As the holiday season approaches, homeowners are getting ready for family gatherings, overnight guests and a busy kitchen. However, what many don’t prepare for is the increased strain the season puts on their major appliances leading to appliance breaking down during the holidays. So, let’s learn How to avoid Holiday Appliance Disasters by doing some important Pre-Holiday Appliance Maintenance before it’s too late.
While I dabble in some DYI projects and am handy with tools, I am not a professional appliance repairman. I contacted, Alex Martinez, a seasoned appliance repair technician with 20 years of field experience and a senior tech at Appliance EMT, one of the top appliance repair companies in the nation, and to get his take on how to avoid appliance failing during the holidays.
Alex says appliances like oven, refrigerators, and dishwashers get pushed the hardest during the Holidays which makes them prone to breaking down if they have not been well-maintained. This is why he made this Holiday Appliance Maintenance checklist so it won’s happen to you.
Why Appliances Fail More During the Holidays
1. Extra Usage = Extra Stress
According to Alex, “Holiday appliance failures usually aren’t sudden — the appliance was already struggling, and the holiday workload just pushes it over the edge.”
During holiday hosting season:
- Ovens run for hours at high temperatures
- Refrigerators are overloaded and opened constantly
- Dishwashers run multiple cycles back-to-back
- Washers & dryers handle bedding, towels, and guest laundry
Even small issues like a dirty filter, worn gasket, clogged spray arm, or dusty condenser coil can cause a major breakdown under this increased strain.
2. Overheating and Overloading
This time of year pushes every appliance to its limit:
- Ovens overheat when covered in grease or when seals fail
- Refrigerators run nonstop when warm food is added
- Dishwashers lose cleaning performance with blocked spray arms
- Dryers overheat when vents are clogged
- Laundry machines struggle when overfilled with heavy winter fabrics
When components like motors, heating elements, fans, and valves are already worn down, holiday usage exposes those weaknesses fast.
3. Real-World Statistics Back This Up
Industry surveys show:
- 67% of Americans have experienced a kitchen appliance breakdown during holiday meal prep
- Ovens and refrigerators are the two most likely appliances to fail
- Only 55% of homeowners perform any preventative maintenance before the holidays
Combine neglect with seasonal overuse, and breakdowns become almost inevitable — unless you prepare.
Recent Studies & Data Supporting Holiday-Season Appliance Failures
PartSelect.com 2024 Survey
According to a survey by PartSelect, 67% of Americans reported a kitchen appliance breakdown while preparing a holiday meal. Only 55% said they planned to perform any preventative maintenance before the holidays.
Of those breakdowns, the appliances most likely to fail: ovens (54%), microwaves (50%), refrigerators (48%), dishwashers (45%), and ranges/stoves (43%) — highlighting that almost every major kitchen appliance is vulnerable during holiday cooking surges.
This shows: holiday cooking increases appliance use — and many homeowners skip prep maintenance — creating conditions ripe for failure.
Overall Appliance Failure Rate Among Homeowners – Allstate Protection Plans 2022 Survey
A broad study of U.S. homeowners by Allstate found that 95% report having had a major appliance stop working at some point, and over 40% of those experienced a malfunction within just the past year.
This suggests that appliance failures are extremely common even outside of holidays and the added stress of holiday usage can push already strained appliances over the edge.
What This Means for You (and Why Maintenance Matters) – Key Insights
- Holiday appliance failures are not rare anomalies. The PartSelect survey shows more than two-thirds of Americans have experienced breakdowns — underlining that holiday disasters are common and predictable if you ignore maintenance.
- Many homes run on old or worn appliances. With common appliances nearing or passed typical lifespan thresholds, holiday stress becomes a tipping point for failure.
- Smart, high-tech appliances aren’t immune and possibly more vulnerable. Newer models with electronics and connectivity seem to have higher early-life failure rates, making maintenance vital.
- Preventative maintenance is underutilized. Despite widespread failure risk, only about half of homeowners do maintenance before holidays.
Because of the spike in workload and the common lack of maintenance, it’s no surprise that appliance failures spike right when you need them least – during holiday cooking and entertaining. Skipping maintenance or ignoring wear-and-tear creates a “perfect storm” for holiday breakdowns.
Adopting a pre-holiday maintenance routine (clean coils, inspect seals, clear vents, test heating elements, etc.) isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s your best defense against breakdowns, unexpected repair costs, ruined dinners, and stress.
