All In Good Taste / May 2006
Spring Forward, Stove Up
Right after spring-cleaning and changing clocks, homeowners might want to tackle appliance maintenance. According to RepairClinic.com, now is the perfect time to tackle simple preventive maintenance projects that can save hundreds of dollars and a lot of frustration down the road.
Each of these five easy jobs takes less than six minutes, can be tackled by anyone, and prolongs the life and efficiency of common appliances.
When appliances are working they tend to get forgotten-until they break down.
Homeowners can set aside 30 minutes, line up their tools, and move appliance maintenance from the back burner to the front and save headaches later.
First, check the dishwasher’s dish rack. Inspect the dish rack tines for rusting since rust particles can ruin the pump and seals, causing a hidden leak or pump failure. A tine repair kit can save the cost of a new dish rack. (The kits come in various colors). If the rack is beyond salvation, it should be replaced.
Clean or replace the drip bowls on the stove. Dirty stovetop drip bowls reduce the heating efficiency of the burner. They should never be covered with foil. This can cause an electrical short in the stove or block the oven vent, which is often through the center of a back burner.
Check the 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, parts that can easily be replaced by many do-it-your-selfers.
Enhance humidifier effectiveness by replacing humidifier filters and pads annually, even if they appear to be fine. Calcium and other mineral deposits reduce the effectiveness of humidifier pads to evaporate moisture into the air.
Boost air conditioner efficiency by cleaning or replacing the air filter to help the unit run more efficiently. Give the evaporator and condenser coils an annual cleaning. Use the model number of the unit to find the correct filter.
Prevent fires and improve air quality by cleaning or replacing the filters in the range vent hood or underneath the over-the-range microwave oven. If the filter is too dirty to clean or is worn out, replace it with a new one. Charcoal air filters can’t be cleaned and should be replaced every year.
For step by step instructions on home remedies, visit RepairClinic.com.
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