MAINTAINING YOUR WASHER AND DRYER

CLEAN CLOTHES THROUGH DETERMINED CARE - MAINTAINING YOUR WASHER AND DRYER

Home ownership can be an extremely exciting and rewarding achievement, but it comes with a wide variety of challenges that you may not have anticipated. When you own a home, every component of it falls under your responsibility, so it's important that you take the time to research the best practices for maintaining the items that play the most crucial roles.

Among those items are your washer and dryer. Regardless of the size of your family, keeping up with the laundry is a vital chore, and a malfunctioning laundry setup can make it impossible. Staying ahead of the curve will help you avoid long, uncomfortable nights in a laundromat wishing for better upkeep.

Below, you'll find some tips for maintaining your washer and dryer. Following these suggestions can allow you to feel a real sense of accomplishment from a maintenance standpoint, and can help guarantee that you're never left scrambling for ad hoc clothing solutions.

THOROUGH INSPECTIONS

Perhaps the best method of noticing if something is out of whack with your washer or dryer is simply to look. Unlike other mechanical components of your home, your washer and dryer might display some early warning signs of trouble that you can count on as reliable indicators of a pending issue.

The flexible tubing that connects your dryer exhaust to your exterior vent can become bent or creased if your dryer has been jostled, and that damage might eventually cause overheating. The waterproof seals in your washer might crack as they dry out, or they might undergo chemical damage from some types of laundry detergent.

Even loose hoses may appear to be badly connected or otherwise out of order. Taking the time to look around your machines every time you use them is an excellent way to make sure you don't end up surprised by issues that may arise in the future.

DUCT CLEANING

As mentioned above, your dryer duct can be a source of trouble in a number of ways. Not only can the physical damage from bent ductwork cause problems, but blockages may also put your washer and dryer at risk. Even a well-functioning lint trap may not catch all of the debris that comes off of your clothes in the dryer cycle, so it's important to conduct a thorough sweep.

Regular emptying of your lint trap is essential, but it's only the first step in promoting the free flow of air through your dryer. Check the vent for obstructions on a regular basis. Since your dryer vent is likely to open to the outdoors, it can be an attractive spot for birds and rodents to nest. Those invading animals are simply at the top of a long list of clog causes that you need to be prepared to respond to.

PROPER LEVELING

The drum in your washing machine operates at very high speeds and contains heavy clothes and large quantities of water as it does so. Despite precautions with load sizes, this can be enough to throw the machine off balance and even risk tipping and other structural damage. Combatting these forces is an important part of your ownership responsibilities.

Be sure to constantly monitor your washing machine for signs that it may be off balance, such as loud banging or regular interruptions of your wash cycle. If you do notice a tilt or lean, simple wood blocks can be used to correct that misalignment.
Following these suggestions is a start, but the professionals at Arrow Appliance Repair can provide you with a wide variety of other services that will keep your home in its best possible condition. As a homeowner, it's important to trust the experts and rely on skilled service providers.