How can I make my appliances last longer?
Refrigerator
Average lifespan: 10 - 15 years
Stock it the righ amount!
If you keep your fridge too empty or too full, the cooling system has to work extra-hard and extra-long to keep foods fresh. Its best to keep your fridge half to three quarters full. This might extend the life of your refrigerator 3 to 5 years.
Take care of your door gaskets!
Wipe down the rubber door gaskets around all of the doors at least once a month with soap and water. Sticky residue left on door gaskets will cause them to stick to the fridge when you open the door resulting in rips that will let in warm air causing the compressor to work harder to cool your appliance.
Oven/Stove
Average lifespan: 15 years for electric; 17 years for gas.
Protect the control panel!
Heat large pots on the front burners to protect your control panel from excess moisture and heat. Extend its life 3 years.
Prevent cracks!
If your stove has radiant or halegen burners, always place the pot on the burner before you turn the burner on. A cold pot coming into contact with the hot burner could cause the stovetop to crack.
Wipe up spills fast!
Leaving splattered food or grease inside an oven significantly boosts the hear level, adding extra stress to the units mechanical and electronic components, which shorten its lifespan. Extend its life: 3 to 5 years
Dishwasher
Average lifespan: 7 to 12 years
Go for powder soap, not gel.
Powders easily dissolve in water, while gels create buildup.
Microwave
Average lifespan: 5 to 10 years
Keep it clean.
Wipe down your microwave weekly to prevent spills from building up and generating extra heat that can damage the unit.
Open the vents.
If your microwave is above your stovetop, flip on the ventilation fan whenever you use your burners. Extend its life 2 to 3 years.
Clothes washer
Average lifespan: 8 to 12 years
Soap up smart
Use no more that 4 tbs. soap (1/4 cup) per load. Excess soap makes excess suds, which can stick to gaskets and moving parts - causing them to deteriorate and leak.
Don't overload.
It's temping to get as many clothes into the machine as you can - but oversized loads can overburden your washer. Overloading causes most washer damage. Extend its life 3 to 5 years.
Keep things level.
Make sure your washer is on a flat floor. A washer that's sitting on an uneven surface can shake and break itself during the spin cycle. Extend its life 5 years.
Clothes dryer
Average lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Clean the filter every time.
Skipping cleaning the lint trap just once can require a load to run up to four times longer than it has to. Plus, excess lint can be suctioned toward the exhaust, making the dryer overheat. Extend its life 4 years.
Go automatic.
Turn on the automatic dry cycle. It uses less energy since it's controlled by a sensor, causing less strain on your dryer. Extend its life 2 years.