Apartment Size Refrigerator – A Great Performer

October 29, 2010 at 8:36 pm · Filed under Major Household Appliances ·Tagged

Summit Appliance offers  one of the best performing, frost-free ,  2 door, counter-depth refrigerator/freezer models for your apartment.  The FF1625SS is under 30 inches wide with a 27 inch cabinet depth and a large storage space ( 15.8 c.f. capacity).  Height is 69.75 inches.  The handles blend seamlessly into the exterior.  Reversible stainless steel fingerproof doors allows for placement flexibility.

Interior features within the refrigerator include adjustable glass shelves which can accommodate all shapes and sizes and are removable for easy cleaning.  Door storage accommodates large bottles and makes organizing easy.    Clear fruit and vegetable crisper keeps produce fresh and retains flavor.  Interior light comes on when door is opened.  Adjustable thermostat manages interior temperature.  Frost-free top-freezer  has a full shelf.

Energy usage is 457.0 kWh/year, environmentally-friendly and is 100% CFC free(without ozone).

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GE Profile PDWT480RSS Dishwasher Given Thumbs Up by Good Housekeeping Research Institute

October 26, 2010 at 8:12 am · Filed under Dishwashers, Major Household Appliances ·Tagged ,

Good Housekeeping Research Institute applauds the GE Profile PDWT480RSS! ENERGY STAR® rated, this stainless steel dishwasher allows for easy loading of cookware.  The bottom rack is designed so that the soiled sides of plates face the center for better cleaning.  The control panel is completely hidden.

Features Include:

A 5-stage filtration system continuously pushes soils through multiple levels of filtration to ensure that grit will not redeposit on the freshly cleaned dishware. The PureClean wash system also features seven additional wash jets to thoroughly clean dishware, while a new middle wash arm is dedicated strictly to silverware.

SmartDispense™ technology holds 47 fl. oz. of dishwasher detergent and automatically dispenses just the right amount in each load’s pre-wash and main wash cycles to get dishes incredibly clean. To load, push down the cap and twist off, then fill the reservoir with liquid or gel automatic dishwasher detergent. GE Profile™ dishwashers with SmartDispense™ technology use an exact amount of detergent based on water hardness settings.

The DeepClean cycle helps to remove difficult soils – like eggs, oatmeal and rice – throughout the dishwasher and uses a Steam Prewash option.   After the second prewash fill, the dishwasher stops the water circulation and activates the calrod heater. Water dripping from the glassware and dishware falls onto the calrod heater and creates a wall of steam that helps to loosen soils before the main wash.

Eclipse black nylon deep-tiered rack.

Heavy-duty design secures and protects dishes during each cycle.

Two utility shelves in tiered upper rack with StemSafe™

Provides extra room for small items and an extra layer of security for gently washing stemware.

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GE Top-Load Washers Are Making Waves

October 22, 2010 at 7:46 am · Filed under Ge, Major Household Appliances, washer/dryers ·Tagged

GE has introduced a new line of top-load washing machines that make laundry days less of a chore.  The Hydrowave with Infusor(TM) wash system technology gently rotates clothing forward and backward, pulling fabric gently through the water.  Clothing is cleaned with a gentle wave-like action.  Delicate fabrics remain protected.   GE Profile washers feature king-size, 3.5 cu. ft. ribbed, stainless steel, spacious wash baskets in which to wash larger loads.  Result:  Less time doing laundry.  GE models with large 3.2 cu. ft. ribbed ExtrAction(TM) wash basket with its increased surface area, gently squeezes more water from clothing during the spin cycle.  Result:  Shorter drying time. Loads are kept properly balanced by the auto balance suspension system which features a floating rod and spring.  Variable speed motor has fewer parts.  Result:  Less to go wrong. The GE new drive system effectively does away with the need for noisier transmissions, gears and brakes that are part of the traditional washing machines.  Result:  Quieter cycles.

GE Profile and GE washers are easily matched with GE dryers which offer a 7.0 cu. ft. capacity to dry larger items and family-sized loads.  The appearance of both washers and dryers is sleek and stylish.


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Stop Lifting Those Heavy Water Bottles!

September 13, 2010 at 3:42 pm · Filed under Major Household Appliances, Refreshment Centers, refrigerators, Stainless Steel Appliances, Summit Appliances ·Tagged , , , ,

We all want fresh, pleasant tasting water.  For many of us, purchasing 5 gallon bottles of water for our water coolers is a cumbersome task.  Lifting the heavy jugs and flipping them over to insert into the cooler requires physical strength which many of us simply don’t have or is not a wise choice given individual health and safety issues.

