Refrigerators and Freezers


GE Wants to Try a New Refrigerant

GE Wants to Try a New Refrigerant

GE is asking for federal approval to use, in the U.S., a type of refrigerant that has low global warming potential and is widely used in Europe and Asia.
The company has filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency to allow it to use isobutane, a hydrocarbon, in household refrigerators. Hydrocarbons like propane and butane [...]

Previous Stories

  • How to Remove Refrigerator Odor
    November 12th, 2008

    We’ve all experienced power outages and the mess of melted and spoiled food that must be cleaned once the power is restored. If the power is out for an extended period of time, the smell of rotten food can be hard to remove.
    Here are step-by-step instructions from inrich.com for getting the smell out:
    Start by cleaning the [...]

  • Should You Fix the Old Appliance or Buy a New One?
    November 7th, 2008

    It’s a common question - when your appliance needs repairs is better to fix it or start looking for a new one?  Often fixing the broken appliance can take days or even weeks if the parts are not available.  A new one can often be purchased and installed within hours.  But is buying a new appliance [...]

  • Energy Star Might Not be Such a Star
    November 3rd, 2008

    Most consumers who are shopping for a new, energy efficient appliance know to look for the Blue EnergyStar label.  The Energy Star label alerts shoppers to supposedly very energy efficient appliances.  Many appliances also have a yellow energy guide label.  That label tells shoppers specifically how much energy they can save by buying that particular appliance. 
    Buying an [...]

  • GE to Launch New Line of Smart Appliances
    October 8th, 2008

    In the first Quarter of 2009, GE will introduce a suite of ‘’smart” appliances.  Energy Manage-ment Enabled Appliances. These GE appliances will be enabled to receive a signal from their local utility. The appliances will receive the control message and react based on the appliance internal programming. It requires no consumer interaction.
    ”Now that ENERGY STAR® [...]

  • Avoid a Service Call - Troubling Shooting the Freezer
    October 4th, 2008

    We’ve just taken delivery here of a new Frigidaire Gallery upright freezer which we plan to review for you in depth. While sorting through all the paperwork that comes with a new appliance, I found a handy tip sheet that Frigidaire includes to help you prevent the need for a service call. Some of the [...]

  • Freezer Sales Increasing
    September 26th, 2008

    Consumers across the country are trying to find ways to save money. The cost of food keeps going up and no one can predict when it will stop. While the appliance market has cooled down a bit generally, the sales of freezers has gone up.
    According toTheTimesTribune.com, across the country, shoppers [...]

  • Modern Fridge or Range with an Antique Look
    September 24th, 2008

    If you want your new, ultra modern refrigerator to match your classic, antique style kitchen decor, Restart Srl appliances located in Antella near Florence, right in the heart of Tuscany has just what you need.
    Restart Srl makes personalized refrigerators with old styled brass finishing for different styles of kitchens in accordance to the particular architectural style [...]

  • Liebherr Engineers Re-Invent the 36” Luxury Refrigerator
    September 19th, 2008

    If you haven’t heard of Liebherr appliances, you might soon. Liebherr, a premium appliance designer from Germany, has recently introduced a 36′ refrigerator specifically designed for the North American market.
    The 2062 Series is available in freestanding (CS 2062), stainless integrated (HCS 2062) and
    fully integrated (HC 2062) models. This new size means that Liebherr now has [...]

  • Sub-Zero’s New Refrigerators Help Reduce Food Waste
    September 16th, 2008

    A recent study from the University of Arizona, along with internal research, suggests that the average U.S. household throws out well in excess of $500 worth of fruits, vegetables, leftovers and other food items every year due to spoilage. Much of this waste can be reduced by proper refrigeration, the reduction of ethylene gas in [...]

  • Recall: Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges Due to Burn Hazard
    September 5th, 2008

    Name of Product: Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges
    Units: About 24,000
    Manufacturer: Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis.
    Hazard: Delayed ignition of gas in the 18-inch oven can cause a flash of flames to be projected at a consumer when the range door is opened, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
    Incidents/Injuries: Wolf has received 97 reports of [...]

