Appliance use and care

With care, appliances get shot at longer life.

That ancient hand-crank washing machine may have been an enormous pain for our great-grandmothers, but it was built to last.

Today's modern appliances are built for energy efficiency and convenience for the user, but they also have a shorter lifespan.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers says today's washers need to be replaced about every 12 years, and most other appliances don't last much longer.

And as far as specific brands, none lasts significantly longer the others, according to Consumer Reports. Their studies show that, across the board, appliances from a wide variety of manufacturers carry similar life spans.

All appliances can break down before their optimal end dates or fail to work at peak performance if not properly maintained. To make the most of the life they do have, follow the maintenance suggestions in the user manual or try these tips from Consumer Reports:

Refrigerator

Life expectancy: 14-17 years

• Clean the compressor coils every few months or so (typically, coils are at the bottom of the unit).

• Keep gaskets on the refrigerator and freezer doors clean with mild detergent and water, not bleach, to ensure a good seal and prevent wasted energy.

• Check the gasket seal by closing the doors on a dollar bill; replace the gasket if the bill falls out or can be easily removed without opening the door.

Stove

Life expectancy: 17 years

• Place heavy pots and pans gently on smooth-top models to avoid breakage.

• Never cover drip pans and bowls with foil; it can short-circuit the burner.

• Keep reflector bowls (beneath burners) shiny and clean, which affects how efficiently they reflect heat up to the pan or pot. Replace them when they can no longer be cleaned.

• Gas stoves: periodically clean burner ports with a needle and don't poke the igniter or spray it with oven cleaner.

Wall oven

Life expectancy: 17 years

• Check door seals for damage.

• If heat is escaping from an older oven, adjust or replace the gasket.

Washing machine

Life expectancy: 11-14 years

• Remove grit from the screens where the hoses attach to the water supplies.

• Don't overload the washer beyond its manufacturer-recommended capacity.

• Install the washer on a level and well-supported subfloor to prevent vibration and banging.

Dryer

Life expectancy: 13 years

• Clean lint filter after each use to keep air flowing freely.

• Each year, clean the entire exhaust duct to keep it from clogging and creating a fire hazard.

Microwave

Life expectancy: 9 years

• Avoid turning on when empty and avoid putting metal inside.

Dishwasher

Life expectancy: 11 years

• Replace a dish rack with worn or rusted tines.

• When loading, make sure silverware and dishes don't catch the spray arms to avoid damaging the arms.

• Inspect the spray arms for paper, glass or other debris, which can clog holes. Remove any obstructions. If you find glass, inspect the pump housing for glass, as well as any seals that it might have punctured.

• If your dishwasher has a manual-clean filter, clean the filter regularly, as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Projection TV

Life expectancy: 30,000-60,000 hours, about 3½ to 7 years if used 24/7

• Screens can scratch easily, so be careful when cleaning them.

Conventional tube television

Life expectancy: 30,000 hours, about 3½ years if used 24/7

• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Remove dust from screen and vents. Keep screen brightness (contrast settings) low to prolong picture life and reduce chance of "burn in," a permanent disfiguring of areas of the screen.

Dryer efficiency tips

· The heating element uses the most energy; therefore, you can use the automatic settings over the time settings to save energy.

· The permanent press cycle has a longer cool down cycle that reduces energy use.

· Do not do partial loads or too large of loads. Overloading of the dryer reduces circulation of air causing the dryer to be less efficient.

· Always clean the lint screen between loads.

· The major problem with dryer efficiency is the venting. Always use the shortest length of venting and 4 inches of diameter.

· Venting has to be steel or aluminum ducting.

· Make sure venting does not kink or become obstructed.

· Check vent on the outside of the house in case of damages to the vent cap or vent hood.

· The cost of drying clothes for a typical load is 30 to 40 cents in an electric dryer, 15 to 25 cents in a gas dryer (source: Ontario Hydro).

· Make use of clotheslines whenever possible.

