Maintain Your Appliances

It is a certainty that your household appliances will not outlive the lifespan of your home. Sooner or later, they will need to be replaced. You can, however, extend their longevity and prevent premature replacement costs with regular maintenance.

Proper care and maintenance can make a difference in the life span of your home appliances. Well maintained appliances can save you money in the long run, not only in replacement costs but also in energy costs.

Dishwasher – Average Lifespan: 13 years

Your dishwasher may have a filter located near the bottom or under the lower spray arm which should be inspected and cleaned regularly. If there are any holes or other damage to the filter, you’ll need to replace it immediately to protect the dishwasher’s pump and motor seals from damage.

Electric Oven – Average Lifespan: 13 Years

Clean all spills immediately to prevent grime, odours, rust, and worn down enamel. To prevent grease build up  use either the self-cleaning feature or an oven cleaner.

Clothes Washer – Average Lifespan: 14 Years

It’s common for detergent residue to build up inside washing machine tubs. Use a cleaner once per month to keep high-efficiency washing machines free of odour-causing residue.

Refrigerator – Average Lifespan: 17 Years

When the condenser coils are covered with dust, the refrigerator can’t run efficiently. They should be cleaned at least once a year.

Clothes Dryers – Average Lifespan: 18 Years

Clean the exhaust duct on your clothes dryer annually, and clean the lint filter before each use.

Electric Range – Average Lifespan: 18

If a heavy spill occurs, use a no-abrasive scraper to remove large food deposits. Apply a cooktop cleaner. Remove the remaining residue with a scratch-free pad and then apply a coat of cooktop protectant. Some ranges have heating element burners that are solid metal, you can clean these solid burners using a solid surface element cleaner.

Freezer – Average Lifespan: 21 Years

To maintain the efficiency of a manual-defrost freezer, it should be defrosted each time it develops a quarter-inch of ice build-up on the interior walls. Many people defrost their freezers once a year, but this may need to be done more or less often depending on usage habits.

Source: Homeservice Club of Canada