Avoid a kitchen catastrophe this Christmas

Check the seals

It’s always worth paying special attention to the condition of the door seal on your oven. This will naturally degrade over time, and if damaged, heat has a way to escape.

Your seal may need replacing every once in a while, so make sure to check it in advance before you pop your Christmas dinner in.

Get rid of rust

When it comes to the oven racks, make sure you take a good look at them to see if you spot any rust. Rust will slowly damage your oven and your dishes. Luckily, it’s easy to remove. All you need to do is run some aluminium foil under warm water, then scrub the rack with it until it looks shiny and new.

Listen to the fan

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for the unusual knocking noise coming from your oven’s fan. No, Father Christmas hasn’t mistaken it for your chimney, but it could be worn spindle bearings.

If this has happened, it probably hasn’t been cooking food properly either. You’ll need a qualified appliance engineer to come in and fix your oven before Christmas.

Heating element

If your electric oven’s light doesn’t come on and your heating element isn’t glowing, then your oven isn’t going to heat up the Christmas roast.

Replacing a heating element is costly business, so check your warranty to see if you’re still covered. Otherwise, it may be cheaper to get a new oven altogether. But we hope you won’t need one of those under the tree.

Give your oven a clean

Be sure to look out for any dirt hiding away in the corners of your oven. It could cause damage if it’s left too long.

So, while we’re all hibernating from the cold weather, it’s a good time to scrub away any stubborn grease or grime. Some ovens have self-cleaning features like Pyrolytic or Hydrolytic programmes, but if yours doesn’t, that’s okay. Just pop some vinegar on a cloth and everything will be sparkling – just in time for the turkey and roasties.

Check your filter

Finding some leftover water after a wash? Chances are you could be facing a filter blockage. No need to panic, this can happen when the drain gets too much food in it. All you need to do is clean the filter and you’ll be good to go.

However, if you find clear water pooling, then it could be a deeper issue and may need a repair.

Your dishes are cold

After a cycle has finished, give your dishes a quick temperature check. If they’re chilly and stubborn dirt hasn’t come off, it could mean they’ve been washed with cold water and there may be damage to your heating element.

Heating elements are expensive parts - it might be more convenient to buy a new dishwasher. Luckily, if you spot this quick enough, we can get one to you the very next day.

Check the water hose

While we’re doing a full health check, it’s worth checking the back of the dishwasher. If you can, pull the dishwasher out and check the water hose isn’t squashed or contorted. If it is, then it might struggle to get rid of wastewater properly.

Look out for leaks

Noticed a couple of little puddles whenever the dishwasher is on? It’s time to check for a leak. It could mean there’s a crack in your dishwasher or the spray arms are faulty. Repairs to either can be tricky, so it’s best to seek them out as soon as possible or potentially look for a replacement.

Test the gaskets

We’re all looking forward to Christmas dinner, so let’s make sure your fridge is up to the task. After all, nobody wants a bin full of spoiled food.

Air escaping your fridge could lead to a festive disaster. But there’s an easy way to test this, just place a piece of paper between the seals and door. If the seals are working the paper shouldn’t budge when pulled, if they’re broken the paper will fall away easily.

Energy bills

If you’ve noticed a rise in your energy bills but your usage hasn’t changed, this could be caused by an aging fridge freezer.

Buying an A-rated appliance may look costly, but it’ll save plenty of money in the long run.

Clean the condenser

A little-known fault that creates an overheating fridge is a blocked condenser – the grill at the back of your fridge. To clean this, grab a vacuum or brush and once you’re done the fridge will be able to retain cold air.
But, if your fridge continues to overheat, it probably won’t be up for keeping Christmas dinner safe this year.

Set the right temperature

The ideal temperature for any household fridge is between 3 and 5 °C. To change the fridge temperature, simply twist the dial inside. Just remember any changes will take up to 24 hours to settle.