need to vent over appliances grrrr!!!!

[Irulan]

When we replaced our fridge about 10 years ago, our uility bill dropped significantly. And I too love my front loader washing machine
.

[Trek420]

When I replaced the washer drier I got a huge discount on my energy bill because my use dropped by almost 20%. It's so efficient and spins the clothes so dry that I hardly use the drier. Most go on the nifty L&L Bean wall mounted drying rack unless it's big stuff like sheets or heavy like jeans.

There was a rebate offer too, I never got that back but figure the energy bill is the rebate.

There's supposed to be a "cash for clunkers" program for appliances soon to get more people to turn in those energy hogs. Buying American would be good too (not that the Chinese don't need jobs, they're great too)

[Tuckervill]

For our wedding, we received a Black & Decker mini-food processor. We loved the thing. We used it mostly for shredding cheese, but it came out at other times. I'd never had a big FP so when I needed one about 7 years ago, I bought a really cheap(equals loud) one just so I could do this one dish and make an impression on someone (don't even remember the dish! Or the person.).

A few weeks ago I decided to make some bean dip with canned beans, garlic, etc. Threw it all in the Black & Decker and went to town on it. But then I heard a strange noise. The blade wasn't spinning. Oh darn, Old Faithful is dead. It's okay--it was TWENTY years old, after all!

Then last week when I needed marzipan and couldn't find any in my town, I decided to make some in the giant, cheap and LOUD FP. It broke, too! Expected that, eventually. Probably only used it about 4 times in 7 years, so no great loss.

My husband started looking for a new mini-FP, and read all the reviews on the new mini-Black & Deckers. Guess what they said? Not even good enough to shred cheese! Oh the irony. So, I'm getting a new, expensive (does that equal quiet? hope so) full sized Kitchen Aid FP on Friday morning.

I'm due for a new fridge, even though DH finally fixed the ice maker after about 4 years of it being broken. Can't WAIT for it to die, even though it is a pretty good one. I love having tools that really really work!

Karen

[OakLeaf]

food processor

Underpowered food processors are nothing new. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing in the context of this thread! I've been burning out blender and FP motors for 30 years making soymilk, tofu, and hummus. In the world of grinding appliances, anyway, it's definitely worth the money to get a more powerful motor, all-metal drive parts, and easy-to-find replacement blades. I think the cheap ones are mainly made for pesto and margaritas and you're really not expected to use them for anything else.

I've always drawn the line well before a Vita-Mix, although now that they come only with plastic jars, I kind of wish I'd bought one back when the jars were stainless steel...

[smilingcat]

A test engineer at my office reminded me to
use a surge protector on appliances.

If your appliance has a computer control, use a surge protector. This is true for your TV, computer, radio, washer, microwave, gas stove with digital control, refridgerator... If you see any kind of digital readout get a surge protector. And make sure it can handle the load. Dryer and electric stove would be difficult to install a surge protector since they run off 220/240V

My new washer is plugged into a surge protected outlet.
My computer is plugged into a "line conditioner" it protects against surges from lightening strikes and from brown outs.
My fridge which will be here next week will be plugged into a surge protected outlet.
Microwave is also surge protected...
And down the list it goes. For the money, its well worth it.

my public service announcement.