Homeowners spend a great deal of their disposable income on housing appliances. The problem is that many of these homeowners are negligent in their maintenance of these expensive devices. You need to protect your investment and thereby extend the lifespan of your appliances. Here’s a guide on maintaining your appliances the right way.
Clean Your Oven
Some jobs listed here will require professional service. Others are DIY, and cleaning your oven definitely falls into this category. You should clean your oven at least twice a year. Otherwise, it won’t operate at peak condition, increasing the odds that it’ll tear up. If that happens, you’ll pay between $98 and $182 just for the installation. The appliance could cost $1,000 or more plus the cost of shipping. Yes, cleaning your oven can save you more than $1,000.
You may need to hire someone for a second step, though. If you have a gas stove, you may need to replace the gas line. That’s especially true should you have to buy a new one. In that case, you’ll want a professional to service the gas line in your stead.
Service Your HVAC Unit
When your HVAC unit breaks, you’re going to suffer. During the summer, you’ll sweat and pant. In winter, you’ll have to wear layers of clothing to ward off the chill. And replacing your unit will cause the most suffering to your wallet. The average repair costs $331, while a new installation is as much as $5,100. You may view the cost of maintenance as a waste of money. In reality, you’re making an investment that will save money off the life of your unit.
You can do some HVAC maintenance on your own. You can check the thermostat, hoses, and electric outlets to verify that everything looks good. You can also change the air filters, which will improve the indoor air quality in your home. You may even consider adding filters with a higher MERV rating. These filters will trap more dust, preventing your HVAC unit from ventilating these pollutants throughout the home.
Of course, the easiest way to address HVAC service is by hiring a professional. The best technicians will offer annual service plans. For a set yearly fee, you will receive in-home service, and this maintenance will improve the lifespan and performance of your unit. It’s a smart, forward-thinking purchase.
Check Your Dishwasher
Your dishwasher is often the dumping ground for the food you don’t want to eat. These scraps of food can and will get stuck in the moving parts of the dishwasher. Each time you fail to scrape your plates, you’re running the risk of ruining your dishwasher. That’s why you must get in the habit of wiping your plates before placing them in the dishwasher.
Even if you start scraping your plates now, you’ve already done some damage. You should take the time to look inside your dishwasher. See whether the spinner arms have gunk on them. If they do, you must wipe them down immediately. Otherwise, your unit may malfunction. In extreme cases, you should hire a professional to do maintenance on your unit.
The three suggestions above are just a good start. You should also research several other ways to protect the expensive appliances in your home.