  • KitchenAid Introduces 72″, Counter-depth, French Door Refrigerator
    August 1st, 2008

    KitchenAid has introduced a new 72-inch counter-depth model that offers extra space on the inside and a built-in look on the outside.  This latest configuration joins a line that includes freestanding, counter-depth and 42-inch built-in French Door refrigerators. 

    “Based on our research, we found that the currently available 69-inch model refrigerators don’t fully utilize the [...]

  • How Your Automatic Ice Maker Makes Ice
    July 30th, 2008

    A tall glass of iced tea or lemonade seems to symbolize summer, and it seems we are all adding ice to our drinks. I remember those old fashioned metal ice cube trays with a lever that was lifted to release the cubes. Those were followed by plastic trays that we twisted to get [...]

  • Save Energy and Save Money or Not?
    July 25th, 2008

    Energy costs are going up and we’re surrounded by warnings of global warming.  What’s a conscien-tious consumer to do?  Buy an energy efficient appliance of course.
    From washing machines that use steam instead of hot water, to refrigerators that use low-energy compressors, to low-power computer screens, electronics companies are furiously developing energy-efficient products and heavily promoting [...]

  • Food Safety and Your Refrigerator
    July 18th, 2008

    We all know how important it is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables everyday.   One of the easiest ways to do that is to keep the fridge produce drawers stocked with your family’s favorites .  The problem arises with how most people maintain those drawers.  The details of how a refrigerator is cleaned and [...]

  • Whirlpool 30 Minute Recipe Contest
    June 27th, 2008

    Let’s Eat In 30-Minute Meal Solutions Contest
    Whirlpool brand and Newman’s Own, the experts in quick and easy meals at home, are looking for recipes. Submit your favorite 30-minute dish from June 2-July 31, 2008, and if it’s selected you could win a kitchen full of new Whirlpool brand appliances and a full year’s supply of [...]

  • Tips for Saving Money and Energy Around the House
    June 17th, 2008

    Looking for ways to save money? Look no further than your kitchen. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) offers these simple energy savings tips to consumers looking for ways to cut energy bills this summer.
    The energy consumed by home appliances has dropped sharply since 2000.
    Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers combined account for a 43% [...]

  • GE CEO cites five potential bidders for appliances
    June 12th, 2008

    General Electric Co Chief Executive Jeff Immelt on Wednesday named five non-U.S. appliance manufacturers, including China’s Haier, South Korea’s LG Electronics, Sweden’s Electrolux, Mexico’s Controladora Mabe and Turkey’s Arcelik, as potential bidders for the company’s century-old appliances business.
    The chief of the second-largest U.S. company by market capitalization said it was “obvious” who would be interested [...]

  • Frigidaire’s Beverage Center
    June 11th, 2008

    Frigidaire has a fun extra for your outdoor entertaining kitchen or home theatre- a beverage center that dispenses cold beer and other beverages and has room to keep trays of foods cool as well.The beverage center has a 12.75 Cu. Ft. refrigeration capacity, can accommodate 1/2 barrel or 1/4 barrel keg sizes and  a fresh food [...]

  • Dacor’s New Indoor/Outdoor Refrigerator
    May 28th, 2008

    Dacor’s newest addition to its Epicure line is designed to fit neatly under any counter in an outdoor patio or kitchen layout, the unit stands at 33″ tall and 24″ wide and will easily slide into standard cabinetry openings. An innovative digital electronic control panel allows users to adjust the temperature with the simple touch [...]

  • Is it Time to Replace Your Old Appliances?
    May 21st, 2008

    If you’ve been thinking about whether it is time to replace your aging appliances, or if you are wondering whether you could be saving the big bucks in energy costs if you had an all new suite of kitchen appliances,  Alina Tugend at the New York Times has some thoughts to share.
    One of the first [...]