Holiday Appliance Stress & Failure Risk Overview
| Appliance | Average Lifespan | How Holidays Stress It | Holiday Failure Risk | Notes |
| Oven / Range | 13–15 years | Runs for hours at high temps; multiple dishes; door opening/closing; self-clean triggers failures | High | 54% of holiday cooking failures involve ovens |
| Refrigerator | 9–13 years | Overstuffed shelves; frequent door openings; warm food loading; compressor overworking | Very High | 48% of holiday cooking failures involve refrigerators; compressors often fail under stress. |
| Dishwasher | 8–12 years | Multiple back-to-back cycles; clogged filters; limited cooling time for heating element | High | 45% of holiday breakdowns; leaks & clogged filters spike during gatherings. |
| Microwave | 7–10 years | Constant reheating; long cook cycles; internal magnetron overheating | Medium–High | 50% of holiday appliance failures include microwaves. |
| Washer | 10–13 years | Heavy guest laundry; bulky loads; extra cycles | Medium | Motor strain increases dramatically when overloaded during holiday laundry. |
| Dryer | 10–13 years | Overloaded wet loads; lint buildup; insufficient cool-down time | Medium–High | Dryer vent blockages can trigger overheating or fire risk during high-use weeks. |
| Garbage Disposal | 8–15 years | Bones, peels, starchy foods, and holiday scraps overload motor and blades | High | Repair calls spike near Thanksgiving due to food overload. |
| Ice Maker | 5–7 years | Constant refill cycles; stress on water line and pump | High | Ice makers have very short life spans and fail easily during holiday parties. |
Your Pre-Holiday Appliance Maintenance Checklist
(Expert insights from Alex Martinez + national appliance care guidelines)
Before holiday guests arrive, take time to follow this essential checklist to avoid Holiday Appliance Disasters. These simple steps dramatically reduce your risk of mid-celebration meltdowns.
1. Oven & Stove Preparation
✔ Clean the interior
Grease and burnt-on debris can cause smoke, odors, and overheating.
Avoid using harsh chemicals on self-cleaning ovens.
✔ Check the door seal
A worn or loose gasket causes heat loss, longer cooking times, and overheated components.
✔ Test all burners and elements
Turn on each burner or oven function briefly to verify even heating and proper ignition.
✔ Avoid self-cleaning right before the holidays
Alex notes, “The self-clean cycle is one of the most common reasons ovens fail during the holidays. Don’t run it within two weeks of a big event.”
2. Refrigerator & Freezer Preparation
Your fridge is under the MOST pressure during holiday gatherings.
✔ Clean the condenser coils
Dusty coils force the compressor to overwork and overheat — a leading cause of holiday refrigerator failure.
✔ Check internal temperature
Ideal settings:
- Fridge: 37–40°F
- Freezer: 0°F
✔ Clear out space
Overpacking restricts airflow, making it harder for your fridge to maintain temperature.
✔ Pre-cool the fridge
Lower the temperature 24 hours before loading in holiday ingredients to give it a cooling “head start.”
3. Dishwasher Preparation
✔ Clean the filter
A clogged filter slows drainage and decreases cleaning performance.
✔ Run a cleaning cycle
Use a dishwasher cleaner or vinegar to flush out grease and calcium buildup.
✔ Inspect the spray arms
Debris can block spray holes and stop them from spinning freely.
✔ Wipe the door gasket
A dirty or cracked gasket causes leaks — one of the most common holiday dishwasher emergencies.
✔ Check water temperature
Hot water is essential for proper cleaning.
(Your tap should reach at least 120°F.)
4. Laundry Appliance Prep
Guest linens can quickly overload your machines.
✔ Check washer hoses
Look for cracks, leaks, or bulging.
✔ Avoid overloading
Heavy loads strain the motor and bearings — especially in older machines.
✔ Clean the dryer vent
This improves efficiency and prevents overheating (and reduces fire risk).
5. Electrical Load Awareness
The combination of holiday cooking, heating appliances, and decorative lighting can overwhelm older electrical systems.
✔ Avoid running multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously
(Oven + microwave + dishwasher)
✔ Don’t overload outlets
Holiday lights + appliances can trip breakers or damage components.
✔ Consider a surge protector
Especially for refrigerators and ovens with electronic control boards.
When to Call a Professional
Schedule a service call 2–4 weeks before the holidays if you notice:
- Slow oven preheating
- Uneven heating or burner ignition issues
- Refrigerator struggling to stay cold
- Unusual noises
- Leaks
- Longer-than-normal dishwasher cycles
Holiday season is the busiest time of year for appliance repair companies, and parts may take longer to arrive. Early inspections can prevent 90% of holiday breakdowns. The best way to find a reliable appliance company is to look at lists of the top 10 appliance repair companies in your area from real people that have actually looked for an appliance company.
As Alex puts it:
“Most holiday emergencies we respond to were preventable with a simple pre-season check. A little maintenance goes a long way.”
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Holiday Peace
The holiday season should be filled with laughter, good food, and memorable moments — not last-minute repair calls or ruined meals. By taking the time to prepare your appliances now, you ensure:
- A stress-free cooking experience
- Better performance and energy efficiency
- Fewer unexpected breakdowns
- Safer operation
- Peace of mind when hosting
Use this guide as your go-to pre-holiday appliance checklist and share it with anyone planning to host this season. A few simple maintenance steps today can save your holiday celebration tomorrow.
