Summer’s heat can put stress on your appliances, potentially wearing them down faster and shortening their lifespan. Proper maintenance of your appliances can reduce stress on your machines, assist them in lasting longer, and help you identify any potential issues with your appliances early on. Along with general monthly maintenance and cleaning, performing a more thorough inspection of your appliances twice a year, for example during summer and winter, is the ideal way to keep them in the best shape possible.
Air Conditioner
Your air conditioner has to work hard to cool down the interior of your home, especially in the middle of summer. Before you start running your air conditioner for the season, check the air conditioner filter. For reusable filters, vacuum thoroughly. Replace disposable filters. This process should be repeated once a month to optimize your air conditioner’s performance.
Clothes Dryer
Although it’s easy to forget or ignore if you’re in a hurry, it’s essential to clean your lint filter after every single cycle. Lint accumulation is the number one cause of dryer fires.
Clothes Washer
Between summer sports, gardening, and days spent outdoors, summer is a time when your clothes washer sees a lot of use. To avoid flooding your laundry room, inspect the water hose and drain hoses that connect to the back of your washer. Most homes use rubber hoses, but hoses can also be stainless steel. If you notice any water leaking, no matter how minimal, the hoses will need to be tightened or replaced. Also look out for bulging, bending, or dents.
Make sure not to overload your washer to avoid unbalancing the drum. Wipe out the interior of your washer or run a commercial washer cleaner through it at least every few weeks.
Dishwasher
Inspect your dishwasher tines for areas of rust where the paint has worn away. These spots can be fixed using a repair kit specifically made for dishwasher tines. Remove the sprayer arm from the bottom of the dishwasher and clean it thoroughly in the sink using a small kitchen brush.
Oven
Remove burner grates and drip trays from underneath the burners and soak in hot water with dish soap. Scrub thoroughly and allow to air dry before returning to the stovetop. Clean any burnt-on food from the bottom of your oven and clean up any spills immediately. Inspect the door gasket, usually made of black rubber or fiberglass, for any imperfections or damage. This gasket is essential for keeping the heat inside your oven from escaping and allowing for proper air circulation inside. Replace the gasket if you find any problems.
Refrigerator
Make sure to set your fridge and freezer to the manufacturer’s recommended temperatures for optimal performance. Don’t lower the temperature to try to combat warm weather outside. How well your food stays in the fridge can give you a clue to whether or not there are performance issues. If it spoils too quickly or is getting icy, there may be a problem with the air compressor or the condenser. If you notice any performance issues with your fridge, such as your potato salad not staying cool or your fruit spoiling faster than it should, contact an appliance repair professional like CS Appliance Service for assistance.
As with your oven, check the gasket around the door for any torn or otherwise damaged areas. It’s important for the gasket to be fully intact and to make a firm seal when the door shuts because otherwise a lot of the cold air inside the fridge will.
Regular maintenance can go a long way toward prolonging the life of your appliances, as well as improving their energy efficiency to reduce those summer electrical bills. If you identify any performance issues with your appliances, don’t wait for them to resolve themselves. Unfortunately, problems usually only get worse without prompt attention. If you are experiencing difficulties with your oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, or dryer, contact CS Appliance Service for professional assistance. Call us today at (781) 953-9600.
For more tips on maintaining your appliances, we’d love to see you on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CSApplianceService/.
(781) 953-9600.