Maintaining your appliances is something that is often overlooked, but can make a huge difference in performance, longevity and safety. Proper use and care of your appliances is a necessity and can literally add years to the life of your household appliances. Use these tips to ensure you are both maximizing performance and minimizing safety concerns:

Kitchen Appliances
Maintenance on your kitchen appliances should be priority one because of the frequency in which you use them. We typically recommend letting professional service technician manage maintenance and/or repairs, keeping them clean and using the correctly is something in which homeowners should pay close attention.

Although rare, homeowners need to be particularly mindful of inoperable gas ranges/ovens because of the potential hazards of gas leaks, etc. In most cases, it is simply a pilot light that has gone out. If you have the owner’s manual, they may show you how to safely reignite the pilot light.

Small things can also make a difference in your appliance’s efficiency. For example:

• Only run the dishwasher when it is full
• Too much frost in your freezer doesn’t allow an optimum performance
• Watch out for yellow or orange flames on your gas stove. They should always be blue

Laundry Room Appliances
Similar to kitchen appliances, maintenance and proper use will factor into the efficiency and performance of the household’s washer and dryer. The most common performance issue is when your washing machine rattles, which is a sure sign it needs to be leveled. Also, lowering the water temperature of your wash cycles can reduce your energy bills. Lastly, keeping the lint trap in your dryer clean before use will not only prevent fire hazards but will also save energy and dry your clothes faster.