Nobody wants to pull open the dryer to find half-dried clothes, or to open the freezer door for some ice cream on a hot summer day and find that it’s melted. Repair and replacement costs are expensive, but there are a few steps you can take to help your appliances last longer.
Here are our top tips to make your appliances last longer:
-Clean your refrigerator coils: Yeah…you know, that dusty, mysterious place behind your fridge where dropped food rolls and disappears. Some refrigerator coils are indeed located on the back, but on some refrigerators, you can access them through the front. Just remove the grille piece (or safely push your fridge away from the wall), push a coil cleaning brush into the coils, and vacuum once you’ve pulled the coils back. Nearly half of all refrigerator service calls are issues with coils. Cleaning them will help your fridge cool more efficiently and save you money on energy costs.
-Clean your refrigerator gaskets: Sticky fridge door? Foods that build up on the door gaskets, like jam or syrup, can glue the seal and make it hard to open the fridge. Pulling too hard not only tears the gasket, but will eventually stop the fridge from sealing properly, leading to repair bills and a higher energy bill as the fridge works harder to keep the food cold. What can you do? Simply wipe down your refrigerator gaskets with warm water and a sponge.
-Don’t overload your washer and dryer: It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that fewer loads are more efficient, but cramming too much in can result in some costly damages to motors or belts that ultimately require a new machine.
-Clean your dishwasher: Does it seem like your dishwasher is taking longer and longer to wash the dishes? A clogged food filter is probably to blame. Pull out the lower rack of your dishwasher and remove the filter cover. Use a wet/dry vac to remove all the food and get the filter clean. Bonus: Find the float switch and jiggle it up and down. If it sticks, jiggle it up and down while cleaning it out with water.
-Clean your window air conditioner: After hauling your window air conditioner out of storage, take some time to vacuum all of the surfaces before putting it in the window. Pull off the cover panel and vacuum and clean the foam filter. This will help with efficiency and also get any nasties out that may have crept in during winter storage, like dust, mold, mouse droppings, or dead bugs. You can even plug the unit into an outlet in the garage first to blow any excess dust out before you put it in its proper place.
-Clean your dryer filter: Is your dryer not very hot? Take out your lint filter and, obviously remove any excess lint, but if it’s clear, you may have some built up film caused by dryer sheets. Test your filter by pouring water into it. If the filter holds water, it's past time to clean it. This film reduces airflow and forces the thermostat to shut off the heat before the clothes are dry. Scrub the filter with a little hot water, laundry detergent, and a stiff brush. You can also check your outside dryer vent for any built up lint.
If you’ve recently purchased new appliances or you need assistance with any of these tasks, give Hunter Handyman Services a call at (815) 780-7884 for more information or a free estimate. We serve all of LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, and Grundy counties.
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