4 appliances that tend to need repairs around the winter holidays

Posted On December 2, 2022

In the winter, it’s common for your home’s heating and cooling systems to need repairs. Winter is also a time when you might have visitors—and they’ll be hungry! If your oven or refrigerator aren’t working right, this isn’t an added stress on both of you. Make sure you keep up with appliance repair services around the holidays so that these things don’t happen.

The best way to avoid the hassle of a broken appliance during the holidays is to keep up with regular appliance repair services. As an added benefit, you can rely on appliance repair services to get any major brand fixed quickly. Whether your oven stops working or your dishwasher starts leaking, a professional technician can help.

If you have a major appliance that is beyond repair, a professional technician can help you get the right replacement. Especially, if your refrigerator stops working on a Friday night after you’ve gone shopping for groceries, an appliance repair service can be an invaluable resource. It’s also a good idea to check that your appliances are properly installed. If you need help with this, a technician can ensure that they’re level and stable. Sometimes the simplest thing can cause major problems. Here are a few appliances that can benefit from a regular maintenance check before needing an emergency 24×7 appliance repair service.

1. Heaters and furnaces

Furnaces and heaters are two of the most important appliances in your home. They keep you warm and comfortable, but they can also be expensive to replace if they break down. If your furnace or heater has been working properly lately, that’s great! But it’s also important to know how to recognize when they’re not functioning correctly so you can avoid trying to use them during an emergency.

If either appliance stops working suddenly without warning, there’s a good chance it may need service or repair. Call an HVAC technician right away if:

  • The temperature in your house doesn’t rise above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (or below 40 degrees F) after running for an hour—and especially if this happens even though all the vent registers are pointing toward where people like to sit around the house;
  • You notice that there is no hot water coming out of any taps or showers;
  • Your furnace doesn’t turn on and the blower doesn’t come on at all;
  • The pilot light goes out for your gas heater and won’t relight.
  • There is an unusual smell coming from your furnace or heater (this could indicate a fire or carbon monoxide leak);

2. Refrigerators and freezers

With the holidays in full swing, many people are likely to find themselves facing appliance repair issues. A broken refrigerator or freezer is one of the most common problems during this time of year. The majority of these failures occur due to a thermostat malfunction, which causes your fridge or freezer to overheat and shut down.

When troubleshooting your appliance’s broken thermostat:

  • First, check your refrigerator’s temperature control dial to make sure it is set to the correct temperature. If the dial is set too high or low, the compressor will not run properly and may overheat. Also, be sure that there are no obstructions in front of the vents on your appliance. These vents allow air to pass through so that cool air can circulate inside your fridge or freezer.
  • If the problem still does not resolve itself, check your appliance’s compressor for proper operation. This can be done by unplugging the refrigerator or freezer and removing the back panel that covers its electrical components.
  • Then, set a hair dryer to its lowest setting and hold it beneath the compressor unit until you hear it kick on. If the problem still persists, you may need to call a 24×7 appliance repair service

Ovens

Ovens are one of the most-used appliances in your home. They’re great for cooking meals and baking cookies, but they also tend to need repairs more often than other types of appliances. If you notice that your oven is not heating up properly, it may be damaged by a power surge or if it was not cleaned regularly before use.

When cleaning an oven:

  • Make sure all the racks are removed from inside the oven before beginning any cleaning process.
  • Use baking soda and water as a gentle abrasive scrubbing agent on stubborn stains or buildups inside the cavity; just make sure to test both surfaces for discoloration before proceeding! You can do this by spraying small amounts onto a hidden area (like behind handles) as well as using cotton swabs dipped in warm water first before applying this solution with whatever tool best suits your needs: sponge brush? Toothbrush? Paper towel? Whatever works best! This should remove any visible stains without damaging these surfaces too much so that we don’t have any permanent marks left behind later down the road when we’re ready to start cooking again at full capacity!
  • When you’re done cleaning the inside of your oven: Let it dry for about an hour before replacing any racks or pans. If there is any discoloration on these surfaces, be sure to use a clean cloth with warm water and soap to remove any residue left behind from this process! If you’ve cleaned your oven and are still experiencing problems, you may need to call a professional.

Dishwashers​

Dishwashers are one of the most common appliances to break down during the winter. The longer you’re away from your dishwasher, the more likely it is that ice and dirt will build up in it and cause damage to your flooring or cabinets. To avoid this from happening, try running water down the drain immediately after use to prevent any buildup from forming inside.

If you find that ice has formed inside your dishwasher after a period, turn off power at the circuit breaker immediately and call an appliance repair professional as soon as possible.

If you don’t know how to turn off the power, it’s best to call an appliance repair professional immediately. If you do know how, however, simply unplug your dishwasher from the wall outlet before turning off the circuit breaker.

While this all seems like an easy fix, it’s still a good idea to have a professional take a look at your dishwasher when this happens.

Your appliances can be very important to your family and home, but they also need maintenance. A broken appliance is not only inconvenient but also expensive. If you don’t keep up with regular appliance repair services, it will be harder to fix later on when things do go wrong.