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Tips And Ideas For Large Home Appliances

Published at 02/27/2012 06:32:19

Introduction

Large home appliances have been in our lives for decades, but it's only in recent years that there has been a major focus on these machines. One of the primary reasons consumers are more attuned to buying and using large home appliances is the spike in energy and utility costs, including electricity, natural gas and water. People are now focused on using energy-efficient appliances to prevent high monthly utility bills. Also, people are becoming more environmentally aware, attempting to conserve natural resources for future generations.

Another reason people focus on large home appliances is that they can add value to a home, which is always a good thing for owners looking to sell now or later. In fact, prospective home buyers will ask for a discount on the total selling price of a home if the appliances are old, outdated or malfunctioning. Anyone who is a new homeowner wants to get large home appliance purchases right the first time because so much money goes towards buying these machines. It becomes a financial loss if owners have to replace these appliances.

Homeowners can consider a few tips and ideas when buying and using large home appliances.

Step 1

Obtain energy-efficient, large home appliances. If you plan on living in the home for several years after buying new large home appliances, then you can do your household a favor by paying close attention to the energy rating of the machine. The less electricity, natural gas and water that an appliance uses, the more you can save towards other household expenses, such as the mortgage or insurance.

Most people are familiar with the Energy Star rating that appears on a yellow tag behind an appliance. Even if an appliance does not carry this rating, you can look closely at energy saving features of the machine. For example, most modern front loading washers are called high-efficiency, or HE, washers. These machines use less water in comparison to top loaders.

Step 2

Purchase matching large home appliances. Stainless steel is pretty popular, but there are other finishes and designs that you can look into, such as wood paneling on the refrigerator and range. You can impress visitors by taking the time and spending the money on matching appliances. For the future, potential home buyers would be impressed by matching appliances.

Step 3

Read the instruction manual for large home appliances before calling a technician. Many people are accustomed to calling a professional repair technician when the refrigerator, dishwasher or range stop working. However, manufacturers include troubleshooting steps in the back of the manual that may quickly remedy the problem.

Tips

Consider obtaining an extended appliance warranty beyond the standard one-year warranty. These warranties are often transferable to new owners.

Sources and Citations

  1. "Appliance Reviews: Reliable brands from Consumer Reports ." Consumer Reports: Expert product reviews and product Ratings from our test labs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/index.htm>.
  2. "Appliances Ideas and Project Tools." ServiceMagic.com | Get Matched to Top-Rated Remodelers, Plumbers & More. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.servicemagic.com/resources.Appliances.1.html>.
  3. "GE Design Center - Exquisite Kitchens." GE Appliances - Kitchen Appliances, Refrigerator, Dishwasher. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.geappliances.com/design_center/exquisite_kitchens/>.
  4. "Home Tips : Energy-Efficient Home Cooling Tips ." Home Tips - The Web's Most Helpful Home Improvement and Repair Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.hometips.com/diy-how-to/cooling-home-energy-efficient.html>.
  5. "How to Make Home Appliances Last Longer - My Money (usnews.com)." Business News and Financial News - US News Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2011/08/12/how-to-make-home-appliances-last-longer>.
  6. " How to Repair Household Appliances | The Family Handyman." DIY Home Improvement Projects – Do It Yourself Home Repair Guides - Family Handyman. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Home-Repair/Appliance-Repair/how-to-repair-household-appliances>.
  7. "Universal Design Kitchen, tips." GE Appliances - Kitchen Appliances, Refrigerator, Dishwasher. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://www.geappliances.com/design_center/universal_design/>.
  8. "Where to buy appliances - Yahoo! Finance." Yahoo! Finance - Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2012. <http://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-buy-appliances-040000581.html>.

 

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