by Nancy and Tyler Adkins Home Appliance Tips and Tricks We all depend on our home appliances to work well during all seasons of our life. However, right now it is more important for both you and us to understand what simple steps can be taken so that we can extend the life expectancy of our home appliances. On average, newer home appliances will be repaired at least one time by the time it is 4 years old. In fact, even the manufacturers of our appliances admit there is a larger percentage of the appliances they make that fail between years 2 and 5. So taking actions to keep our expensive units working well and lasting longer can be important to our pocketbook, not even putting time into the equation of the time you have to take off work to have an appliance tech come out to your home. Surge Protectors: In today's world, appliances have computer boards and electronic devices that require protecting them from surges. In order to do that, it will take having a whole house surge protector. There are many types of these, but all do one main thing - they keep surges and dirty electricity away from your appliances. To have one installed you will need to contact a master electrician in your area. We can provide you connections in the Dallas Fort Worth area of reputable electricians. They will be able to discuss the cost and the warranty each of these surge protectors. Page 1 Home Appliance Tips and Tricks Professional Appliance Maintenance: Your home appliances need to be professionally maintained just like any other mechanical piece of equipment. We recommend you find a local appliance repair and service business that specializes in maintenance to keep your appliances working great. The appliances that need maintenance annually would be your washer, dryer, dishwasher. refrigerator, oven, cooktop, and ice machine. Washing Machines: It does not matter if you have a front loading or top loading washing machine, both have pros and con’s to owning and using them. There are some things that need to taking care of to keep unnecessary issues to arise. 1. Before putting clothes in the machine always check the pockets of every item. Pens, paper clips, and other sharp items will destroy parts and cause leaks. 2. When putting clothing, towels or anything else in your unit, do not overfill the machine. Overloading your machine puts unnecessary strain on your machine and causes your clothes to come out less clean. 3. Put in the correct soap for your machine and do not put too much soap. Using too much soap gums up the inner workings of your machine. Also, use a fabric softener that is less thick. 4. Do not slam the lid or door on your machine, it will break parts that are necessary for the machine to work. 5. On front loading washing machines – leave your door slightly open after you have completed your laundry so that mold will not build up in your machine. You also need to dry off the gasket to keep the mold out. Page 2 Home Appliance Tips and Tricks 6. Once a month use either white vinegar or another washing machine cleaner to get rid of any mold collected in your front loader. Dryers: This can be one of the simplest appliances to operate and yet with the newer models that have added features more problems are possible. 1. Always clean out the lint screen after every load of laundry and keep your vent duct on the back of your dryer. 2. If you have vent that is backed up to a interior wall make sure and have your vent cleaned out every 2 years at minimum. 3. Before calling your appliance repair company because your dryer is not heating (electric) make sure to check if your breaker is half thrown it can stop the element from working properly. Refrigerators & Freezers: The heart of the home is the kitchen and the heart of the kitchen is the refrigerator. Having a refrigerator that is reliable is especially important. There are specific ways of thinking and a few things that can be done to keep your refrigerator running more efficiently. 1. Always have a backup refrigerator available so when things stop working you do not lose food. You need enough space to put your food in the backup fridge. 2. It's always a good idea to have a temperature gauge inside the fridge as close to the middle as possible. Page 3 Home Appliance Tips and Tricks 3. Cover your food. All of your food. Food dust can cause issues inside the defrost system in your appliance. 4. Never overload your fridge, it can stop the air from moving around which is what keeps your food at the right temperature. 5. Have your refrigerator professionally maintenance annually. This will keep your fridge working better, more efficiently and keep the compressor from working too hard. Dishwashers: This appliance is not really what it is called, it is a sanitizer of your dishes. In other words, it takes the bacteria that is on your plates silverware, and other items and removes them. You and your family are protected from disease and sickness. 1. Rinse your food off the dishes before putting them in the appliances. 2. Use less detergent – this product is made to be a scrapeing agent that leaves your dishes spotless but if we use too much It cannot be rinsed off and will be left to make your dishes dingy and spotty. 3. Use Finish tablets and put them in the bottom of the dishwasher. Stove, Ovens, and Cooktops: 1. This type of equipment needs to cleaned regularly although putting your oven in self-clean can cause more heat than the system will allow for and a fuse could need to be replaced. Page 4 Home Appliance Tips and Tricks 2. Do not force knobs they will break. 3. When cleaning a gas cooktop never spray water or cleaner directly on the cooktop. Spray it on a rag and them wipe off the appliance. Microwave Oven: Our kids depend on them as well as sometimes our spouses – some of us use them for the timer and others use them for everything. I have seen people make a cake in them. But they are very sensitive to dirt. 1. Clean them often – use vinegar or lemon to make them smell better. 2. Never put metal of any type inside this appliance. 3. Always cover the food when you are heating it. 4. Never operate when it has issues with the door or door switches. The radiation can come out into your kitchen. 5. Use microwaveable dishes and utensils only, if you use other types they can burn you. Page 5 Home Appliance Tips and Tricks These tips are only suggestions to keep you and your appliance safe. But as always check with the specifics of your appliances on what can keep them working great. Get More Tips Get more tips to help keeping your home appliances working great. Learn more Page 6.