A broken appliance is annoying – but a few repairs & maintenance are often all it takes to get the most out of your oven and more. Here are our tips.
We’ve all been there – your washing machine breaks down just as you run out of socks, your oven won’t heat up when everyone’s clamouring for dinner and your freezer has defrosted spoiling all of your delicious food.
However, in many cases a few simple repairs and regular maintenance can keep your appliances going for longer – preventing you from having to shell out for a shiny new model.
Here are some tried and tested appliance maintenance tips:
Oven Maintenance Tips
Check your oven’s seal
A faulty seal can result in your oven losing 20% of its heat, resulting in food taking longer to cook. You should regularly check the seal’s condition by opening the oven door and feeling for any broken or deformed areas. If the seal has become damaged, it will need to be replaced.
Regularly clean the oven
It’s recommended that you clean your oven’s interior three to four times a year, as spillages can cause drips and in some cases, fire. Plus, the longer you leave it, the worse the job gets!
Check the heating elements
If you’re oven isn’t heating up properly, the most likely cause is the heating elements. Regularly check the elements to see if they’re working properly – if they’re not, they’ll need to be replaced.
Fridge and Freezer Maintenance Tips
Regularly clean the coils behind the refrigerator
Dirty refrigerator coils will restrict air flow, resulting in your fridge having to work harder to stay cold – which at the very least will add to your electricity bills but can also cause the appliance to break down.
Once or twice a year, thoroughly clean the coils, which can usually be found at the back of the fridge or behind the front panel near the floor, with a handheld vacuum.
Defrost the freezer when there’s half an inch of ice
A freezer that has too much ice won’t work as efficiently, and it can also cause the drawers to jam and break. It’s commonly believed that you should defrost the appliance once a year – but you should actually do it more frequently than this, when the ice on the interior walls reaches half an inch in thickness.
Defrost your fridge if it’s not working properly
A build-up of ice in the fridge can jam the fan’s blades, preventing it from cooling properly. Try defrosting the fridge – if this doesn’t fix the problem, the fan’s motor may need replacing.
Washing Machine Maintenance Tips
Run regular maintenance washes
A common problem with washing machines is a build-up of mould, which can smell and leave marks on clothes, as well as causing more serious problems, such as corroding the drum support shafts.
To tackle the problem, run regular maintenance washes to kill the bacteria. This involves emptying a sachet of limescale and detergent remover into the drum and then selecting the hottest wash cycle.
Using a quality powder detergent and drying the door gasket after washes can also help to reduce the build-up.
Regularly clean the inside of the appliance
Regularly cleaning the inside of your washing machine drum can also help to reduce the build-up of detergents – which can result in mould and unpleasant smells.
Regularly inspect the hoses
You should regularly inspect your washing machine’s hoses for any damage or signs of wear. If they are damaged they will need to be replaced.
Tumble Dryer Maintenance Tips
Regularly clean the lint filters
It’s important to empty and clean the lint filters after every use of your tumble dryer. If you don’t do this, the appliance won’t work at maximum efficiency.
Regularly clean the sensor
If your tumble dryer uses a sensor, you’ll need to regularly wipe it down with stainless steel cleaner to ensure it keeps working well.
A broken down appliance is annoying – but in many cases a few simple repairs and ongoing maintenance are all it takes to ensure you get the most out of your tumble dryer, fridge freezer, washing machine and oven.
If you are having problems with one of your appliances, we can get it fixed in no time at all. Visit our repairs page to find out more.
Image by Mr Moss
