Keep care of kitchen appliances on the front burner

Next time you use your fridge, dishwasher or stove, be careful that you're not unknowingly making it vulnerable to an early breakdown.

Appliance repair pros who've earned top ratings from Angie's List members offer tips for making sure your kitchen appliances meet or exceed their expected life spans:

Average life span: 10 to 15 years.

Basic maintenance tips:

Keep your stove clean, but avoid getting cleaning fluid or water into dials and switches, which are connected to electrical components.

Avoid using aluminum foil under the oven's bake element or oven coil. Appliance technicians say the reflective surface can disrupt the heat level, leading to over- or under-cooked food.

Repair or replace? Consider replacing if you're investing more than half the price of new unit into a repair.

Average life span: Six to 15 years.

Basic maintenance tips:

Clean the condenser coils at least once a year and more often if you have pets. The coils are typically under or behind the unit, and sometimes on top. Over time, they collect dust, debris and pet hair. A dirty condenser makes it difficult for the refrigerator to transfer heat from within to the outside, which wastes energy and can cause premature breakdown. You can buy refrigerator coil brushes online or at hardware stores or you may be able to clean them by hand and with your vacuum cleaner.

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Keep care of kitchen appliances on the front burner