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A new washing machine can not only be a big investment, if it’s not used properly, it can have the power to cause great damage with floods of water. We’ve gathered some helpful tips for washer usage here:
If you found these useful you can read more at appliance411
Today’s Los Angeles Times reviewed some interesting devices for the health conscious. Here’s one of their reviews for the Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor
If you’re planning to give someone a scale for the holidays, you’ve already shown a willingness to take risks. (Certain people would see a gift-wrapped scale as an invitation for violence.) But some gambles are doomed from the start.
Consider the Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor, sold for about $130. One of the scale’s main selling points is that it purportedly measures levels of visceral fat, the kind that builds up around the intestines and other organs. Experts believe that visceral fat can throw off a person’s metabolism, greatly increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Unfortunately, no bathroom scale can accurately measure visceral fat, says Kenneth Ellis, principal investigator of the Body Composition Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “It really surprises me that they are claiming to do it,” he says. Instead, scales such as the Ironman can make only a rough estimate based on a person’s weight and the ease with which a small jolt of electricity runs through the body. (Electricity moves easily through lean tissue, but lots of fat will make for a sluggish signal.)
Two recent studies from Japan have found that electricity-based estimates of visceral fat can be off by as much as 50%. Estimates of total body fat would be somewhat more reliable, Ellis says, but they’re still limited by the fact that they can measure only the electricity that flows up one leg and down the other. Anything you’re carrying above the waist would be essentially invisible to the machine.
The only way to accurately measure visceral fat is to have a CT scan or similar high-tech test. But, in most cases, Ellis says, your body mass index — a calculation based on your height and weight — will tell you all you need know. Unless you’re muscle-bound, a BMI of 30 strongly suggests that you have too much fat — visceral and otherwise — for your own good.
If you’d like to be not only a health conscious, but well informed consumer, you can read about the StressEraser and the Sleeptracker here for more information about these health related appliances.
Name of Product: Heat Recovery Ventilators
Units: About 1,100
Manufacturer: Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada
Hazard: The thermal protector in these units can fail, posing a potential fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves heat recovery ventilators made between October 2006 and August 2007, and have the following brand names and model numbers:
Brand Models
Venmar 40225
Venmar AVS 457XX, 16016XX, 43XXX, 451XX, 45400, 45709IEH, C32042
Vane 458XX, 16016XX, 43405, 43828, 45405, 45808
Rheem, Ruud, Protech 84-ERVXXX, 84-HRVXXX
Carrier ERVCCLHU1200, HRVCCLHA1250, HRVCCSVU1200, ERVCCLHU1150,
HRVCCLHA1150, HRVCCLVU1150, HRVCCLVU1200, HRVCCSVU1150
Bryant ERVBBLHU1200, HRVBBLHA1250, HRVBBSVU1200
Broan ERV200HC, HRV200H, HRV100H
Sold at: Heating, ventilating and air conditioning wholesale distributors, dealers and contractors, and building supply stores nationwide from October 2006 through December 2007 for between $700 and $2,500.
Manufactured in: Canada
Remedy: Consumers should immediately turn off and unplug their ventilators. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to schedule an inspection and repair.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Venmar Ventilation toll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.venmar.ca
I recently overhead someone ask a friend: ‘how did we ever find out anything before Google?’. I gave away my internet age when I said “with altavista” and added for good measure – in a gopher guide. But nevertheless, the point stands. Google is just the greatest mindshare search tool, but its just a gateway into the riches of the internet. One of the great killer aps of customer service is the ability of any manufacturer to make all of their manuals available instantly to their customers.
My ATT answering machine phone is acting weird, and my wife asked me to find the manual. After 10 minutes of wasting my time in paper files, I just did a quick search and came up with this page listing dozens of PDF manuals to various AT&T phones.
One of our goals here is to create a single point resource with as many manuals as we can hunt down. So here’s a start.
[Read more…] about Finding Your Inner Guide – or at Least a PDF Manual
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 to prevent fingerprints. None of the cleaners could do that.
Food on stainless samples testers also put dollops of foods like peanut butter and raspberry jelly on stainless-steel samples. They also used condiments like ketchup and mustard.
Testing, the stains sat for at least 24 hours. Then testers rinsed the samples, cleaned them following the manufacturers’ instructions, and sized up how well the cleaners removed stains.
“Overall, all six cleaners were very effective, except when it came to mustard. They all seemed to leave some mustard stain behind on the surface.”
For more tips and to see which product was least likely to leave streaks, read the whole story at winknews.com.