  • Newly Expanded GE Café Series of Appliances
    May 16th, 2008

    The newest additions to the GE Café series include two counter-depth refrigerators, and a new electric range.
    Refrigerators:
    The counter-depth styling allows the appliances to blend seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry, achieving a built-in look without the added expense of a built-in model.
    The new counter-depth 25-cubic-foot side-by-side refrigerator is available with ClimateKeeper2™ technology, featuring a dual-evaporator [...]

  • Basic Appliance Care and Safety
    May 14th, 2008

    If you are lucky, you rarely need to pay much attention to the appliances that run, some of them 24 hours a day, in your home. But to keep everything trouble free, it’s good to follow some basic guidelines for care and safety when using or installing appliances in your home. Handymanclub.com offers some [...]

  • Samsung’s Flexible Fridge
    May 10th, 2008

    Samsung has a creative refrigerator idea. The Quatro Cooling Convertible Refrigerator allows the consumer to switch the refrigeration and freezing compartments as needed. If you plan to cook and freeze food in preparation for a big event just switch use to make room. The same applies to needing more room to [...]

  • Advice for Buying a High-Def TV
    May 8th, 2008

    If you are shopping for a high-def TV, you’ll need to decide which type you’d like. Will you go for LCD(liquid crystal display), plasma, or HD rear projection microdisplay? Let us offer some information and advice to make your decision a little easier.
    LCD
    These televisions are thin and lightweight with bright picture contrast. [...]

  • Sears Brings Samsung Refrigeration Line To Its Stores
    May 7th, 2008

    Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Samsung Electronics, have announced the addition of Samsung refrigerators to Sears line-up of leading appliance brands. Beginning in March 2008, Samsung side-by-side refrigerators are available at Sears stores nationwide. Samsung front-loading washers and dryers have been available at Sears since November 2007.
    Sears will carry Samsung’s Twin Cooling side-by-side [...]

  • Fisher & Paykel is Moving to Mexico
    May 2nd, 2008

    Fisher & Paykel, the New Zealand appliance manufacturer well known for it’s dishwasher drawers and washing machines is consolidating it’s manufacturing and moving to Reynosa, Mexico, just south of the U.S. border.
    The range and DishDrawer factory in Dunedin, New Zealand, the refrigeration plant in Brisbane, Australia and the DCS manufacturing plant in Huntington Beach will [...]

  • Staber’s New Electric Clothes Drying Cabinet
    May 1st, 2008

    Staber, an American manufacturer and online retailer of washers and dryers offers a new clothes drying cabinet as an addition to your laundry room equipment. Although drying cabinets have been used in Europe for years, many Americans are not familiar with them. They are in a simple form a box in which clothes [...]

  • High End Appliances - What are You Getting for Your Money?
    April 24th, 2008

    Stainless steel looks beautiful in the kitchen, but shine doesn’t necessarily equal performance. Do high end appliances (many with those gleaming finishes) really rate having such high price tags? Sometimes they really do. But that doesn’t mean you should rule out mid-priced options. As mid-priced manufacturers start adapting some of the features the pricier models [...]

  • LG Appliance Rebate
    April 23rd, 2008

    If you have been considering buying a new kitchen appliance, now might be the time to act. LG is offering a rebate of up to $500 on their kitchen appliances. The deal starts at $250 for two appliances and goes up to the $500 if you buy four. You can outfit [...]

  • NightMare Maytag Store Bites the Dust - Going out of Business
    April 16th, 2008

    Does customer service really matter? We like to think that it does. Have you ever had a really bad experience with a store, and silently (or not so silently) wished that they would just go out of business? Well sometimes, the customer gets lucky. Our own NightOwl reported a while back on a nightmare experience [...]

  • Electrolux Taps Kelly Ripa to Launch New Premium Kitchen Appliance Line in North America
    April 15th, 2008

    Electrolux, makers of premium appliances for fine homes and restaurants in Europe for over 70 years and Europe’s leading premium appliance brand, is introducing a new line of stylish, high-performance kitchen appliances exclusively for North America. Called Electrolux, the new line of premium kitchen appliances is designed to help today’s multi-tasking moms do what they [...]

