Leaving for the Holidays? Check These 3 Appliances

Before leaving for the holidays, check your refrigerator, washer, and dishwasher for the problems that are easiest to miss: unstable cooling, water leaks, and incomplete drainage. Use the owner’s manual for vacation modes or shutoff procedures, because the right preparation depends on the appliance and whether it will remain in use.

Do these checks while you still have time to observe a complete cycle or ask about service. Do not start a leaking or malfunctioning appliance just to test it immediately before leaving.

1. Refrigerator: decide what stays cold while you are away

Check the temperature with an appliance thermometer and make sure packages do not keep the doors from closing. USDA refrigerator guidance recommends maintaining 40°F or below for refrigerated food. Remove foods that will not keep through your trip and leave space around interior air vents.

If food stays inside, the refrigerator must keep maintaining the appropriate temperature. A vacation mode may change specific functions without switching off cooling; verify what yours does. If you plan to empty and shut down the appliance, follow the manual’s complete instructions for cleaning, water connections, defrosting, and storage. Do not assume simply unplugging a stocked refrigerator is a safe travel preparation.

If cooling is unreliable, read the constantly-running-refrigerator checklist and arrange refrigerator diagnosis before relying on the appliance during your absence.

2. Washer: finish laundry and check for leaks

Finish the last load, remove wet laundry, and inspect accessible hose connections and the floor for visible moisture. Do not pull a heavy washer out or tighten unfamiliar fittings to chase a leak.

For a washer that will be unused, consult the manufacturer’s directions about closing water supply valves and leaving the machine in its recommended storage condition. If the manual specifies an accessible filter-cleaning procedure, complete it with time to check for leaks afterward. Repeated errors, standing water, or a leaking hose connection call for diagnosis. Our washer-repair page explains those service situations.

3. Dishwasher: confirm a normal completed cycle

If it is operating normally, run the final load while you are home, unload it, and check that it completed without a recurring code or leak. Clean only the accessible filter or other areas identified in the manual. A little water in the designed sump can be normal; unexpected standing water across the tub is a different symptom.

Follow the model’s instructions for extended non-use and any supply-valve shutoff. Do not leave a known drainage or leak problem unattended. See dishwasher-repair guidance if the machine is not finishing properly.

Keep a simple record before you go

• Save the model numbers and manuals; this guide helps you find them.
• Note any error code or condition that still needs attention.
• Make sure anyone checking the property knows which appliances remain on and where to find the manufacturer instructions.

For appliance concerns before a trip in New York or New Jersey, contact Triple A Plaza with your model, symptoms, and travel timing. Ask about available scheduling rather than assuming a special vacation service package is offered.