Expert Appliance Maintenance and Cleaning Tips

If your refrigerator/freezer is not cooling efficiently, start by ensuring that the door is tightly closed. A loose door seal can lead to significant cooling capacity loss, resulting in higher electricity costs and a shorter life for your refrigerator components. Often, the problem can be as simple as sticky syrup or spilled food, which you can clean with a mild detergent. If the door still doesn't seal properly, call us for a professional evaluation.

Check that your refrigerator/freezer is not overfilled, as it can affect the proper circulation of cool air. Ensuring adequate space inside will help maintain optimal cooling performance.

When moving your refrigerator, always keep it upright. Laying it on its side can lead to an oil leak from the compressor, which can be costly. So, handling it with care and maintaining the correct position is important.

To facilitate proper cooling, keeping your refrigerator off carpeted surfaces is recommended. Since most heat disbursement mechanisms are located underneath, carpeting can absorb the heat and cause ineffective cooling.

Plug the refrigerator directly into a wall outlet, preferably a regular outlet rather than a ground-fault breaker. Ground-fault breakers can be easily tripped by slight power surges, making it seem like the refrigerator is not functioning. If you need an extension cord, choose a short, heavy-duty one labeled for such use.

When going on vacation, remove perishable food items to prevent spoilage. Turn off the ice-maker switch or ensure that the wire arm is in the Up position. However, it's recommended to leave the refrigerator running during this time.

Regularly vacuum or sweep the dust and dirt around your refrigerator. If you have pets, cleaning the condenser coils regularly is especially important to maintain efficient operation.

Regularly check that the hoses connecting your washing machine to the water faucets are securely attached. Use steel hoses, which are less likely to burst than rubber ones. Turn the water faucets on and off before and after each laundry day for added longevity to your washer. We recommend replacing hoses every 6 to 8 years.

Visually examine the drain hose to ensure there are no kinks or visible obstructions that may affect proper drainage. A restricted drainage function can cause the water pump to overheat and stop working efficiently.

Use a small level to ensure your washing machine sits on a solid surface. Proper leveling prevents imbalance issues that can trigger safety switches or result in loud banging and scraping noises, leading to additional wear and tear.

Use the appropriate type and amount of detergent as specified by the manufacturer. Excessive detergent can lead to suds-lock, preventing the machine from functioning properly. If suds-lock occurs, fill the machine with cold water and add 2 cups of white vinegar, then run a cycle to resolve the issue.

If clothes are not spinning properly during the final cycle and are excessively wet, it can cause your dryer to take longer and work twice as hard. If improper spinning persists, contact us for professional servicing.

After each use, make it a habit to check and clean your dryer's lint filter. This ensures effective drying and reduces the risk of fire hazards.

Do not overload your dryer, as it can take clothes longer to dry or remain damp. Overloading also increases electricity consumption and wear and tear on moving parts.

Avoid putting rugs or items with rubber foam backing in your dryer. Additionally, don't dry clothing soiled with flammable substances like gasoline, grease, or alcohol to prevent potential fire hazards.

Before starting a drying cycle, thoroughly check and empty the pockets of all clothing. Items like crayons, ink pens, or other foreign objects can melt and cause damage to the machine and other clothing. 

If your dryer takes multiple cycles to dry clothes, it may be due to the vent location. If the dryer is in a fully enclosed interior room (not against an outside wall), the vent may run through the ceiling and roof with sharp turns. Remember that dryers can push air only about 30 feet, and the curves and angles prevent the air from reaching the outside. To resolve this issue, it is necessary to re-vent the dryer properly.

To ensure your dishwasher operates at its best, do not overload it. Overfilling the dishwasher can hinder its capabilities and compromise cleaning results.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and avoid exceeding the recommended amount of detergent. Overfilling the detergent dispenser may lead to leaks. It's important to note that you shouldn't use dishwashing detergents like Dawn in your dishwasher.

Every 3 to 4 months, run an empty dishwasher with cold water and 1 cup of white vinegar through a cycle. This simple step helps clean, deodorize, and sanitize the dishwasher, eliminating odors and addressing hard water buildups.

Regularly check that your dishwasher is balanced correctly to prevent funny noises and excessive wear and tear. To address any balance issues, remove the bottom panel, shut off the circuit breaker, and use a wrench to adjust the four legs until the dishwasher is level.

Periodically inspect the spray arm to ensure that the holes are not clogged. If clogs are present, carefully remove any debris using tweezers. This helps maintain the spray arm's functionality and ensures efficient cleaning.