Helping Your Elderly Relatives to Manage Their Home Appliances
Collaborative Post
When a home appliance breaks down, it can create numerous problems – particularly for older people who might be on a very fixed budget. If the appliance is one that they depend upon every day, they might feel compelled to purchase a replacement even if they can’t afford to.
However, there are a few things people can do that can help extend the lifespan of their appliances as much as possible. Below are some simple tips for you to share with your senior relatives to help them maintain their home appliances and maximise their lifespans.
Televisions
Many people are unaware that they can extend the lifespan of their televisions by maintaining them properly. For example, TVs get a lot hotter than most people realise while they are in use. Playing your TV somewhere hot with poor ventilation can significantly reduce its lifespan.
Not only this, but the brightness level that you set can also affect the lifespan of your television. Older people might need to use a higher brightness setting than most of us do. But you should aim to keep the brightness as low as possible while still being comfortable to view.
Washing Machines
The most important thing to remember when it comes to your washing machine is not to overload it. Trying to wash too much stuff in one go can cause damage to the agitator.
You should also aim to clean your washing machine regularly. Most experts recommend that you clean the unit every two weeks. You should also check the water hose every three months and replace it after five years.
If you can do all that, your relatives’ washing machine should last as long as possible.
Refrigerator
Try to get in the habit of checking the rubber seal around the refrigerator door regularly. If the seal is damaged or broken warm air can enter. The refrigerator then needs to work harder to counter the heat.
You should also clean the coils behind your refrigerator as regularly as you can. If dust accumulates on the coils, it will hinder their ability to dissipate heat.
Dishwasher
Every month or two, you should clean out the spray arm nozzles in your dishwasher. Cleaning the nozzles won’t just help to prolong the lifespan of your dishwasher, but will also ensure that your machine is washing your dishes to the best of its ability.
Home Appliance Insurance
If a home appliance breaks down within a year of your purchasing it, the manufacturers’ warranty will usually cover it. Unfortunately, appliances often don’t break down according to such a convenient schedule. If you are making an effort to prolong the life of your relatives’ appliances, they are likely to last longer before they break down.
With that in mind, it’s worth discussing home appliance insurance with your relative, because this can help them with the financial expense of buying a new appliance if and when theirs kicks the bucket. It doesn’t have to be expensive either, as you can find cheap quotes for appliance insurance if you use a price comparison site.
Most of us could do a better job of looking after our home appliances. Stick to the advice outlined above, and you and your relatives will have no trouble keeping your appliances working for as long as possible.
Photo by Castorly Stock from Pexels
