There are some home appliances that will last you for a lifetime and then, there are some which don’t even last past a few months. Be it refrigerators, microwave ovens or something as simple as a stove, all appliances need care to last longer. One cannot just depend on the quality for functionalities without taking care of the appliance. The abuse and the use determine the life expectancy of your appliances. Here are a few ways you can maintain the condition of your home appliances.

 

1. REFRIGERATOR:

• The condenser oil must be cleaned every year with a vacuum cleaner or a brush. This makes your refrigerator work better and also, saves you from exceeding electric bills.
• Clean underneath and beneath for better air circulation.
• Keep the shelves and drawers clean and devoid of any odour. Also, avoid cramming it to the gills or opening the refrigerator door too constantly.

 

2. WASHING MACHINE:

• Instead of overloading it, put small even groups of clothes since overloading can cause malfunctioning.
• Check connections for leaks and cramped hoses.
• Turn all clothes that contain buttons and zip inside out to avoid any damage to the drum or the clothes.Also, remove any objects left inside the pockets of clothes before putting them in the machine.
• When the washer isn’t in use, turn off the water valve. This will prevent a flood if a hose bursts accidentally.

 

3. DISHWASHER:

• Maintain the filter regularly by cleaning it. Follow the procedures provided in the manual book to clean it.
• The temperature set should be at 120°F.
• Dispose the leftover food into trash and rinse before you load the servicewares into the dishwasher.
• Do not overload or block the rotation of the water sprayer by putting all utensils and servicewares inappropriately. Place the smaller items such that they won’t fall and block the rotating parts.

 

4. DRYER:

• After every drying cycle, let the dryer cool down for 40 minutes.
• Keep the insides of the drum clean and without any residues or particles.
• After every hundred cycles, make sure you wash the heat exchanger with lukewarm running water and let it dry thoroughly.
• Remove excess lint and build-up by hand before each cycle. You can use a vacuum on low-suction or wash it under running water for a heavily clogged filter.

 

5. STOVE:

• Clean control panels and knobs using a sponge with a mild cleaner. Do not scrub the decal indicators since it might damage it badly.
• Do not get any water inside to avoid being electrocuted. Knobs can ignite sparks which is why you need to handle it with care. Use solid surface cleaners for cooktops and heavy-duty degreasers for burner bowls.

 

6. OVEN:

• Make sure that you use a commercial oven cleaner. Why? Because baked-on grease catches fire easily causing the thermostat to malfunction. Keep the vent open to let the fumes out as you clean.
• Also, avoid spraying cleaning compounds near heating elements or electronic connections. A hot unprotected oven light may shatter if done so.

 

Sometimes, as you might have noticed, the floor around your fridge collects a puddle of water and you fail to understand how it happened. Fridge leaking is not a problem unheard of. In fact, it is a quite popular defect and can lead to many hazards. Fridge leaking is a serious problem and here are a few reasons explaining why they happen.

 

1.   WHEN THE DEFROST DRAIN IS CLOGGED

If the water is leaking in your fridge, it means you have a clogged defrost drain. Since the freezers are constantly condescending, the excess water runs through the defrost drain to the drain pan located under the fridge. This small drain can get blocked due to particles of food and ice. Inspect the drain for any debris of other sort of clogs and try flushing them with warm water.

 

2. WHEN THE WATER-VALVE OR PIPE FAILS:

First, unplug your fridge and pull it away from the water to avoid any electrical mishap. Then, check if the water line is wet from the joints or if the water is running down. Also, check where the water is dripping from. You might need to replace a solenoid switch which controls the water valve. Investigate holes or wet areas that should have otherwise been dry. Make sure that the water is not directly leaking on the floor. Use a technician’s help to fix the problem.

 

 

3. WHEN THE FILTER HAS DEFAULTS

A water filter is supposed to be replaced in every seven months. If there is any poor connection between the filter and the supply line due to incorrect size or installation or due to the use of filters of wrong models or with cracks, it can lead to water leaks. Go through the instructions provided in the manual and try to replace the filter with model as recommended by the manufacturer. Do not spend your time and money in purchasing an unmatched filter no matter how less it costs. If the problem fails to resolve, hire a licensed technicians to scrutinize the problem and repair it.

 

4.   WHEN THE DOOR SEAL FAILS TO WORK

If the door seal fails at working, the water leak happens because of excess condensation. The condensation is built-up on the coils that cause the water leak on the floor. Wash with lukewarm, soapy water that will remove any dirt or residue. Also, lean your fridge a little backward sometimes, the door fails to seal due to the fridge leaning forward. Examine the bolts on the door and if they are tightly held in place. If your door needs replacement, hire a technician to do so.

 

 

5.   WHEN THE ICE-MAKER TUBES ARE DAMAGED

When the water-line to the ice-maker becomes loose, it causes water leakage. Mostly, cracks in seals and plastic hoses cause this type of problem. At the back of your fridge, observe the length of the water line that goes into the ice-makers and if any of the connections have moisture on them. Tighten the connections and if that does not resolve the problem, consult a technician

A broken washing machine is a shortcut to hell. There can be nothing as worse as heaps of clothes pending inside a machine that cannot even work. The ramifications are there for certain reasons and it is important that you know these reasons to be able to analyze the problem. Here are a few reasons why your washer has stopped spinning.

 

1. UNEVEN LOADING

This happens when one side of the machine is loaded heavier than that of the other side. The clothes must be distributed evenly otherwise the machine will automatically shut itself down once it senses the imbalance to prevent any further mechanical damage to its system or to the surroundings. Turn off your washer and re-adjust your clothes to create the appropriate balance. Also, drain the excess water before you start the spinning.

 

2. BLOCK DRAIN TRAP

Sometimes, lint and other items (especially when pockets of clothes are not emptied) get collected in the drain trap. Once the drain trap is clogged, the machine shuts down automatically. Clean the drain trap and make sure that it remains clear of such debris.

 

3.     UNMAINTAINED DRIVE BELT:

One of the major reasons that keep your washer from spinning is a worn-out drive belt. Listen to sounds of the beds slipping or whining that can indicate to you that the belt might need a replacement. In such cases, instead of trying to fix the problem by yourself, it is more advisable that you hire a licensed technician to do it for you. The technician will also be able to check if the motor glide is working properly. Besides, under such supervision, you will get a proper belt replacement which will provide both better performance and warranty to ensure the longevity.

 

4.     WORN-OUT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

The function of the clutch-assembly is to lock the transmission to support the spinning of your washer. However, sometimes, the clutch pads become worn-out because of friction. Your machine may have shavings or a burning smell when you wash. You will need to hire assistance to understand if the clutch is scraped and in case it is, you will need the technician to replace it for you.

 

5. WORN-OUT DIRECT DRIVE MOTOR COUPLING

The function of the direct driving motor coupling is to transfer power from the motor to the transmission. It is found in some top-load and front-load machines, used instead of belts. With time, the coupling will start slipping causing the machine to fail in engaging the drive folks that make the spinning happen. You will need to hire a licensed technician to repair or replace the direct drive motor coupling as soon as possible.

 

6. DEFECTIVE LID SWITCH

In many old models of top-loadwashing machine, a lid switch is provided to operate the spinning in a safer mode. The washer lid is linked to a pin that activates when the lid is closed. If the lid is closed tightly, it means the switch is activated. However, if the motor is not running when the switch is activated, it means the lid has some defects in it. Consult your technician to resolve and do not bypass it to avoid accidents.