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Appliance Maintenance Tips and Lifespan Estimates

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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 to do: Locate the condenser coils by checking your owner’s manual. Clean them by unplugging the fridge and removing dust gently with a broom or brush. Check the seals by sliding a piece of paper in the closed door. If it falls out, you need to replace your seals. And defrosting regularly can’t hurt.

Inspected and cleaned: Have it done if your at-home remedies don’t work or if there are noises you can’t locate.

Washer, dryer

Average life span: Washer: 12 years; Dryer: 14 years

What to do: Clean the dryer’s lint filter and hoses. Kinks or ridges can cause highly flammable lint to build up, a major cause of fire.

Inspected and cleaned: Replace the hoses on your washing machine every 3 to 5 years.

Window air conditioner

Average life span: 13 years

What you need to do: Changing the air filter every month helps the system run more efficiently and improves air quality. Dirt and neglect are the main causes of AC failures, so clean it well.

Inspected and cleaned: Do it twice a year, usually fall and spring.

Garbage disposal

Average life span: 13 years

What you need to do: Keep anything stringy, like pumpkin pulp, out of it. Also leave out tough produce, anything hard that can dull the blades, and grease, which can clog your pipes.

Inspected and cleaned: Have this looked at whenever your plumbing is checked.

Microwave

Average life span: 5 to 8 years

What you need to do: Microwaves are simple appliances; they don’t know the difference between the food you want cooked and old splatters in the chamber, so keep it clean and don’t exceed the recommended usage.

Inspected and cleaned: Anytime there’s a problem. You should never attempt to work on it yourself.

Dishwasher

Average life span: 9 to 12 years

What you need to do: Be mindful of what you put in it. Leave out small pieces that can get lodged in the drain and make sure everything is dishwasher-safe. Use a powdered detergent, because gels can cloud dispenser and glasswear. Spend the few dollars on a rinse aid, such as Jet-Dry, every month or so.

Inspected and cleaned: Every 2 to 3 years.

Water heater

Average life span: electric: 6 to 14 years; gas: 5 to 9 years

What you need to do: Check your hoses, fittings and release valves. Also watch for damaged areas on the outside of the tank and leaking.

Inspected and cleaned: Every couple of years.

Stove

Average life span: electric, 16 years; gas, 19 years

What you need to do: Check temperature with a thermometer or by following a basic white cake mix and making sure it cooks correctly. Keep it clean inside and out, using nonabrasive cleaners. Check your seals and the hinges, which can bend over time and let heat escape.

Inspected and cleaned: Any time it’s not heating properly.

Central air system

Average life span: 10 to 20 years

What you need to do: Check for leaks around the system and with hose connections. You should also change your filter monthly.

Inspect and cleaned: Seasonally

Is a Steam Appliance Right for You?

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Steam is hot right now.  It is showing up in a variety of appliance and is touted as the way to sanitize, freshen and even shorten cleaning times. Consumer Reports weighed in on steam use in appliances at abclocal.go.com sharing their opinion of steam’s usefulness.

One thing to be aware of before even considering a steam unit is the cost:

Kimberly Janeway from Consumer Reports, says “Some cost twice as much or even more than the best buys we recommend, which don’t have a steam feature.”
The steam feature not only adds to an appliance’s price, it also adds time to wash cycles. For example, for the clothes washers, it added as much as 25 minutes. For the dishwashers, it added up to 45 minutes.
Consumer Reports’ Emilio Gonzalez just tested two washing machines with steam modes from Kenmore and Whirlpool. Both companies claim their steam features boost cleaning performance and remove stains better.
“While the washers did better at removing stains when using the steam setting, they still cleaned very well even without the steam,” says Gonzalez.
Consumer Reports also tested the steam settings of Kenmore and Whirlpool dryers. Testers used wrinkled shirts exposed to cigarette smoke.
“The dryers got rid of most of the odors and wrinkles from the shirts, although there were wrinkles still left on the sleeves. So it’s a refresher, but not a replacement, for going to the dry cleaner,” says Janeway.
New dishwashers made by Jenn-Air, LG, Maytag, and Kenmore also have a steam-cleaning feature. Consumer Reports put them through one of its toughest food cleaning challenges: removing baked on brownie batter.
Janeway says “Steam only improved cleaning slightly on all four dishwashers.”
So while steam may be the hot new trend in appliances, Consumer Reports says it’s an extra feature that’s not worth the extra money.

