Use & Care Tips

ASAP’s Appliance Maintenance Tips

When consumers neglect to maintain their appliances properly, they sacrifice the safety, endurance, and efficiency of these products. Follow these simple tips below to ensure your home’s safety and a long life for your appliances:

 

Refrigerator / Freezer Maintenancecare-tips-refrigerator

  • Temperature levels should be set to practical levels in order to make energy costs more efficient and to keep the compressor in good working order. Refrigerator temperatures should be set at 35-40 degrees F, and freezer temperatures should be set at 0-4 degrees F.
  • Four inches or more should be allotted on all sides of the refrigerator to permit proper heat dispersion.
  • Regular cleaning of the condenser coils, using something non-abrasive, will improve your refrigerator’s efficiency.
  • Water filters should be changed out every year to ensure the sanitation of water, as well as avoid any blockage or leaking.
  • Make sure the surface that your refrigerator is placed on is level; otherwise you risk the door seal wearing out.
  • In the case of refrigerator odors, you should take out all of the panels and shelves and clear them with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water and clean the inside of your refrigerator.

 

Clothes Dryer Maintenancecare-tips-dryer

  • Always clean the lint screen before doing a load of laundry to prevent fire hazards.
  • To make sure there is enough air circulating, do not put too many clothes in one load when using the dryer.
  • Occasionally check the dryer vent to make sure nothing is blocking it.
  • Dryer vent hoses should be aluminum and not vinyl. Vinyl hoses no longer are able to endure the heat that modern dryers generate snd should be replaced.
  • Make sure your dryer hose is not too long and has no knots in it.
  • If you’re not afraid to open the chassis, cleaning the inside every few years will ensure the safety and efficiency of your dryer.

 

Clothes Washer Maintenance

  • Make sure there are no loose objects in your clothing prior to placing in the machine, as these objects can damage your machine.
  • Check the tags on your clothing for proper cleaning instructions.
  • Check the ground that your washing machine is located on, and make sure it is level.
  • To prevent mold, leave front-loading washing machine doors open when not in use. If you encounter mold, we recommend Affresh®.
  • To avoid clothes discoloration, do not wash black or vibrant colors with hot water.
  • To avoid leaking problems, change out the hose to your washing machine every 5 years.

 

Dishwasher Maintenance

  • Hard water can cause white film to be left on dishes cleaned in the dishwasher. Due to recent EPA regulations, current detergents are unable to resolve hard water deposits. We recommend LemiShine® to resolve hard water deposits.
  • Before loading dishes into the dishwasher, you should clear them of debris to prevent drain blockage.
  • Avoid using rinse aids in both the stand-alone form and in your detergent. You only need to use one form.
  • Check the surface that your dishwasher is located on and make sure it is level, to avoid any leaking.
  • Before turning on the dishwasher, make sure the spray arm isn’t obstructed.
  • Powder detergent, although cheaper, has a much lesser shelf life.
  • Check labels on dishes to ensure that they are dishwasher safe.

 

Range / Oven / Stove Maintenance

  • Avoid using metal products to clean stoves made of glass to avoid scratching.
  • Oven light bulb replacement is easy; 40-watt bulbs are the most commonly used.
  • Be careful when using stone or iron cooking ware on your glass stove as they may the surface.
  • To avoid cracking a glass stove, do not place heavy items on the shelves above. Glass top stove repairs are both avoidable and expensive.

 

Need to know something these tips don’t cover? Let us know — you can call us at (704) 901-8050 or e-mail us via our contact form.