New Home Appliance Surprises
What to expect from your new appliances If you're buying new appliances for the first time in the last ten years or more, there is much you need to know about today's appliances that may be different from your old appliances. Appliances are more energy efficient than ever before. Energy standards continue to ratchet down. Energy Star ratings require appliances to exceed federal energy guidelines by at least 20%. Appliances that use water, i.e. dishwashers and washing machines operate on much less water than before. Standards continue to evolve. Kitchens must have GFCI outlets, ranges require anti-tip devices, and phosphates have been removed from dishwasher detergents. Not only have new laws and standards influenced the design of appliances, consumer expectations have ramped up, and savvy buyers want more for their hard earned dollars. In addition, advanced technology gives manufacturers new capabilities. As a result of new constraints and requirements, buyers need to be aware of what appliance manufacturers have done to address these challenges. Refrigerators Most of today's refrigerators use about the same electricity as a lightbulb. One way this is done is to use smaller compressors that run on far less electricity. They keep temperatures steady by running most or all of the time, even though they draw very little electricity. So if you think that your new refrigerator is running too frequently, it may well be that it is operating the way it was designed. Ranges Grandma's stove had massive cast iron burners and weighed hundreds of pounds.
