The best way to keep your washer and dryer working well is to take the time for maintenance. Make basic maintenance part of your fall routine and you’ll enjoy cleaner clothes with fewer emergencies.
Run an Empty Load
Even your washing machine needs a wash a few times a year! Once fall hits, run an empty load in your washer. Run a simple cycle with your regular detergent to help clean the pipes and drum. This helps prevent a buildup of dirt and grease in the drain pipe. If you repeat this a few times a year your clothes will always come out sparkling clean.
Clean the Lint Trap
Even if you clean the lint screen regularly you still need to clean the lint trap itself. A snorkel brush or a crevice tool on a shop vacuum is all you need. These will help remove the lint that snuck past the screen. You don’t need a special long brush but it can help if you’re struggling to reach the depths of your dryer.
Don’t Forget the Ducts
Lint will always sneak out of the screen and trap and end up in your exhaust duct. Take the duct apart and clean that while you’re already working on your machines. Make sure you take apart the duct and give it a good clean before you put it back on. Don’t forget to clean the vent from the outside as well. If you have a vinyl duct, replace it with a metal duct and attach the sections with aluminum tape. Vinyl ducts are flammable and could make a dryer fire worse if they catch.
Check the Hoses
A split washer hose can spill out gallons of water very quickly. Check all the hoses for signs of wear or cracks. Rubber hoses are more likely to split so this is a perfect time to replace them with steel-jacketed hoses. Make sure you turn off the water supply before you get to work!
Want to Step up Your Maintenance Game? Get Your Washer Serviced!
These maintenance tasks are very important, but they don’t touch a very important of your washer or dryer: the machinery itself! A professional technician can give your engine a check-up and ensure that everything is in tip-top shape. Our technicians have experience with all the major brands here. Don’t wait until your washer is in the emergency room; contact Trust Brian’s Appliance Repair in Fork River, NJ to keep your machines in tip-top shape!
