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When you buy a home , your hope is that its components will last as long as possible, thereby minimizing the amount of money you need to spend on repairs or replacements. And one potentially large expense you might encounter as a homeowner is replacing your appliances. Though some appliances may last longer than others, none are designed to last forever. And if you rely on your dishwasher a lot, you may be wondering how long you can count on it to keep running.
Here's what you need to know. A typical dishwasher should last about 10 years, according to Consumer Reports. But that doesn't mean you won't need to spend money on repairs during that time. And if you want a higher-end model say, one with more capacity, a quicker cleaning cycle, or minimal noise , you could pay a lot more. Buildup can cause odors, lead to mold growth, and potentially keep the door from sealing properly. Richard Tarrant, director of dish care for Bosch and Thermador, says to avoid using bleach-based wipes, harsh chemicals, scouring pads, and anything abrasive on a stainless door and tub.
Remove hard-water residue. If you live in an area with hard water, the inside of your dishwasher is likely to develop mineral films and discoloration. These deposits look like a cloudy film on your dishes and the interior of your machine, and you may notice the rack rails and wheels moving with resistance, according to Hofmann. He recommends using a citric-acid-based dishwasher cleaner, such as Affresh or Finish, to remove the deposits monthly. Follow package directions for removing hard-water film from your dishwasher.
Bosch's Tarrant also suggests using a regeneration salt in the water-softening system of the dishwasher if you live in an area with hard water.
This improves cleaning, helping to prevent spotting and clouding. The salt also helps prevent mineral buildup in the dishwasher. Inspect the spray arms. If you see food debris clogging a spray nozzle, gingerly try to remove it with a toothpick or pipe cleaner. If you need to remove the spray arms to clean them, the bottom one should lift off its base with a gentle tug. Unscrew the center wash arm from the bottom of the top rack using a Phillips head screwdriver.
Rustproof the racks. If the plastic coating wears off, repair it as soon as possible with vinyl paint or replacement tine tips. Otherwise the racks could corrode and allow small shards of rusty metal to enter the pump, according to Chris Zeisler, technical service supervisor at RepairClinic. Imagine the pump is the heart of the dishwasher and rust flakes are like plaque buildup, threatening the system with an inevitable clot and full-system shutdown.
Don't overload it. Cramming too much into one load will restrict the water spray patterns and prevent proper cleaning. However, they can last for up to 15 years if they are properly maintained. With careful consideration and repairs if things go wrong, you can even expect a year lifetime. There are several ways to know just how long your dishwasher will last. You may already know the age of your dishwasher and what the expected lifetime is, but you may have no idea if it has been properly maintained or cleaned.
Below, we have detailed some common reasons for dishwasher longevity:. Not all dishwashers are equal in quality. Some are more durable, are better at cleaning, or save on energy costs.
Not only are higher-quality dishwashers more durable than most; they conserve more energy, and they are quieter than older models. Maintaining your dishwasher is the best way to make sure it runs smoothly. Particularly, cleaning your dishwasher once a month prevents buildup, which makes it last longer than one that remains unclean. Cleaning your dishwasher on a monthly basis can also prevent mold, saving you from bad smells, health complications, and contaminated dishes.
This one goes without saying. Frequent use means frequent wear, and machines are unfortunately no exception. If you are running your dishwasher more than a couple times a week, you will need repairs more frequently and may be decreasing the lifetime of your machine. Repairs are often necessary for our machinery, but you may be reluctant to sink hundreds into multiple repairs, especially if your dishwasher may be showing its age.
Sometimes a full replacement seems like the cheaper option. New options, while expensive, save you more money by conserving more energy and water. They are also more efficient when it comes to dishwashing itself. If your machine is pushing eight years old, you may want to start thinking of replacing it entirely.
This is because, with expansion on technology and newer models being marketed yearly, repairmen struggle to repair older appliance models. They also can have extra costs, as older appliance parts become unusable due to lack of demand. Additionally, older parts can be harder to find, therefore making a replacement the cheaper option. Not everybody wants to repair their washer from the inside out.
In these cases, you can typically find small, cheap parts that can replace the originals. These parts include soap dispensers, door latches, gaskets, pressure switches, fill valves, and even drain pumps.
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