  • How Much is That Old Fridge Costing You?
    April 14th, 2008

    My mother always bought meat on sale to store in the garage freezer for future use. The same with bread and ice cream. She was and is a frugal shopper. But today, with energy costs so high, it makes sense to calculate how much energy is being used to keep the food in storage.
    If you [...]

  • How to Pick an Energy Efficient Appliance
    April 9th, 2008

    If you are confused by the different claims of energy efficiency by appliance manufacturers, JamesDulley of the Detroit Free Press has some helpful advice.
    Depending upon the type of product and the fuel it uses, efficiency ratings can mean different things. Also, some manufacturers and/or salespeople play fast and loose with the accuracy of efficiency claims.
    A [...]

  • Appliance Design Magazine’s Excellence in Design Winners Announced
    April 8th, 2008

    Appliance Design magazine has announced the winners of its 21st Annual Excellence in Design competition.
    Entrants were evaluated by an independent panel of three experts in the field of design. The products were judged by four criteria: aesthetics, human factors, innovation, and technical merits.
    Products were entered into one of several categories. The winning entries, listed by [...]

  • Whirlpool Earns Third Energy Star Award
    April 5th, 2008

    Whirlpool Corp. has been recognized with its third consecutive ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award. Provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the award honors Whirlpool Corp.’s contribution to providing innovative efficient products that help consumers reduce utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
    Whirlpool will accept the award at [...]

  • Electrolux to Debut New Line of Premium Appliances in North America
    March 29th, 2008

     Called Electrolux, the new appliance line is set to debut on North American shores in spring 2008. Boasting a distinctive look with a curved front design and signature blue LED displays, the new European-designed collection from Electrolux also offers ingenious features such as advanced Wave-Touch™ controls, one touch and more than 60 controls appear and [...]

  • Appliance Maintenance Tips and Lifespan Estimates
    March 27th, 2008

    I think it’s good to be reminded regularly to look after these appliances we spent so much to acquire.  So I feel justified in offering this list from the Sun Herald that nudges you to take a minute and check up on your household appliances. It could add years to their lifespan.
    Refrigerator
    Average life span: 14 years
    What you need [...]

  • Appliance Sales are Down
    March 24th, 2008

    Here’s some bad news for appliance dealers (if they haven’t already noticed the effect in their own markets)
     Twice.com reports that according to AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers), January shipments of major appliances fell 17 percent to 3.9 million units compared with the 4.7 million major appliances sold during the year-ago period.
    Taking the biggest hit was the home-comfort [...]

  • A Source for Antique Replica and Retro Style Kitchens
    March 18th, 2008

    If you are planning your new kitchen or remodel and have your heart set on a 1950s  or Victorian look, Elmira Stove Works will have you covered.  They have two product lines, Antique and Northstar which include ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators and more.
     
    Antique
    The Elmira Antique line adds the warmth and beauty of an antique, traditional, or country [...]

  • LG and GE to Share Patents
    March 17th, 2008

    News from appliancemagazine.com a trade magazine, reports:
    LG Electronics has entered into a cross licensing agreement with GE Consumer & Industrial that will allow LG and GE to use one another’s patents for refrigerators and cooking appliances without paying licensing fees.
    “We believe that this licensing arrangement with GE will enhance our ability [...]

  • Miele’s first line of North American Refrigeration is Expected to Launch April 2008
    February 25th, 2008

    Luxury refrigeration is here.  Miele is launching its  North American refrigeration system - MasterCool - this April. 
    “Our patented MasterCool control system beautifully merges accessibility, functionality and design,” states Matthew Kueny, Senior Product Manager for Miele, Inc. “Since most users generally don’t know the proper settings to correctly preserve fruits, vegetables and other perishables, the Miele [...]