Name of Product: Billy Goat MultiVac Outdoor Vacuums
Units: About 1,600
Manufacturer: Billy Goat Industries Inc, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Hazard: The vacuum’s fuel tank could crack and leak fuel. If gasoline leaking from the fuel tank is ignited, a fire or explosion can occur. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recalled outdoor vacuum is black and green with a red motor housing. “Billy Goat” is printed on the vacuum’s bag. Only outdoor vacuums with the following model and serial numbers are included in the recall. The model and serial numbers are printed on a label located directly below the height adjustment crank on the left side of the vacuum.
Models Serial Numbers
MV650H
MV650SPH 061107xxx
061807xxx
062507xxx
070907xxx
072407xxx
073007xxx 080607xxx
081307xxx
082007xxx
082707xxx
090407xxx
091007xxx
Sold at: Outdoor power equipment and rental dealers nationwide from June 2007 through November 2007 for between $1,500 and $1,850.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled outdoor vacuums and contact any Billy Goat or Honda Lawn and Garden dealer for a free fuel tank replacement. Registered owners of the recalled vacuums will be mailed a notice.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Honda at (800) 426-7701 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hondapowerequipment.com
One of the best things about my Bosch dishwasher is its sound- or lack of it. My previous dishwasher could be heard throughout our house so we really appreciate the quiet.
Newer houses have open floor plans and consumers are looking for quieter appliances that allow families to work, talk and play without the noise older appliances make.
But building a quieter dishwasher is more about decibels than marketing. In the past 18 months, appliance makers have come together to create an industry standard for monitoring dishwasher sound levels after years of using their own criteria for measuring sound.
Older dishwashers — those 10 years old or more — have earsplitting decibels of 65 or higher. (The lower the decibel level, the quieter the machine.) Less expensive dishwashers crank out decibel levels above 60 decibels, while top-end models are comparatively whisper-quiet at 45 decibels.
The two main sources of dishwasher noise are the pump and water sloshing against the tub walls. To combat noise, manufacturers surround the noisemakers with a thick layer of mastic, a stiff insulator that muffles lower noise frequencies. The mastic is wrapped around the tub and pump compartments, then encased in a fluffy blanket of insulation to dampen higher frequencies.
Our Bosch is so quiet, I have mistakenly opened it mid-cycle, completely surprised it was running even though I was standing in front of it. Bosch has became aware of this happening in many households and added an”on” light that shines on the floor when the washer is running.
A dishwasher so quiet, you don’t know it’s on…you gotta love it.
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 save money cut their energy costs but also reduced overall power consumption during peak use periods, when the nation’s aging power grid is most susceptible to breakdowns.
The whole story is here, and is an easy and informative read. I would be more than happy to have a dryer that might, if the need arises, shift in mid load to tumbling without heat for a short while, or have my refrigerator compressor run a bit less if it meant saving energy and possibly preventing a large power outage.
Many people believe that an air cleaner will help their family be healthier. Using an air cleaner or air purifier in your home supposedly helps reduce dust, pollen and other respiratory irritants. There are three types of air cleaners, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, electrostatic precipitators, and ozone generators.
From the Arizona Daily Star:
1. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters: Consumer Reports says air cleaners with these filters are among the best performers. But homeowners can more easily improve their indoor air with other methods, such as banning indoor smoking, keeping pets out of bedrooms, removing carpeting and other dust-mite havens and opening windows, the magazine says.
2. Electrostatic precipitators: They apply an electrical charge to particles and deposit them onto filters. They commonly emit small amounts of ozone as a byproduct. This month, Consumer Reports withdrew its endorsement of them after 15 years of recommending some models, saying, “We now believe that air purifiers that emit even small amounts of ozone are not your best choice.”
Ozone is a common air pollutant, an indicator of smog’s presence. The Environmental Protection Agency says that relatively low ozone levels can cause respiratory problems.
3. Ozone generators: Manufacturers say that ozone will purify the air, but Consumer Reports recommends against such machines, saying its tests have found that their ozone production generally exceeded federal Food and Drug Administration limits of 50 parts per billion set for medical devices. The California Air Resources Board just approved new rules, requiring such generators to limit ozone to 50 ppb by Dec. 31, 2008.
Newer houses with better insulation, double-paned windows and weatherstripped doors save energy, but they also seal pollutants into our homes. I try to limit my impact on the environment. Air cleaners are just another electronic device to run, with uncertain results. My choice is to vacuum and wash floors and bedding regularly and to open windows daily. Those are results you can see.
As the days get colder, many people are bringing their electric heaters out for the season. 
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the “best source of information about home appliances and the industry www.heatersafety.org. Tip number seven is one people might not be aware of:
Unless the heater is designed for outdoor use or in bathrooms, DO NOT use in damp or wet areas. Parts in the heater may be damaged by moisture.
Have a warm and safe winter!