A Coway water purifier [Coway]
A Coway water purifier [Coway]

Water purifiers, bidet nozzles among consumables that need regular attention

Caution: don't rinse air purifier filters with water — and check rice cooker gaskets if steam is leaking

Pull out electric mattresses before winter and look for cracked, discolored or scorched cords

"When did you get this water purifier?"

"Oh, it's been a while. About 10 years, maybe."

If you are heading to your parents' home for chuseok, there are some appliances worth a close look. Water purifiers, bidets and air purifiers all rely on filters and hygiene components; rice cookers have rubber gaskets; and as the weather turns cold, that electric mattress tucked away in the wardrobe will soon be back in use. Rather than assuming everything is fine because it still runs, the more important question is whether your parents would feel comfortable calling a service center on their own to request a part replacement when you are not around.

Under the Korea Fair Trade Commission's consumer dispute resolution standards, manufacturers are required to keep replacement parts in stock for seven years after a water purifier is sold, six years for bidets and electric pressure cookers, and five years for electric mattresses. Once a product is old enough to fall outside that window, repairs can be difficult simply because the parts no longer exist.

For water purifiers, the last filter change matters more than the age of the unit

With water purifiers, filter replacement timing is the key concern. Start by checking the model name and the date of the last service visit. Replacement intervals vary by product. On some Coway reverse-osmosis models, the Neo Sense filter and the Plus Innocence filter each have an expected replacement cycle of six months, while the membrane filter is rated for 18 months. Some Kyowon Wells products also schedule filter changes at either six or 12 months depending on the filter type.

The exact service history for a rental unit can be confirmed through the rental contract, the manufacturer's app or a call to the customer center. It is also worth wiping around the water outlet to check for mineral deposits or debris, and inspecting the base of the unit for any sign of pooled water. Kyowon Wells advises customers with certain models to detach the cock and clean it regularly.

Bidets have filters too — and the nozzle needs cleaning

Bidets also have parts that need periodic replacement. Some Coway self-maintenance bidet models recommend a four-month service cycle for the pre-micro filter, nozzle duct and drying duct. Certain Wells models call for filter replacement every six months and nozzle tip replacement every 12 months.

Because schedules differ so much between products, the more practical check is simply to find out who last serviced the unit and when. Some parents may assume that maintenance is still being carried out as before, even after a rental period has ended and ownership has transferred. It is also worth checking whether any residue has built up around the nozzle, whether the water stream sprays evenly, and whether the warm water and drying functions are working normally.

Don't rinse a blackened air purifier filter under the tap

Air purifiers are worth opening up to check the filter condition. After extended use, pre-filters commonly accumulate a heavy layer of dust. Some Coway air purifiers recommend cleaning the pre-filter every two weeks and replacing the combination filter once a year.

One important caution: a dusty filter should not simply be rinsed with water. The Korea Consumer Agency warns that washing filters designed to remove fine dust and harmful gases can degrade their performance, and advises consumers to follow the care instructions specific to each product. In tests the agency conducted this year on 20 compatible air purifier filter products, only four met the standard for harmful gas removal and only eight met the standard for fine dust removal performance.

A Cuchen rice cooker [Cuchen]
A Cuchen rice cooker [Cuchen]

Steam leaking from the rice cooker? Start with the gasket

Rice cookers get a particularly heavy workout during chuseok. If the cooked rice looks noticeably different from before, or steam is escaping from the side of the lid during cooking, the gasket fitted around the lid is the first thing to check. Cuchen advises customers whose pressure cooker lids are leaking steam to inspect the gasket for debris and signs of wear. The company puts the gasket's service life at about 12 months and recommends replacing it once a year.

Check whether the gasket has hardened or developed any tears. The common problem is that many households use a rice cooker for years without ever replacing this consumable part — and what seems like a broken appliance sometimes turns out to need nothing more than a new gasket.

Electric mattresses: pull them out early and inspect before winter

The last appliance on the list is the electric mattress — a little early to use just yet, but worth checking now. The power cord is the critical thing to examine. Electric mattresses are popular among older adults for their low cost and efficiency, but aging units are a frequent cause of fires. The Ministry of Interior and Safety advises users to inspect the plug and cord for cracks, discoloration or scorch marks before use, and to stop using the product immediately if any such damage is found.

Fires are not uncommon. An analysis by the Ministry of Interior and Safety of the National Fire Agency's national fire information system found that electric mattresses caused 1,179 fires between 2018 and 2022. If a mattress has been stored folded for a long time, the internal heating wire should also be checked for damage. Verifying that the temperature controller works properly and searching the model number on the product label to see whether it is subject to a recall are also worthwhile steps.


hong@heraldcorp.com