Spending as little as 1% of your home’s value per year on maintenance can help keep everything in your home in top shape.
Annual maintenance is especially essential for your home appliances, most of which are big-ticket purchases. A poorly maintained appliance is prone to glitches that can set you back a significant amount of money in repairs. Across the country, repair costs for most appliances average $175!
While every appliance in your home needs care, there are some that should never be missing from your annual home maintenance checklist. In this post, we discuss six of these appliances.
Table of Contents
1. Air Conditioner
The number one appliance you need when preparing your home for the summer or making a spring home maintenance checklist is your AC. Your AC’s primary job is to blow cold air into your living space, keeping your house cool and comfortable during the hot months. Generally, annual AC maintenance should be done by a licensed heating and air conditioning maintenance technician.
So what’s included in air conditioning preventive maintenance? Your technician will check the thermostat to ensure it’s functioning properly. They’ll also tighten your AC’s electrical connections in case there are some that are loose.
All AC moving parts are lubricated to avoid excessive friction that causes damage. Other parts included in the maintenance checks include the condensate drain line, system controls, air filter, and refrigerant.
Ensuring that your AC is up and running helps get your home ready for the summer.
2. Furnace
The arrival of winter signals the start of freezing weather, and no appliance can help you get through these cold months better than your furnace. Including your furnace in your annual home maintenance checklist can help guarantee that your furnace is in tip-top shape come winter. It can maximize your furnace’s energy efficiency and help you avoid unexpected repairs.
Furnace maintenance includes testing both the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they’re working properly. Your technician will also inspect all electrical connections, including the ignition and pilot lights. The technician also lubricates the system’s moving parts and tests its safety features.
Other maintenance tasks include setting the thermostat to optimize usage, changing furnace filters, cleaning the chimney and vents, and updating maintenance records.
3. Fridge
Your fridge is among the hardest working appliances in your home, considering that it runs 24 hours every day. A poorly maintained fridge is more likely to work inefficiently and will break down more frequently.
During your annual home maintenance, hire a fridge technician to inspect your fridge thoroughly to ensure it’s working well. Typically, the technician will pay attention to the door seals to make sure they aren’t broken. They’ll also check the coils at the back of your fridge for any damage.
Other parts of the fridge that need checking include the condenser coils and blades, fans, drain parts, motors, wiring, heater, and unit cooler.
4. Dishwasher
Just like your refrigerator, your dishwasher works hard all year round and will inevitably become less efficient. Routine maintenance helps improve its efficiency, prevent repairs, and delay the need for replacing the appliance.
Part of dishwasher maintenance includes inspecting the hoses for any leaks, clogs, and other water damage. Your technician will remove any clogs and tighten visible connections to eliminate leaks.
Any buildup on your dishwasher’s arms also needs removing to ensure a quality clean. Next, your technician will inspect the float assembly to make sure it’s working properly. They’ll also ensure the door seals are tight and that the filters are clean.
5. Washing Machine
Prevent washing machine breakdowns by including this appliance in your annual maintenance checklist. It’s best to let a qualified technician handle the maintenance tasks.
The technician will check the water hoses for any signs of cracking, fraying, bulging, and leaks. If any of these issues are apparent, you may need to replace the hoses.
It’s also important to check whether the drum is working properly. Any signs of wear or wobbling call for repair or replacement of the drum.
Fan motors and the spin cycle also need to function properly. If this isn’t the case, the technician will decide between repairing and replacing these parts.
Other parts that need inspecting include both the door and the door hinges of your washing machine, the belts, and the lint filter.
6. Clothes Dryer
Dryers last 10 years on average. To make sure that your dryer hits or exceeds that mark, you need to invest in maintenance at least once a year.
Your technician will inspect the exhaust vent and clean it if necessary. Cleaning the vent helps remove any lint build-up and can prevent fires.
Be sure to inspect the vent cap outside for dirt, snow, or lawn debris. Clear any build-up to ensure free flow of air.
Depending on the condition of the duct, your technician may recommend replacing it. If you use an accordion-style duct, the technician may opt to replace it with a rigid metal one to improve performance. While an accordion-style duct enables the accumulation of lint in the ridges and low points, metal ducts have smooth walls and prevent lint build-up.
Make Appliances Part of Your Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
No annual home maintenance checklist is complete without including essential home appliances. That’s because neglecting your home appliances will inevitably lead to malfunctioning and inefficiency, which means costly repairs and replacements.
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