Modern homes cannot be complete without home appliances. The household appliances market in the US is estimated to be around $42.6 billion with around 46.5 million major appliances sold in 2020.

Nowadays, there is a machine designed to simplify almost any tasks one can think of. We have the coffee maker to brew your morning coffee, the oven to heat our foods, the refrigerator to keep our foods fresh and cool, and so much more. Each of these appliances makes time-consuming and mundane aspects of home life much easier.

However, every household appliance represents a significant expense. And like any other investments, you want to protect them so you can make the most out of them. As much as possible, you want to extend the service life of your home appliances.

Proper use and maintenance do not only help extend the lifespan of your home appliances but also prevent sudden troubles that can disrupt your daily routine. But not only that, but machine breakdowns also mean additional expenses on appliance repairs. Furthermore, well-maintained appliances enable you to enjoy its full features, most importantly its energy-saving properties. This means you can cut on electricity and utility bills when your unit is working properly.

So, how can you make your appliance last long? Here are some care and maintenance tips to prevent problems and extend the serviceable years of common household appliances.

Refrigerator Tips

·         Regularly clean the coils. The refrigerator’s coils are among the most important parts of the unit. Dirty coils can hamper efficient air exchange thereby causing the motor to work double-time and continuously. Use the vacuum at least every few months to remove dust, dirt, and debris that might build up on the coils.

·         Keep door gaskets clean. The strip of rubber around the fridge doors ensures a good seal thereby locking in cooled air. It ensures proper temperature control. Use a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner to remove oil, grease, stuck food particles, and gunk stuck in the gasket.

Air Conditioner Tips

·         Clean the evaporator coils and fins. Like the refrigerator coil, this is the part of the AC where air exchange occurs. You can clean the evaporator coils by removing the cover panel. Use the vacuum to remove dust and dirt.

·         Keep condensers free from obstruction and debris. The external condenser must be free of any obstructions, such as shades, lattices, and bushes. Make sure the condenser is completely free so that it can freely blow wind. It can also be cleaned by hosing it down. You can also unscrew the fan to access the interior.

Oven and Range Tips

·         Limit the use of the auto-clean feature. Although the auto-clean cycle is important in keeping the oven clean, frequently running it increases the wear-and-tear effect. The auto-clean function produces intense heat that unintentionally damages the heating element and/or electrical fuses. Instead of using the auto-clean feature, manually clean the oven.

·         Use shiny drip pans. Keeping the drip pans clean and shiny will help the stove work efficiently. Drip pans help in temperature control by reflecting the heat around the stove. If the drip pan used is filled with burnt food residue, it is unable to reflect heat properly and the desired temperature is not achieved. As a result, the motor works continuously to achieve the temperature setting. Experts at Hartman’s appliance repair company recommend using shiny drip pans or line old ones with aluminum foil.

Washer and Dryer Tips

·         Don’t exceed the load limits. Read the manual of your washer or dryer to know its maximum load capacity. Never exceed the recommended capacity as this can result in mechanical problems as well as undue wear and tear on the machine.

·         Keep the dryer lint clean. Periodically remove lint from the dryer vent and the dryer’s interior. A dirty lint trap can make the dryer inefficient and also increases the risk of fire.

Final Thoughts

Aside from the tips discussed above, one of the best things you can do to drastically increase the lifespan of your appliance is by getting quick appliance repair for any signs of trouble. While DIY repairs can be very tempting, they can do more harm than good, especially if you lack technical training and experience. There are appliance service contractors that offer free check ups. You can also compare the rates offered by different technicians so you can find one that suits your budget. Aside from troubleshooting the problem quickly, these experts can also provide you with pointers on how to maintain your appliances in their tip-top conditions.