Most of the appliance breakdowns we’re called out to across Wollongong and the Illawarra could have been delayed — or avoided — with a few minutes of simple upkeep. You don’t need to be handy, and you don’t need any special tools. Here are the maintenance habits our technicians recommend for the four appliances we repair most: washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and fridges.
Washing machines
- Clean the pump filter every month or two. On most front loaders there’s a small filter behind a flap at the bottom-front. Coins, hair clips and lint collect there and are the number-one cause of “won’t drain” faults.
- Leave the door and detergent drawer ajar between washes so the drum dries out. This stops mould building up on the door seal — a common source of smells and leaks.
- Run a hot maintenance wash (90°C empty, or a dedicated drum-clean cycle) once a month to clear detergent residue and bacteria.
- Don’t overload it. Cramming the drum stresses the bearings and suspension, which are expensive to replace.
Dryers
- Clean the lint filter after every single load. A blocked filter is the biggest cause of dryers that run hot, take forever, or stop heating — and it’s a genuine fire risk.
- Check the venting. If your dryer vents outside, make sure the duct isn’t crushed or clogged. Poor airflow makes the element and thermostats work harder and fail sooner.
- Give it room to breathe. A dryer jammed into a tight cupboard with no ventilation will overheat and trip its safety cut-outs.
Dishwashers
- Clean the filter weekly. The filter in the base traps food scraps. When it clogs, you get poor cleaning, smells and water sitting in the bottom.
- Wipe the door seal and spray arms. Check the little holes in the spray arms aren’t blocked with debris, and clear the seal so the door closes properly.
- Keep rinse aid and dishwasher salt topped up if you’re in a hard-water area — it protects the heating element and glassware.
- Run a cleaning cycle monthly with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar to clear grease and limescale.
Fridges
- Vacuum the condenser coils (usually at the back or underneath) a couple of times a year. Dust-clogged coils make the fridge run constantly and are a leading cause of poor cooling.
- Check the door seals. If a $5 note slips out easily when closed in the door, the seal is worn and the fridge is working overtime.
- Leave a gap behind and above it so heat can escape, and keep it out of direct sun or next to the oven.
- Don’t set it too cold. 3–4°C for the fridge and −18°C for the freezer is plenty; colder just wastes power and strains the compressor.
When maintenance isn’t enough
Even a well-maintained appliance eventually needs a repair — parts wear out, and that’s normal. If your machine is showing an error code, making an unusual noise, leaking, or simply not doing its job after a clean, that’s the point to stop and get it looked at properly before a small fault turns into an expensive one.
We repair washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and fridges from every major brand, right across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the wider Illawarra & Shoalhaven. Our call-out is $100 close in (or $150 further out), with a flat $50 on-the-spot labour fee if we can fix it there and then — and no overtime surcharges. Book a repair online or call (02) 4288 2824.
