Common winter appliance breakdowns & how to avoid them

Preparing your appliances for Winter

As winter approaches, it's the perfect time to ensure your home appliances are in good working order. At Go Assist, we understand how important it is to keep your household running smoothly during the colder months. With freezing temperatures and increased usage, many appliances face extra pressure, leading to potential breakdowns. To help you stay prepared, we’ve highlighted some of the most common winter appliance issues and how to avoid them.

Boilers and Heating Systems

Winter is prime time for boiler breakdowns, especially if they haven’t been serviced regularly. As your heating system works overtime to keep your home warm, any underlying issues can quickly escalate.

How to avoid it:

• Get your boiler serviced annually before the cold season sets in
• Bleed your radiators to ensure they heat up efficiently 
• Keep your heating on low when you're away to prevent pipes from freezing

Washing machines

Washing machines are heavily used during winter, especially with muddy clothes and heavier fabrics like coats and blankets. Cold weather can also cause water to freeze in the pipes, leading to blockages and malfunctions.

How to avoid it:

• Clean your washing machine filter regularly 
• Use a washing machine cleaner to avoid build-up inside the drum
• Ensure your laundry room or wherever your washing machine is installed, is well-insulated to prevent freezing pipes

Dishwashers

Your dishwasher tends to see more use during winter, especially over the festive period. Over time, excess food particles and hard water can cause your dishwasher to malfunction or leave dishes unclean. 

How to avoid it:

• Clean your dishwasher’s filter and spray arms regularly.
• Use dishwasher cleaning products to remove limescale and residue.
• Check for leaks, especially around seals, to prevent water damage. 

Refrigerators

Your fridge works harder during winter due to the increased frequency of family gatherings and festive food storage. Cold air can cause frost to build up in your freezer, making it work even harder and leading to potential breakdowns.

How to avoid:

• If you have a fridge freezer, you should defrost the freezer to reduce the load on your fridge.
• Check the seals on the fridge doors to ensure they are airtight.
• Clean the condenser coils at the back of your fridge to prevent overheating.

Ovens

With more cooking and baking during the holiday season, ovens tend to face more wear and tear. A malfunctioning oven can be a real inconvenience, especially when preparing festive meals.

How to avoid:

• Clean your oven regularly to prevent grease build-up, which can impact its efficiency.
• Check the door seals to ensure heat isn’t escaping.
• Get your oven serviced if it’s been showing signs of uneven heating or long preheat times.

Preparing for winter with Go Assist

Winter breakdowns can be both costly and disruptive, but with a little preparation, many common appliance issues can be prevented. However, if any of your appliances do break down as the colder months approach, Go Assist is ready to step in with fast and reliable repair services.

Booking your appliance repair is easy! Simply book online or call 0333 733 1234, and we'll have your appliances back up and running in no time.