The holidays are all about family, food, and the magic of togetherness… until your oven decides it’s taking its own holiday. 🎄
If you’ve ever had an appliance give out mid-feast, you know that panic well: the turkey’s still half raw, the dishwasher’s full of dishes that won’t wash, and the fridge starts sounding like it’s auditioning for a jazz solo.
Utah homeowners know that when temperatures drop and guests pile in, our homes work overtime — and that includes the kitchen. Let’s walk through the most common appliance breakdowns that happen during the holidays, and how to prevent (or at least offset) those costs with a little help from your home warranty.
The Kitchen Workhorses (and Their Breaking Points)
🍗 The Oven: The Star of the Show
Between baking pies, roasting turkeys, and warming casseroles, your oven is working double shifts. Common holiday breakdowns include:
- Heating element failure
- Faulty igniters (for gas models)
- Broken temperature sensors
Prevention Tip: Give your oven a test run a week before the big day to make sure it is working.
🧊 The Refrigerator: The Silent Hero
During the holidays, the fridge is loaded like a clown car — leftovers, desserts, drinks, and side dishes all crammed inside. That overstuffing blocks airflow, forcing your fridge to work harder and sometimes burn out key components.
Prevention Tip:
- Keep air vents clear.
- Vacuum the coils on the back or underneath the fridge before the season starts.
- Don’t overload the freezer — it needs circulation, too!
🧼 The Dishwasher: The Unsung MVP
After every feast comes the mountain of dishes. Dishwashers tend to fail under heavy use, especially if filters and sprayers are dirty. Common issues include:
- Clogged drain pumps
- Heating element failure (cold dishes!)
- Leaking door gaskets
Prevention Tip: Clean the filter and spray arms before guests arrive, and use a dishwasher cleaner tablet monthly to keep buildup at bay.
☕ The Garbage Disposal: The Overachiever
Between potato peels, turkey bones, and whatever mystery items end up in the sink, the garbage disposal gets more abuse in December than in any other month.
Prevention Tip:
Avoid grinding fibrous or starchy foods like celery, potato peels, and rice. Run cold water before, during, and after use. And if it starts humming but not spinning — turn it off immediately before you burn out the motor.
🧁 The Microwave: The Backup Plan
When the oven is full, the microwave picks up the slack. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the easiest appliances to break if overused or overheated.
Prevention Tip: Keep it clean! Food buildup can cause sparks or uneven heating. And don’t run it empty — that’s a fast way to fry its magnetron.
Hosting Like a Pro: A Quick Pre-Holiday Checklist
✔️ Test all kitchen appliances one week before hosting.
✔️ Clean filters, coils, and seals.
✔️ Have a backup plan for cooking and storing food (neighbor’s oven, anyone?).
✔️ Know what’s covered under your home warranty in case something fails.
How a Home Warranty Saves Your Holiday
A holiday appliance breakdown doesn’t have to mean calling in a miracle. With a SilverBack Home Warranty, Utah homeowners can offset the cost of covered appliance repairs or replacements — including ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, and more.
If something goes wrong during the busiest season of the year, our team connects you with trusted local contractors fast, so you can get back to what really matters — time with friends, family, and that extra slice of pie.
Because around here, we’ve got your back (and your backsplash).
🎁 Ready to Protect Your Kitchen This Holiday Season?
- Visit SilverBackHW.com to learn more.
- Call 833-750-6400 for details on coverage.