So, depending on your opinion of Consumer Reports, you have the beginnings of an answer to the question- Is a steam appliance right for you?

Appliance Sales are Down

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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 sector, which was dragged down by a nearly 60 percent drop in room air shipments. The decline was only minimally offset by a 2.8 percent increase in dehumidifier sales, AC’s sister category.

The cooking category also felt the heat, down 15.6 percent year-over-year to nearly 1.2 million units. Leading the decline was microwave ovens, off nearly 19 percent in January. Among ranges, ovens and cooktops, gas-fueled models fell 10.7 percent while electric models saw an 11 percent decline last month. Gas cooktops were singed by a 17.2 percent decline, marginally offset by a 1.2 percent increase in gas oven shipments. By contrast, electric cooktops enjoyed a 5.1 percent gain, while shipments of electric ovens dropped 10.6 percent.

Among the other core appliance categories, kitchen cleanup dropped nearly 14 percent to some 808,300 units, food preservation fell nearly 9 percent to approximately 623,700 units and home laundry slipped 3.1 percent to about 964,000 units.

There were, however, several bright spots. Besides the gain in electric cooktops, portable dishwashers saw shipments climb 21.3 percent and wholesale sales of gas clothes dryers were up nearly 6 percent. But among their category counterparts, electric dryers declined 3.1 percent and washing machine shipments were off by 4.5 percent, to about 519,300 units. Similarly, shipments of build-in dishwashers declined 7.8 percent, disposers fell 19.4 percent and compactors dropped 19.5 percent.

Within food preservation, refrigerator shipments declined 8.8 percent to some 513,700 units while freestanding freezers fell 9.5 percent, led by a 12.7 percent decline in chest-style models.

Summarizing the month is the AHAM 6, an amalgam of the industry’s core washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, range and oven categories. Factory shipments for that grouping fell 7 percent in January, to 2.4 million units.

Recall: Salton Inc. Electric Toasters Due to Fire Hazard

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Name of Product: Electric Toasters

Units: About 12,000

Distributor: Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.

Hazard: The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: This recall involves the chrome two-slice electric toasters sold under the following brands: Farberware (model # FCT200 or FCT100), Hoffritz (model # HZT2 and HZT2M), and Russell Hobbs (model #RH2MT). The brand name and model number are printed on a plate located on the underside of the toaster.

Sold by: Online and retail liquidators nationwide from January 2000 through December 2007 for between $40 and $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and cut off the power cord where it enters the body of the toaster. Consumers who return the power cord in the prepaid envelope that will be provided will receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: Contact Salton at (800) 233-9054 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.esalton.com

Note: About 13,000 toasters of similar model were recalled by QVC in December 2007.


Hamilton Beach Party Crock

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Here’s a twist on the crockpot and fondue pot. Hamilton Beach’s Party Crock Cookset. This little pot would be great for entertaining. The 1.5 quart pot holds dips or side dishes on your buffet and can go from the refrigerator to the heating base to the table so you can prepare in advance and have fewer dishes to clean. The warming stand uses a tea candle so you don’t have to worry about guests tripping over the cord. It is available in red, blue, red heart shape, and orange pumpkin shape. It retails for $30-$35.

A Source for Antique Replica and Retro Style Kitchens

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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 style to any home. Choose one piece as an accent or the full ensemble to complete a spectacular antique kitchen. Ranges and refrigerators are carefully handcrafted, offer professional state-of-the-art features, come in six colors, and have a multitude of options and trims. Ranges have self-cleaning ovens, eleven range tops to choose from including induction, and come in two different sizes for your convenience.

Northstar

The Elmira Northstar line is definitely a state-of-the-art retro trip! Nine cool colors and chrome accents allow the Northstar ranges, refrigerators, and range hoods to transform your kitchen into one of style and sophistication. The Northstar refrigerator is the coolest appliance you’ll ever own with its optional ice maker, Energy Star rating, 19 cu. ft. of storage, Visi-shelving, and adjustable door bins.

Northstar ranges offer full-sized, self-cleaning ovens (convection optional), high-speed radiant elements or high power sealed gas burners, delayed-start bake/clean, and much more. Complete the retro look with a dishwasher door panel and a professional-quality Northstar range hood, which offers four speeds, outside-vented fan, and dual halogen lights.

We have not yet reviewed these appliances, but they sure look fun, while still providing the conveniences we are accustomed to finding in our 21st century kitchens.

