How to Make Kitchen Appliances Last Longer
3 pros!
Appliance repair experts offer advice for what it takes to keep your kitchen appliances in good condition.
Next time you use your fridge, dishwasher or stove, be careful that you’re not unknowingly making it vulnerable to an early breakdown.
Appliance repair pros who’ve earned top ratings from Angie’s List members offer tips for making sure your kitchen appliances meet or exceed their expected life spans:
How to care for your stove
Average life span: 10 to 15 years.
Common repairs and costs:
Igniter cleaning or failure, $110 to $200Broken control board, $260 or moreBake element problems, $160 or more
Basic oven/range maintenance tips:
Keep your stove clean, but avoid getting cleaning fluid or water into dials and switches, which are connected to electrical components.Avoid using aluminum foil under the oven’s bake element or oven coil. Appliance technicians say the reflective surface can disrupt the heat level, leading to over- or under-cooked food.For your range hood: Expected to last as long as 14 years, range hoods endure fumes, food particles, grease and smoke, which can cling to the hood. The filter of a non-vented hood must be changed every few months to keep it in good operating condition. Vented hoods use a duct to exhaust cooking debris and a filter to catch grease. You can hand-wash these filters or run them through the dishwasher on the top rack.
Repair or replace your stove? Consider replacing if you’re investing more than half the price of new unit into a repair.
What to budget for a new stove: $650 to $2,000.
How to care for your fridge
Average life span: Six to 15 years.
Common repairs and cost:
Ice maker failure, $275 to $325Main control board failure, $260 or moreClogged drain line, $110 or more
Basic refrigerator maintenance tips:
Clean the condenser coils at least once a year. These are typically under or behind the unit, and sometimes on top. Over time, they collect dust, debris and pet hair. A dirty condenser makes it difficult for the refrigerator to transfer heat from within to the outside, which wastes energy and can cause premature breakdown. Clean more often if you have pets. You can buy refrigerator coil brushes online or at hardware stores or you may be able to clean them by hand and with your vacuum cleaner.Allow for adequate air flow. Unless your unit is designed for in-cabinet installation, putting a fridge in a tight-fitting area without ventilation room can cause the compressor to overheat and fail prematurely. To properly remove heat, most fridges need several inches of space around the top and sides.Check the hole at the bottom of the fridge where water drains out. Remove debris and thoroughly clean the area. If the fridge has a drip tray, remove and clean it.
Repair or replace? Factor in the unit's age and performance history. A compressor failure is almost always a sure sign that the fridge should be replaced.
What to budget for a new fridge: $900 to $8,000.
How to care for your dishwasher
Average life span: Eight to 10 years.
Common repairs and cost to fix:
Drain pump cleaning, $100 to $300Water inlet valve, $160 or more Control board failure, $190 or more
Basic dishwasher maintenance tips:
Scrape dishware before loading. Larger food clumps can clog washer arms and pump screens. However, many appliance technicians debate just how clean dishes should be before you wash them in the dishwasher. Some say dishwasher detergent requires something to adhere to, or it will leave residue on the dishes and dishwasher interior.Check the spinner or spinners for buildup. A spinner has small holes that water's dispersed through. Over time, food particles and soap can block the holes and diminish the appliance's performance. Use a small, straight, somewhat sharp tool, like a toothpick, skewer, etc., to penetrate the holes and remove debris.Inspect the dishwasher's hoses and replace them as necessary. Also check where the dishwasher drains water, which is generally right inside the washer, near the front-bottom of the appliance. Check for buildup there and clean the area to ensure consistent, effective drainage.Don’t overdo the soap. Repair pros say people commonly use too much dishwasher soap, which builds up in the machine, putting a strain on the pump/motor assembly, spray arm and other components.
Repair or replace? If the unit has rust, rot or corrosion, or if you’re looking at a repair equal to or more than half the cost of a new dishwasher, you should replace it.
What to budget for a new dishwasher: $400 to $700.
Before you hire an appliance repair pro:
Make sure the company is appropriately licensed, insured and bonded. Confirm that the company has good online reviews from consumers on a trusted site. Get several estimates and compare bids based on price, parts, labor and warranty. Make sure you understand all costs before agreeing to any work.
