When To Replace Your Kitchen Appliances

If you’re someone who enjoys making a lovely home-cooked meal or prepares food for your family, the appliances in your kitchen must function correctly. It can be easy to spot when your fridge isn’t keeping cool or when your oven’s door is falling off its hinges. However, it can be more challenging to know the right time to replace appliances in other instances. To ensure your kitchen is operating at its best and safest, keep reading to learn when to replace your kitchen appliances.

Dishwasher

Dishwashers make cleaning up after a big meal incredibly convenient. What’s not so fortunate is when they start to break down, leaving you to wash dishes by hand. Dishwashers typically last around 10 to 12 years. Here are signs it’s time to replace them:

• Rust buildup: Having a little bit of rust on the outside isn’t a cause for alarm. But once you notice rust on the inside, it can be an indication that there’s a water leak or another hazardous issue.
• Standing water inside: If you see water remaining at the bottom after the wash cycle, there may be a clog. It can also indicate a more severe problem with the drain that will require a replacement.
• Cool dishes: Your dishes should be warm to the touch after a cycle, whether you used heat drying or not. If you notice they’re cool immediately after washing, they may still be dirty.

Oven

Your oven is the centerpiece of your whole kitchen and typically lasts around 10 to 15 years. If you have a wall oven instead of a more standard one, there are specific signs you should be aware of, such as new sizing needs. The following are general indicators to keep an eye out for with all ovens, though:

• Cracks in the glass: If the glass is fractured, it will not adequately hold heat, causing your food to take longer to cook.
• Constant repair calls: Constantly repairing your oven can add up until you spend the same amount on repairs as you would on a new range.
• Switches that don’t work: A significant issue can be having to light your oven manually or dials and buttons that don’t work.
• Rust buildup: Rust can fall off your oven and into your food, causing an illness or creating choking hazards.

Fridge

The only thing worse than having nothing to eat in your fridge when you’re hungry is having your fridge break down. You can try and repair the small problems with the helpful instructions from the fridge manual. Refrigerators typically last around 10 to 12 years. Here are some signs you need to replace your fridge:

• Quickly spoiling food: Food frequently goes bad before its expiration date.
• Weird noises: If you hear grinding or other strange noises emanating from within, you know there’s a problem.
• Excess condensation: If your refrigerator has lots of condensation, it may not be chilling effectively. Examine the rubber seal surrounding the door to determine if there are any water droplets or mildew.
• A hot back: Excessive heat may signal that you need to change the coils or replace the appliance entirely.

These are just some of the signs you should know for when to replace your kitchen appliances. It’s important to be on the lookout for changes that can significantly impact their performance, especially for older appliances.