Home Maintenance For Dummies, 2nd Edition

by Carey, James

  If you find that the temperature is off, recalibrate the temperature control dial by removing the oven temperature knob and doing one of the following:

  Loosen the screws and turn the movable disk on the backside. One notch represents 10 degrees.

  Turn the adjustment screw inside the hollow shaft clockwise to lower the temperature, counterclockwise to raise it. If it requires more than an eighth of a turn or is off by 50 degrees or more, have a new temperature control installed by a qualified professional.

  If after you’ve recalibrated the temperature control, your oven still fluctuates or bakes unevenly, chances are good that your thermostat is faulty. Your best bet is to leave thermostat installation to a pro. The only tool you should pick up to make this repair is your phone.

  Replacing the oven light

  When the oven light burns out, turn off the power at the main circuit, remove the glass shield and, using gloves or a dry cloth, unscrew the old bulb. Only replace it with a special 40-watt appliance bulb that can stand extreme temperatures (or whatever the manufacturer recommends). If, after you’ve replaced the bulb, the light doesn’t light, it may indicate a larger problem that needs professional attention.

  Hanging Out in the Range Hood

  Although it’s a simple appliance, the range hood has an important job: It removes excess moisture and smoke produced by cooking. The most important range-hood maintenance task is cleaning.

  Remove and clean the metal mesh filter(s) that keep grease from getting into the ductwork. Soak the filters in a sink full of hot water and liquid dish detergent. Then rinse them clean with very hot water. At least once a month (more often if you cook and operate the vent and fan frequently), inspect the filters for grease buildup. Replace worn or damaged filter screens with new ones; you can get them from an appliance repair shop or through the manufacturer.

  Don’t put mesh filters in the bottom rack of your dishwasher (regardless of what amateur tipsters advise). The filters may leave a greasy residue behind in your dishwasher that’s hard to remove and can ultimately clog lines and affect your machine’s operation. You can put them in the dishwasher after you’ve given them an initial once-over as outlined in the preceding paragraph.

  With filters removed, wash the range-hood interior with an all-purpose cleaner (our All-Purpose, Handy-Dandy Cleaner [see Chapter 20] is good for this job), or try warm water and liquid dish detergent.

  For non-vented hoods, remember to replace the disposable charcoal filter every year (or according to the manufacturer’s directions).

  Microwave Maintenance Mania

  When it comes to a microwave oven, you can do only a few things safely. Basically, your job is to keep it clean, use it properly, and call a pro when it begins to act up.

  Here’s why keeping the inside of your microwave clean is so important: Stuck-on food particles eventually turn to carbon and cause arcing, which, in turn, can etch interior surfaces and could even compromise the seal around the door. Always wipe up spills promptly. Keep the interior of the oven and the area surrounding the door clean, using a damp sponge to catch spills and splatters as they occur, or an all-purpose cleaning solution for spills that have been left over long periods of time.

  Never use a microwave oven for anything other than what it was designed for — cooking and heating. Using it to dry clothing, newspapers, or shoes can yield devastating results. Never run an empty microwave, and always be sure there is plenty of ventilation surrounding the unit to avoid overheating, which could cause serious damage. And only use microwave-approved containers and dishes.

  Never attempt to repair an ailing microwave oven yourself. Besides the inherent dangers (the unit’s capacitor holds up to 4,000 volts of electricity!), unauthorized repairs by anyone other than an authorized service tech almost always void the manufacturer’s warranty. Here are some problems that require the attention of a professional:

  Insufficient output: If your microwave oven is more than 15 years old, check it for output efficiency. For 600- to 1,000-watt microwave ovens, place an 8-ounce cup of water in the oven and operate the unit on high for three minutes. The water should reach a rolling boil. If not, take the microwave to a service shop for inspection.

  Radiation leaks: Have a professional appliance-repair technician test your older microwave for radiation leakage. In addition, the pro can check other aspects of operation to determine if the microwave is safe and whether it should be repaired or replaced.

  Poor heating: Operating a microwave on a circuit that is serving other appliances not only diminishes the effectiveness of the microwave oven, but ultimately could result in an electrical fire. If lights dim when the microwave is used, consult an electrician. Whenever possible, a separate electrical circuit should be provided for the microwave oven.

  Burned out interior fuse: Appliance repair pros say the most common repair problem they find is a simple microwave fuse that gets metal fatigue after three or four years’ use. At that point, even a minor power surge can cause the fuse to burn out. If your microwave quits, don’t panic. It may just be an interior fuse that needs replacing by a pro.

  Dishwashers

  The single most important dishwasher maintenance task? Easy! Keep the interior clean. Doing so keeps all the hoses and passages clear, which, in turn, lets the machine operate freely and washes your dishes better.