  • Does the Fridge Light go Off When the Door is Closed?
    February 18th, 2008

    We’ve all wondered, what really happens when we close the fridge door.   Thanks to modern technology, this old puzzle is finally solved.  Check out the video evidence.

  • What to do if Your Freezer Fails
    February 15th, 2008

    Freezing food is a great way to save both time and money.  Many time managers suggest cooking only one or two days a week, making double amounts, and freezing the rest for future meals.  I love to bake and my family can’t always eat all the bread or cookies that I’ve made - enter my free [...]

  • Fun Fridge Lights
    February 9th, 2008

    Turn your fridge into a canvas for LED art. Any passerby can place and relocate the magnetic LEDs any way they wish to create illuminated pictures and messages.
    It’s great for high traffic kitchens and It’s fun for kids and adults alike.
    You can find complete, step-by-step instuction for this fun project at www.instructables.com

    Personally, I see this [...]

  • J.D. Power Survey Shows Major Appliance Consumers are Happy
    February 7th, 2008

     WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. — J.D Power and Associates, the market research firm, said consumers are largely happy with the performance, features, styling and price of their major appliances.According to the results of its 2007 Major Home Appliances Study, only one in 10 consumers report some kind of problem with their major appliance during the first two years [...]

  • How to Move Your Appliances
    February 6th, 2008

    Moving appliances is a big job.  Before you start, be sure you are aware of the work involved and that you really want to be the one to do it.  Some of us are handy with installations and large unwieldy hulks of metal and some of us aren’t. To decide what type you are, read on and [...]

  • Thermador’s Freedom Collection Refrigerators and Freezers
    February 1st, 2008

               
    The Freedom Collection features counter-depth 24” and 30” fresh food columns, and 18”, 24” and 30” freezer columns, including dispenser freezers. Additionally, the industry’s first fully integrated and flush-mounted three-door 36” bottom-freezer, as well as a two-door version, are available within the collection. Unique 18” and 24” wine preservation columns have see-through glass doors and [...]

  • Refrigerator Drawers Handy and Expensive
    January 28th, 2008

    Many of us could use the space an extra refrigerator in the kitchen would provide. I have a spare freezer in the garage, but when I’m cooking for holidays or other large gatherings, my large fridge bursts to overflowing. I have even stored food for neighbors who have the same dilemma.
    If you don’t need a [...]

  • Shopping Tips - Save Money, be Satisfied
    January 7th, 2008

    Once you’ve read through our articles on choosing a kitchen appliance and have narrowed down your decision, it’s time to shop.  A good place to start is with your budget.  Knowing what you feel comfortable spending and sticking close to that number will help you to enjoy your new purchases.  One good way to stay [...]

  • Amana’s Jot: Dry-Erase Refrigerator
    January 4th, 2008

    I have a friend who used chalkboard paint to create a large drawing space on her kitchen wall.  The family leaves messages and greetings there and she doesn’t have magnets and scraps of paper posted on (and falling from)  her refrigerator.
    Kitchen clutter is a problem for most of us and Amana is addressing this with their [...]

  • Choosing Kitchen Appliances - Refrigerators
    December 31st, 2007

    Continuing now with refrigerators, we bring you part two of our series on choosing kitchen appliances.  The features that most people consider when looking for a new fridge are storage capacity, ease of use, price and hopefully energy usage.  One of the first things you can do to save energy when purchasing a new appliance of [...]

  • Choosing Kitchen Appliances - Refrigerators
    December 31st, 2007

    Continuing now with refrigerators, we bring you part two of our series on choosing kitchen appliances.  The features that most people consider when looking for a new fridge are storage capacity, ease of use, price and hopefully energy usage.  One of the first things you can do to save energy when purchasing a new appliance of [...]

  • In Kitchen Design, Appliances Come First
    December 24th, 2007

    We spend so much time in the kitchen during the holiday season. Families gather for dinner and inevitably a large group gathers in the kitchen. This gets us to thinking that we need a larger, prettier, or more usable space. That’s likely why so many kitchen remodels take place after the holidays. If you are [...]

