Appliances, like anything else, have a set life expectancy. The more you care for them, the more likely they are to last longer. Expiration dates of appliances are set by their manufacturer. However, to make your appliances meet or exceed their life expectancy, you should take preventative measures to care properly for your appliances.

Refrigerators

A refrigerator is an appliance that you use frequently to store staples such as milk, meats, vegetables, and fruits as well as snacks and several other products. Because your fridge stores these important items, this means the door to your fridge is opened constantly throughout the day.  Try to avoid opening the door too often, as it makes it more difficult for the appliance to maintain its internal temperature (and also increases the price of your electricity bill!) It’s also important to inspect and replace any worn door seals. Lastly, you’ll want to vacuum the compressor coils in the back to ensure maximum efficiency.

Stove / Oven / Range

A stove’s main task is to cook or warm food, so it should retain as much heat as possible while in operation. To achieve this, open the oven door as little as possible, preheat only when necessary, use the right size pot on the right size burner, and cover your foods while they cook on the stove top. This retains as much heat as possible, improving the efficiency of your appliance. You also want to keep it clean to heat better and save energy.

Washing Machine and Dryer

The key preventative maintenance with washers and dryers is to not over load them. Over sized loads are convenient when trying to tackle a pile of seemingly never-ending laundry, but it is straining your appliances. You also want to take the time to check and empty all shirt and pant pockets as these items can escape and get trapped or caught in your washing machine and dryer, causing possible damage to the devices (we’ve all had this happen with tissue paper!)  You also want to watch for mold build up.  And what may seem like common sense – clean out your lint trap of your dryer each time you use it; this will help make your device more efficient and help prevent a potential fire.

Dishwasher

So your run your dishwasher every other day, right? So shouldn’t it be clean? Not exactly. Although some dishwashers have systems that break down food particles, some do not. You should remove any debris before and after each cycle. Also, check the rubber seal on the door as this sometimes gets mold or dirt buildup that can effect your dishwasher from closing properly, and subsequently causes a leak.

Vacuums

If you have new carpet or pets, your vacuum will probably fill up rather quickly. You should clean out your filter regularly. Some vacuums have clear filters where you easily see how full it is. Empty out the debris before it gets too full and causes the air flow to be restricted. This can overwork the motor and hinder the performance of your vacuum.

Before operating a new household appliance, you should try to familiarize yourself with and follow the manufacture’s manual for operational guidelines.  Taking care of your appliances should be done on a routine basis. Often this just entails simple maintenance tasks, such as a quick clean out and by overall handling your equipment with care. Take these preventative measures, and you’ll have a much more promising life expectancy on your appliances.

Need someone to repair or provide some maintenance on your appliances? Checkout our selection of PEI electricians, handyman and plumbing experts to assist you get the most out of your appliances.