  The best way to clean the interior is with citric acid. Use pure citric-acid crystals, which you can find in grocery stores and drugstores. Fill your main soap cup and then run the empty dishwasher through a complete cycle. The crystals clean everything, including the unit’s interior, racks, hoses, and water ports. Then, once a week, add 1 teaspoon of the acid crystals to your soap for general maintenance.

  You can substitute Tang and lemonade mixes that contain vitamin C (which is citric acid) for the crystals. They work well, but with less citric acid per dose.

  Here are some other tasks you can do to keep your dishwasher washing dishes:

  Use the right amount of soap. Any more than 1 tablespoon is too much and will lead to a residue buildup that’s hard to remove.

  Never wash anything other than dishes in your dishwasher. Tools, clothes, sneakers, greasy range hood filters, and other “unauthorized” items can leave harmful grease and residue that clog the machine’s works and inhibit proper operation.

  Run your dishwasher at least once a week. This keeps all the seals moist and prevents leaks and eventual failure.

  Periodically wipe the area around the seals. This prevents soap scum buildup, which can cause a leak.

  Refrigerators and Freezers

  Refrigerators are big, and they have many components to keep clean. You’ve got the exterior, the interior, the freezer, water lines, drain lines, and coils to worry about. Not that the maintenance they require is difficult — you just have to stay on top it to make sure the fridge does a good job of keeping everything cold.

  Temperature-wise, keep the food compartment set between 34 and 40 degrees, and the freezer compartment at about 0 degrees. Generally, refrigerator and freezer controls should always be set midway initially, and then adjusted up or down as needed.

  Taking care of the condenser coils

  The most important thing for any refrigerator is to keep the condenser coils clean. The coils are usually located at the bottom of the refrigerator behind a removable grille; on some older refrigerators, they’re located on the back of the refrigerator. Air passing over these coils is what cools the refrigerator, and if they’re dirty, the unit has to work harder to do its job.

  To clean the coils, first unplug the refrigerator. Remove the grille by grabbing both ends and pulling gently. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush or crevice attachment to get as far into and under the unit as possible (being careful not to force access, which can bend condenser tubing and the thin metal coil fins). While the grille is off, also remove the refrigerator drain pan and wash it.

  Typically located inside your refrigerator is an el
ectric heater power switch. It controls small electric heaters that keep the outside of the cabinet from sweating. Only turn the switch on when it’s humid and you see moisture beads. When both the weather and your refrigerator are dry, turn this switch off to save energy costs. The electric heater also helps prevent rust and nasty mold buildup.

  Cleaning the gasket

  The chilled air inside a refrigerator is kept there primarily by a gasket at the perimeter of the door. In good condition, it provides a good airtight seal. It can get tired and worn, or hard, and also is a prime candidate for mold. Here’s how to take care of it:

  Every six months or so, check the gasket to make sure it’s in good condition. How can you tell if your gasket is in good condition? Place a dollar bill between the gasket and the door jamb. If it’s difficult to pull out, the gasket is okay. If it pulls out easily, you need to replace the gasket.

  Wipe the gasket every few months with a wet cloth, making sure to get all the surfaces and to go completely around the door. If the gasket seems a bit hard, apply a light coat of lemon oil, mineral oil, or any type of body lotion with lanolin.

  As soon as you notice any mold around the gasket, remove it. To do so, clean it with a solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water (4 tablespoons of bleach in 1 quart of hot water), and scrub well with an old toothbrush. Afterwards, completely wipe off all residue with warm water and a mild, liquid dish soap.

  Always wipe off any food or liquid spills, drips, and runs from around the door and gaskets. If you don’t, they dry and become sticky, possibly ripping away the gasket when you open the door.

  If the gasket has pulled away in spots, stick it back down with a little contact cement. Use a Popsicle stick to neatly smear a small blob of glue into the gap and hold it in place for 10 seconds. Then close the door. Make sure there is nothing sticky where the gasket meets the refrigerator — otherwise, your work will be in vain.

  Keeping the interior clean and fresh-smelling

  To clean the interior of the refrigerator, first turn off the fridge (or unplug it) and remove all the food. Wash removable shelves and bins in the sink with liquid dish detergent and warm water. Wipe down the interior walls with an all-purpose cleanser or a solution of warm water and baking soda.

  Most people know that an open box of baking soda will keep the refrigerator or freezer smelling fresh. Did you know that you can also use a small bowl with a few tablespoons of instant freeze-dried coffee crystals in it? And believe it or not, granulated cat litter also works. An added bonus: The litter eliminates food odors in ice cubes.

  Defrosting the freezer and drain line

  Defrost your freezer when ice begins to build up on the interior. Aside from decreasing usable freezer space, the ice can prevent the door from sealing properly. Most freezers need to be defrosted at least once and sometimes twice each year. Start by turning off the power to the freezer and removing all the contents. You can allow the ice to melt on its own or you can speed things up by placing a pot of hot water in the freezer and closing the door. Clean the interior of the freezer using the same method described for cleaning the interior.