Summit Appliance has a combination water dispenser and refrigerator (Model Number  FF7BBISSTBBWD) which dispenses bottled water from a 5 gallon jug essentially eliminating the need to lift and flip heavy water bottles.  Simply slide a standard 5 gallon bottle inside(upright) and hook up to the easy pump.  Get cold water through the door without struggling.

This dispenser/refrigerator also is equipped with shelved storage space to accommodate other beverages and food.  In fact, it is an ideal storage space for a mini keg of beer! Perfect for private offices, conference rooms and homes.  The look of this product is very striking with its stainless steel door and professional towel bar handle.  Its flexible design allows for built-in or freestanding use.

Replace your clumsy water cooler with this stylish, multi-functional  Summit dispenser/refrigerator.

Read about other Summit products at:

http://appliancesbyphone.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/summit-appliances-for-medical-pharmaceutical-scientific-and-laboratory-refrigeration/

http://appliancesbyphone.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/storing-your-beer-wine-and-other-beverages/

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Has Your Appliance Been Recalled?

August 31, 2010 at 7:02 pm · Filed under Consumer Product Safety Commission, Major Household Appliances, Recalls

Are you sure that your appliance has not been recalled?  Are you putting yourself or your family in jeopardy due to a defect in one or more of your appliances?  Maybe an appliance has a functional defect rather than a safety defect.  Most appliances are recalled due to improperly installed wiring, overheating motors/relays or other component failures that are hidden from your eyes.   Either way, don’t you want to be sure?  The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a good place to start your research.  However, due to the shear amount of product recalls, you may find it to be a daunting task to locate your particular appliance(s) on their website.

In an effort to simplify the search,  the Appliance Recall Check website has compiled a database which allows consumers to plug in the brand, model and serial number for each appliance within their home.   There is a small fee for this service.  Within two days, a report will be issued which indicates recall information, if any.  The report will provide:  the nature of the recall, where the product was sold, how to remedy the defect, how to get the appliance either repaired or replaced (usually for free), manufacturer contact details,  manufacturer’s business hours and what to do if the manufacturer fails to respond to a claim.   It is noteworthy to mention that some home inspection companies will absorb the cost of the report,  so it is wise to ask your inspection company if they participate in this service.

I strongly encourage consumers to retain (and read)  the Use and Care Manual that comes with each appliance and to return the warranty card to the manufacturer as well.   Record the model and serial number and store in a safe place.  This information is valuable and protects consumers in the event  a problem arises with an appliance in the future.

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“The American Home is Shrinking”

August 27, 2010 at 8:09 am · Filed under Major Household Appliances

Staff writer for CNN Money.com, Les Christie reports that “The American Home is Shrinking”. According to the Census Bureau’s recent report, the median new home size fell to 2135 square feet in 2009 compared to about 2300 square feet earlier in the decade.

The American Housing Survey reported a rise in usage of appliances within the home.  63% of all homes are cooled.  More than 75% of all homeowners use dishwashers compared to 65% a decade ago.  Nearly 50% of owner-occupied homes have garbage disposals, up from 46% in prior years.  Convenience features, rather than space, seem to be more important to present-day homeowners.

Our economy has made many people realize that they do not need such large homes as in the past.  People are making do with less.

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Buying Your Major Appliances

August 25, 2010 at 9:42 am · Filed under Dishwashers, electric stoves, Freezers, gas stoves, Major Household Appliances, refrigerators, washer/dryers ·Tagged , , , , ,

Authors Nicole Sforza and Deborah Baldwin have summarized important things to look for when purchasing a major household appliance for your home or rental property.  Their articles appear in the magazine, Real Simple.

Washing Machine

Minimal water usage, speedy spin cycle, heating only water that it needs, additional rinse cycle and pedestal availability.

Refrigerator

The right size to fit your family’s needs, space expanding features such as motorized or manual adjusting shelves, movable door bins, pullout shelves, caddies and racks for soda and wine, easy-care materials such as glass shelves with lips to contain spills, energy-efficiency, water filters, ice-makers.

Dishwasher

The number of place settings it holds, delay-start option, forced-air mode, space-saving details such as tines that fold down to accommodate large platters and/or removable or adjustable top racks, multiple cycles such as a sanitizing cycle for baby bottles, a steam cycle to help clean off baked on grime, short cycles for small loads or quick loads.

Range

Convection capabilities, easy-to-clean cooktop such as porcelain or other smooth surface, grates such as continuous grates which allow pots to be slid from burner to burner without lifting, seamless edges and corners, warming drawers, steam technology to infuse moisture into foods while cooking, commercial-style units which are great to have if you prepare multiple dishes at one time and desire additional features such as a grill, griddle and built-in woks.

