Tag: FAQ

Your washing machine helps keep your clothes and home smelling fresh and healthy. Make sure you’re giving your washing machine some TLC as you do your routine home maintenance! Here are a few of our top tips on keeping your washing machine running longer.

 

• Check hoses regularly: Make sure to inspect your hoses for bulges or cracks. Damaged hoses can cause leakage that will damage your floors, as well as make your washing machine run less efficiently.

• Keep machine level: Make sure your washing machine is level on the ground and doesn’t rock or shake while in use. A machine that isn’t level can damage your floor and its inner parts.

• Clean the lint filter: You’re probably used to cleaning your dryer’s lint filter after every use, but your washing machine has one as well! Older top load models will usually have a lint filter located at the end of the drain hose or along the top rim of the drum. Newer top-load or front load models have a self-cleaning pump. 

• Keep load sizes manageable: You can do serious damage to your washing machine if you put too big a load in at once, so make sure to break your laundry up into smaller loads. Also consider getting larger garments or other items professionally cleaned. 

• Use the right detergent: The type of detergent you use does matter! Using the wrong detergent for your washing machine can cause damage and inefficient cleaning, so double-check the type of detergent and the recommended amount before use. 

• Wash your washing machine: Soap residue can build up, causing mold, mildew, and a really funky smell! Every month or so, run an empty load using the correct detergent for your machine, a recommended cleaner, or a mixture of hot water and vinegar. 

• Don’t let wet clothes linger: Leaving wet clothes in the washing machine for too long can leave them and your machine covered in mold and mildew, especially if you live in a humid climate. Set a timer on your phone or your machine itself so you don’t forget to transfer clothes once they’re done! 

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Need support in taking care of your washing machine or another system or appliance? We’re happy to help! Reach out to us at 602.733.5000.

Appliance care might not be a top-of-mind concern for most people, but it should be; a little effort goes a long way in keeping the appliances in your home running well and making your life easier. In this FAQ series, we explore proper home appliance maintenance care in the laundry room! 

Having a dryer can be a huge time-saver, keeping your clothes soft, warm and dry in less time than air-drying. However, because of the use of heat, your dryer can also be a major fire hazard if used incorrectly or not properly maintained. Below are some of our top tips on making sure that your dryer stays efficient and safe! 

 

• Clean the lint trap: Cleaning out the lint trap after each use, and deep cleaning the trap with a recommended cleaner every three months, can help prevent lint buildup, which is a potential fire hazard.

• Clean the interior of your dryer: You should wipe down the drum of your dryer with a microfiber cloth and warm soapy water at least once a month. This helps remove or prevent stains and residue that can end up on your freshly cleaned clothes!

• Keep load sizes manageable: Overloading your dryer can lead to inefficient run cycles, as well as damaging the interior of your dryer. 

• Keep your dryer level: Check to make sure that the legs of your dryer lie level on a flat surface. Running your dryer while it’s not level can cause the rotating components to wear out faster. 

• Use metal exhaust vents: While plastic or vinyl exhaust vents may be cheaper, they’re also prone to melting and catching fire. Replacing your plastic or vinyl vents with metal can eliminate this fire hazard. 

• Clean around your dryer: It’s recommended that you move your dryer and clean under and around it at least once a year. There can be residue build-up or stray items around your dryer that can become fire hazards if left unattended. 

 

• Unclog dryer vents: Clogged dryer vents and ductwork can cause serious fire hazards along with decreasing your dryer’s efficiency. Unclogging your dryer vent at least once a year can help keep your dryer running safely and efficiently! While you can unclog vents yourself, you can always call in a professional if it makes you feel better! 

Learn more about how to keep your appliances warranty-ready at our blog or contact us!

Links to external sources are for informational purposes only and deemed reliable at the time of posting but not guaranteed.

Appliance care might not be a top-of-mind concern for most people, but it should be! Good news though: a little effort goes a long way. In this FAQ series, we explore proper home appliance maintenance care starting with the kitchen! 

Few large appliances get such frequent use as our refrigerators, so it’s crucial to keep them at their best. Routine maintenance helps your refrigerator run more smoothly and efficiently. Proper care prevents breakdowns, keeps odors at bay, and best preserves the quality of your refrigerator contents. So if you want to extend the lifespan of your fridge as much as possible, often about 10-15 years, all it takes is a few simple tasks.

Every Day

• Cover food: Odors can migrate through the fridge and freezer. Uncovered food can both release and absorb odors. 
• Deploy help: A box of baking soda typically costs just one dollar: keep an open box in the fridge and freezer to keep things fresh without lifting a finger.

Every Month

• Empty the ice bin: While you might not think of your ice cubes as ‘food’, you should. Ice can absorb freezer odors and solidify in the bottom of the bin. 
• Give it some space: Unless your refrigerator is built for zero-clearance placement, make sure there is adequate space on all sides of the appliance.

