How to Make Your Kitchen Appliances Last 15 Years or More
Be honest – how often do you pay attention to your appliances? One day, you use your fridge without any problems, and next, you need to get rid of the spoiled food. Another day, the dishwasher fails to clean your dishes properly, and you do not have enough time to wash them by hand before inviting guests. Fortunately, the appliance’s failures do not occur overnight, and your equipment usually gives you some hints. With the correct care, most of the appliances will work for 15 years and even more.
What is the main trick to increase the lifespan of your equipment? You will not believe it, but not buying an expensive model is not the key to success. It is much easier to pay attention to what you have than buying a new and more expensive product.
For instance, a fridge works 24/7 without taking a rest, so this appliance deserves more attention. What is the simplest thing to do? Well, just clean the condenser coils 2-3 times a year. Why should you do it? Well, those coils collect dust, animal hair, and other debris that makes the compressor work much harder than it should. Imagine that you try to run a marathon using only a straw. Once you clean the condenser coils, you allow the appliance to breathe freely.
When you are at it, you can check the state of the door seals. They can be dirty, damaged, or do not create a tight seal. As a result, each time you open the door, the cold air leaks and the compressor must work longer to cool your food. In some cases, cleaning with soapy warm water can solve the problem.
A dishwasher requires special attention too. Most people believe that the appliance washes dishes itself since it is always filled with soap and hot water. However, tiny pieces of food accumulate in the filters and spray arms, so the appliance works much harder, but cleans dishes much worse. Just a few minutes spent monthly can help to extend the lifetime of this appliance significantly.
The same thing concerns your washing machine. The temptation to squeeze one more towel can become very costly in the future. Why? An overloaded washing machine puts additional strain on the motor, suspension, and bearings. These parts are quite expensive, and changing them may cost you much more than the occasional extra load.
When we talk about laundry, do not forget to pay attention to the dryer vent. While everyone knows about the need to clean the lint screen regularly, no one pays attention to the vent itself for decades. Lint accumulates in it, and the appliance must work longer to dry the clothes. In such a situation, you waste electricity, accelerate wear of the heating parts, and can even face a fire hazard. It is one of those inexpensive maintenance tasks that pay off.
Your oven also requires regular maintenance. Eventually, spills and grease bake on the bottom, generating smoke, unpleasant smell, and uneven heating. Cleaning up after yourself increases enjoyment and extends the lifespan of your appliance. In case you have a gas range, keep its burners free of debris, and you will provide a uniform flame and improve the performance of the appliance.
There is one more important thing to keep in mind when talking about extending the lifespan of the appliances. Today’s fridges, dishwashers, ovens, even microwaves use electric control boards that are much more sensitive than those of old appliances. A single electrical surge can damage those costly elements within seconds. Installation of a whole-house surge protector or a proper surge protector for certain devices can prevent the unpleasant surprise.
Another good habit that can help to save a significant amount of money is watching the appliances carefully and reacting to any deviations. Have your appliances started to make unusual noises? Does your dishwasher spend twice as much time for one cycle? Does your oven heat less evenly than it used to? Small changes may mean that your appliance needs help in order to avoid an expensive repair.
As far as I can remember, I saw many cases when homeowners decided to ignore the unusual noise from their appliance because it still worked. After a few weeks, what could be repaired for much less money required the replacement of a major component. In most cases, the earlier you notice the problem, the more options you have.
The other simple piece of advice is to read the manual or at least find it on the Internet if you do not have it anymore. Each company gives recommendations that are rarely followed by owners, but they know their products better than anyone else, and following those recommendations can extend the lifetime of your appliance significantly.
In addition to this, you have to remember that appliances are designed to work in a certain way. Fridges require clearance around them to have enough airflow. Dishwashers require the right amount of detergent, not more. An oven is not intended to heat your kitchen in winter. Using the appliances in the way they were designed reduces the stress on their components.
Of course, any appliance requires repairs from time to time, but the main thing is to act in a timely manner. If something sounds unusual or does not work properly, it is worth checking it in order to extend the life of your appliance.
Many appliances were saved because of the early detection of problems by homeowners. In some cases, a timely repair added several years to the lifetime of the appliance and spared the owner thousands of dollars spent for its replacement.
Kitchen appliances are quite expensive, and a complete replacement of all of them is a significant expenditure. Fortunately, you do not have to be an appliance repair expert in order to extend their lifetime. A few minutes of maintenance per month, paying attention to the warnings, and resolving problems early can help a lot.
Your kitchen appliances work for you 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Pay a little bit of attention to them, and they will serve you for a long time.