You barely think about your appliances until they breakdown. They may not be as complex as a motor vehicle, but they still need regular maintenance. This maintenance is inexpensive, can often be done by anyone, and can save you thousands. Below, we will share little known, yet expert appliance maintenance tips to help you avoid repairs.
1. Avoid Refrigerator Repairs
Your fridge is one of the worst appliances to have breakdown. Not only are they expensive to fix, all the food inside can spoil as well. Here are a few maintenance tasks you can do to avoid refrigerator repairs.
- Replace the water filter cartridge – Most modern fridges use a filter to make the ice and water you drink. Many have indicator lights for replacement. You should do so when it indicated to ensure top quality water, as well as keep the contaminants from flowing into the system.
- Replace the air filter – Be sure to replace the small filter at the same time. As seen in the above image, this is what happens when you neglect replacement. Carbon, charcoal, and all sorts of contaminants clog up the filter. This decreases the quality of your food as well as allows air contaminants into your system.
- Beware of leaks – Any leak in your refrigerator can result in a costly repair. However, some leaks are not that serious. Still others are not serious at first but can grow to be so over time. Contact a professional immediately should your fridge spring a leak.
- Door maintenance – practice door maintenance each time you open and shut your unit. Remember a gentle touch is best, and it’s cheaper to replace the entire fridge than to replace a door.
2. Washer and Dryer Maintenance
Just as above, make sure no leaks come from your washer, as it can signal a serious problem. Do not over load either unit. Trust us, it’s easier and cheaper to run two cycles than to repair a unit that was overloaded. You should also clean your dryer’s lint trap between each use. Have a vacuum with a long attachment? Use it in the lint trap itself on a regular basis to ensure complete cleanliness.
3. Dishwasher Maintenance
You may scrape your plates immaculately before you place them in the dishwasher. However, food can still get in there. Check your owner’s manual for how best to clean it. Most units come with a filter stored under the bottom rack. It can get clogged over time. This filter can be cleaned or replaced. Those of you who own a Whirlpool dishwasher can click here for a guide on how to clean it.
Got a smelly dishwasher? You may purchase a special product to clean it at a hardware or grocery store.
More Expert Appliance Maintenance Tips, Repair, and Replacement
Finally, these are just some of the tips you can follow to help avoid appliance repairs. However, we do not recommend you attempt to conduct any advanced maintenance tasks that involve removing panels, electrical work, and the like. Only used a trusted professional in your area. If you live in Encino or the surrounding areas, feel free to contact us at GIV HVAC to get same day professional maintenance, repairs, and replacement on all your appliances and HVAC units.