A little preventative maintenance and careful attention to use can go a long way to extending the performance life and energy efficiency of the high-use appliances in your home. The service experts at J. Martin’s Appliance & Refrigeration, Inc. offer the following tips for saving energy and saving money.

Refrigerators

Keep your refrigerator at its best by regularly cleaning the coils. Any hardware store carries a coil cleaning brush. Simply keeping them dust free will increase the efficiency of your refrigerator. If you have pets, fur gathers with the dust and clogs up the coils, making the refrigerator work much harder to do its job.

Dishwashers

Newer dishwashers are designed to conserve energy as well as water. You can increase the ability to dry the dishes, especially plastic items, by using Rinse Aid in the rinse aid dispenser of the dishwasher. Not only will you see an improvement in the drying of plastic items, but will also get better cleaning results with all of your dishes. Most dishwashers need to have Rinse Aid added once a month, depending on how many loads you do.

Front Loading Washing Machines

Front load washing machines are designed to conserve energy as well as water. Using less water is better for your laundry and the environment but using the correct TYPE and AMOUNT of soap can save your washer’s life. There are now many brands of soap on the market labeled “H.E” for high efficiency. These are low-sudsing formulas designed for use in newer washing machines. Using regular soap can cause a nasty build up of scum in the washer along with leaving your laundry soapy.

Front load washers tend to hold moisture in the door area, specifically around the rubber gasket. To avoid this, leave the door open after use to allow moisture to evaporate. Wipe the gasket off with peroxide remove any build up. Use regular peroxide in a spray bottle. It costs less than $1.00 a bottle and leaves no nasty smell behind.

By following these simple maintenance and use tips, you can extend the life of your major household appliances and save money on energy costs in the long run. If you have a household appliance that is in need of service, call J. Martin’s Appliance & Refrigeration at (770) 777-9077 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Business Directory: appliance maintenance, appliance service and repair