Your Pre-Thanksgiving Appliance Checklist: 5 Things Midland Homeowners Should Check This Weekend
Thanksgiving is the hardest day of the year on your kitchen. The oven runs for hours, the fridge is packed to the shelves, the dishwasher runs load after load, and the washer and dryer handle guest towels and tablecloths. If an appliance is going to quit, it usually picks the worst possible day.
The good news: most problems give warning signs weeks ahead. Take 30 minutes this weekend to run through these five checks, and you'll know where you stand with plenty of time to get anything fixed before November 26.
1. Test your oven temperature
Set your oven to 350°F and put an inexpensive oven thermometer on the middle rack. Wait 20 minutes, then check it. If it reads more than 25°F off, your turkey and sides won't cook the way the recipe says.
Call a pro if: the oven takes much longer than usual to preheat, the temperature swings, the bake element has a visible blister or break, or a gas oven's igniter glows but the burner won't light.
Pro tip: Skip the self-clean cycle right before the holiday. It runs extremely hot, and it's one of the most common times for a control board or thermal fuse to fail. If you want a clean oven, do it now so there's time to fix anything it breaks.
2. Check your fridge and freezer temperatures
Your refrigerator should hold 37–40°F, and your freezer should sit at 0°F. Put an appliance thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf overnight to get a true reading.
Call a pro if: the fridge runs constantly, you see frost building up in the freezer, the back wall is icing over, water is pooling under the crisper drawers, or it's making new clicking or buzzing noises. A fridge that struggles now will fail when it's packed full on Thanksgiving.
3. Light every burner on the range
Turn on each burner, one at a time. Gas burners should light within a few seconds with a steady blue flame. Electric coils and smooth tops should heat evenly.
Call a pro if: an igniter keeps clicking after the flame lights (or never lights), the flame is yellow or uneven, a coil only heats partway, or a glass-top element won't come on.
4. Run an empty dishwasher cycle
Pull out and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub; most lift out with a twist. Then run an empty cycle on hot.
Call a pro if: water is left standing in the bottom after the cycle, dishes come out gritty, it leaks onto the floor, or the cycle stops partway through.
5. Clear the dryer lint and check the airflow
Clean the lint screen, then run the dryer and step outside to feel the exhaust vent. You should feel strong, warm airflow.
Call a pro if: a normal load takes more than one cycle to dry, the outside of the dryer gets very hot, or you smell something burning. A clogged vent isn't just slow; it's a fire risk, and holiday guests mean extra loads.
Don't wait until the week of Thanksgiving
Every November, appliance repair schedules fill up fast. Parts can take days to arrive. Booking now gives you time for diagnosis, parts and the repair, all before the turkey goes in.
All American Appliance Service repairs ovens and ranges, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and microwaves across Midland. You get:
Upfront pricing: you know the price before we start, with no hidden fees
90-day parts and labor guarantee on every repair
Guaranteed appointments, licensed and insured
5.0 stars from 200+ local reviews
A $135 diagnosis fee reserves your spot.
Book your pre-Thanksgiving appointment online at allamericanapptexas.com or call (432) 559-9465, Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm.