  • Retro Fridge- Modern Price
    December 24th, 2007

    If your kitchen needs that special 50’s retro refrigerator, SMEG, an Italian manufacturer, has just what you need.
    50’S Style Refrigerator with ice compartment,
    Pastel Green, Right hand hinge
    Capacity 9.22 Cu. Ft.
    REFRIGERATOR:
    Antibacterial interior
    Interior light
    3 adjustable glass shelves
    1 bottle storage shelf
    1 fixed glass shelf
    1 fruit and vegetable container
    1 dairy box

    DOOR:
    2 adjustable covered bins
    2 bottle storage bins
    4 adjustable bins
    2 [...]

  • Whirlpool Aims for Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    December 21st, 2007

    If you are shopping for eco-friendly appliances, here’s some good news from Twice.com:
    Whirlpool will increase its commitment to environmentally-sound business practices by reducing total greenhouse gas emissions 6.6 percent by 2012, the company announced last week. The world’s largest majap maker will make these global, voluntary reductions while at the same time increasing production by [...]

  • You can Really Save - Choose Energy Star
    December 20th, 2007

    Most of us want to save energy.  It’s good for the environment and good for our pocketbooks.  By choosing a new appliance with an Energy Star rating you are off to a good start.  How much you will save though, depends on the type and age of the appliance you are replacing.
     One thing seems certain [...]

  • Keeping Stainless Steel Clean
    December 13th, 2007

    Stainless appliances are popular right now, but they are difficult to keep clean.  Fingerprints and smudges are a constant challenge. Consumer Reports tested six stainless steel cleaners, trying both wipes and sprays.
    When it comes to smudgy fingerprints, the tests showed all the cleaners do a good job removing them. But beware of claims [...]

  • Energy Aware Appliances can Help Save Power Grid
    December 7th, 2007

    This may sound too good to be true, but its not. The future may be bringing us appliances that can sense when the national power grid is over-taxed and switch off or down to reduce energy use.
     Scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., found that providing homeowners with smart appliances and information on how to [...]

  • Bigger, Faster, Better
    November 27th, 2007

    The basic appliances in our homes are becoming less basic each year. Refrigerators are getting larger with separate temperature zones, dishwashers sanitize dishes and washers clean with less water than you would think possible.
    Let’s start with washers. At the Columbus Dispatch , Kevin Kidder writes:
    About 30 percent of washers sold are front [...]

  • Viking Fridge Review
    November 18th, 2007

    If you are in the market for a new, large refrigerator and you would like to get a custom, built-in look with standard cabinets, this just might be the fridge for you.

  • Downsizing? Some Choice Advice for Baby-Boomers
    November 13th, 2007

    As the population ages, many people choose to move to smaller homes or condos for ease of maintenance.  Some Baby-Boomers are purchasing smaller, second homes that can become retirement homes in the future. 
    Marriette Mifflin at about.com advises:
    Take a serious look at your appliances, large and small, and consider their age, general condition, capacity, performance, and [...]

  • You Probably Don’t Need That Extended Warranty
    November 9th, 2007

    Straight from PR Newswire: J.D. Power and Associates Reports: High Reliability of Major Home Appliances May Reduce Need for Extended Warranties
    According to J.D. Powers and Associates 2007 Major Home Appliance Study, most major appliances these days are quite reliable, yet many consumers continue to purchase extended warranties.
    The study measures customer satisfaction in nine segments of [...]

  • Maytag Refrigerator Woes- An Update
    November 8th, 2007

    Last September I wrote here about my mother’s horrible experience with a brand new Maytag refrigerator.  She spent endless hours on the phone and weeks waiting for service for a fridge that was clearly a lemon.  We have had feedback that shows she is not alone.  I thought readers might be interested to know the end of [...]

  • Cooking in Full Color
    November 7th, 2007

    Homeowners who add high end appliances to their kitchens have for years acknowledged stainless steel as the premium finish for appliances according to appliance magazine.  But now “more consumers are daring to commit to vibrant color on kitchen fixtures, and colorful alternatives to stainless ranges are becoming common.”
    Dacor launched a colored-glass front on its wall ovens three [...]

