The 10 Minute Appliance MOT

Quick checks that could save you hundreds 

We don't tend to think much about our home appliances until something goes wrong. The washing machine starts making an odd noise, the fridge feels a bit warmer than it should, the boiler takes a moment too long to fire up and suddenly you're either on the phone to an engineer or staring down a hefty replacement bill.

The good news? A surprising number of appliance issues give you plenty of warning before they become a full-blown breakdown. You just need to know what to look for. We've put together a quick 10-minute MOT covering the six appliances your home relies on most - your washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven, and boiler. None of these checks need any tools, technical knowledge, or more than a couple of minutes each. But spotting a small issue early can be the difference between a £20 fix and a £200 repair (or worse, a full replacement).

Washing machine (2 minutes)

Start with the door seal - that rubber gasket around the inside of the door is one of the most overlooked parts of the machine. Pull it back gently and check for trapped coins, hair grips, or worse, the early signs of black mould building up. A quick wipe with a damp cloth and some mild detergent now will save you from musty-smelling laundry later.

Next, run your finger along the detergent drawer. If it's gunky or has a layer of pink-ish residue, pull it out (most slide out with a small tab or release) and give it a rinse. Built-up detergent and softener stops your machine from dispensing properly, which means dirtier clothes and harder-working components.

Finally, check the filter at the bottom front of the machine - it's usually behind a small flap. If you've never cleaned it, brace yourself. Lay down a towel, unscrew it slowly, and clear out anything that's collected. A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons machines start draining poorly or refusing to spin.

If something feels off - strange noises, leaks, or clothes coming out still soaking - it's worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later. Our washing machine repair team can usually diagnose the issue quickly.

Tumble Dryer (1 minute)

This one is the easiest of the lot, and arguably the most important - a clogged dryer is a fire risk, not just an inefficient one.

Pull out the lint filter (usually inside the door or on top of the machine) and clear it. If you do this every load, brilliant - but most of us don't, so check it now. Hold it up to the light: if you can't see through the mesh clearly, it needs a deeper clean. A quick rinse under the tap and a brush with an old toothbrush will sort it.

If you've got a condenser dryer, pull out the water tank and check the condenser unit too - these need cleaning every few months and are often forgotten about entirely. A blocked condenser means your dryer works twice as hard for half the result.

Drying times creeping up? Clothes coming out warm but still damp? That's your dryer telling you it needs help. Our tumble dryer repair service can sort most issues in a single visit.

Dishwasher (2 minutes)

Open the door and pull out the bottom rack. The filter sits underneath -  usually a circular piece you twist anti-clockwise to remove. Take it out, rinse it under the tap, and clear out any food debris. If yours has never been cleaned, this single step can transform how well your dishwasher performs.

While you're in there, check the spray arms. Spin them with your finger - they should move freely. Look at the small holes around them and clear out any blockages with a cocktail stick or paper clip. Blocked spray arms mean uneven cleaning and dishes coming out streaky or still grubby.

Last check: the door seal. Run your finger around it and look for trapped food, mould, or splits in the rubber. A quick wipe sorts most of it; a damaged seal is a job for an engineer, since it'll be causing leaks you might not have spotted yet.

If your dishwasher's leaving a film on glasses, not draining properly, or smelling off even after a hot wash, our dishwasher repair team can take a look.

Fridge Freezer (2 minutes)

Start with the door seals. Close the door on a piece of paper and try to pull it out - if it slides out easily, the seal isn't doing its job, and your fridge is working overtime to stay cold. Worn seals are a cheap, common fix but they cost you a fortune in electricity if ignored.

Next, check the temperature. Fridges should run between 3°C and 5°C; freezers at -18°C. If you don't have a built-in display, a cheap fridge thermometer (a few quid online) is well worth it. Anything warmer and your food's at risk; anything colder and you're wasting energy.

Finally, take a peek behind the appliance if you can. The condenser coils at the back collect dust, and a dusty coil makes the whole unit work harder. A quick once-over with a vacuum or a brush is all it needs.

If you spot pooling water inside the fridge, frost building up unusually fast in the freezer, or the motor running constantly, it's time to call in our fridge-freezer repair team.

Oven (1 minute)

A quick visual check goes a long way here. Open the door and look at the seal around the edge - if it's loose, hardened, or has gaps, your oven's losing heat (and energy) every time you cook. A worn seal is one of the most common reasons cakes don't rise properly or roasts take longer than they should.

Test the door itself - does it close fully and stay shut? A door that doesn't seal properly is the same issue in disguise.

Finally, the obvious one: when did you last give it a proper clean? A build-up of grease and food debris doesn't just smell when you turn the oven on - it can affect performance and, in extreme cases, become a fire hazard.

If your oven's heating unevenly, the fan's making noise, or it's not reaching temperature, our oven repair engineers can usually fix it on the first visit.

Boiler (2 minutes)

Your boiler probably gets the least attention of any appliance in your home - and yet it's the one that causes the most disruption when it fails.

Check the pressure gauge first. Most boilers run happily between 1 and 1.5 bar when cold. If yours is consistently low, it might need topping up; if it's creeping high, there could be an issue worth looking at.

Listen to it next time it fires up. Banging, kettling, or unusual gurgling noises are all signs that something's not quite right - often it's just trapped air or sludge in the system, both of which are easily sorted before they cause real damage.

Take a quick look around the boiler itself for any signs of leaks, damp patches on nearby walls, or staining. Even small drips shouldn't be ignored.

And the big one: when did you last have it serviced? An annual service keeps your boiler running efficiently, catches issues early, and is often a requirement for keeping your warranty valid. Our boiler repair and servicing team can sort it all in one visit.

When to call in the pros

A 10-minute MOT will catch a lot of the small stuff before it grows — but some things really do need an expert eye. If anything you've spotted feels beyond a quick fix, or your appliance is behaving in a way that just doesn't seem right, don't wait for it to get worse.

You can book a repair online in a couple of minutes, or take a look at our full range of appliance repair services to find the right team for the job. Either way, catching things early almost always works out cheaper, easier, and a lot less stressful than waiting for the breakdown.