For more advice, see my other blogs:

Buying a Refrigerator

Buying a Freezer

Front Load vs. Top Load Washers

Buying a Dishwasher

Dishwasher Buying Tips

Kitchen Range Features – How Do I Decide?

Save Money & Energy

Go Green with Energy-Efficient Appliances

Energy-Star Labeled Appliances

So Many Choices

Stainless Steel Appliances and Alternatives

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Consumer Reports Does Tough Tests on Dishwashers

August 23, 2010 at 12:43 pm · Filed under Dishwashers, Major Household Appliances ·Tagged , ,

Many people check Consumer Reports ratings before purchasing products in the marketplace.  Their tough testing methods yield recommendations to consumers about the products that scored high results in various categories.

Dishwashers, for example, go through rigorous testing at the Consumer Reports laboratory.  An equal assortment of dishes, glassware and silverware, loaded with messy food items such as peanut butter, sauces, spinach, bread crumbs, etc., is stacked into various dishwashers.  They are left to sit for hours, as we often do in our own homes, before washing a load.  After the load is washed, each item is carefully inspected for quality of cleaning.  Based on this result, Consumer Reports will either recommend or dismiss the dishwasher as less efficient for cleaning capability.

Of course, other tests are done on dishwashers to assess run time, energy-efficiency, noise levels, reliability, cost and features.   The important thing to remember here is that all products go through tough tests before Consumer Reports will publicize their results.  This method of testing helps consumers  decide on what product(s) will best suit their needs and budget.

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Whirlpool Appliance has a 6th Sense

August 19, 2010 at 1:10 am · Filed under Major Household Appliances, washer/dryers ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Whirlpool Appliance’s 6th Sense(TM) Technology, used in their Cabrio(R) High Efficiency Top Load Laundry Equipment,  will sense and manage every size load of laundry you wash, saving you time and resources.

The Cabrio’s extra large capacity will enable you to wash up to three baskets of laundry in a single load.  Its H2Low(TM) with auto-load sensing feature uses just the right amount of water to get your clothing as clean as possible.  The EcoBoost(TM) option manages water temperature, cycle time and wash motions allowing you more time to do other activities while saving precious natural resources.  There is no center agitator so clothing will look new longer because the gentle wash action is easy on fabrics.   Its Precision Dispense(R) Plus technology eliminates the need to pre-treat your clothing by releasing a concentrated burst of detergent directly on clothes at the right time.  A special reservoir provides time release for oxi additives or bleach.

The matching dryer, available in electric or gas,  is a great performer and is very efficient.  Dryers will sense how fast each load is drying and will adjust temperature settings to save time and energy.   Its steam feature will help reduce wrinkles and remove odors in as little as 15 minutes.   The Cabrio dryer has the same large capacity as top load washers.

Energy Star(R) qualified, with quiet wash and dry options, and minimum vibration, this washer and dryer can be installed on a second floor without any intrusive “side effects”.  You can choose from Lunar Silver, Black or White colors to match your decor.

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Two Ovens in the Space of One!

August 17, 2010 at 11:27 pm · Filed under Major Household Appliances, single-double ovens ·Tagged ,

Cook two different dishes in two ovens at the same time?  No problem with the 30″ GE Profile(TM) Single-Double Wall Oven.  With a combined capacity of 5.0 cubic feet, you can cook an entire dinner in this unit.  (The lower oven will hold a 22 lb. turkey).  The features offered by this oven will save you time and effort and the space-saving design is easily a welcome addition to any kitchen.

The beveled, edge-to-edge windows provide a large viewing area to see food clearly and easily.  Shorter oven doors allow easy access to each oven saving space as well.   ShadowTouch controls in the upper oven door makes cleaning easy.  Depending on the degree of soil in the oven, variable cleaning times can be set when self-cleaning.  Three heavy-duty double-coated oven racks can actually stay in the oven while self-cleaning is on, eliminating the need to hand wash.   Who needs a crock pot?  The Slow Cook Mode has four slow cook options providing ideal conditions for specific meals.   An Oven Meat Probe displays the internal temperature and signals when meats and poultry are cooked to perfection.   The PreciseAir(TM) Convection System has a reversing fan which circulates heat and air for evenly browned and baked foods.  Its 8-pass bake/broil element in the lower oven provides more even coverage of food when baking or broiling.  There’s even a Pizza Mode to create delicious pizzas whether frozen or fresh.  Warm Mode, Delay Bake and AutoRecipe(TM) Conversion features are incorporated as well.

The GE Profile(TM) Built-In Single-Double Wall Ovens are available in stainless steel or black.

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