I went shopping for appliances the other day and was surprised when the salesman said a new refrigerator would last me only seven years. 

So I did some research on life expectancy of appliances in my home and what I could do to maintain these appliance longer. To my delight, I found a site -  Natural Resources Canada - that listed the industry averages for fife expectancy of appliance at higher than the the salesman said.  

I don't belief in this concept that today's household appliances are just throw aways, that you use them for several years and throw them away for new appliances. I want to maintain my appliances and find replacements parts when it makes sense economically to do so. 

McCombs Supply has a large inventory of replacement appliance parts. 

New appliances may be getting cheaper all the time, but they’re still worth maintaining. 

McCombs Supply looks at some ways to keep household appliances working longer and the life expectancy of these appliances. 

Dishwasher Maintenance

Life Expectancy: 13 years

Dishwashers often run every day for their entire life – sometimes twice a day.

The key with dishwasher is to remember they have seals inside and those seals are meant to stay wet. So is not advisable to let your dishwasher sit for several weeks without running it because this can cause the seals to dry out and crack, letting water seep onto your kitchen floor. 

One tip: prior to going on vacation, pour some mineral oil and water into the bottom of the dishwasher to keep those seals moisturized.

If the seals do crack, McCombs Supply does have replacements seals and other dishwasher parts.

Range or Stove Maintenance

Life Expectancy: 18 years

Not that I am planning to move, but a real estate buddy told me that the condition of my appliances can have a big impact on the value of my home.

Most stoves are electric, but lately more gas ranges are popping up – especially in high-end kitchens. Gas ranges take very little maintenance. Electric ovens with ceramic cooktops can be hard to clean, and special cleaners may have to be used to keep the surface smooth.

Self-cleaning ovens have made cleanup much more manageable, but the self-cleaning setting uses a lot of electricity and takes a long time. As for cleaning the burner drip pans (bowls), they are apparently close to impossible to clean, so replacement drip pans is the best option. 

McCombs has drip pans, surface elements and a large inventory of replacement range/stove parts. 

Refrigerator Maintenance

Life Expectancy: 17 years

A tip: Let a new refrigerator sit for a few hours before plugging in. This allows the oil in the compressor to settle before the pump starts. 

All fridges produce water and have a drain pan at the bottom. 

This pan gets wet and drys again, so it could accumulate mold.You need to check it and clean it. Refr

Refrigerators take heat from inside and pump it out using a refrigerant to keep cold. The refrigerant never needs to be replaced, but the coils it runs through at the back of the fridge should be vacuumed occasionally. When dust settles on these coils, it insulates them, making it more difficult to disperse heat.

McCombs sells replacement refrigerator coils. 

Washing Machine Maintenance

Life Expectancy: 14 years

Leaks occur with older washing machines. Although they are not very common, they can be a big mess. 

The most common leaks actually occur where the water lines attached to the washer, so braided steel lines are recommended. 

Rubber or plastic hoses will crack, especially in the winter, and leak.

Clothes Dryer Maintenance

Life Expectancy: 18 years

When dryers ware working but not heating, it is likely the heating element.

 The next issue is a fuse or thermostat.

Dryers create a lot of lint, so a good link trap cleaner is important. Make sure to clean the lint trap every cycle.

Lint builds up in more places than just the lint trap, so inspect it regularly. 

Besides the trap, there are dryer vents that send steam and heat to the outside of your home, and they may get clogged with lint. Dryer vents should be cleaned every year to make sure they are free of lint and debris.

About Us

McCombs Supply Company, Inc.

In business since 1953, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that specializes in low prices and fast, reliable shipping.
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. offers replacement repair parts for dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, range-ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, commercial cooking, pellet stove parts and more. Some of our manufacturers we distribute for include – Backer-Chromolox, Broan-Nutone, Exact Replacement Parts (ERP), EZ Flo, Fasco, Mastercool, ICM, JW Harris, Packard, Robertshaw, Sealed Unit Parts Company (SUPCO), White Rodgers, Englander, Breckwell, Harman, Lennox, Napoleon, St. Croix and Quadra-Fire.

We supply contractors, service technicians, housing developments, hospitals, retirement communities, institutions, and do-it-yourselfers.

Today, we have nearly one million SKUs in our system. We are constantly upgrading our cutting-edge technology to serve our customers better.

Copyright 2018