Fall Appliance Maintenance Checklist
I love the fall season. The leaves change into vibrant colors, the weather cools down, and it feels like the year starts winding down to a close. Since fall started this week, we figured it would be a good time to review some good maintenance/cleaning tips to get you through the season. We always hear about spring cleaning, but fall is a great time to catch up before the holidays as well. Here is a short checklist for fall appliance maintenance suggestions:
Replace water filters
Most refrigerators and ice machines will recommend replacing the filter every 6 months. An easy way to remember when to replace is to do it in the fall and spring. If you're not sure which filter your unit takes, remove the filter and check for a part number.
Clean the oven
If your oven has a self-cleaning feature, the beginning of fall is a good time to do it. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time before you have a large cooking event like Thanksgiving just in case it gets too hot and blows a fuse or has any other issue.
Purge the refrigerator and freezer
That box of chicken nuggets that's been hanging out in the back of the freezer for the last 3 years is probably not going to be used at this point, and 3 years of defrost cycles have probably created a nice layer of freezer burn. It's a good time to throw that out. (It's also a good time to check the expiration dates on the door full of condiments.)
Wipe down the microwave
Take out the glass plate in the microwave and clean it with a mild detergent and non-abrasive cloth. Clean off any food bits that are inside as well.
Let a cleaning tablet do the work
For dishwashers, garbage disposals, and washers, there are cleaning tablets that will do most of the heavy lifting for you. Go to the manufacturer's website to see what cleaner they recommend and you can probably find it at your local grocery store. Run the clean cycle as directed and watch the magic happen.
Vacuum the refrigerator coils
This is especially important if you have a pet that sheds. Check out our post about this below!
Clean out the dryer vent
When the weather cools off, it's a great time to get outside and clean dryer vents. If you have a long vent or one that is non-standard, it's a good idea to have a professional cleaning service out to take care of it for you. We don't service dryer vents, but if you call our office we can recommend someone who will.
Run a clean cycle on the ice machine
If you have an under-counter ice machine, fall is a great time to run a clean cycle. The manufacturer should have recommendations for cleaning products on their website. We also sell a variety of cleaning products at our storefront.
Hopefully some of these tips help, or at the very least, jog the memory and give an idea of a starting point. Appliances are usually something we forget about until they have an issue, but if you do some simple maintenance from time to time, you can prolong their lifespan and keep them running well. For the times where they do have issues, we're here. Ken's Appliance Service works on all types of machines including laundry, cooking, dish, and refrigeration. We're located in Murfreesboro and service Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and all the areas surrounding these cities. We work on almost all major brands and specialize in Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air products. Our office is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00am until 4:30pm CST, and Fridays from 8:00am to 4:00pm CST. We also sell parts from our storefront in Murfreesboro. Need to schedule an appointment? Click the link below!
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