We tend to use kitchen appliances and then forget them. Well, to prolong the life and efficiency of these expensive appliances, it is time to remember. These five maintenance jobs are easy and may lead to savings of hundreds of dollars.
1. Clean or replace the drip bowls underneath the electric coil burners on your stove. Dirty drip bowls reduce the heating efficiency of the burners and make the stove look old and tired. Safety tip: Never cover them with foil — this can cause an electrical short-circuit.
2. Check your oven door to be sure it's closing tightly. This will improve the efficiency and temperature accuracy of the oven. If it doesn't close properly, inspect the door gasket, hinges or door springs. These parts can be replaced by most do-it-yourselfers.
3. Clean or replace the filters in your range-vent hood or underneath your over-the-range microwave oven. If the filter is too dirty to clean or is worn out, replace it. Charcoal air filters cannot be cleaned, so replace them every year.
4. Check your dishwasher’s dish rack and inspect the dish rack tines for rusting. Rust particles can ruin the pump and seals, causing a hidden leak or pump failure. An inexpensive tine repair kit can save you the cost of a new dish rack. The kits come in various colors to match your rack. If the dish rack is beyond salvation, replace it and the dish-rack wheel.
5. Clean or replace the air filter in your portable air conditioner to maximize its efficiency. And don’t forget to give the evaporator and condenser coils an annual cleaning.
RepairClinic.com, founded in 1999, provides tools and parts for all major brands of appliances, along with free appliance-repair help.
Visit www.RepairClinic.com or call a customer service representative at 800- 269-2609.