The washing machine is an important appliance in any Central Indiana laundry room, along with the dryer. Homeowners need to complete washing machine maintenance regularly to keep the machine in top condition and prevent plumbing disasters such as busted hoses, drain clogs, and water leaks.
Mr. Plumber explains the ins and outs of machine maintenance for household washers as well as the signs that highlight a need for maintenance services. On a monthly basis, clean washing machines to remove detergent and fabric softener residue, extract lint particles, and eliminate mold and mildew inside the washer. This maintenance routine for laundry machines protects the appliance, your plumbing, and your clothing from wear and tear.
When you regularly maintain your washing machine, you probably won’t notice the signs that indicate service needs, such as odors, poor cleaning efficiency, and other issues. Because problems can pop up at any point in time, know the trouble signs that share your appliance could benefit from maintenance:
All types of washing machines benefit from monthly machine maintenance care, whether they are new or old. Inspect the appliance and its components then perform cleaning to limit wear to your machine, reduce the likelihood of repairs and plumbing problems, and maintain efficient washing power.
Take a look at washers and you’ll see multiple hoses running into and out of these machines. There is a supply hose for hot water and one for cold, as well as a drain hose to remove water from the washing machine after a load is done. Supply hoses are composed of PVC, rubber, or stainless steel; a drain hose is made from corrugated plastic material.
Washing machine hoses usually last between three and five years. No matter what, you should replace hoses after five years or the risk of leaks greatly increases. Even if your hoses aren’t five years old, you should still inspect them each month for signs a leak could occur.
Search each hose for signs of damage such as:
When you see indicators of damage on a hose or your hoses hit five years old, replace them to limit the likelihood of water leaks. Use the instructions below to add new hoses to your washing machine:
If you overload a washer, the spin cycle can create heavy vibrations that could cause the washing machine to move several inches from its original spot in the room. It’s important to inspect the position of your washer and reposition it as needed to allow ample spaces for hoses, preventing the possibility of hose kinks.
Keep the washer set back at least four inches from walls and the dryer. Keeping the washer level can limit movement, so adjust the machine legs as needed. Rotate washer legs clockwise to lower them and counterclockwise to raise them.
Fabric particles and lint from clothes are suspended in water during laundry loads and drain out once the washing cycle is complete. A lint trap captures these fibers to prevent them from moving into plumbing drain lines where they can gather and form clogs.
Lint needs to be removed from the washer on a monthly basis to lower the risk of machine leaks and clogs. Follow these maintenance steps to clean the lint from your washing machine:
High-efficiency front-loading washing machines usually do not have a dedicated trap to collect lint. Instead, particles will gather at the self-cleaning pump. Inspect the pump and clean away fiber buildup as necessary.
Keep the machine clean and smelling fresh when you follow the maintenance steps below. Doing loads of laundry leaves fabric softener and detergent residue behind within the machine, and damp conditions create the opportunity for mold and mildew formation inside your washer. These problems can produce bothersome odors and reduce the performance of your washing machine.
A monthly maintenance routine isn’t the only thing you can do to care for your washing machine! Regularly use these washing machine maintenance tips to protect your machine as you run loads of laundry each day.
These washing machine maintenance tips help you best care for your washing machine appliance, extending its performance and service life while keeping your plumbing lines free and clear of debris. When you need professional plumbing services in your Central Indiana home, schedule service with the licensed plumbers of Mr. Plumber now.