It’s not until your oven isn’t heating, or your washer isn’t spinning that you start to panic about your appliances. They run daily and don’t often break down, which doesn’t make them top of mind. But this doesn’t mean that you should wait for your appliances to have an emergency before you act on it. There are plenty of preventative measures to take to ensure your appliances don’t break down this winter. Read on to learn about 5 tips to keep your appliances running.
Dryer
Lint is the number one cause of dryer fires, especially while your home’s heat is running in the winter. It’s best to have your dryer inspected and cleaned of any debris prior to turning your home’s heat on. Additionally, be sure to thoroughly clean your lint screen before and after each load of laundry. This will help your dryer run more efficiently and decrease the chances of a lint fire occurring.
Fridge
Before and after cooking all your food, you’re going to want to make sure your fridge is up and running to store it. While it’s not common knowledge to know how to check the coils, filters, and drain pans, don’t worry you can hire a pro to do it for you. Take the stress away from worrying about your fridge breaking down and get it inspected prior to the colder months. If you’re in need of a coil replacement or need to repair an ice water clog click here.
If you have an extra fridge outside, be sure to have it winterized, or unplug it yourself and move it indoors. Without proper preparation, lines can freeze which will leave you with no fridge come springtime. Learn more about how to winterize your outdoor kitchen here.
Oven
With plenty of holidays during the winter time, there’s usually plenty of food being cooked. The last thing you want to happen is to have your oven not work while cooking your holiday feast. Your oven’s self-clean mode is a great way to test your oven prior to cooking for hours on end. Self-cleaning modes reach very high temperatures, so this will let you know if your oven has any problems. Plus, after a whole year of cooking, there’s really no better time to give your oven the deep clean it needs.
Should you run into any issues while running the self-clean, be sure to connect with an appliance repair expert to schedule maintenance, an emergency visit, or a professional repair.
Vents
In addition to having your dryer vents cleaned you want to ensure that there is nothing blocking your external vents. Debris can cause backups, which can lead to the dryer running inefficiently and pose more of a risk. Small rodents also tend to gravitate towards ducts and small vents during the colder months. If you don’t already have vent cover flaps, get connected with a pro to help you install them today.
Water Pipes
Prior to the winter months, it’s best to have a pro test your water and check that your pipes are insulated to ensure that they are functioning properly and leakproof to be prepared for the cold weather. If you notice that your water isn’t getting hot, or even coming out at all, connect with a pro ASAP. Without preventative measures, your pipes could burst to cause a lot of damage.
Cost for Appliance Repair in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $295 | $100 | $1,400 |
| Calgary | $457 | $100 | $38,036 |
| Edmonton | $321 | $100 | $1,200 |
| Hamilton | $589 | $100 | $16,000 |
| Oshawa | $260 | $100 | $3,000 |
| Ottawa | $654 | $100 | $32,800 |
| Toronto | $537 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $824 | $100 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 10,846 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Take your mind off of your home this winter season to relax and enjoy the holidays by following these helpful tips to keep your appliances running this winter. Be sure to head to HomeStars.com to get connected with a verified pro for same-day service.
