You depend upon the appliances of your home to serve your needs. When home appliances operate well, you can prepare your food, clean your clothing, meet your personal care needs, work efficiently and entertain yourself and guests. Without them, you will be inconvenienced or even unable to carry on with your life.
It is inevitable that things wear out and need repairs, but you can delay the frequency of those episodes if you take proper care of your appliances. When you give them the needed attention they last longer and are relatively trouble free. Here is a useful checklist for maintaining the appliances in your home:
Refrigerator
- Clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator on a regular basis. Cleanings are recommended every six to twelve months and can improve energy efficiency by as much as 30%.
- Position your refrigerator as far away as possible from heat sources.
- Make sure door seals are airtight.
- Set the interior temperature to around 40° F.
- Replace your refridgerator water filter biannually
Washing Machine
- Do an inventory on water intake and drain lines and check hoses and screens for buildup.
- Use the cold water setting as often as possible.
Clothes Dryer
- Change filters after each load.
- Clean out the lint filter before every load.
- Every three months, use detergent to remove the chemical residues that can cling to the lint filter and restrict airflow.
- Once a month, look at the dryer exhaust duct for crimps and obstructions.
- Every year, remove and clean out the entire exhaust duct line from the dryer to the outside.
- Reduce fire hazards by replacing vinyl dryer exhaust ducts with metal ductwork.
Dishwasher
- Make use of your dishwasher’s multiple settings to save water.
- Set the water heater to 120°F.
- Use the ‘overnight-dry’ feature whenever possible.
Oven and Range
- A gas oven with a solid ventilation system is the most energy-efficient choice.
- Self-cleaning ovens use a lot of energy but are better insulated than other models.
- Wash down the range top often with non-abrasive cleaners to remove spilled foods.
Garbage Disposal Unit
- Do not put non-food items, grease or fat, fibrous foods or hard food remnants like bones or fruit pits into the disposal unit.
- Clean the disposal unit with ice cubes and a bit of dishwashing fluid
Working these small tasks into your regular cleaning and maintenance routine will reduce operation costs and may even eliminate the need for professional repairs. When you take great care of your appliances and further safeguard them with a home appliance warranty, you’ll be able to extend the life of your home appliances and count on them to last for many years to come.
