How long should an appliance last? I’m happy to let Mrs. G Sales Associate Abe Grinberg, guest blog and answer this question.
Celebrating 80 years in business, Mrs. G has the good fortune to have customers who replace their appliances not only twice but maybe a third even if they stay in the same house. We love when they come into the store with the 20-30 year old Mrs. G original receipt. Many of these customers have had appliances last for more than 20 years. Today, most appliances do not last “a life time” or even 20 years. Many customers expect appliances to last 20 years or more and are often shocked when they don’t. Most end up replacing their beloved appliance because they needed a part that does not exist anymore. Typically, manufacturers will only stock parts for 7-10 years. A realistic expectation on how long an appliance should last is about ten to thirteen years. Why?
Appliances have become more high tech and more energy efficient and just smarter, a.k.a. “bells & whistles” so they have a tendency to break down faster. And, they are just not made like they used to. Today manufacturers are under pressure to keep factory cost low. As a result, the quality of the appliance is jeopardized.
Here are a few tips to maximize the life of your appliances. An opportunity to beat the odds.
In order to get maximum life out of your new refrigerator, it’s a good idea to pull out the refrigerator and vacuum the back where the motor is and get a long thin brush to keep the coils clean beneath it. Here is a trick to check the rubber door seal. Take a slip of paper and close the door on it. If its hard to pull out and jams its in good shape. If it slips out easily, it’s time to replace the rubber seal because the seal is letting out cold air and the refrigerator is in constant overdrive trying to keep the inside cool.
Extend the life span of a washer by washing less. Yes! That’s right. If you don’t have a large family maybe you can bundle up and do one load less a week. Just a thought. Do not over load. That might sound counter productive to the previous tip but there is a happy medium. Also clean the inside of your washer at least once a month with a product like Affresh or similar.
Here’s a tip to out preform the life of a dryer: Make sure you empty the lint screen after each use, clean the duct work at least once even twice a year and do not let anything cover the exhaust outside. So easy….
To keep your dishwasher going it’s best to keep it going. Do not let it sit for a long period of time with no use. It can get moldy and smelly and the motor can become sticky. We also recomend using a dishwasher cleaner once a month like Glisten Dishwasher Magic.
If you love to cook, you have a close relationship with your range. Keep it clean is the best advice I can give. If gas, make sure the gas orifices are free of grease and grim. If electric top don’t put a small pot on a large burner. That is a waste of heat. And keep your ovens clean.
Finally, here is your outdoor grill life extension plan. Once a year, brush the burners free of grease and grim and get rid of those pesky spiders. And keep your grill covered when not in use.
Here is one last tip. Invest in a good quality surge protector for all your appliances. You just never know when you might need it.
Feel free to call or email me with any further questions. Let me know if you beat the odds and helped your appliances to live a healthy long life.
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