  • Is the Food Safe to Eat?
    November 1st, 2007

    The Detroit Free Press offers an answer to the often asked question of whether food that has been in a refrigerator that has been off for a number of hours is safe to eat.
    Chances are most of the perishable foods reached an unsafe temperature if the refrigerator was off for 24 hours or more. Items [...]

  • Frigits- Have some Fun with Your Fridge
    October 29th, 2007

    If you want to have fun with your fridge and don’t want to spend close to $2000 for a digital photo frame, you can have fun for a whole lot less with Frigits. Check this out:

  • Another Type of Appliance Recycling
    October 22nd, 2007

    This is possibly another way to view appliance recycling and is definitely a way to save money.
    Reverse logistics- this is the business of taking merchandise that has been returned by customers or overstocked by retailers or has been cosmetically damaged and finding a market for it.  Reverse logistics can keep appliances out of landfills.  What [...]

  • Recycle Responsibly
    October 21st, 2007

    Reuse, recycle, save energy- These ideas are ones many of us try to do daily.  There is one way we may not have thought of before- disposing of an old appliance properly.  Appliance Recycling Centers of America estimates that 55 million appliances will be removed from service this year.  If yours is one of them, be [...]

  • A Photo Finish in the Refrigerator Race
    October 20th, 2007

    Whirlpool has entered a new contender in the race for kitchen bells and whistles.  It is called the Central Park Connection and its gimmick is a digital photo frame that is built into the door.  The theory behind this new gizmo is that it will cut back on kitchen clutter by reducing the number of [...]

  • Another Maytag Refrigerator Nightmare
    October 17th, 2007

    Some posts just have to brought to the front page.  This is one of them.  The writer is responding to our post relating a similar refrigerator problem. 
    This whole story about the fridge is nothing compared to what I am STILL going through. We bought a Maytag Model MZD2666KEB side-by-side fridge/freezer, with water and ice on the [...]

  • Energy Efficient Appliances- Newer is better
    October 17th, 2007

    They say technological advancements have dramatically improved the efficiency of appliances, meaning replacing a 10-year-old refrigerator can translate into major savings in energy bills. It also significantly reduces the home’s “carbon footprint,” a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced.
    “We know … that [...]

  • The Right Appliance for You
    October 10th, 2007

    Do you find that you are drawn to a certain brand of appliance again and again?  Did your mother always rely on one brand of washer and dryer?  Whirlpool is aware of consumers conscious and unconscious preferences for specific appliances.
    For every Whirlpool Corporation brand - including Whirlpool®, Maytag®, KitchenAid®, Jenn-Air®, Amana® and Gladiator® GarageWorks - [...]

  • Viking Goes Commercial
    September 30th, 2007

     ”Viking doesn’t make commercial ranges?”  That has been the response to my very informal survey when people learn that Viking Corporation has recently announced their plan to release a line of commercial appliances.
    Viking Range Corporation who originated ultra-premium commercial-type appliances for the indoor and outdoor kitchen has announced their intention to enter the commercial market.
    The Viking [...]

  • New H-Series Refrigerator by Samsung
    September 19th, 2007

    Samsung has announced the release of its H-series refrigerator line featuring its “exclusive Twin Cooling System™.” This system allows “the different freezer and refrigerator compartments to be controlled and cooled independently, as well as preventing the mixing of odors between the two compartments.” This style also defines itself as the first “truly [...]

  • High End Appliances - Chef Included
    September 5th, 2007

    If you have recently spent some time feeling baffled by the many options on a new appliance, you are not alone. Some folks have even sought help with their entire kitchen. Maybe not a bad idea. The Los Angeles Times writes:
    With sophisticated, professional-quality appliances and high-design gizmos going into residential kitchens, many would-be home [...]

