. Give us a call—we're here to keep your home running smoothly, no matter what the market looks like.

Website
Call:  (214) 599-0055

Quick Comfort: Ravioli and Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Bake

A hearty, comforting bake that brings family and flavor together.

Ravioli for dinner might seem a little boring... But it's quick and convenient and filling, and even the pickiest eaters still enjoy it. So this week we decided to fancy it up some, add a protein and please the grownups at the table too.

Ingredients:

6 medium chicken breasts

3 Roma tomatoes

8 ounces mozzarella cheese

package frozen ravioli

24+ ounces tomato sauce

2 teaspoons rubbed sage

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon parsley

parmesan cheese, to taste

salt and pepper, to taste

Tools:

9x 13 baking dish

knife

cutting board

plates or bowls to hold cut foods for later assembly

spoon

toothpicks

aluminum foil

meat thermometer

can opener (if canned sauce instead of jarred)

As always, please wash any produce that didn't make its way to your kitchen ready to eat.

Preheat the oven to 350 and grab a 9x13 baking dish. We spritzed the bottom and sides of the dish with spray oil to make cleanup easier later. Set the dish close to the cutting board so you'll save steps on the assembly stage.

Pop open your can or jar of tomato sauce. Drip some into the baking dish and use a spoon to spread it into a thin layer. Place a layer of frozen ravioli (we used spinach and herb ravioli just because we enjoy them; feel free to use any frozen ravioli you like, although we would probably avoid beef for this dinner). Spread some tomato sauce on the ravioli, place a second layer of ravioli and cover that in sauce.

Repeat until you either run out of ravioli or until you only have an inch of headspace in the pan. By our estimate, a standard 9x13 Pyrex will fit about 45 jumbo ravioli in three layers with 24 ounces of sauce and still have just enough room for the the chicken breast, cheese and tomatoes without being over-full.

There's a chance you maybe do what we did at this point: realize you want more ravioli than will fit in the pan with the chicken. There's a teenage boy in this house, and we go through a LOT of pasta. We hastily grabbed and greased a second pan to cook the chicken separately. You'll notice in the photos that there is no bed of ravioli under the chicken.

Take your knife and cut the mozzarella into 12-15 thin slices and set them aside. Slice your tomatoes as thin as you like, aiming for 18 slices, and move those to another dish to clear the cutting board. We diced any odd shaped pieces left over and set them with the slices.

Place a chicken breast on the cutting board and, using a sharp knife, cut in from one side to butterfly the meat. Don't cut all the way through; you want the chicken breast open but intact on one side. Slide two or more slices of tomato and a slice of cheese into the split, close the chicken breast back up, and pin it closed with a toothpick if it flops open. Repeat for the five remaining chicken breasts.

Transfer the stuffed chicken breasts to the baking dish, on top of the ravioli (if you eat normal person amounts of pasta, at least). Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the chicken, because handling raw meat is kind of gross and cross contamination is dangerous.

Drop your remaining slices and chunks of tomato on top of the chicken. Sprinkle on the rosemary, sage, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper. Lay the remaining slices of cheese over top of the tomatoes and spices. Sprinkle with some dried parmesan cheese if desired.

Cover the pan tightly in aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven at the the 35 minute mark, pull the foil off, and bake your meal another 15-20 minutes uncovered.

These instructions apply to both pans if you also ended up cooking the ravioli and the chicken separately. To ensure your chicken is cooked all the way though, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the breast - your goal is 165 degrees.

Allow everything to cool in the pan for at least five minutes before serving. Add a veggie of your choice to complete the meal.

Cooking for family and friends is much more fun when your appliances work like they should. If your oven, stove, or any kitchen sidekick is giving you trouble, give Appliance Rescue Service a shout. We’ll help keep everything running smooth, so you can focus on the good stuff — like sharing meals and making memories.

Website: 

Call:  (214) 599-0055

Why Your Home Works Harder When the Weather Changes

Seasonal shifts aren't just about wardrobe changes — your home feels them too!

When it comes to how we use our energy around the house, we often think about what we have plugged in. But energy usage is just as much about what time of day we use things and what effects the weather and seasons are having on our home. There are even studies being done that show how the weather around us affects our day-to-day energy usage.  This week, we are looking at some of the weird ways that the weather can affect your home and your appliances.  Stick with us to find a things you might not have heard before. 

How Temperature Affects Your Energy Usage.

Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, temperature has been found to be the most important factor influencing energy usage at home.

Believe it or not, our eco-conscious choices very easily go out the window during summer. We focus throughout a lot of the year on making responsible choices but then when it gets hot, all we can think about is cooling off. (And given the temperatures we're already seeing just in April, who can be surprised?)

The appliances and electronics around your home are much the same. The hotter it is outside, the harder they work because the cooling systems inside them have to struggle to get them cooled off. It’s even worse if they are coated in dust, which is why we always advise cleaning the back and sides of your appliances every season. 

How Humidity Affects Your Energy Usage

High humidity can also affect how much energy your home is using as dehumidifiers are energy hungry. 

Courtesy of minipuddel

The more humid it is, the warmer we feel. Research has shown just a 10% increase in humidity leads to increased AC usage.

And The Seasons Affect Our Energy Usage.

The light levels outside also affect our energy usage during winter. We want more light and the only way to get that is by turning one on. Especially with overcast and cloudy days that are common during the season.

Appliances In General 

Believe it or not your electric water heater is typically the second highest energy consumer in your home. The only thing that beats it out is your HVAC system. On standard a family of four with a roughly 50 gallon tank, we'll use 3,200 kwh per year. 

