Expert Tips

Make sure to leave a few inches of space on each side of the exterior of the refrigerator to allow for heat to dissipate properly.

Set your temperature settings. For the freezer compartment, we recommend 0-4F depending on your preference. For the fridge side, we recommend 36-40F. Running the refrigerator with reasonable temperature settings will decrease strain on the compressor and other fundamental parts of the refrigerator, increasing overall lifespan.

The water filter should be replaced at least once per year. This will keep water clean and prevent leaks from occurring.

Use a non-abrasive material like a paint brush to clean condenser coils. This will increase the overall efficiency of the refrigerator and decrease strain on internal components.

Refrigerators on a non-level surface are more likely to have door seal issues. Ensure that they are replaced on level surfaces

Keeping your freezer relatively full. Having a well-stocked freezer will allow it to retain its coolness.

Remove all ice cubes from icemaker every few months — ice cubes can retain odor.

Keep the Surface Burners Clean.

Run the Self-Cleaning cycle on a regular basis. This will help the oven stay cleaner longer. Keep the foil from contacting the Bake Elements, Igniters or anything else electrical.

Appliances use common 40W bulbs which are widely available. These bulbs can be easily replaced.

Cast iron and stone cookware may cause damage to glass top stoves.

Do not store excessively heavy items above glass top stoves. These glass tops are expensive to replace if damaged.

Avoid the use of abrasive cleaners on glass stove tops. These can cause scratches.

Run a cold water cycle to wash darker and vibrantly colored clothing to decrease color fading.

Note the recommended washing instructions on the labels of each piece of clothing.

Remove loose change and other items from the pockets of clothes prior to placing them in the washing machine — this will prevent damage to your clothing and the washer.

Ensure that the door of your front-loading washing machine is left oepn when the washing machine is not in operation. This will prevent the accumulation of mold and associated odors. For washing machines with existing mold / odor problems, we recommend Affresh Washer Cleaner.

Swap out washing machine hoses every six years. Washing machine hoses with extensive use are more likely to spring a leak, which can cause water damage if not resolved immediately.

Make sure that your washing machine is properly balanced. Running a washer on a non-level surface can cause damage to the appliance over time.

To ensure efficient drying, make sure the dryer hose has no kinks and is as short as it can be.

Remove and clean the lint filter for each load to increase energy efficiency and to prevent lint from accumulating within the chassis of the dryer, which can be a fire hazard.

Don’t overload your dryer — this will prevent hot air from circulating within the dryer and will cause clothes to take longer to dry.

Avoid vinyl vent hoses — these are unsafe to use with most modern dryers. If your dryer uses a vinyl vent hose, replace it immediately with an aluminum hose.

Occasionally inspect the dryer vent hose to ensure that it is clean with no obstructions. A clogged dryer vent hose will increase dry time.

Every few years, the dryer chassis should be disassembled to clean lint buildup from the interior — especially if the dryer lint filter has not been cleaned frequently. While the lint filter prevents the majority of lint from accumulating inside the chassis, some lint may still persist, and this can become a fire hazard.

Remove debris from dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. This will prevent damage to the drain pump.

Check the labels of your dishes. Some dishes are not dishwasher safe and must be hand washed.

Ensure there is no obstruction to the spray arms prior to turning on the dishwasher.

If the water supply is hard water, we recommend using a water softener. Using dishwashers with hard water will cause mineral deposits to appear on the dishes which look like a white film.

Some dishwasher detergents contain built-in rinse aids. Avoid using standalone rinse aids with these detergents.

Operating a dishwasher on a non-level surface can result in leaks, so ensure that the dishwasher is level.

Avoid buying powder dishwasher detergent in bulk. Powder detergent has a limited shelf life and decreases in effectiveness over time.

Keeping your freezer full will increase the retention of cold air, reducing the workload on your refrigerator’s compressor. This will reduce energy costs and help to extend the appliance’s life.

Keep refrigerator doors closed as much as possible. Each time the door is opened, close fridge doorthe interior temperature rises and the compressor must work harder to catch up.

