Avoid Disasters in the Laundry Room

There’s no denying household appliances make life a lot easier but they do require a little maintenance from time to time to keep them working properly. Regular upkeep can help extend the life of your appliance, avoid unnecessary repair costs and save you from a lot of trouble down the road.

When it comes to the laundry room, fires, floods, and fatal injuries are just a few of the potential dangers of a neglected washer or dryer. At PartSelect, we take safety very seriously and we want to make sure our customers are not only repairing their appliances safely but also using them safely.

Join Steve as he discusses some important washer and dryer maintenance tips that every homeowner should know. These four short videos will help you avoid costly and dangerous problems in the laundry room.

Lint Filter and Ducts

A clogged lint filter or duct not only reduces performance, it's also a fire hazard. This is a vital area to check to avoid future disasters.

If you notice the following symptoms, it's likely a good time to check your filter and ducts:

• Clothes taking a long time to dry
• Clothes not fully drying
• The outside of the dryer is very hot

These are all signs of improper air flow, and an indication you should check your filter and ducts.

Hoses

The hoses may not seem like an important thing to check, but a broken hose can lead to flooding. Nobody wants to walk into their laundry room and find a pool of water, so make sure to periodically check your fill hose and drain hose to ensure there are no cracks or abrasions. You'll also want to look out for soap suds, which may be a sign of leakage or corrosion which indicates the hose is too old. Any of these signs of damage are indications the hoses should be replaced.

Another element to look out for is the screen at the tap end of your fill hose. Make sure it's clean, and if it is damaged you should replace it.

Extension Cords and Water Valves

As with all electronics, it's important to make sure your cords are intact. If your extension cord is broken it can lead to an electrical fire! Yikes! Fortunately, these are very easy to replace. For your washer and dryer, you should use an extension cord specifically made for these appliances, NOT a household variety.

Your water valve should be turned off if you will be away from home for an extended period of time. Another useful tip is to avoid cranking the valve all the way open when turning it back on, as this may cause seizing.

Use your Appliances Properly

Always follow the recommendations for your particular machine. Ignoring them can lead to disaster. Washing heavy items can damage your washer and oily clothes can explode or start a fire. If you're unsure of what you can put in your washer or dryer, check your owners manual or do research online.

Try not to leave wet clothes in the dryer as this can become a fire hazard, and remember to leave the lid on your washer closed when not in use to avoid that "musty" washer smell.

A few minutes of maintenance can save you hours of clean up or repairing later. Learn to look out for these common problem areas and you'll be way ahead of most consumers. Check on these key areas whenever you notice problems, or try to schedule some regular check-ups every few weeks, and your machines should keep running properly for a long time. If your appliances are in need of any repairs, take a look at our supply at PartSelect.com.