Home Appliance Maintenance Tips

Just like your car, your home systems and appliances all need periodic maintenance checks to make sure they’re operating safely and efficiently. American Home Shield, a unit of the ServiceMaster Company, shares these expert tips to help you keep your home’s systems and appliances in great shape:

Air Conditioning

• Check filters every month. Clean or replace as needed.
• Keep the condensing units free of debris.
• Trim shrubs and plants near condensing unit to ensure proper air flow and circulation.
• Bent condensing unit fins can often be straightened with a fin comb.

Washing Machine

• Inspect cold and hot water supply hoses for cracks and deterioration.
• Look for signs of water or oil leakage.
• Check to make sure the machine is level, and adjust it if needed, by turning the legs clockwise to lower them or counterclockwise to raise them.

Dryer

• Clean the lint screen after each load of clothes has been dried.
• For gas and electric dryers, check and tighten supply connections.
• Check to see whether the dryer is level; if it’s not, the drum may vibrate and damage the unit. To adjust the level, turn the legs clockwise to lower them or counterclockwise to raise them.

Water Heater

• Drain and flush sediment from tank twice a year.
• Check pressure-relief valve once a year to make sure this crucial safety device is not clogged.

As a company with significant experience in covering the repair of major home systems and appliances, American Home Shield is a strong advocate for preventative maintenance. They realize that it is easy to forget or postpone do-it-yourself maintenance; consequently, they offer annual preventative maintenance plans by a qualified professional. To learn more about preventative maintenance plans, and how you can get one, visit www.ahspm.com