From your dishwasher to your refrigerator to your clothes dryer, you use your home appliances every day. These appliances make life easier by helping you perform your daily tasks more quickly and efficiently.
Home appliances are an investment and can be expensive to replace, so you want to take good care of them in order to keep them around for as long as possible. Keep reading to discover six ways you can extend the lifespan of your home appliances and ensure they stay in good working condition.
#1. Read the Manufacturer’s Manual
The best way to extend the lifespan of your home appliances is to read the manufacturer’s manual. These manuals contain important information about how to properly install, use, and maintain the appliances, along with troubleshooting tips for when things go wrong. Understanding how your appliances work is key to preventing avoidable issues and ensuring they work efficiently.
#2. Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
Another essential way to extend the lifespan of your home appliances is through regular maintenance and cleaning. Elements of your appliances such as coils, vents, and filters are known to collect debris and dust over time, which inhibits their performance and decreases their effectiveness.
Carefully inspect and clean your dryer lint traps, refrigerator coils, and dishwasher filters regularly to help them perform more efficiently. Additionally, wiping down surfaces and seals helps prevent mold and bacterial growth.
In addition to cleaning, professional maintenance is also important. When something goes wrong, don’t ignore it. It can be inconvenient to get professional appliance repairs, but the longer you wait to fix the issue, the greater your risk of the problem escalating.
If you’re experiencing problems with one of your home appliances, call a licensed technician for advice. Some issues can be fixed on your own, but others may need a professional to take a look. Technicians can help you determine what kind of maintenance your appliances need and perform service on them if needed.
#3. Avoid Overloading
It can be tempting to overload your dishwasher or washing machine to save time, but this can put undue stress on their components and lead to mechanical failures or poor performance. It may even void the warranty. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines for how much your appliance can hold ensures you can enjoy more reliable service from them.
#4. Use Appropriate Detergents and Cleaners
For appliances that use detergent, like dishwashers and washing machines, make sure you use the right kinds of detergent that won’t harm your appliances. When in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s manual for suggestions.
Additionally, when you clean your appliances, be sure to use the correct cleaners so you don’t risk causing damage. For example, using harsh or abrasive cleaners or sponges can scratch the surface of the appliance. Instead, opt for gentler cleaning solutions to protect your appliances’ exteriors.
#5. Check and Replace Seals and Gaskets
Another way to extend the lifespan of your home appliances is to regularly check their seals and gaskets and replace them if needed. In order to perform efficiently, doors and lids need to be sealed properly, so damaged seals or gaskets impair their performance. Ensuring seals and gaskets are in good condition allows your appliances to maintain their internal temperature, prevents leakage and energy wastage, and extends their lifespan.
#6. Balance and Level
You may not be aware, but appliances like washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators need to be level in order to work properly. Unleveled appliances may vibrate excessively, which causes them to move out of place. They may also experience increased wear and tear on their internal components or leak water.
To check if your appliance is balanced correctly, use a level. If it’s off-balance, you can adjust the appliance’s feet until it’s level.
Extend the Lifespan of Your Home Appliances With Service From VanderDoes
To extend the lifespan of your home appliances, you need reliable service from licensed, highly-trained professionals. At VanderDoes, we are committed to providing high-quality, affordable home services and appliance repair to increase the longevity of your appliances.
If your washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, or freezer is on the fritz, call us for a free, over-the-phone estimate. All of our parts and labor are covered under a 90-day guarantee, so you can be assured that you’ll experience quality results and get your appliances back in working order.
To schedule a service appointment with one of our expert technicians, call us today at (801) 731-7150.
