Appliance Care Tips

Check out these lesser-known appliance care tips and put them into action.

Refrigerator and Freezer

• Is your Refrigerator Not Cold Enough?
• If you have a water dispenser or ice maker in your unit, change the water filter every six months. Check the owner’s manual to find out where your model’s filter is.
• For efficient operation, vacuum out the refrigerator and freezer coils at least once a year. The coils can be located behind the vent cover on the front of the unit, or they’re in the back (depending on model).
• Keep these appliances clean. Grime or ice buildup can lower efficiency.
• If something is broken, ask Mr. Appliance for expert refrigerator repair and freezer repair.

Dishwasher

• Clean your dishwasher at least once every six months.
• Buy a kit to replace or cap rusty tines (the vertical spikes on the racks inside) so they don’t stain your dishes.
• If your dishwasher needs professional care, consider our dishwasher repair services.

Oven, Stove and Range

• After using your oven’s self-cleaning mode (recommended every six months), wait a full 6 hours. Then unplug it and wipe down the inside with a solution of white vinegar and water.
• If your stove has coil burners, watch out for small red spots on them. These could indicate that the burner will short out soon. If you see one, replace the burner!
• Call Mr. Appliance when you need oven, stove, or range repair services.

Vent Hood

• Clean or replace grease filters and vents. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendation for frequency. This is important for minimizing the risk of fire!
• Periodically clean the vent hood’s fan blades to prevent dirt and grease from building up.
• Trust Mr. Appliance for your vent hood repairs.

Garbage Disposal

• Use cold water for the grinding process and for at least 30 seconds after you turn off the disposal.
• Read our garbage disposal blog for more tips—like substances you shouldn’t put down the disposal.
• When your garbage disposal is stuck or broken, get professional garbage disposal repair.

Microwave

• To save energy, unplug your microwave when it isn’t in use.
• Don’t run the microwave with nothing in it. This can damage the appliance or even cause a fire.

Washing Machine

• Level your washing machine if it starts to shake.
• Clean the washer’s lint trap. Yes, it has one!
• If your washer needs professional care, get washing machine repair service from your local Mr. Appliance.

Dryer

• Make sure you clean the lint filter every time.
• Don’t forget to schedule professional dryer vent cleaning once every 3 to 12 months.
• When your dryer is kaput, contact us for local dryer repair.

Why Perform Appliance Maintenance?

Practicing appliance maintenance helps you prevent unexpected breakdowns. A task as simple as cleaning your appliances can make a huge difference. With uncomplicated actions, you can keep your utility bills low and extend the life of your appliances.

Just don’t forget to practice appliance safety and call a professional if you get in over your head!

Additional Resources for Appliance Care

Even some appliance troubleshooting procedures can be DIY, if you have the right resources.

• Electrical Appliance Testing
• Appliance Troubleshooting

Specialty Tools for Appliance Care

These are some of the common tools that appliance maintenance experts use.

• Hose Pinch-Off Pliers
• Hose Clamp Pliers
• Snap Ring Pliers
• Spanner Wrench
• Nut Driver Set
• Wire Stripper
• Clamp-On Ammeter
• Volt-Ohm-Amp Meter
• Non-Contact Voltage Tester
• Non-Contact Multimeter
• Test Leads and Jumper Wires
• Wrench Set

Speaking of experts—we’re here to help! If you need professional appliance care, call us today or schedule an appointment online.