Installing New Appliances

(HIT) - Whether they’re in a new or remodeled kitchen, it’s a good idea to put new home appliances through their paces as soon as possible after installing them. That way, you can identify problems and have them corrected while the products are still in warranty—at the manufacturer’s expense, not yours.

New home appliances typically come with a "full" one-year warranty that covers both the cost of defective parts, and service calls required to replace those parts for a year after installation. For that reason, when installing new appliances it just makes good sense to take advantage of this extra protection. But, how do you go about doing this—making sure your new appliance is working properly?

"It’s really very easy," says Whirlpool Corporation’s Carolyn Verweyst. A trained home economist, Verweyst recommends checking out new appliances immediately after installing them to make sure they’re working right. It’s a good way to ensure long term satisfaction, and she offers these simple steps to speed along the process:

Check Appliance Installation

Whether you’re installing new home appliances yourself or are having the appliances installed by a professional, make sure the appliances are installed according to manufacturer instructions. If you didn’t install the appliances yourself, check with the builder, appliance dealer or home seller. If installation instructions aren’t anywhere to be found, make a list of model and serial numbers and call the appliance manufacturer’s toll-free consumer assistance line to ask for them. Request both installation instructions and use and care guides, if those also are missing.

Read Appliance Instructions

You may think your new appliances work just like the old ones you’re used to, but chances are they don’t. The use and care instructions will explain new features, controls and technology that may require different use practices, care or maintenance for today’s high-efficiency appliances.

Don’t Panic If An Appliance Doesn’t Operate

Remain calm if, at first, a newly installed appliance doesn’t operate or perform as expected. This can save an embarrassing (and costly) "customer-instruct" service call where a service technician shows you how to do something that’s explained in the use and care guide. This is a cost that’s not usually covered by warranties since there is no product defect.

If your appliance doesn’t operate after installing it, check to see if these common occurances have taken place:

• A pet or child has accidentally unplugged the appliance;
• You forgot to push the "start" button;
• You forgot to re-set automatic timer controls to "manual";
• A circuit breaker has tripped or a bad fuse is to blame.

Quick corrections for such common occurrences are included in most appliance use and care guides to help avoid unnecessary service calls.

Call The Appliance Manufacturer

If an appliance still won’t work, or is making an unusual sound … seems to be running too much … or isn’t performing up to snuff, try calling the manufacturer’s toll-free consumer assistance number to find out if you’ve got a problem. Trained specialists not only have answers to such puzzling situations, they frequently can diagnose product problems and even arrange for a service call when one is needed.

Use All Appliance Controls, Features, Special Settings, Etc.

Not only does this help confirm correct operation, it also helps you better understand how the various features and settings can help you save time, work and energy. Warranties offer consumers important protection against defective products. However, notes Verweyst, appliance servicing organizations report that more than thirty percent of all appliance service calls are for problems caused by a poor installation, incorrect hookup to plumbing, gas lines or wiring, or by improper use of the product.

"Clearly," she says, "it makes good sense to check out new products thoroughly, follow the manufacturer’s list of performance checks for questionable situations, and have a clear understanding of what the warranty does and does not cover—before calling for service on any new appliance."

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

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