Every Quarter

• Inspect door gaskets: Dirty or damaged gaskets cause cold air to leak out, making your fridge work much harder than it needs to, so keep them clean! Use soapy water and dry them off completely. If they are loose, the embedded magnets may need to be replaced or remagnetized.
• Level up: An unlevel refrigerator won’t close properly, which can strain the motor and cause condensation inside, which can lead to frost buildup on the evaporator. Place a level on the top of your refrigerator, then rotate the adjustable feet on the bottom of the unit until it’s level. Once the seals are cleaned and the unit is level, check for a proper seal by closing a dollar bill in the door. If it slips right out, you may need to have the door seals checked by a pro.

Every Six Months

• Clean condenser coils: Condenser coils clogged with dust and pet hair stress the compressor and waste energy. It’s easy – unplug your fridge, remove the base grill, and use a coil cleaning brush, vacuum, and/or damp cloth to remove dust and debris. 
• Replace water filter: A spent water filter can cause clogs and leaks (in addition to subpar water and ice). Check your owner’s manual for directions on how to remove and replace the filter. Next, run a few gallons of water through the new filter to remove any carbon residue. 
• Clean the drip pan. Typically found at the bottom of the refrigerator, the drip pan should be drained and cleaned thoroughly to clear away the water, food, and mineral deposits.
• Inspect the freezer for ice build-up. Ice thicker than ¼” calls for a defrost. 

Sound like a lot? It doesn’t have to be: Set up repeating calendar events for convenient reminders to make sure you don’t fall behind. And if you have any questions regarding what your Arizona home warranty requires to maintain coverage, reach out to any of our friendly customer service representatives.

 

Links to external sources are for informational purposes only and deemed reliable at the time of posting but not guaranteed.

 

Appliance care might not be a top of mind concern for most people, but it should be! Good news though: a little effort goes a long way. In this FAQ series, we explore proper home appliance maintenance care starting with the kitchen! 

Your kitchen stovetop can take quite a beating, and it’s easy to guess wrong regarding proper care. As always, the manufacturer’s maintenance manual is the last word, but we’ve compiled a general guide on how to care for your stovetop with some basic principles that can help anyone stay on track, like 

Know Your Type

It’s important to determine what kind of stove you have. While electric vs. gas is a common way to think about stovetops, maintenance and upkeep varies a bit more than that. Electric stovetops can have exposed coil burners or a smooth top, which requires different care. 

There are pros and cons to each. For care, exposed burners on either a gas or electric stove present additional parts to clean but are often more durable than a smooth-top, which both wipes down and scratches easier.

Get Back to Basics

Luckily, the best thing you can do to keep your stovetop in good working order is to prevent stains and be smart about cleaning build up, which is easy to do no matter what type of stove you’re working with.

• Prevent boil-overs: Use pots and pans with deep enough sides to prevent boil-overs and splattering. Preventing spills minimizes cleanup work and helps prolong the life of your stovetop.
• Clean as you go: A damp sponge or paper towel will take care of most spills. So get in the habit of wiping down your stovetop after every use-your stove will gleam like new for decades, and you’ll save yourself plenty of scrubbing
• Scrub smarter, not harder: With a spill that has dried out and cooked for a while, use a sponge with a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water, a 50-50 solution of vinegar and warm water, or an all-purpose cleaner. Avoid abrasive powders as they can easily create tiny scratches in your stove top surface, which future spills can grip, making them even harder to remove.
• Mind the little things: In addition to an after-use wipe down, periodically give your stove parts a more extensive cleaning. Remove control-panel knobs (usually by pulling straight out) and clean around the knobs’ bases. Wash the knobs in hot, soapy water, rinse, and dry before replacing them.

Get Specific

Complete your stovetop care routine with these type-specific tips.

• Clean under the hood: If you don’t have a sealed cooktop, food and grease can fall under exposed burners and out of sight. It can be easy to miss, but thankfully it’s also easy to clean. See your owner’s manual instructions for safely lifting the top, then clean with a sponge and warm, soapy water or a 50-50 solution of vinegar and warm water before rinsing with clean water and a sponge.

• Smooth-tops: Keep a clean stovetop surface to avoid scratches, and keep bottoms of pans clean so they don’t transfer food residue that will bake onto the glass.
• Gas burners: Keep it clean between the burner and burner cap so the gas flows through the burner channels smoothly. Burner grates are often cast iron, which can be safely cleaned using several approaches based on how dirty they are and your comfort level using different chemicals.
• Electric coil stovetop: Clean the inner bowls regularly, and never line them with tin foil – it can reflect the heat back on to the element and cause it to blow out. 

If you have any questions regarding what your Arizona Platinum Home Warranty requires to maintain coverage, reach out to any of our friendly Account Managers here.