Introduction:

65% of the average household relies on six to eight big kitchen appliances on a daily basis. You don’t need to turn off your refrigerator. You use your dishwasher several times a week. There’s a load after a load of washers and dryers all year long. These machines are a worthwhile investment of thousands of dollars.

Most appliances fail before their allotted lifespan is up due to improper kitchen maintenance, not production inaccuracies. Consistent & simple care routines extend the life span of appliances greatly and therefore minimize expensive appliance repair service calls.

It is here that DMV Appliance Care’s thousands of yearly appliance service calls come into play, with this guide focusing on the best maintenance for each of the larger kitchen appliances. 

Kitchen appliances: Refrigerator Maintenance

Your refrigerator is the only appliance that works non-stop, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year! It includes a compressor, condenser coils, the coils in the evaporator, and fans, as well as a complex sealed-cooling system. All of them are improved by periodic maintenance. 

Clean the Condenser Coils

Heat from the refrigerant is extracted from the surrounding air by the condenser coils. Dust and Pet Hairs will accumulate on coils, and these coils will not dissipate heat efficiently. The compressor runs for a longer period of time, more electricity is consumed, and it is subject to more wear and tear.

Then vacuum the coils on the back or bottom of your refrigerator every six months so dusty coils do not cause your refrigerator to operate at less than peak efficiency. This one action can save years of compressor life and significantly lower energy costs. 

Check and Replace Door Seals

Rubber gaskets around refrigerator/freezer doors keep the refrigerator/freezer cold. If worn or broken seals, warm air always gets into That forces the refrigerator to run more often to make up for it.

What you can do to test your seals is to close the door on a piece of paper. They’ll be ready for replacement when the seal can be pulled out without resistance. The life expectancy for seals is five to 7 years. 

Set the Correct Temperature

The temperature for the refrigerator compartment is in the range of 35° F to 38° F. The target temperature for the freezer is 0°F. If the temperature is very cold, it will not offer food protection. A higher final temperature can allow bacteria to grow in foods that are kept at the wrong temperature. 

Kitchen appliances: Dishwasher Maintenance

Clean the Filter Regularly

Most dishwashers made today come with a filter at the bottom of the wash basin that is movable. This filter gets rid of food debris so that they do not get recirculated onto dishes. When the filter becomes clogged, the cleaning performance diminishes, odours occur, and this can eventually lead to damage to the pump.

Take out the filter and rinse under warm water once a month. If it has gotten buildup, rinse it in warm soapy water before reinstalling it once again. 

Run a Cleaning Cycle

Run a hot water cycle once a month with a dishwasher cleaning tablet or a cup of white vinegar in an empty dishwasher. This cleans up mineral deposits, grease buildup, and frack-water bacteria from the inside, spray arms, and frack-water pipes. 

Inspect the Door Gasket

The rubber gasket around the dishwasher door resists leakage during dishwasher cycles. Inspect for cracks, mold, or deterioration of this gasket on a monthly basis. Use a mild soap solution to clean it up, so that there will be no mold formation at the folds of the rubber. 

Kitchen appliances: Washing Machine Maintenance

Clean the Drum Monthly

Residues accumulate on the washing machine drums, consisting of detergent, fabric softener, and water mineral deposits. This left behind film absorbs moisture and bacteria and gives off the musty smells carried onto clean washables.

Favor the washing machine cycle once a month with an empty machine and a washing machine cleaner tablet or 2 cups of white vinegar. Allow the drum to dry completely by leaving the door or lid open after each cycle. 

Use the Right Amount of Detergent

There is no correlation between the amount of detergent used and the cleanliness of the laundry. Too much detergent leaves a residue that the washing machine is not able to thoroughly dry. Residue accumulates in the drum, hoses, and the pump. The machines make use of a reduced amount of detergent. 

Inspect Hoses Annually

Water inlet hoses should be checked for bulges, cracks, and fittings every year before your washing machine gets used for watering. The average life of rubber hoses is 5-7 years, depending on their usage. The important keys to remember are that this is a large increase in life and a worthwhile upgrade for braided stainless steel hoses. A burst washing machine hose results in devastating water damage. 

Kitchen appliances: Dryer Maintenance

Clean the Lint Screen Every Load

Water inlet hoses should be checked for bulges, cracks, and fittings every year before your washing machine gets used for watering. The average life of rubber hoses is 5-7 years, depending on their usage. The important keys to remember are that this is a large increase in life and a worthwhile upgrade for braided stainless steel hoses. A burst washing machine hose results in devastating water damage. 

Professional Vent Cleaning

Even if you clean the lint screen carefully, the hot and humid air your dryer puts into the recirculating system picks up lint as it travels through the ducting system and out of the dryer to the outside of your home. Have the exhaust duct system cleaned each year by a professional service for kitchen appliance. The longer the duct runs are, or the more bends in the line, the faster the duct needs to be cleaned.

Kitchen appliances: Oven and Range Maintenance

• • Wipe spills from the oven interior immediately after the appliance cools to prevent baked-on buildup

• • Clean burner grates and drip pans monthly on gas ranges

• • Check oven door seals twice per year and replace if cracked

• • Test oven temperature accuracy with an independent thermometer once per year

• • Have a technician inspect gas connections and burner valves every two years

Schedule Professional Kitchen Appliance Maintenance

Professional kithcen appliance maintenance visits typically catch developing problems before they become expensive failures.

• • Refrigerator: professional inspection every two years

• • Washing machine: professional inspection every three years

• • Dryer: professional vent cleaning annually, inspection every two years

• • Dishwasher: professional inspection every three years

• • Oven and range: professional inspection every two to three years

Ready to schedule a repair? Contact DMV Appliance Care today. We serve the entire DMV area (DC, Maryland & Virginia). Call us at +1 (703) 991-2298 for fast, same-day appliance repair.

FAQs: Appliance Maintenance