Placing food on the back wall of the refrigerator can interfere with the refrigerator’s cooling, so avoid doing this.

Periodically remove any dust from condenser coils.

Manually defrosting the refrigerator periodically can help to alleviate any frost buildup that may have accumulated on condenser coils.

Keeping the refrigerator side between 36-40F and the freezer side between 0-4F will provide optimal energy efficiency.

A typical refrigerator will cost roughly $95 per year to run continuously, so consider using only one refrigerator when one is enough.

Avoid positioning the refrigerator near heat sources or in direct sunlight.

Position your refrigerator away from direct sunlight and other heat sources if possible.

Refrigerator doors should seal tightly — if they aren’t, the door seals will require replacement.

Avoid placing the refrigerator in an area where the temperature will drop below 60F. This will cause the compressor to run efficiently or stop running altogether.

Avoid placing hot food in the refrigerator. Allowing food to cool off first will decrease the strain on your refrigerator.

Avoid opening your oven door as this will release heat and cause your oven to work harder. Most ovens come equipped with an interior light.

When appropriate, consider using a toaster oven or microwave to cook as they use less energy and generate less heat.

When preparing multiple dishes in the oven, consider cooking them all together.

Choosing the correct cookware for your stove is important. Certain materials, such as cast iron, will retain heat better than stainless steel. Use a lid for your cookware to capture heat when appropriate.

Don’t open the oven door while it is in operation as this will cause heat release and force the oven to work harder. Ovens come equipped with an interior light to check the status of food items inside the oven.

Check to make sure that the oven is sealing tightly so that heat is not lost during operation.

Keeping an oven clean will ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible.

Periodically test your oven’s temperature to ensure that it is properly calibrated. If the actual temperature isn’t the same as the temperature setting, consider recalibrating the oven.

Match your cookware to the size of the burner you’ll be using. For an 8-inch burner, use an 8-inch pot or pan.

For optimal efficiency, cook first with high heat and then switch to a lower setting.

When appropriate, use cold water to wash clothes to reduce natural gas expenses.

Set the washing machine’s water level to accommodate the load you place into the washer.

If possible, consider placing the washing machine close to your water heater. This will reduce heat loss when hot water is transferred from the water heater to the washing machine

Avoid overloading the dryer as this can prevent proper heat transfer for efficient drying. On the other hand, loading a dryer with too few clothes will also cause it to run less efficiently.

rying multiple loads consecutively will enable your dryer to use some heat from previous dry cycles to decrease overall the length of dry time.

D the dryer has moisture-sensing technology, use this to increase energy efficiency.

Ensure that the dryer vent is not obstructed and that the vent hose has no kinks.

Towels and other heavy items should be dried separately from the rest of the laundry.

Consider positioning the dryer in a well-heated area of the house for optimal dry time.

Be sure to clean the dryer’s lint filter after each use to reduce the risk of dryer fires.

When appropriate, use air dry instead of heated dry — or leave the dishwasher door open to allow the dishes to dry naturally.

Clean chunks of food from your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher to avoid damaging the dishwasher drain pump. That said, they don’t need to be spotless.

Run dishwashers using cooler periods of the day during warmer months to decrease the impact of heat dissipation.

If your dishwasher has an energy-saving cycle, use it.

Run a full load of dishes each time the dishwasher is used. Dishwashers use the same amount of water and electricity regardless of the number of dishes being washed.

For dishwashers with a filter screen, regular cleaning will ensure that the dishwasher operates efficiently.

Before purchasing, compare energy costs using EnergyGuide ratings for energy efficiency.

As a general rule, newer models use less energy than older models.

Choose the smallest appliance that will accommodate your needs — smaller appliances use less energy.

When choosing a washing machine, consider that front-loaders use less energy than top-loading models. Top-loading models without an agitator run more efficiently, but their cost is higher.

Side-by-side refrigerators typically use more energy than conventional top/bottom models.