There are many reasons why you would want your expensive appliances to serve you for long. If you’re not considering the cost, you’d be looking at the important values you derive using them.
Don’t bank on the notion that these appliances have warranties. It might take a while before you get a replacement, and that might cause you so much stress. So you should take great caution and ensure that they’re always in good working condition.
Here are proven tips that will make your appliances last longer than you think.
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Carry out proper installation
Most faults on electronic appliances are due to wrong installations. Loose cable connections, wrong fitting of components and inadequate insulation are common examples of improper installation. It’s very important that you follow installation guidelines found in the user manual, or allow a competent technician to help you out if you can’t handle it.
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Be careful when handling them
This is quite necessary to prevent any form of dent on the body of your appliance. A slight dent on these appliances could affect their performance, and bring about an eventual damage. So in case you’re moving these appliances from one part of the house to the other, or you want to clean the area underneath it, please ensure you do that carefully.
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Don’t accept broken items
When taking delivery of a new electronic appliance you just bought, make sure they come intact and are free of any manufacturer defect. If not you should reject them outright. In the event that you checked at the warehouse, and it was intact, nothing stops you from checking again when it’s eventually delivered. You never can tell what happened in transit.
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Don’t improvise; repair immediately
Once you notice any minor or major fault, quickly take steps to fix it. Don’t even attempt to improvise till the next day when the repair guy would probably come around. Discontinue its use immediately or fix it yourself if it’s something you can handle. However, if you continue using it, you risk causing an irreparable damage to the appliance and to yourself.
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Observe safety precautions
As with other housewares, you should always observe safety precautions when handling your electronic appliances. Mop up spilled water in the area surrounding it, avoid using a single socket for more than one powerful appliance, unplug and turn power off when leaving home, provide enough ventilation, use current and over-voltage protection, and make sure to follow the correct power specifications. This will prevent damages relating to electric surge and fire.
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Clean the appliances regularly
For appliances like air conditioners, humidifiers and refrigerators, you must ensure that you clean the filters at least twice in a month. This is because poorly maintained filters can hurt the energy efficiency of your entire unit and reduce its lifespan. Check to see if the filters have been blocked by dust or dirt and clear them out thoroughly. If it has snags or any indication of wear, you should replace it then, otherwise a thorough cleaning will just be fine.
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Don’t over work them
Of course they’re machines but the easiest way to reduce their lifespan is to use them round the clock. Just like human beings, electronic appliances need rest too. For example, if you’re not using your washing machine, there’s no reason to keep it on. The same thing goes for the air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, humidifier and the likes.
On a final note, increasing the longevity of your expensive appliances is only half of the consideration; the other half has to do with your personal safety. But if you apply these proven tips, you’ll have succeeded in killing two birds with a stone.