Five Important Reasons for Consistent Appliance Maintenance

It is no secret that today we all rely heavily on the appliances in our homes. Gone are the days of washboards, clotheslines, and wood-burning stoves. Devices increase useable hours in the day and add productivity and comfort to our lives. So it stands to reason the machines we use so often would need consistent appliance maintenance.

You know when one of them doesn’t work properly, we can hardly manage. However, with our busy lives, we tend to take our appliances for granted and only give them attention when they break down. But, repairs after a significant appliance failure can be quite costly. And many times they could have been prevented entirely.

That is why performing regular maintenance on your appliances is vital. Appliance owners should service their appliances consistently with a professional appliance repair company.

Keep reading to learn the five important reasons why.

Those Five Reasons for Consistent Appliance Maintenance

Each of the following reasons listed here is equally important for the machine’s overall health and the optimal running of the business of your home. If you want your days to flow smoothly from task to task and your appliances to work while you are busy doing other things, consistent appliance maintenance is necessary. 

Here are the reasons we have seen prove to be real year after year at Gulf Coast Appliance Repair.

1. Maintaining Your Appliances Improves Efficiency

Appliances that aren’t well maintained tend to work harder than they need to, burning more electricity or gas. For instance, a refrigerator that likes to stay cracked open burns way too much energy to maintain the internal temperature. And a dryer with a dirty filter or a partially clogged exhaust vent is a dual problem. First, it doesn’t dry your clothes as well, but second, and more importantly, it’s a huge fire hazard. Additionally, you end up running the dryer longer to get your clothes dry. This burns unnecessary energy and adds to your utility bills.

As appliances age, natural wear-and-tear slows efficiency. And the parts with ever-so-slight damage cause significant issues in the long run. When the appliance has lower efficiency, it costs more money to utilize. Scheduling consistent appliance maintenance with an appliance repair company can catch those little things that may significantly impact efficiency. For example, checking the filters in AC units or dryers and removing debris improves airflow and decreases the motor’s pull.

2. You Save Money in the Long Run

If your appliances have to work harder than they should, they will require more money and energy. A tell-tale sign that one or more instruments in your home need maintenance or repair is a higher than usual energy bill. Normal wear-and-tear on your appliances can negatively impact efficiency if the machine is not cared for regularly. Some common culprits are blocked ducts or tubes, clogged filters, and faulty sensors. You will ensure that your appliances are running as efficiently as possible and keep your energy bills down with tune-ups and routine appliance maintenance.

3. Consistent Appliance Maintenance Extends Appliance Lifespan

This is true with all the machinery in our lives. Having regular tune-ups and oil changes on the car extends the life of the vehicle. In fact, regular checkups extend our human lives as well. Maintaining your appliances helps them live longer too.

Not only do unmaintained appliances burn too much energy, but they also burn themselves out faster. For example, your blocked-up dryer works harder and hotter than it’s supposed to, which often leads to early failure. And your plugged up dishwasher doesn’t clean the dishes as it should, so you end up running it twice. Try regularly following the maintenance procedures printed in your appliances’ owner’s manuals. Doing so will keep them running well for much longer.

4. Putting Safety First

One of the most important reasons for routine appliance maintenance is to prevent safety hazards. For example, appliances run on gas or electricity, both of which can cause fires. Damaged wires, loose fittings, clogged valves, and cracked seals all can start a fire in the home or appliance. Each year, thousands of house fires are caused by those malfunctioning appliances. But, it is really simple: the key to preventing damage or injury from appliance fires is routine appliance maintenance.

Maintaining your home’s appliances helps keep your house, property, and family safe. A dishwasher that’s not draining well can flood your kitchen. A refrigerator that’s running too warm can sicken your entire family. A dryer with a blocked vent can literally burn your house to the ground. That is a nightmare you could do without. So, maintain your appliances well to reduce the risk of appliance-related property damage.

5. Maintenance Helps to Avoid Surprises

Raise your hand if your appliances make your life run smoother.

When any one of your appliances malfunctions, it creates a domino effect on busy schedules. You know it is true. But most of the surprise repairs can be avoided when appliances are consistently maintained.

But, if you should run into trouble, call an experienced technician. When your appliances are not operating correctly, or for regular maintenance, we are here for you and your appliance needs.

What You Can Do to Help Maintain Your Appliances

Caring for your home appliances gives you pride in a job well done and time well spent. And there are plenty of at-home things you can do to maintain your appliances between professional service.

So, if you are struggling with where to begin maintaining your appliances, never fear. Gulf Coast Appliance Repair has put together this guide to help you get started.

1. Cleaning Stovetop: The stovetop could use a good scrub down no matter the type of range you have. Take off the knobs and clean under them. And don’t forget about the sides between the stovetop and counter.
2. Oven Care: If your oven has a self-clean setting, you are in luck. Set the cleaning timer and let it do its job. If not, get a good oven cleaner and some gloves and get to work. 
3. Clean out the Refrigerator: It may be past time to perform a bit of fridge maintenance. Here are some ideas to make the task less daunting. Check expiration dates and throw out expired items. Wipe down the shelves and inside the fridge. See if the water filter needs to be replaced. And finally, dust off the coils and change the filter if you have one.
4. Wash the Dishwasher: Check the filter at the unit’s bottom and ensure there is no residue or food particles. Make sure all lines and fittings are leak-free and tight. Then run the dishwasher empty with a cleaner to refresh the entire interior.
5. Micro clean the Microwave: This one is simpler than most think. Take a large glass measuring cup of water and set it for two minutes. When the two minutes are up, leave the water in the microwave with the door closed for another few minutes. The steam created will loosen anything stuck inside the unit. Then wipe it out with a rag or a bit of vinegar and water. 
6. Countertop Appliances: The mixer, the toaster, the coffee maker, and the waffle iron all could use some love after use. Don’t forget to give them a good once over cleaning too. You can find plenty of how-to cleaning tips on the internet and the appliance manuals too.
7. Don’t Forget the Garbage Disposal: Clean the garbage disposal out with tabs purchased at the grocery store and hot water. Every once in a while, you can put a quartered lemon in the disposal to freshen it up and keep gunk to a minimum.

You see? It is really not very difficult to help your appliances stay in tip-top working condition between regularly scheduled maintenance visits. Your technician and your appliances will thank you for it.

Repair or Service with Gulf Coast Appliance Repair

If one of your appliances is not working at peak performance, a repair might be required or at least a service check. Make sure to call an experienced quality appliance and repair specialist who will restore it to top condition. Consistent appliance maintenance is really the key to keeping your home running smoothly and safely.

Gulf Coast Appliance Repair is the local appliance repair company that you can count on. For 10+ years, our family-owned business has been serving customers in Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area. We specialize in repairing appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and much more.

Contact our appliance repair service to get on the schedule for your appliance maintenance calls for the new year.