Everything is going fine, until one day when it’s not. Appliances are such a normal part of day-to-day life that it’s easy to take them for granted – until something breaks and you are suddenly reminded just how crucial a functioning refrigerator or cooktop really is.
As the hub of most family homes, the kitchen is probably the most used room in your house. Because it sees so much action, your kitchen also needs the most maintenance, and we’re not just talking about countertops and dishes.
The things we do, or in many cases don’t do, have a significant impact on the longevity of our appliances. Yes, some situations may be unavoidable; however, in many cases, a little extra care and regular maintenance can help you avoid unexpected appliance repair service calls.
So, to help keep more money in your pocket and your appliances running smoothly, here are kitchen appliance repair service tips everyone should be using.
Dishwasher
Your dishwasher takes a regular beating. Whether you are the type who rinses before loading or who crams everything in at once and hopes for the best, food particles will accumulate in the food filter. Not only is the thought of 2-month-old spaghetti noodles a little gross, but if the filter is clogged, water might not be making it to the spray arms, and your dishes may not be getting the clean they once did.
To clean, remove your lower rack and the filter cover in your dishwasher. Using either a wet vac or your hands, scoop out all the junk you find in there and give everything a good wipe down. It’s also an excellent time to run a clean cycle. No special solutions are required; just leave a dishwasher empty, save for a container filled with white vinegar on the top rack, and run a normal cycle.
Refrigerator
Next up is your fridge and freezer. Syrups, jams, milk, and veggies that might be just a little past their prime, your fridge sees it all. While cleaning your fridge might be low on your spring-cleaning list, it definitely should not be ignored. Sticky substances can impact the seal around your fridge gasket – that rubber strip around the door – and cause it to fail. Replacing a gasket alone can cost over a hundred dollars, not to mention, if the gasket seal isn’t tight, your fridge will have to work harder to keep the temperature cool.
Not only will these spills leave you with a hard-to-open door but forgotten messes can also cause a foul odour to develop inside your appliance. That might not be an appliance repair issue, but it will definitely impact the smell and taste of your food.
And it’s not only the inside; the outside of your fridge needs care too. Refrigerators push hot air out through coils, and releasing this heat is crucial to keeping your compressor functioning – and avoiding a costly appliance repair service call.
To clean out your coils, locate the vent either at the front or back of your refrigerator, remove it, and thoroughly vacuum around the coils. If there’s an excessive amount of debris hiding there, you may want to pick up a coil cleaning brush.
Stove
Let’s not forget about the stove. Spillovers on your gas or electric range can lead to issues with your cooktop heating up. But before you schedule an alliance repair service call, the solution could be as simple as a good cleaning.
If you have a gas range, leftover food spills could be preventing the ignitor from firing up. To resolve, remove the baps and burner heads, take a toothbrush and give the gas ignitor quick scrub with a 50-50 water-vinegar solution. While you’re doing that, let the burner heads and caps and soak for 15 minutes, then scrub and dry them before replacing.
If you have an electric stove, remove the burner, wipe down the area with a damp cloth and soapy water, make sure the prongs are clean, dry everything, and put the burner back into place.
