Washer and Dryer Maintenance – Save Energy and Extend Their Lifespan

Washer and Dryer Maintenance – Save Energy and Extend Their Lifespan

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The washer and dryer are among the most used household appliances. In many homes, they are used every day, subjecting them to constant wear and tear. This also means they have a significant impact on your home energy cost. According to the US EPA, your washer and dryer are two of the costliest standard household appliances to operate. Together, they use an average of 69% more energy than your refrigerator and dishwasher combined. Fortunately, there are ways you can save energy when using your washer and dryer, reducing energy cost as well as wear and tear.  

Wash Full Loads

While a small load may use less water, your washer will use almost the same amount of energy regardless of the load size. Washing a full load will require you to use your washer less often which will reduce both energy costs and wear and tear on the machine.

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Don’t Overload

While laundering full loads can be beneficial, you want to make sure they aren’t too large. This is important for both the washer and dryer. Overloading either machine will make them work harder, increasing wear and tear and in most cases, reducing performance. Your clothes may come out of the spin cycle too wet and take longer to dry. An overloaded dryer will decrease air flow and also cause clothes to dry more slowly.

Use Cold Water

Forget the myth that your clothes will only get clean with hot water. Today’s cold water detergents will ensure that your clothes are clean. Also, by using cold water, you will save energy and make your clothes last longer.

Separate Dryer Loads

Dry heavyweight laundry such as towels, blankets, and sweatshirts separate from lightweight loads. Each will dry faster and more completely. When mixed together they will take longer to dry and lightweight items may be overdried.

Extended Spin Cycle and Moisture Sensors

These features are typically found on newer washers and dryers. The extended spin cycle will remove more moisture from your laundry, allowing it to dry faster and use less energy. The extended cycle may take a bit more energy but the dryer consumes more energy overall, so the sooner you can turn it off, the better. Also, many new dryers are equipped with moisture sensors which turn the dryer off when the clothes are dry. This not only saves on energy costs but will help reduce wear and tear on your clothes.

Level Laundry Room Appliances

Make sure both your washer and dryer are on level ground. You can use a level to check and the machines can be leveled if necessary using the adjustable feet. If you’re not sure how to do this, check your owner’s manual. A machine that isn’t level, especially a washer, can experience strong vibrations causing it to move around. This could result in serious damage to the machine itself or items surrounding it.

Check Washer Hoses

The hoses that originally came with your washer can wear out over time. Cracks or blisters can form in the hoses which could cause them to rupture and leak. To avoid this and the damage it could cause, the hoses should be checked regularly. Many manufacturers recommend replacing these hoses every five years.

Lint Removal

When it comes to laundry room lint, most of us think the dryer is the only culprit. Actually, lint build up can be an issue with both the washer and the dryer. Most washers have lint traps or filters, either in the center of the agitator or near the top of the tub. These need to be cleaned regularly.  If left unattended, you could start to see lint on your laundry. Consult your owner’s manual to find out if your washer has a lint trap, where it’s located and how to operate it.

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The removal of dryer lint is extremely important. If allowed to build up it will not only impact performance but combined with the heat of the dryer, it could cause a fire. Clean the trap after every load and if you use dryer sheets, the lint trap should be scrubbed to remove the film they create. You should also have the dryer and vents professionally cleaned periodically. This will keep you dryer operating efficiently and safely.

Professional Washer and Dryer Maintenance

Jersey Coast Appliance has a team of professional appliance service technicians, master technicians and certified support personnel dedicated to serving our customers with honesty and integrity. We can help you keep your washer and dryer operating at peak performance. This will extend their lifespan and help you save on energy costs. We offer complete appliance maintenance and repair including dryer and dryer vent cleaning.

We are the one stop shop for all your household appliance needs from sales to service. We have a wide variety of replacement parts in stock, including Kenmore replacement parts. In addition to our regular repair service, we also offer Night Owl Service and 24/7 Emergency service. Contact us today to keep all your appliances running smoothly!