Courtesy of mikhail-nilov

That is far above anything else in your home. The closest is your refrigerator and freezer which is 350 kwh. Then comes your dishwasher at 200, your oven at 130 and your washing machine at 100. 

Your refrigerator will also struggle when it's more humid as it works to combat moisture and prevent spoilage.

During spring, the filters for our HVACs and air purifiers need to be changed out or cleaned regularly because of the high pollen count. If those filters get clogged, they have to work harder and will start to eat power. 

It's also important to take good care of your washing machine right now, as most of us look at spring as the time to refresh all of our bedding and clothes. Especially when we're switching out between wardrobes. Which means that your washer is doing a lot of work. 

During summer, your HVAC can easily end up being half of your electric bill as we struggle to combat the high heat and humidity of the Dallas area.

Your electric company will often charge you by time of use or you might see it on your bill as t o u. They measure and charge based on what time of day it is and the demand on electricity. Peak hours during the summer are typically between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. . This is where tips like using your washer and dishwasher at night come from.

 If you’re reading this because your electric bill has gone up in recent months and you still can't figure out why, after reading this article, give us a call. It could be that your appliances are struggling in some other way. You can reach us via our website or by giving us a call. Appliance Rescue Service will always work with you to try and find a time and date that works best for you for when we can send out our technicians to get your home running smoothly again.

As the weather heats up, don’t let your appliances work harder than they need to. If anything in your home isn’t keeping up, Appliance Rescue Service is just a quick call away!

Website

Call: (214) 599-0055

Additional Reading

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist 

Quick Fix or Costly Mistake? Myths About Appliance Repairs
Pre-Vacation Appliance Prep: Protect Your Home While You’re Away

White Bean and Mashed Potato Soup: A Cozy Solution to Leftovers

Turn your leftover ingredients into a creamy, filling soup

You know how we recently made an excessive amount of mashed potatoes? ...We also made an excessive amount of white beans when we made quesadillas. So now we have slightly less in the container of potatoes but also a large pot of beans to work through. Time for us to get creative and combine them!

Not so long ago, we tried a white bean soup at a local restaurant. Theirs was very tasty and very filling, and it became a jumping-off point for what we've done here.

In the event you aren't starting with a bunch of leftovers like we did, please take the time to prepare potatoes and beans as needed. Using instant potatoes and canned beans are totally options if time is tight and you need food on the table soon!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked white beans

1 whole yellow onion

1 rib celery

3 tablespoons minced garlic

1 cup mashed potatoes

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter (optional; see notes)

3 tablespoons dried parsley

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons better than bouillon variety of choice (we used chicken)

5-6 cups water

salt and pepper, to taste

Tools:

large stock pot with lid or Instant Pot/pressure cooker

food processor or blender

measuring cups and spoons

serving spoon or ladle

knife

cutting board

Any produce you plan to work with that isn't washed and ready to eat will, of course, need a quick bath before you get to chopping. You already know this, we're sure, but we'd feel like we failed you if we didn't give you the reminder each time. If you’re making your beans from scratch for this recipe, make sure to consider whether you want to soak them or not, and how that will affect the recipe as well. 

Open up the food processor or blender, checking for loose pieces because you really don't want to find out the bottom ring of the blender jar is loose or that the food processor blade isn't seated /after/ you've already put food in... Ask us how we know.

Rough chop your onion (we were a little lazy and just quartered it, which was enough to fit the chunks between the blades) and add it to the food processor. Dice and add your celery, then measure in your minced garlic. Put the lid in place, make sure it's secure, and pulse until you have a vegetable slush of mostly uniform consistency.

You can add your potatoes at this point if there's room in the food processor. We ran out of space and ended up mixing those in by hand later, so we hope you've got some space to spare.

Take your cooked beans and transfer them to the stock pot or pressure cooker. Add your mashed potatoes and the contents of the food processor and stir. If the food processor couldn't take care of the potatoes for you, reheat them before adding and melt in the butter - cold mashed potatoes have a tendency to be congealed and lumpy, and this will help them mix better

Measure in your dried parsley, Better than Bouillon, bay leaf, salt and pepper. As you can see in the photo, we used a LOT of pepper, but that's a preference thing. (Probably don't use that much. We just like pepper here.)

Add the milk and water, put the lid on the pot and bring it up to temperature.

If you're doing this on the stove top, set the burner to medium and bring the contents of the pan up to a simmer. Cover and cook for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

If you're using a pressure cooker, set to low pressure for 20 minutes and allow natural pressure release. Also, watch out for the "food burn" warning; our Instant Pot can be annoyingly sensitive, and it set off the warning alarm twice because of, as far as we could tell, a lump of potato stuck to the edge. May you have fewer headaches with yours.

This soup works great as a main dish or as a side along with something else. It would even work great as an easy lunch for the week, if you’re into food prep. We enjoyed it served alongside some slices of thick bakery bread. 

If you’re working specifically with your Instant Pot (or similar small appliances) because your oven is giving you trouble, we’re here to help. At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is to get your home running smoothly again, whether it’s your oven or your dryer, your refrigerator or your dishwasher. You can reach out to us via our website below or by giving us a call. We’ll work with you to find a date and time that works best for your situation. 

Website
Call: (214) 599-0055

Additional Reading

Punchy Potato & Cheddar Rolls 

 Layered Veggie Bowl

Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints