Six Appliances That Are Taken For Granted Home Improvement by Anita Ginsburg - October 31, 2014 Six Appliances Most Homeowners Take For Granted And Why You Shouldn’t Modern appliances work in the background, adding so much to our daily lives that we may not even think about them anymore. Taking your appliances for granted can be a big mistake, because you won’t catch a problem until it’s too late. The Dishwasher You don’t realize what a time saver your dishwasher is until it stops. It can be a surprise to find out this appliance didn’t just handle the brunt of the work, it also helped keep you kitchen clean since you could tuck away the dirty dishes inside until you were ready to wash. Use a dishwasher cleaner at least once a month, more often if you have hard water, and make sure food and debris don’t build up inside to keep it running like new. The Garbage Disposal A jammed garbage disposal can throw off your entire dishwashing routine. What do you do with the food scraps without a disposal? To keep it running smoothly, avoid putting non-food items, stringy foods, and bones inside. Keep the water running when you use the disposal until it sounds like the food is done grinding. Image Credit – http://www.absoluteappliancesrepair.com Your Refrigerator This miracle of a modern invention saved us from the daily grocery run, and most people take full advantage of it’s holding capacity. When the fridge breaks down, chances are you are stuck with a lot of rotting food. Vacuum the coils on the back of the fridge once a month to keep it running smoothly, and don’t push it right up against the wall. Central Air A few days in the heat of summer without an air conditioner will ensure you don’t take this appliance for granted anymore. To avoid a heat wave, get your A/C unit services annually in spring so any problems are dealt with before the temperatures rise. Keeping the filters clean also keeps it cooling well. The Dryer Line drying can be a pleasure, but when temperatures plummet or it’s a rainy day the dryer does come in handy. Avoid overloading your dryer and clean out the lint trap after every load. Taking this appliance for granted can also pose a fire hazard, so make sure you clean out the main dryer vent regularly. The Hot Water Heater There’s nothing like a hot shower after a hard day, so it’s especially disheartening to turn the tap and only get an ice cold stream. Avoid crowding the heater and leave at least two feet of clear space around it. Yearly draining of ¼ of the tank keeps it free from sediment, and regular inspection helps you catch problems before they happen. A little bit of prevention goes a long way. Take a few minutes every month to check over your main appliances so they stay in good working order, and don’t hesitate to call in a professional if you suspect a problem. Informational credit to Comfortable Home Systems.