Paying for stove repairs is never fun, especially when they could have been avoided with a few minutes of preventative maintenance each month. In this post, the San Diego Appliance Repair stove repair experts share 4 appliance maintenance tips to save you money and keep your cooking gear running smoothly!
- Bolster your oven’s seal. Have you ever heard the old baker’s adage that you should never open the oven door unless you absolutely have to? Bakers avoid opening the oven door because it allows a tremendous amount of heat to escape, potentially ruining the even bake they were aiming for. However, it doesn’t take a fully opened door to hemorrhage heat: even a minor issue with your oven door seal can cause up to 20% of its heat to trickle into your kitchen. This not only forces your AC to work harder to regulate the room’s temperature; it means your oven has to expend 20% more energy to get the job done. That means paying 20% more on your energy bill each month. Furthermore, keeping your oven running on overtime will move it closer to an early “retirement,” which can mean spending a week’s pay on an oven replacement. Check the condition of the fiberglass gasket that runs along the perimeter of the oven door. Feel for breaks, tears, or deformities, and close the door to check for suspected leaks. If you find a leak, give our oven and stove repair experts a call at (619) 719-5005
- Clean out your dirty range hood and downdraft vent filters. The dirtier you allow these vent filters to get, the harder your stove and oven system will have to work, which means a greater chance of needing oven and stove repairs in the future. Wash metal mesh grease filters in hot soapy water. You can also run them through the dishwasher, but we advise you to give them a quick scrub or spray before you do to prevent soggy dust buildup in your washer’s interior. Charcoal or paper filters will need to be replaced entirely.
- Clean out your stovetop drip bowls. Tired of breathing in the burnt residue from last night’s supper every time you turn on your stove? Give your drip bowls a wash to improve their appearance, eliminate unpleasant odours, and remove a common cause of house fires. Remove the drip bowls and pre-soak them in a cleaning solution for a few minutes, then hand wash them clean. If you waited too long and the spills have been scorched into the bowl, you can contact our stove repairs department for replacement parts.
- Clean spills the second they happen. Stuck-on spills are a nightmare to clean, especially when it all could have been avoided with a few seconds of effort as it occurred. Cooking spills are inevitable, but you can mop up almost any mess in seconds with a damp sponge or paper towel if you get it while it’s still warm. Getting in the habit of wiping spills away the second they happen can save a lot of effort, and prevent the scuff marks that are usually made during bouts of heavy scrubbing.