  • The $2,000 Digital Post-it Note
    August 21st, 2007

    Are folks really willing to pay for what they say they want in an appliance?  Apparently not.  The OC Register has some thoughts on cool but pricy features that are appearing on kitchen  appliances.
    In 2002, for example, Whirlpool Corp. introduced Polara, which combined refrigeration with a convection oven. Polara would keep a casserole cool until a [...]

  • Fresh home made ice cream for the Fourth of July
    June 29th, 2007

    One of my fondest childhood memories is of eating homemade chocolate ice cream on the Fourth of July. I can still hear in my mind the sound of my parents’ ice cream maker churning for hours in the bathtub. (Where it was placed to catch the water from all the condensation that would [...]

  • SuperSize Me - Kitchen appliances to do a hummer proud
    June 27th, 2007

    I was visiting a friend a few weeks ago who has recently finished a home remodel in West Los Angeles. He and his wife turned their 1500 square foot bungalow into a 4000 square foot family home. I stood in their kitchen looking at their double wide refrigerator (literally, double wide.) [...]

  • Whirlpool does Right - wins the Helen Keller Accessibility award
    June 17th, 2007

    Superman said it best “Truth Justice and the American Way”. The American Way - the secret to our strength? well you can follow it back to the days of barn raising, and follow it forward to the deep response of American’s nationwide to the victims of Katrina. American’s look out for [...]

  • It’s not your grandmothers silver - Ionized Silver appliances
    June 14th, 2007

    No its not your NANA’s silver its NANO silver from Samsung. Samsung, the monster Korean manufacturing conglomerate is taking advantage of silver’s ability to inhibit bacterial growth. By using Nano technology to drop create a mist of silver ions 1/75,000th the width of a human hair Samsung has created a [...]

  • Behind The Appliance Brands - Lifting the Mask
    May 8th, 2007

    Consumer Reports tells us “the nameplate doesn’t always indicate who makes your fridge, oven, or washer”.
    Our recent tests of refrigerators included more than 70 models from 20 brands.
    That’s a lot of companies, until you play appliance detective and discover that the $20 billion annual market for refrigerators, ovens, washers, and other major home appliances isn’t [...]

  • Internet Enabled Wall Ovens- Now your Blackberry can make dinner
    March 8th, 2007

    Ah those were the days. Mom in the kitchen cooking dinner (chops, potatos, peas) while we all played tag outside for hours until she finally called as the sun came down “Dinner” and we slowly worked our way back home for a family dinner. But what happens if the boys [...]

  • Whirlpool seeks new Maytag Repairman
    February 1st, 2007

    Whirlpool Corp. is launching a nationwide search for someone to portray the Maytag Repairman — the lonely, iconic character that has represented Maytag for 40 years.
    The Repairman has been under new ownership since Whirlpool purchased the Newton-based Maytag in March and announced that all Maytag’s Newton operations would close by the end of 2007.
    The new [...]

  • Kitchen Appliance News - August 2006
    August 15th, 2006

    When there were three major TV networks, appliances were fewer and simpler. WJAC-TV has an article Kitchen Appliance Features You Need and Don’t Need which helps you to decide which features should you pay for, and which ones should you forget?
    For ranges:
    For electric ranges, smooth glass surfaces are better because the coils on older [...]

  • If You Can’t Stand the Kitchen Heat, Try Appliances Alfresco
    July 11th, 2006

    It’s July and maybe you haven’t yet emptied the Independence Day charcoal ash from the bottom of your Weber kettle grill. You’d like to figure out a way to heat up your house by boiling corn on the cob or macaroni or potatos to make salads to go along with the remaining summer barbeques you’re [...]

  • Refrigerator Sex Appeal???
    June 22nd, 2006

    Hey, I didn’t put those words together in the first sentence of this Orlando Sentinel article entitled
    See hot new ideas found in the fridge
    Some of today’s models go high tech and high style, making food storage and cleanup a little cooler
    Refrigerators may lack the sex appeal of other swanky kitchen appliances, but that image [...]