Appliance Doctor Offers Tips: Extend Life Span Of Gadgets

Joe Gagnon is on a crusade that he hopes will save you hundreds of dollars when buying or maintaining major appliances.

Gagnon, a long-time appliance-store owner, repairman, radio-show host, newspaper columnist and recently published author from the Detroit area, is known as the appliance doctor.

In the last eight years, he says, the life span of major appliances has declined from 15 to 20 years to fewer than 10. A big reason: Gagnon contends many appliance manufacturers use components they know tend to break down.

"You would think a manufacturer would say, `Let's improve this part,"' he said from his store in Michigan. "They call it planned obsolescence."

Gagnon has become a popular crusader in Michigan, teaching simple maintenance tricks.

In his recent book, "First Aid From the Appliance Doctor," Gagnon explains how to shop for appliances and do minor repairs that can double their average life span.

No single appliance manufacturer is all good or all bad, Gagnon said. So buying a particular brand is not enough to guarantee a good choice.

The biggest mistake people make is to pay as little as possible, he said.

"We all want the low-ball price. In the appliance industry, the cheaper the cost, the cheaper the product, the less the life."

Cheap appliances can wind up costing more for repairs and run inefficiently.

The opposite is also true. Don't buy the most expensive model of any brand because you are buying gadgets most people don't need, he said.

To pick the best model and brand, he suggests finding independent local service contractors and asking them which brands they service the least. Gagnon calls Consumer Reports the best reference around.

"Buy, beg or borrow a copy of the most recent Consumer Reports that reviews the type of appliance you wish to purchase," he said.

What to shop for

Here are great features Gagnon says to look for on major appliances:

-- Refrigerators: large crisper drawers for vegetables, solid door bars, ample inner-door shelf space, shelves in the freezer section, meat keeper drawers and adjustable shelves.

-- Dishwashers: porcelain tubs, low-cost replacement parts and interchangeable colored front panels.

-- Washing machines: simple manual controls (not touch pads), manual clean filters and an out-of-balance switch.

-- Clothes dryers: automatic timers, stationary interior racks for sweaters and tennis shoes, easy-to-understand controls and a drum light.

People could spend much less on appliances if they would care for them.

"Most people don't maintain them," Gagnon said.

Dishwashers are a good example. He says 95 percent of people use them incorrectly. A telltale sign of that is etching, or scratches, that appear on glasses. That comes from using too much soap.

Make your appliances last

Here are his top suggestions to make machines last:

Dryers: Keep them free of lint. Wash the lint screen with mild soap and water periodically.

Once a year, clean the machine internally. Unplug it, remove the front or rear panel, and suck up all the lint on the inside with a vacuum.

"Over 80 percent of service calls on dryers are needless," he said. "Lint kills everything, the motors, the belts."

An added bonus: regular cleaning increases efficiency, making clothes dry faster.

Washing machine: Twice a year, clean the machine. Pour in two quarts white vinegar when the tub is full of hot water.

Let it agitate 10 minutes and then sit for an hour. Then let it run through its cycle. The process cleans buildup of lime, magnesium and other deposits in the machine.

Refrigerators: The prime cause for short life spans and service calls is not cleaning the condenser coils. Dirty condensers cause overheating and ruin compressors.

A condenser brush is needed. It usually costs a couple dollars at hardware stores.

Four times a year, remove the front lower grill. Use the brush and vacuum cleaner to clean all gunk.

At least once a year, unplug the refrigerator, pull it away from the wall, and unscrew the cardboard that protects the condenser coils on the back. Clean coils, wires and mesh. Clean grime off fan blades there without bending them.

Dishwashers: Undissolved detergent builds up and decreases efficiency.

It might sound bizarre, but Gagnon says the best solution is to dump a jar of Tang into the machine each month and run it through a regular cycle.

The acidic content cleans parts, providing an energy boost.

Use dishwashers properly

Dishwashers have become a staple of American life, but nearly everyone uses them improperly, Joe Gagnon says.

A few of his tips include:

-- Always run hot water in the sink before turning on the dishwasher. Otherwise the first water going in is cold, when temperatures need to be 140 degrees to dissolve the detergent and clean the dishes.

-- Never store powdered soap under the sink. Detergent absorbs the humidity there, making it difficult to dissolve in the machine. The proper storage is in a plastic container with an airtight lid.

-- Use the minimum amount of soap. Using too much causes etching on glassware.

-- Rinse dishes before putting them in the washer. Food waste can plug filters and impede water flow.