Appliances and how to keep them working

Domestic appliances are generally replaced rather than maintained, and a substantial proportion of failures trace to routine maintenance that was never done.

The refrigerator

Clean the condenser coils, at the back or underneath, which accumulate dust and reduce efficiency substantially.

Once or twice a year with a vacuum and a brush.

Check the door seal, which perishes and which allows warm air in.

The test: close the door on a piece of paper; if it pulls out easily, the seal is not gripping.

Clear the drain hole at the back of the interior, which blocks and causes water to pool.

Do not overfill, which restricts air circulation, and do not leave it half empty in a freezer, which is less efficient.

Check the temperature with a thermometer, since the dial settings are not calibrated.

The washing machine

Clean the filter, which most owners have never opened and which collects the coins, buttons and hair that eventually block the pump.

Every few months, with a shallow container to catch the water.

Clean the door seal, where residue and mould accumulate.

Clean the detergent drawer.

Run a hot maintenance wash monthly with a cleaner or soda crystals, which addresses the biofilm that low-temperature washing allows.

Leave the door ajar between washes.

Check the hoses for bulging or perishing, since a burst supply hose causes serious water damage.

Do not overload, which strains bearings and is the cause of many mechanical failures.

The dishwasher

Clean the filter, which is the cause of nearly every complaint about poor cleaning.

Check the spray arms for blocked holes, and clear them.

Keep salt and rinse aid topped up in hard water areas, which prevents limescale damage and produces better results.

Run a hot cycle with a cleaner periodically.

Do not pre-rinse excessively, since modern detergents require some soil to work against, though scraping is sensible.

The oven and hob

Clean spills promptly, since baked-on residue is far harder to remove and smokes.

Clean the extractor filter, which becomes a fire risk when saturated with grease and which is generally dishwasher-safe.

Check the door seal on the oven, since a failed one wastes heat and lengthens cooking.

Check the oven temperature with a thermometer, since many run substantially above or below the setting.

Do not line the base with foil, which restricts airflow and can damage the element in some ovens.

The tumble dryer

Clean the lint filter every cycle, which is both an efficiency and a fire safety matter.

Dryer lint is a documented cause of domestic fires.

Check the vent or condenser depending on type, which also accumulates lint and which is less obvious.

Ensure external venting is clear and not blocked by debris or a bird's nest.

The kettle and small appliances

Descale in hard water areas, since limescale reduces efficiency and eventually causes failure.

Clean and dry anything with a water reservoir, since standing water grows biofilm.

And check cables and plugs periodically for damage, which is a common cause of small appliance faults and a genuine safety matter.

When something fails

The approach discussed elsewhere on this site.

Find the model number, search the symptom, and see what comes up before assuming replacement.

A large proportion of appliance faults are a single inexpensive part, and video guides exist for almost every common fault.

Where a repair is beyond you, obtaining a quote before replacing is worth doing, since repair frequently costs a fraction of replacement.

Buying

What matters for longevity.

Repairability, which is increasingly published and which legislation in several jurisdictions now requires manufacturers to support.

Parts availability.

Simplicity, since additional electronic features are additional failure points.

And the actual capacity you need rather than the largest available, since an oversized appliance is used inefficiently.

Repair or replace

The calculation worth making deliberately.

A repair costing more than roughly half the price of a replacement is generally not worth it on an appliance near the end of its expected life, and is clearly worth it on one that is three years old.

Check the warranty first, since many appliances carry longer cover than people remember and some faults are covered by consumer legislation beyond the stated warranty.

Check whether the fault is one of the common cheap ones — a blocked filter, a failed door switch, a worn seal, a broken belt — many of which are user-repairable with a part costing very little.

Repair cafés and online repair guides have made this substantially more accessible than it was.

And weigh the running cost of an old appliance, since an inefficient one that is repeatedly repaired can cost more in energy than a replacement would in capital.

General information only, not professional advice. Disconnect appliances from power before any maintenance, and consult a qualified professional for repairs involving gas or fixed wiring.