Monday, April 23, 2012

How to Extend the Life of Your Washing Machine

By James Wood


All washing machines will break down at some point in life. Repairs are a necessary part of appliance machinery. When appliances break down it is important to find a good and experienced appliance repair professional to repair the issue and get it working again.

Even though repair work will most likely need to be done at some point, there are things you can do to extend the life of your washing machine. Below are a few tips to start:

1. Overloading the washing machine is bad for your washer. Routinely overloading your machine can be one of the all-time worst thing you can do for your washing machine. A lot of people tend to overload their washers because they want to save money. They want to use less energy, water, and time and so they fill their machine's up to the max. What people might not know is that overloading their washer can cause serious issues with the performance levels of the washer. Clothes won't be as clean, and it can also cause a premature bearing malfunction.

Avoid overloading your machine by keeping the level of clothes you put in the machine to about 2/3 full. You should leave around a 10cm gap, or a little more than a hand-width, between the laundry and the top of the machine.

2. Run your washing machine "dry". Every once in a while it is important to run the machine with out any clothes in it. Through out the life of your machine grime and dirt will start to build up in your machine, so running your machine on the hottest setting with out clothing can help break that down. Use your same amount of detergent that you would usually use, and the cycle will help loosen up anything that might be building up in your machine. Build-up can cause problems with the efficiency and usefulness of your machine.

Washing machine cleaner can also be a great option for keeping your machine free of build-up. Washing machine cleaner is also run on the "dry" cycle, with out clothing. It is recommended to clean machine twice a month.

3. Check and replace your machine's hoses. It's important to look at your machine's hoses on a regular basis. If any have any loose hoses or lines tighten them, and replace any hoses that need replacing. Hoses should be replaced around every five years. Watch for leaks with hoses to protect your home from leaks or flooding.

4. Won't be using your washer for a while? Turn off the water flow that gets to your washer. If you aren't using the machine for a long period, the buildup from constant water pressure can actually cause leaks to happen with the hoses. It's much better just to dismantle the connection to water instead.

5. Give your washer air. Airing out your washer is important to reduce mildew backup and other unpleasant odor build up. Leave the washer's lid up in between laundry uses. It's very important to leave the lid open in areas that have high humidity, such as basements.




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