The important points
- Read the instruction manual of each appliance you own — they’ll explain what you need to do for preventative maintenance.
- Basic, routine maintenance and care of your appliances will extend their lifespan and reduce repair and replacement costs in the long run.
Read your appliance manual
First and foremost, when you buy an appliance, read the instruction manual that comes along with it. The manual will advise you about the “care and feeding” of your new possession, give you an estimated lifetime and offer tips for extending that lifetime. It’s worth designating a desk drawer or a file in your filing cabinet to instruction manuals so you can always lay your hands on them when they’re needed.
Each of your appliances has different preventive maintenance requirements. Do them as suggested and you’ll undoubtedly avoid major disasters.
Fridge maintenance
Cleaning the coils
Clean the condenser coils with a vacuum to remove dust, dirt and pet hair. Or, if you prefer, clean them with soap and warm water and dry them with a towel or a sponge. If the coils are caked with dirt, the refrigerator must work harder to chill food, increasing the electricity needed to run the unit and upping your bills.
Door seals
Check the seal on your refrigerator to ensure that it is tight. The seal is responsible for the refrigerator’s efficiency, so if it’s leaking replace it.
Water filters
Clean or replace the water filter in your fridge to ensure that impurities and contaminants are being removed. Generally, all that’s required is turning the filter a quarter of an inch and locking it in place or popping it out. Do this every three to six months, depending on how much water you drink.
Lifespan
A refrigerators lifespan is usually around 13 years, while freezers last 11 to 12 years if you take proper care of them.
Stove and oven maintenance
Maintenance for stoves and ovens is fairly straightforward. The most important thing is to keep the appliance clean. Here’s a video from RepairClinic.com that offers a quick explanation for how to clean your range, stove, or oven:
Lifespan
Electric stoves should last about 13 years, while gas stoves live to a ripe old age of 15 if they’re cared for.
Stovetop cleaning
Clean your electric stovetop to avoid food and dirt buildup and prevent it from overworking. Twice weekly applications of glass cleaner are best for glass stovetops. Use mild soap and warm water on burner models, cleaning the removable parts and the area around the burner. You’ll avoid fire hazards and prevent poor heating. For gas stoves, clean the grills with soapy water and clean up spills from the burners to prevent the ports from clogging and reducing the stove’s efficiency.
Door seals
Ensure that the seal around your oven door is tight, or your oven can lose up to 20 percent of its heat. Locate the gasket, whether rubber or fiberglass and run over it to detect any malformed, broken or torn spots. If you find any, replace the seal.
Drip pans
And clean them up immediately if you’re baking them in your oven. Repairmen suggest that cleaning spills quickly and using drip pans are preferable to using the oven’s electric cleaning function.
Range hoods
Range hood filters or downdraft vent filters need cleaning or replacement. Metal mesh grease filters can go into the dishwasher, or you can wash them by hand with soapy water. Replace any paper or charcoal filters.
