Can you imagine a modern home without any appliances? It’s an impossibility because those things are what makes the house modern. Without them, we might very well be looking at some historical reconstruction of the dreadful times when people had neither hot running water nor plumbing, let alone washers and dryers.

However, those tech comforts afforded to us today come at a steep price. Appliances are not only expensive but also require regular maintenance and sometime repairs that bump their cost even higher. To avoid spending a fortune on keeping the necessary devices running, you need to find a way to protect them from breakdowns. You also need a way to protect your bank account from huge repair costs.

The average cost of appliance repair today ranges from $104 to $237 per appliance. How many of them do you have at home? Do the math, how much will it cost you to repair each during a single year?

Of course, the likelihood of every single appliance you have breaking down in a short span of time isn’t high. But this risk exists and you need to include it into your budget. You also need to understand that many repair jobs are far more expensive than the average. In fact, they might be so costly that replacing the appliance will be the better choice.

Which Home Appliances Break Down Most Often & What Can You Do About Them?

Common home appliances you can find in the majority of America’s homes today include:

• Refrigerators
• AC units
• Water heaters
• Washing machines
• Dryers
• Ovens
• Dishwashers
• Microwave ovens
• Garbage disposal

The ones that break down most often are washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and refrigerators. You also need to consider that when those items break down, they often cause additional damage that can cost a fortune to fix. For example, a washing machine or a dishwasher can cause water damage, which carries a risk of mold. Getting rid of mold can be so expensive that your property might be doomed.

To avoid such problems and generally cut the costs of appliance repairs and replacement you can do two things.  First is mastering some basic DIY maintenance techniques so you can reduce the risks of expensive repairs by default. The other is to purchase all-inclusive insurances. These plans will cover part of the repair or replacement cost, thus helping you get the problem fixed fast without taking out a loan to pay for either big repairs or replacements.

DIY Home Appliance Maintenance Tips That Will Help You Save Thousands

The first thing you should do in order to keep your appliances running for a good long while is to avoid the mistakes that can destroy them. You should be able to find out what the most dangerous of those mistakes are from the instructions that come with the appliance. You can also google guidelines that explain exactly how to use those devices to keep them at peak performance at all times.

Of course, even when you are following instructions for safe use, your appliances will eventually break down. No device is perfect and wear and tear gets to all of them. However, even then, there is a way to extend the lifespan of those items. Performing regular maintenance will achieve this as it will help prevent serious breakdowns. The best thing is that you can do most of the work yourself even without getting any specialized training.

Basic DIY Appliance Maintenance Tips:

• Clean all your appliances following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  If you aren’t sure how exactly to do this, you should be able to find detailed videos with instructions on YouTube. Be sure to clean all your appliances at least once a month or more often if the manufacturer’s guidelines demand this.
  Note that cleaning means “cleaning everything you can reach”. This includes but isn’t limited to refrigerator coils, insides of a dishwasher, oven, and washing machine.
• Replace all the filters.
  Study your appliances carefully to determine where exactly filters are located. Then, be sure to replace them every six months. Note that this will not only help keep the appliances from breaking down. For example, filters on your dryer become a fire hazard when they get clogged by buildup. Therefore, filter replacement is a simple step that can avert a tragedy.
• Inspect every appliance for minor issues.
  Every month you need to inspect each of your home appliances and test their performance whenever possible. If you can, learn how to do some minor repairs so you can fix small trouble without calling a professional.

Bear in mind that while DIY maintenance and repairs can save you money, this approach might end up costing you a lot more. If you aren’t careful and break down the appliance yourself, you won’t be able to get it fixed using either manufacturer’s or home appliance all-inclusive warranty.

Therefore, if you aren’t sure in your ability to perform the maintenance without risking the device in any way, you should avoid working with it. Better call in professionals right away. Not only will it cost you less because the issues are minor at this stage. You will also be able to save money in the long run and avoid a possible risk of breaking the appliance so badly that it will require a replacement.

When DIY Isn’t Enough: How to Save Money with Home Appliance Insurance

No matter how good you get at DIY maintenance, there are some home appliances that will require professional care. In fact, all of them will need it eventually because pros have tools and training to perform a more thorough cleaning, calibrating, and whatever else is necessary to keep the things running.

Therefore, you will need to set up a regular maintenance schedule and that service won’t come for free. Neither will the inevitable repairs.

All-inclusive insurances offer a solution in this case. They provide widespread coverage, which means that you can protect all your appliances with a single plan. Also, when a disaster does strike, the plan will cover a large part of the cost, thus sparing you the need to spend a small fortune.

Provided you choose a reliable provider of this coverage and a plan that will suit your personal situation best, you will be able to benefit from it greatly.