LG and GE to Share Patents

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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 to deliver winning products and move us further toward our goal of becoming one of the top global brands in consumer electronics and home appliances,” said Young Ha Lee, president and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Appliance Company. “Our long history of working together with GE will help us take advantage of this agreement even more quickly.

“This agreement is part of a win-win strategy for both GE and LG,” said Lynn S. Pendergrass, president and CEO, GE Consumer and Industrial—Americas. “We expect the synergies resulting from the strong relationship between our two companies will contribute substantially to the success of both GE and LG.”

LG and GE have collaborated on cooking appliances since 1999, both in technologies and product development. The companies say the new agreement will help the companies strengthen their competitiveness worldwide. It will be especially helpful to LG, it said, in its push to expand its presence in digital appliances globally. The company currently sells its products through all three of the top retailers in North America: The Home Depot, Sears and Best Buy.

LG has previously entered into key partnerships with other top companies to build its technology and customer base. In 2000 the company partnered with Matsushita’s air-conditioning division and in 2001 LG allied itself with both Microsoft and Intel in the home networking sector.

The Dishwasher of the Future – A Shape Shifter

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Newscientist.com has found a great solution to that half-filled smelly dishwasher that you feel guilty running because it will waste water- The Shape Shifting Dishwasher –

A problem with conventional dishwashers is that to save water, energy and detergent, people wait until the machine is full before switching it on.

But if the dishwasher is in a single-person household, or one where people often eat out, it can take several days for the dishwasher to fill. This can lead to hygiene problems and offensive smells, and to food drying onto dishes, which is then harder to remove.

Now Paul Frigout from Coventry University has an answer in the form of a dishwasher with a movable partition. This changes the size of the washing compartment so it can accommodate small or large loads.

When the dishwasher is switched on, it washes only those dishes on one side of the partition. The other area could be used to store clean dishes, or can be used for an alternate cycle of washing while the first section is still drying.

The system is perfect for the person living alone, says Frigout.

Read the full shape-shifting dishwasher patent application

Has Stainless Peaked?

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I’m enjoying my stainless steel appliances and plan to add to the look by replacing my range hood with a stainless version, but I’m sensing that stainless may have some serious competition on the horizon.  I’m not alone with that thought, the Home and Garden people at nj.com, feel the same way:

“I think stainless has peaked,” says Mark Karas, vice president of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. That doesn’t mean stainless is going away, he says, just that it won’t get any more popular than it is now.

“If they’re replacing an appliance, they tend to stick with what they had before,” says Marc Blumenthal, vice president of B&B Appliance, with stores in Euclid and Middleburg Heights, Ohio. “If they’re remodeling, they look at it like a clean slate, a chance to do something new.”

Here are some other options:

“Integrated” is the big word in appliances these days. Refrigerators, dishwashers and warming drawers are being fitted with panels on their fronts that match the cabinetry, for a more seamless look.

Black is back. Karas says people with darker finishes on their cabinetry like black because it is not as strong a contrast as stainless or white would be. Don’t think black hides messes, Karas says. Black is reflective and shows more than you think.

White is a classic look for white or light-finish cabinets. Be careful with white, Karas says. Different manufacturers use different shades of white, and your appliances may not match.

You can go retro with vintage-look appliances.  Elmira Stove Works offers refrigerators, stoves and range hoods in glorious ’50s shades and colors.

Looking for something new? Jenn-Air recently unveiled its oiled bronze finish. It’s a deep metallic brown. Reviews, Blumenthal says, have been mixed.

So, if you are about to start a remodel, or are planning to replace many of your appliances soon, your options still include the shine of stainless, but you have a wide variety of choices opening up too.

Recall: JCPenney Recalls Cooks Deep Fryers Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

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Name of Product: Cooks Deep Fryers

Units: About 27,000

Importer: JCPenney, of Plano, Texas

Hazard: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element which can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of damaged countertops.

Description: The Cooks deep fryer has a brushed stainless steel exterior, a wire mesh basket with a handle, a lid with a window and black handles. The deep fryer has a 1/3-gallon capacity. “Cooks” is stamped on the side of the deep fryer. Model number 22016 is printed on the bottom of the deep fryer.

Sold exlusively at: JCPenney’s stores nationwide, catalog and at www.jcp.com from August 2007 through January 2008 for about $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryer and return it to the nearest JCPenney store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com

Picture of Recalled Cooks Deep Fryer