Fact: we see an increase in service calls for refrigerators, freezers and dryers on particularly hot days – and in Central Iowa, high temps and humidity are a staple of our summers. While your appliances are built to handle the fluctuations of temperatures, they must work harder to regulate the temperature they need to be at (cue the refrigerator hum). As Des Moines’ Appliance Repair Experts, we wanted to share a few tips on how to help your appliances keep their cool during these sweltering summer days.
Clean Your Refrigerator’s Condenser Coils:
Scenario: It’s a hot afternoon and you’ve promised your kids a Bomb Pop, so they are on their best behavior. You have a bottle of rosé chilling. Life is good… until you find your freezer has failed and your wine fridge isn’t getting as cold as it needs to.
Dust, dog hair and debris are attracted to your refrigerator’s condenser coils like a magnet. The coils are what keep refrigerant flowing. If they become coated with dirt, your refrigerator will struggle to work and will eventually fail. Dirty coils build up heat and combined with a hot day can cause the unit to stop working entirely, leaving you to clean up spoiled food. And yes, even wine fridges have condenser coils.
Clean Your Dryer Vent:
Scenario: It’s the soccer camp’s championship tournament tomorrow, and you’re washing your kid’s uniform for the umpteenth time. But after your normal drying cycle, the uniform is still damp and your laundry room is unbearably hot.
Longer drying times are a sign of a clogged dryer vent. When you’re left with damp clothes after a lengthy drying cycle, it could indicate the air is trapped, keeping your clothes hot and moist. While this is not only inconvenient, it also poses a serious safety risk. If the temperature in your laundry room starts to get as hot as the summer temperature outside, stop using your dryer immediately. A clogged vent prevents heat from escaping your dryer, building up in your laundry room. That is a sure sign that your dryer vent needs to be clean. Lint is extremely flammable, and the heat from your dryer could cause the lint to combust, catching your dryer and parts of your home on fire.
Don’t Let Appliance Issues Go on Too Long:
Hot summer days are hard enough on your appliances. If you’re having a problem with an appliance, it’s most likely a symptom of a larger issue. Running multiple drying or dishwashing cycles will make your appliance exert more power and energy to get the result you want (along with working in overdrive with its malfunction). Call us to get in our schedule before your issue becomes beyond repair.
To schedule your condenser cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, or appliance repair, contact us today!
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