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 BEST Appliance Maintenance Tips - Easy Preventive Maintenance Near You

BEST Appliance Maintenance Tips You Should Know

Pro Advice From Dial An Applianceman to Keep Your Appliances Running Longer

At Dial An Applianceman, we’ve been in the repair business for decades, and there’s one thing we tell every customer: regular appliance maintenance is the cheapest way to avoid major repairs.

Many of the service calls we receive – especially in Edmonton and surrounding areas like Sherwood Park, Stony Plain, and Fort Saskatchewan – could have been prevented with just a bit of simple, preventive maintenance. Here’s what you need to know to keep your appliances in top shape.

Dryers: Lint Is the Hidden Danger

Dryers are one of the most common appliances we service, and lint buildup is almost always the culprit.

What to Do:

  • Clean the lint trap after every load — not weekly, not occasionally, every single time.
  • Check and clean your aluminum duct vent regularly — lint builds up inside and can cause heat loss or even fires.
  • Inspect the outside vent — especially in winter when snow can block airflow. We’ve even found bird nests inside!
  • Use a surge protector to prevent damage to the control board during power surges.

When hot air can’t escape, it loops back inside and fries the heating element. That turns a $0 cleaning task into a costly repair.

Washing Machines: Filters and Balance Matter

Washers work hard, and without proper care, they won’t last.

What to Do:

  • Clean your washer’s filter monthly — especially if you’ve got pets, kids, or wear a lot of lint-prone clothing.
  • Avoid washing tiny loads — small loads cause the drum to become unbalanced, wearing out the bearings and shortening the washer’s life.
  • Remove coins, hair ties, and pet hair from clothes before washing — these often clog the drain pump.
  • Run a vinegar cycle once a month to break down residue and hard water deposits.

We often fix drainage problems that could have been avoided by simply keeping the filter clean.

Dishwashers: It’s Not a Garburator

Many people treat their dishwasher like a second garbage can, but that’s a fast track to blockages and breakdowns—especially in rural homes with hard water.

What to Do:

  • Scrape off food before loading dishes — you don’t need to pre-wash, but remove debris.
  • Clean the filter monthly to prevent food particles from clogging the drain.
  • Use vinegar or a descaler monthly to prevent hard water damage, especially outside city limits where water is mineral-heavy.
  • Check for hard water signs like cloudy glasses or white spots — if you notice these, consider a water softener.

We’ve seen many dishwashers fail simply because of hardened buildup in the drain or spray arms.

Refrigerators: Behind-the-Scenes Care Counts

Your fridge runs non-stop. The least you can do is help it breathe.

What to Do:

  • Vacuum behind your fridge at least once a year, especially around the condenser coils.
  • Check for frost buildup in your freezer. It could be caused by a faulty door seal or accidentally leaving the door open.
  • Don’t store fridges in unheated garages unless they are garage-ready models — cold temperatures can damage the compressor.

In one call, a simple cleaning behind the fridge saved a customer from a $1,000 compressor replacement.

Stoves & Microwaves: Treat Doors Gently

Microwave doors take a lot of abuse, and over time, all that slamming leads to problems.

What to Do:

  • Avoid slamming the microwave door — this damages the internal door switches.
  • Use the correct cookware — especially for induction stoves, which need specific pots and pans.
  • Clean spills quickly — on gas and electric stoves, buildup can interfere with igniters and sensors.

A broken door switch or spark module is a repair we can do, but it’s easily avoidable with a little care.

Seasonal APPLIANCE Maintenance: Edmonton Winters Are Brutal

What to Do in Winter:

  • Make sure your dryer vent isn’t blocked by snow
  • Avoid putting appliances on outside walls — extreme cold can freeze water lines in washers and dishwashers
  • If you keep a fridge in the garage, make sure it’s garage-ready — or install a unit heater to keep temperatures stable

We often get calls in winter where washers and dishwashers stop filling with water — most of the time, it’s because the pipes have frozen on exterior-facing walls.

Extra Protection: Surge Protectors Are Worth It

We can’t stress this enough: a simple power surge can kill the display or control board on your fridge, stove, or washer. That’s one of the most expensive parts to replace.

Install surge protectors anywhere you plug in a modern appliance, especially in areas prone to outages or lightning.

Final Word: Appliance Preventative Maintenance Saves Money

A lot of what we repair could have been prevented with simple appliance maintenance. And while we’re happy to help when things break, we’d rather help you avoid the stress altogether.

If you’re ever unsure how to maintain your appliances — or if you think something’s off — give us a call. We offer:

  • Same or next-day service
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Honest, expert advice

We’re open 7 days a week, including holidays, and we’ll always take the time to show you how to prevent the problem from happening again.