When it comes to today’s appliances, set it and forget it is all most people think needs to be done.
Modern engineering and technology have come a long way for sure, but even your newest appliances can’t fix themselves when something goes wrong.
Sooner or later, you’re going to hear a funny sound or there’ll be a puddle of water on the floor, and you’re going to have to find someone to take care of it.
That’s what an appliance repair plan is for. Instead of doing an Internet search for something like refrigerator repair near me, coming up with a dozen or more companies and wasting your time calling them all to compare prices and availabilities, you just make one call and are connected to a vetted professional in your neighborhood. A plan is not only convenient but will save you money, too, because one flat fee will cover the repair, including parts and labor.
In the meantime, though, while everything is still humming along, you can extend the life of your home appliances and prevent small problems from escalating into big ones by doing some simple maintenance on a routine basis. No special skills or tools required.
Clean Off The Refrigerator Coils
If your refrigerator or freezer is sluggish or stops working, the culprit is often condenser coils that are dusty or covered in pet hair. Dirty coils don’t allow the free outflow of hot air from the unit and can cause the compressor to overheat and possibly stop the unit entirely. Cleaning them is a little messy but it’s not hard.
- First, unplug the refrigerator or free-standing freezer and move it away from the wall.
- Locate the condenser coils. Depending on the style of the unit, coils are usually behind the front base plate or behind a grill on the back of the unit.
- Use a coil brush, a damp cloth or a pressurized air canister to gently remove dirt and debris.
- Vacuum or sweep up the area so it doesn’t build back up on the coils.
- Plug the unit back in and you should be all set until you clean the coils again in six months.
Examine The Refrigerator Seals
They’re not something that usually grabs your attention, but the rubber seals around the refrigerator and freezer doors can deteriorate and get brittle over time. This lets cold air out and warm air in, which lowers the temperature inside and makes your refrigerator use more energy to compensate.
A visual inspection may not be sufficient, so an easy test is to take a piece of paper and put it between the seal and the door before you close it. If you can slide the paper down with the door closed, the seal isn’t working the way it should and needs to be replaced.
Inspect The Oven Seals
Oven seals can fail in the same way as refrigerator seals do, letting heat escape and wasting energy as well as sometimes even ruining your efforts at baking because the temperature doesn’t hold evenly. Do the same paper test as you did with the refrigerator door.
If you have a gas oven, take another minute or two and make sure the burner ports are clear by picking debris out with a straight pin. A toothpick isn’t a good substitute because it could break off in the port.
Examine The Washing Machine Hoses
Even a small weak spot in a hose may become a crack and then ultimately break open to unleash a torrent of water. The most common location of leaks is at the connection, so be sure to check there.
Clean Out The Dryer Exhaust
Even if you clean the lint screen every time you use your dryer, lint still builds up in the hose and vents and not only impedes the way your machine works but is a fire hazard as well. To clean things out, click here for tips from Bob Vila.
Check Out Your Small Appliances
You’ve probably got at least a few small appliances you use often, like coffee makers, instant pots, air fryers, food processors, toasters, juicers, and waffle irons. Plugging and unplugging them all the time can stress the cords and plugs, so it’s a good idea to check them once in a while to make sure they’re still in good condition and not ready to spark and cause a fire.
Make a mental note to run through these tasks every six months or so, maybe when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors, and you’ll be keeping your appliances in better working order and extending their useful lives.
