Household appliances are not made to last forever. Certainly, the time will come when you’ll decide to replace a unit rather than have multiple rounds of repairs. Consumer Reports lists the average life span of major appliances. But even with this life expectancy, many household types of equipment never get to serve their intended serviceable years.
If you want to extend the life of your appliances and maximize the money you spent on them, you need to show these workhorses some TLC through ensuring proper operations and regular maintenance.
Below we list some tips to make sure your home appliances continue to perform well and stand the test of time.
Keep your refrigerator clean
This tip is applicable to any home appliance but more so to fridge and freezers.
Clean up the insides of the fridge at least every week. Remove any leftovers, stains, or debris stuck into the interior wall of the freezer. Regularly clean the condenser coils located at the back of the unit. Remove any dust or debris that might have accumulated on the coils.
When cleaning the freezer, unplug the unit, remove all contents, and let ice thaw for a while. Use baking soda solution to wipe away dirt and debris. Rinse it with water before drying with a towel.
Don’t overload your washing machine
In general, a washing machine has a life expectancy of 10 years. Unfortunately, most machines never fully serve this estimate. Overloading is among the top reasons that shorten the life of washing machines. Doing so adds strain on the tub bearings, the motor and other components of the unit. So, it’s vital to follow the recommended load limit every time you’re using it.
Never use foil in your oven
You can make your oven last longer by avoiding the use of aluminum foil under the baking element. The reflection causes minute damage to the integrity of the heating element that can add up over time.
Manually defrost your freezer
Regardless of the type of freezer you have, it would help to manually defrost the unit at least once a year (or quarterly, if you have time). This prevents the frost from getting too thick. It should also help keep prevent accumulation of nasty smell. When removing the frost, gently scrape each layer using a wooden or plastic instrument. Never use knives or other sharp/pointed items for removing the frost.
Check and replace filters as directed
Make sure you check the filters of all appliances that have one, such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, or dishwashers. Read the manufacturer guidelines about how and when to clean or replace the filter.
Scrub your oven and range
When cleaning the kitchen, don’t forget to include your oven and range in the routine. Remove any leftovers or debris around the burners. Make sure the interior of the oven is spic-and-span.
Never spray liquid substances directly on control panels. Use damp cloth or rag to clean up the surface.
Get rid of food debris in your plates
According to technicians from an appliance repair service in Tampa, premature failure of the dishwasher pump is among the most common troubles reported to them. Usually, food debris clogs the dishwasher pumps causing the spray arms to stop and unable to empty out water. To prevent this problem, make sure to scrape off food debris in your plate before running the dishwasher.
Use recommended detergent for your dishwasher
In an effort to save, some use regular soap or detergent in their dishwasher. Over time, this can result in a buildup of sediments or gunk that can hamper the performance of the appliance. To avoid dishwasher troubles, make sure to use only the recommended dishwashing solution or an equivalent.
Follow an appliance preventive maintenance plan
Finally, the single most important tip to make your appliances’ last longer is by checking them regularly for any issues. To do this, you can make a household preventive maintenance plan. Read the user guidelines of each appliance or use the Internet to know the recommended frequency checks.
Print out the schedule and post it in a conspicuous place in your home. Better yet, integrate it into your smartphone’s calendar, so you get notifications whenever there’s an appliance that is due for preventive checks.
Taking proactive measures can help expand the life of your household appliances significantly and fully maximize its serviceability. It should also reduce the chances of pesky troubles as well as costly repairs and replacement.