Ignoring Manufacturer Instructions
Appliances are complicated pieces of machinery, and professional appliance manufacturers deliberately provide detailed manuals and instructions so that consumers can properly operate their appliances and avoid issues. Ignoring manufacturer instructions can rapidly cause broken appliances – which can prove especially dangerous, especially with the danger of electrical fires.
Unqualified Appliance Installation
Amateur attempts at appliance installation might be thrilling, but it’s impractical and even dangerous. Appliances like ovens and dryers (especially appliances that are extra hot), should ONLY be installed by professionals in order to ensure that they operate effectively – and SAFELY.
Neglecting Regular Maintenance
It’s smarter to provide maintenance to appliances rather than wait until there’s an issue that pops up. Through appliance maintenance, you can prevent them from breaking and causing potential damage to your property. It’s estimated that only 455 of homeowners regularly maintain their home appliances.
Ignoring Filters
Make sure to regularly clean your appliance filters in order to stay safe. This includes stove ventilation systems and hoods which accumulate flammable grease in their grease traps. Dirty vents also cause mechanical components to work much harder, causing a bad smell in your home.
Dryer Lint
ALWAYS clean your dryer lint trap. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the top cause of fires in homes is allowing lint to stack up in the dryer catcher or vent pipe.
Ignoring Mold
Mold can be an issue in appliances like front-loading washing machines. Any appliances that use water or contact any moisture can grow nasty and dangerous mold. Always leave washing machines open after using them to allow for more air to circulate in the appliance. Prevent dishwasher mold by choosing heat-dry options before doing dishes and leaving the door open to the appliance after you use it.
Overloading Dishwashers
This common cause of dishwasher issues often occurs when consumers try to save time by doing all of their dishes at once. When dishwasher components are overstrained by too many dishes at once, your appliance will wear out much faster, breaking sooner, and not even operating with efficiency in the present.
Too Much Soap
If you use too much soap with your washing machine, it can actually break the mechanical components inside it. Furthermore, it’s not good for your skin to wear soap-logged clothing. Read your washing machine instructions, research the best soaps for your needs, and only load just as much soap into appliances as you need.