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GuideMajor appliances are expensive to replace, and most break down years early for one reason: skipped maintenance. A little regular care keeps them running efficiently, prevents the surprise failures, and adds years to their life. Here's the simple upkeep every appliance needs — much of it you can do yourself.
The fridge runs constantly, so efficiency matters. Clean the condenser coils (usually at the back or underneath) a couple of times a year — dusty coils make it work harder and shorten its life. Check and clean the door seals so they seal tightly, keep it reasonably full (it holds temperature better), and clear the drain to prevent leaks and odours.
Clean the filter at the bottom regularly — a clogged filter is the top cause of poor cleaning and odours. Wipe the seals, run an occasional cleaning cycle to clear buildup, and check the spray arms aren't blocked. These few minutes prevent the 'my dishwasher doesn't clean anymore' complaint that often gets a working machine replaced.
Clean the lint filter or drain filter, leave the door open between washes to prevent mould and odour, and run a cleaning cycle periodically. Check the fill hoses for wear — a burst washing-machine hose is a classic cause of serious water damage, and replacing an old hose is cheap insurance. Don't overload it, which strains the motor and bearings.
Clean the lint trap every single load, and critically, have the dryer vent (the duct to the outside) cleaned regularly — lint buildup in the vent is a leading cause of house fires and also makes the dryer work harder and take longer. A clean vent is both a safety and an efficiency issue, and professional dryer-vent cleaning is worth booking.
Keep the oven clean (buildup smokes and affects performance), check range burners and igniters, and descale kettles and coffee makers that deal with hard water. Clean range-hood filters so they actually vent. Small, regular cleaning prevents the gradual decline that makes appliances feel like they need replacing.
Most of the above is DIY. For repairs, installs, or a dryer-vent cleaning, a pro is worth it — and remember the repair-vs-replace rule (if a repair costs more than about half a new unit and the appliance is near end of life, replace). On Genie you can book appliance installation, repair and dryer-vent cleaning with vetted, insured pros at an upfront or quoted price.
Every task in this guide is something you can book on Genie — vetted, insured pros at an upfront price:
Regular simple maintenance: clean fridge coils and dishwasher filters, clear the dryer lint trap and vent, leave the washer door open to prevent mould, check washer hoses, and keep the oven and range-hood clean. Most of it is DIY.
Lint buildup in the dryer vent (the duct to the outside) is a leading cause of house fires and makes the dryer work harder and slower. Clean the lint trap every load and have the vent cleaned regularly — it's a safety and efficiency issue.
When a repair costs more than roughly half a comparable new unit and the appliance is near the end of its expected life. Otherwise, repair and maintenance usually make more sense.