  While you’re defrosting the freezer, defrost the freezer drain line leading to the drain pan, too. (This task needs to be done at least once a year.) Mold buildup starts retaining moisture, which, in turn, starts freezing and ultimately completely blocks the line. Here’s how to defrost the drain line:

  1. Turn off the freezer (so that you can melt the ice in the drain line).

  2. Put very hot water into a turkey baster and insert it into the 1/2-inch drain hole located at the back of the freezer floor.

  3. Release the hot water into the line until it runs free.

  4. Blast in more hot water to blow out any mold buildup.

  5. Put 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach in 1 cup of hot water and pour it down the drain to kill off any remaining mold spores.

  All this liquid should be running into the drain pan at the bottom of the unit. Make sure it doesn’t overflow, and empty and clean the drain pan when you’re done.

  Garbage disposals

  To keep your garbage disposal in good working order, keep it clean: Put ice cubes and 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the unit and operate it with no running water. When it sounds like the cubes are all gone, start a slow trickle of cold water. You’ll probably find that the disposal’s drain openings are frozen and clogged with ice, and the water will start to back up — which is good — because the churning water also washes the sides before the ice melts, the drain clears, and everything drains away. For a more thorough cleaning, sprinkle some baking soda on top of the ice cubes. To make the disposal smell fresh, add some citric-acid crystals, Tang, or a drink mix containing vitamin C, or half a lemon.

  Use vinegar ice cubes as an easy means of cleaning your disposal and sharpening its blades. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into an empty ice-cube tray, fill the balance of the tray with water, and freeze until solid. Periodically pour an entire tray of ice cubes into the disposal while it’s running. Just be sure to mark the tray with the vinegar ice cubes; otherwise, your guests will have an unpleasant experience next time you serve them a cold beverage!

  Maintaining inline water filtration

  Many, if not most, refrigerators offer automatic ice makers and water dispensers. A filter somewhere under the unit ensures clean ice and water. Typically, the only maintenance required is periodically changing the filter. Many units even have a red-light/green-light alert to tell you when the filter needs to be replaced. You can order the filters from the manufacturer, get them at an appliance parts dealer, and may even find them at your home center or the retailer that sold the unit. Consult your owner’s manual to get step-by-step filter-replacement instructions.

  Washing Machines and Dryers

  People tend to take their washing machines and dryers for granted — until they stop working in the middle of a load. You’d be amazed by all the technology inside your washer and dryer — in fact, so much technology is involved that you can’t service many components yourself. Having to call a professional is okay, though — after all, the true battle for laundry-machine longevity is fought with basic cleaning and simple maintenance, and you can do all of that yourself.

  Cleaning your washing machine

  Over time and multiple wash loads, mineral deposits, lime, and soap build up inside your washer and can affect the pump operation. You can avoid this buildup by using citric-acid crystals to clean tub interiors. With the tub empty, use 1 cup of citric acid instead of laundry detergent, and run your machine through a complete cycle. (Refer to the “Dishwashers” section, earlier in this chapter, for more on this cleaning method.)

  Here are other problems that you can fix with just a few tools and a little know-how (or a quick call to a professional):

  Rust stains inside the tub: Temporary patch-ups on small nicks in the porcelain where rusting occurs can be made with a dab or two of enamel paint or clear nail polish — but these solutions are only temporary, at best. A better solution is a porcelain repair kit made for bathtubs, available at your local hardware store. It lasts longer, but not forever. If these fixes aren’t sufficient, before you consider replacing your machine, try a professionally installed plastic tub liner.

  Lint-filled drain line: If your water outlet hose drains into a laundry basin rather than a stand pipe, cover the end with an old nylon stocking. Doing so collects 95 percent of all lint that otherwise would go into your sink’s drain line. The nylon stocking filter also reduces splashing when the washer empties into the sink. When the stocking fills with lint, remove and replace it.

  Slow-running cold water: Turn off the water inlet valves, remove the water hoses, and clean the small screen filters, which probably are clogged with mineral buildup and small debris. The fine mesh filters are usually at either end of the hose or on the back of the washing machine’s water inlet port. If debris gets past these screen filters, it can damage the pump and lead to a costly repair. Also, consider
switching from rubber water inlet hoses to long-lasting braided stainless-steel hoses. They cost a little more, but both are good insurance against flooding caused by hose failure.

  Keeping your dryer’s lint traps lint free

  Dryer lint is a big fire hazard. Plus, excess lint in the trap makes the dryer work extra hard, causing it to take forever to dry a load of clothes. To keep your lint traps lint free, do the following: