Your kitchen tends to be the hub of activity in the home. It’s where people gather, socialise and, of course, it’s where the food prep, cooking, and eating takes place. With that said, your kitchen appliances tend to be among the most well-used appliances in your whole entire home. Because kitchen appliances aren’t exactly cheap, keeping them in good working condition is key to prolonging their lifespan and keeping things in your kitchen humming along smoothly.
For those homeowners who are hoping to get the absolute most out of their kitchen appliances, here are three checks you can do to ensure that they are in good condition. Knowing what red flags to look for can help you to spot problems before they get too big and out of hand.
Listen for Unusual or New Noises
No matter which appliance you are checking, you always want to be aware of any new or unusual noises coming from it. Noises can signal something very minor that is easy to remedy, or it can be a sign of a more serious problem that is brewing.
Unusual noises include things like humming, buzzing, any banging or clanging, knocking, and more. These types of sounds most commonly occur with dishwashers and refrigerators. Keep in mind that just because the appliance may be loud, it doesn’t mean it’s not fixable.
Is Your Food Maintaining a Proper Temperature in the Fridge
This particular check is specifically for your fridge. If you are suddenly finding that your food seems to be turning bad at a faster than usual rate, it could be that your fridge isn’t working properly. There are a number of issues that could be occurring, all of which relates to how well the refrigerator is doing at keeping a consistent and proper temperature.
Getting your fridge checked as soon as possible means you will have less food that spoils, which means less money wasted, and less risk to you when it comes to eating something that has gone bad.
Is Your Food Cooking Properly
The third check has to do with your oven and stove. Most people have a pretty good idea of how long something needs to cook and at what temperature. If you suddenly find your food is taking longer to cook, isn’t cooking evenly, or is burning, then there may be a problem with the stove and oven.
What you will want to do is check the calibration of your oven to see if it’s reading the correct internal temperature. The simplest way to do this yourself is to bake a cake and check to see how evenly it cooks. If there are any areas that are more or less done than others, then there’s a pretty good chance the calibration is off and it likely needs repairing.
Don’t Put Off the Repairs
If you’ve gone ahead with these routine checks and you’re noticing some red flags or issues, it’s never a good idea to ignore them. Putting off a repair can lead to more damage and possibly cause the appliance to break down completely. In fact, it may not even be fixable. As soon as a problem pops up, contact professionals such as the Hotpoint appliance repair service to come out and assess the situation and make any necessary repairs – their customer service team are available 364 days a year, and so if there is an immediate problem that needs to be fixed, you can get advice from an expert as soon as possible.
By following these tips, and calling in the professionals when necessary, you’ll be working to ensure your appliances stay in good working condition for as long as possible. It also means that food prep and cooking will be that much smoother and successful in your kitchen.