OREM, Utah — Home appliances don't come cheap, and if your refrigerator or stove suddenly stops working, it could put your wallet on the line. A few weeks ago, KSL researchers revealed something you probably felt in your heart: Things aren't being done the way they used to be. If our expensive devices break down, there is another option besides repair or replacement. Interview.
Orem's Repair Shed will repair most types of equipment, or at least get you the right part.
"We've become such a throwaway society that people don't know where to look for spare parts," said COO Colleen Jerman.
Finding the right parts is not always easy. As we reported last month, few rules require manufacturers to provide spare parts. And studies show that devices are failing faster than ever.
Jerman saw this report and contacted KSL researchers to tell them there is a solution: Don't let your company go bankrupt in the first place. Most of the broken equipment, he says, isn't properly maintained. And maintenance does not require great knowledge.
"It lasts a lot longer," Jerman said of what a little maintenance can do to a device. "It's easy to do."
The dishwasher for one: remove the floor filter and clean it monthly. If the filter is never cleaned, the dishwasher cannot do its job effectively. Use a detergent once a month to remove build-up throughout the dishwasher. A bowl of white vinegar also works.
You can keep your refrigerator compressor running longer by vacuuming and brushing its coils every six months to a year. Don't let it run empty and don't overload it. You need good air circulation.
"Make sure you don't block any of these vents so your fridge will last a long time," Jerman said.
Clean the dryer lint filter with every wash. And at least once a year, clean the dryer vent all the way out of the house.
"It's easy on your dryer and fuses, and makes sure your dryer doesn't get too hot, which can also cause problems for control boards and things like that," Jerman explained. It can also prevent your house from burning down.
And speaking of control panels, don't use the self-cleaning oven. It's very, very hot. Too hot.
"Most of the control boards that we degrade with ovens, wiring and everything we see are just for people who self-clean their ovens," Jerman said. "It melts and destroys everything, the control cards are only designed to go through this cycle twice in their lives."
His other tips include rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Clean the microwave regularly. Leftover food absorbs energy and can cause damage. And run a load of washing machine cleaner every month.
"Hard water affects everything here in Utah," Jerman said. "So just tidying up makes a big difference."
And a little maintenance, he says, can make the difference between a machine lasting five years or 15.
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