 

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The holiday season is here and with everything you have to to get ready, appliance maintenance probably isn't a top priority but it should be. Your appliances get a real workout during the holiday season, especially your kitchen appliances. You want to make sure they are up to the task before one of them fails in the middle of a family gathering. Fortunately, there are some simple appliance maintenance tips that can you avoid a holiday disaster. Beware of the Self-Cleaning Oven This is probably one of the most important appliance maintenance tips to help your holidays go smoothly. The self-cleaning function has made it so much easier to keep your oven clean. Gone are the hours of scrubbing, scraping and chemical laden oven cleaners. However. if you want to start your holiday cooking with a clean oven, don’t wait until a few days before you host the family feast. If you intend to self-clean your oven, do it at least two weeks ahead of the big day. Sometimes after the self-cleaning function has been used, the oven will fail to work. Appliance repair services are often inundated with calls about malfunctioning ovens right before the holiday. Cleaning the oven two weeks prior leaves time for repairs to be made without disrupting our holiday dinner. If you’ve already waited too long, skip the self-cleaning function and just carefully remove any burnt food residue and wipe down the oven walls. Once the holiday has passed, then you can safely use the self-cleaning function. Show Your Dishwasher a Little Love The workhorse of kitchen clean-up, it is important to properly operate and maintain your dishwasher. Otherwise, you could find yourself washing all those pots, pans and dishes by hand. There are a few appliance maintenance tips that will help keep your dishwasher operating at peak performance throughout the holiday season and beyond. While it may be tempting to fill it as much as possible, avoid overloading the dishwasher. This could potentially block the rotating sprayers and cause damage. It’s better to run a second load through the dishwasher rather than risk damaging it. Also, large bulky items such as a roasting pan or oversized platter may not fit in the dishwasher. It’s best to wash these by hand. Don’t leave excess food on your dishes when loading the dishwasher. Scraping your dishes first will allow them to get cleaner. It will also help prevent dishwasher traps from becoming clogged which could potentially cause the machine to malfunction or break down completely. While it is important to scrape off excess food, don’t over-rinse the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. The enzymes in today’s dishwasher detergents require some food residue be present to activate. You should clean your dishwasher regularly, about once a month. Run it empty with either the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning agent or a cup of white vinegar. There are also a couple of appliance maintenance tips to boost your dishwasher’s performance. Run the hot water in the kitchen sink before starting the dishwasher. This will ensure that hot water enters the dishwasher promptly, allowing it to clean better. Make sure you choose the correct cycle for the type of load you are washing. Using the incorrect cycle or using the same one every time can minimize performance or cause unnecessary wear and tear to the unit. Organize Your Refrigerator This may not sound like your typical appliance maintenance tip, but it will help your refrigerator preserve your food better while minimizing wear and tear. Get rid of any expired or forgotten foods before the holidays. You’re going to need the space. Use a variety of reusable containers to store leftovers. While loading your refrigerator, put foods that can tolerate freezing toward the back. The air ducts are located there, making the back of the refrigerator colder. Keep foods that can’t tolerate freezing toward the front, as the air will be a bit warmer there. Avoid overloading the refrigerator. If the refrigerator is too full, it’s airflow will be limited. This could decrease its performance and make it work harder, potentially reducing its lifespan. It also increases the possibility of the refrigerator not closing completely which could lead to food spoilage as well as increased wear and tear. If you're having trouble making it all fit, send some leftovers home with your guests. Make Fresh Ice You’re probably wondering why right? After all, ice doesn’t go bad. No, it doesn’t, but if the ice has been sitting in your freezer for a while it can take on the odors or tastes from the food you’ve stored there. That’s not exactly what you want to add to your guest’s drinks. Completely empty out your ice compartment and let it refill with fresh ice. Put the freshly frozen into sealed plastic bags and store one the freezer shelf. Repeat this process a couple of times This will not only protect the ice from picking up any odors or tastes from the freezer - it will also ensure that you won’t run out of ice. Professional Appliance Maintenance Jersey Coast Appliance can help you avoid these holiday disasters. We have the experience and customer service that you can rely on. If you need appliance maintenance or repair, we offer expert appliance repair services, including 24/7 emergency service and our night owl service is available anytime between 4 pm to 8 pm, Monday through Friday. We also stock a wide variety of replacement parts including Kenmore. Should you need to replace an appliance, we carry a great selection of top quality appliances. Our professional staff can help you select the perfect new appliance to fit your lifestyle. If you’re in need of appliance repair or replacement, don’t hesitate, give us a call. http://bekins.us/2015/11/holiday-dinner/ https://www.jerseycoastappliance.com/appliance-repair-maintenance-tips/
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