Dryer maintenance tips

Vent: Your dryer vent pipe should be made of aluminum. The white vinyl duct that was common several years ago no longer meets most building codes, because if your dryer ignites it, a fire may start in your home. Check the entire length of the vent pipe for lint build-up at least once a year--or more often if the dryer gets a lot of use. Note: Remove the lint from the duct--don't just push it back into the dryer or let it clog any part of the vent. You can tackle lint build-up in the duct with our Vent Brush for Cleaning 4" Round Dryer Vent accessory. It's available in 10 and 20 foot lengths.

Interior of dryer cabinet: The lint produced by clothes tumbling in a dryer is normally trapped by the lint filter. However, some lint invariably escapes and accumulates on the inside of the dryer cabinet. At least once a year, check the inside of the cabinet, and clean it if necessary. Do this more frequently if the dryer is used heavily.

Lint filter: Check and clean the lint filter after every drying cycle. If the lint filter has any rips or tears, replace it. If the filter gets clogged by fabric softener residue or any other residue, you can easily clean it with a soft-bristle brush and a little detergent.

Area under lint filter: You can also clean the chute, duct, or area that the lint filter fits into. If necessary, use a vacuum cleaner to reach into the duct and clean out any lint. Note: If the lint build-up is severe, it's important to disassemble the dryer and clean out the lint more thoroughly. This is often a job for a qualified appliance repair technician, because there's a risk of injuring yourself or damaging the machine.

Dryer FAQ

NOTE: When experiencing problems with any appliance, the first thing the customer should do is check to see that there is power going to the unit by checking the breaker box.

What can I do when my dryer is running but not heating?

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

• Make sure you have the right timer selection, fabric setting, and temperature selection. Timer should be set to dry and not fluff or cool down.
• Move timer pointer to mid-range selection.
• Make sure front of dryer is not blocked; air flow is needed to dry.

Electric models:

• The dryer should be on a separate outlet.
• Check the circuit breaker/fuses.
• Check the power cord. The power cord may have a burned, broken, or loose connection at the back of the dryer. Safety First- turn circuit breaker to "off" position or remove fuses. At the back of the dryer, locate the power cord and unplug it from the wall. The power cord of the dryer connects to a terminal block at the rear of the dryer. A metal plate covers this terminal block. Remove the screws holding the metal plate in place to access the terminal block connections. Check the power cord; look for burned, broken, frayed, or loose wire connections. If wires and/or terminal connections are burned, broken, or frayed, then replacement of both will be necessary.

Gas models:

• Make sure the gas line has been turned on for new installations.

How long should it take for my clothes to dry?

Most dryers dry a large load of laundry in about 45 minutes. If the load takes significantly more time than that, you may have a clogged vent tubing system.

How often should I clean the lint filter?

Every time you dry a load.

What type of vent should I have? Is the white vinyl tubing OK?

All national and local building codes now require metal ducting for clothes dryers. It's ideal to use the stiff (rigid) aluminum tubing pieces. This type of tubing does the best job of resisting the collection of lint in the duct. You can use flexible aluminum ducting instead, though it's far more prone to collecting lint inside. White vinyl ducting is dangerous. It is flammable and, if ignited by the dryer, it may burn and cause a house fire.

Should I oil the motor or rollers?

No. All dryers are designed to run without periodic oiling. If a roller or pulley becomes noisy or squeaky, replace it and clean or replace the shaft it rotates on.

Is a gas dryer cheaper to run than an electric dryer?

Yes. Gas dryers are typically half as expensive to run as electric dryers.

Do fabric softener sheets hurt the dryer?

Yes and no. Dryer softener sheets don't harm the dryer. However, their residue may cause the screen of the lint filter to become partially clogged or the electronic moisture sensor to be coated with residue. If this happens, clean the screen with a little detergent and a soft-bristle brush, wipe off the sensor with a cotton ball and a little rubbing alcohol. Sometimes the softener sheets get stuck in the lint filter or over the vents on the inside of the dryer, so check to be sure the sheets come out of the dryer with the load of clothes.

Is it important for my dryer to be level?

Yes. All appliances perform best when set up properly. If a dryer is not level, it can cause some components to wear out prematurely.

Installing clothes dryers

How to troubleshoot your dryer

How to clean a dryer vent

How to install a washer and dryer