Spring Maintenance – Hit the Laundry Room

One area that homeowners often neglect in routine maintenance is the laundry room. We take for granted that our appliances will perform over and over again without taking care of them. There are a few simple things you can do to keep your washer and dryer in good operating condition and reduce the likelihood of leaks or repairs.


If you have rubber hoses for your washing machine, you should check them periodically for any signs of wear or obvious issues like blisters or cracks. If one of these hoses ruptures it can mean water everywhere, and water damage to floors and walls. If you have rubber hoses you may want to replace them with stainless steel fill hoses.

You may notice your washer having issues from time to time on the spin cycle – banging, rocking back and forth or even moving across the room. This is tough on your machine and should be easily fixed by ensuring your machine is level. The front legs can be leveled to the proper height and then locked into place by tightening the lock nut. Your machine may have adjustable rear legs as well, but many machines have self-leveling rear legs. Tip your machine forward so the rear legs are off of the floor, then lower it back down.

When it comes to dryers, it’s important to check the dryer vent pipe for a build up of lint. Your vent pipe should be aluminum – if not, upgrade it to avoid the potential of fire. Lint can be trapped anywhere in the pipe, so check the whole length and remove any lint. There are brushes available for cleaning the vent pipe, and if your dryer gets heavy use you’ll want to clean it more than once a year.

Following these simple maintenance tips will keep your washer and dryer in great shape, making life easier for you.