Protect your appliances from April showers
You probably already protect your computer from electrical storms with a surge protector. It's also necessary to protect several household appliances in the same way. Many appliances made in the past 10 years now use electronics that are just as sensitive to power surges and voltage spikes as computers.

Here are some of the appliances that should be protected:
Microwave Ovens: All. With or without digital display.
Range/Stove/Oven (gas): Any with a digital display.
Range/Stove/Oven (electric): Any with a digital display. Requires professional installation at the house circuit breaker panel.
Washing Machine: All front loaders. Any top loader with a digital display.
Dryer (gas): Any with a digital display.
Dryer (electric): Any with a digital display. Requires professional installation at the house circuit breaker panel.
Dishwasher - Any with a digital display.
Other appliances: In general, any appliance with a digital display is vulnerable to power surge problems. Even appliances without digital displays benefit from surge protection since parts such as motors and timers can be damaged by power surges.

What is a power surge? It's a surge in electricity often caused by lightning. However, surges can also be associated with many other types of uncontrollable events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, vehicles, accidents involving utility equipment, etc. Most surges are caused by the starting of motor-driven equipment, such as a refrigerator, air-conditioner, furnace or garbage disposer.

You've probably already suffered damaging effects of power surges without even realizing it. Surges shorten the life of electrical appliances and components in your home and often lower their operating efficiency. Check out your local hardware or electronics store for surge protection devices. Be sure to choose a surge protector that is rated for the same voltage as the appliance, usually 120 volts, and the same amperage (or watts). Appliances often draw much higher amps (or watts) than computers.

Another solution is to have an electrician install a whole-house surge suppressor to protect all devices plugged into the household electrical system. This may be the best choice if you have many appliances and other devices with electronic controls.

Finally, surge protection for your appliances can help prevent damage due to brownouts, a common occurrence during the hot summer months.

Spring cleaning tips for your appliances

Refrigerator:
Door Seals - It's important to clean refrigerator door seals periodically so they don't get stuck to the door frame and tear. Use an old toothbrush and a little soap and water to clean in all the nooks and crannies. Use a bit of bleach for any mold growth.
Odors - To reduce refrigerator odors, cover all foods well and put onions and garlic in sealed bags.
Condenser Coils - Frost-free refrigerators have a set of coils underneath called the condenser. These coils must remain clean for efficient cooling. This should be done once a year - more often if you have pets that shed.

We carry a high quality condenser brush to make this job easier.

Garbage Disposer:
Cleaning your Disposer - Soapy water from washing dishes or running a dishwasher is usually adequate to keep your garbage disposer clean and functioning properly.

For more thorough cleaning, try Disposer Care.

Stove/Oven:
Drip Pans - Drip pans on most stoves can be easily removed and put in a dishwasher for cleaning. For stubborn stains you may need to use a scouring pad, or replace the pans altogether. Use our PartDetective to find replacement drip pans for your stove.

Self-cleaning - All self-cleaning ovens have a timing mechanism, a door lock, and special setup procedures. Consult your owners' manual for your oven's specific requirements.

Ice Maker:
Bad-smelling ice cubes - A good water filter is a must for better ice cubes. Also, empty the ice bin every month or so to get rid of stale cubes. You may also need to replace the storage bin for persistent odors.

You can find replacement water filters in our icemaker/water filter accessories section.