DIY Product Reviews

The time of year to get the best deal on a new refrigerator is the spring. This is when most manufactures change models. So the stores will have a lot of closeouts before the new models arrive. This year it is the same, but EVEN better! The EPA updated the requirements for the Energy Star rating on new refrigerators and most refrigerators do not meet the new standard. That means you will see about 75% off the current models being replaced by August. The first of the new appliance models will be available in April, so start looking for deals in early April. This could prove to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Replacing your old refrigerator with a new E-Star model will also save you a lot of money every month.

• A refrigerator built before 1980 cost over $250 per year to operate compared to $50-60 per year today.
• A 2008 model will use 40% less energy than a refrigerator built in 2001.
• A 2008 model used half the energy than a refrigerator built in 1993.

If you are thinking about a new refrigerator the time might be just about right. Also, when shopping remember to ask for more of a discount…the worst thing they can say is no. For other appliances a new washer or dryers are usually best to buy in the spring. The best time to buy a new dishwasher or range is the fall. Small Appliances will vary, but you will find some sales around Mother’s Day. Happy Shopping!

If you are in the market for a new vacuum cleaner and you can’t decide between two of the market leaders: Dyson “Animal” DC17 and Oreck. Well, this article is definitely worth the read. Beyond this introduction we will compare and contrast the Dyson “Animal” and Oreck. If you feel that the comparison is somewhat bias; we beg to reconsider and hear us say: We call it as we see it!

Weight – In all honesty, no one wants to lug around a heavy vacuum cleaner, especially when going up and down the stairs. That is the reason why Oreck takes this category hands down. Nothing beats the Oreck when it comes to weight. Oreck weighs in at less than 10 pounds while the Dyson Animal reaches over double of that at 19 lbs.

Attachments – The Oreck does not have on board attachemts, but does come with another small vac that does. But, be warned, lugging around the attachment and switching from one to another can be very cumbersome. Changing attachments with the Oreck can take time. You may have to walk back to your closet where you store the attachments or you can carry them with you when you vacuum (that can be both irritating and time consuming). The Dyson Animal on the other hand has all the attachments you need in the main body, so when you take it out of storage, you know that you have everything you need gliding along with you.

Power – There have been a lot of experiments that proves that the Dyson Animal have greater sucking power than that of the Oreck. One experiment was done where the path of a thoroughly cleaned test area by Oreck was followed through by a Dyson Animal. Despite the seemingly great job done by Oreck, the Dyson still managed to suck up a lot of dirt and grime.

Style – This category is undeniable, even you dear reader would agree that this goes to the Dyson. The Oreck just seems to be a thing of the past compared to the Dyson’s sleek lines. It sure makes any home gadget geek’s mouth water.

Price – You do have to pay for beauty. Outer beauty that is! The sleek and beautiful Dyson Animal DC17 is worth a lot more money than the Oreck. So, we give this category to the Oreck. It is slightly more affordable than the Dyson and is able to do the job it was intended to do.

Filtration: After you need to suck up the dirt, you don’t want it to be released back into the air. All the current model Dyson’s are certified asthma friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (expect DC21 Canister). The Dyson uses a lifetime hepa filter. Only the XL21 Titanium from Oreck uses a hepa filter.

Though it may seem that the Dyson Animal is ahead of Oreck in the Vacuum cleaner race, all we can say is to take a deep breath and wait. Oreck will undoubtedly come up with a model that will rival that of the Dyson “Animal”. In fact, it may be already in the works (No exact facts from Oreck, just a bit of friendly speculation). So, go ahead and hold your breathe… we assure you that you won’t be needing magician like feats, because it won’t be long till Oreck comes a-calling and the Vacuum wars will be on again. Perhaps there may even be a new contender.  This has become a never ending quest to find the best vacuum cleaner.

Installing a Bosch dishwasher is very similar to any other dishwasher, with a few minor changes.  All dishwashers have three main lines to connect, the water supply, the drain line, and the electrical.

If you are replacing an exisiting dishwasher the current one needs to be removed.

Removing a Dishwasher 

Step 1 - Turn of the power at the breaker box.  Test the dishwasher to make sure you got the right one.  Don’t always beilive the handwritten pencil marks on the inside of the door.

Step 2 - Disconnect the hot water supply to the dishwasher at the valve.  Older gate valves do were out over time and might leak even when turned off.  Have a empty pan handy to catch the drips.

Step 3 - Remove the toe kick panel to gain access the the electrical box.  Disconnect the wires and be sure they are free to pull out of the old dishwasher.

Step 4 - Disconnect the drain line from the garbage disposal.  There might be water in the line so be ready with another pan.

Step 5 - Remove the two screws on the top of side of the dishwasher holding it to the cabinet.  Place a piece of cardboard in front of the dishwasher.  Pull the old dishwasher out and onto the cardboard.  This will prevent any damage to the floor.

Installing Your New Bosch Dishwasher 

Step 1 - Install a new water supply line and pull it into the dishwasher cabinet.  I like the braided stainless steel lines.  They are burst proof and you don’t need to use compression fittings.

Step 2 - Get the electrical supply in place and ready to be connected.  If you dishwasher plugs in line up the cord with the channel on the bottom of the dishwasher.  The installation manual will give you the placement you need.

Step 3 - The installation manual will also show where you need to place the water supply line.  Lay them in place then tape them to the floor.

Step 4 - Place the new dishwasher on a piece of cardboard and position it in front of the opening.  Feed the drain line through the existing hole and pull it as far as you can.  Start sliding the Bosch dishwasher back into the opening.  (TIP: A second person can be useful to pull the drain line through at you push it back.

Step 5- Make the three connections and level the dishwasher.  Use the brackets to secure it to the underside of the counter top or the sides of the cabinet.

With a little extra measuring installing a Bosch dishwasher can be very easy.

Fisher and Paykel is a company that has been around since the 1930s. They were one of the first companies that advocated designing their own products because they were burned by the expensive rates of licensure. As a result, Fisher and Paykel were able to come up with their own line of appliances so that they can effectively control the quality as well as create affordable appliances for their clients. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Ovens – Fisher and Paykel offer a wide array of Ovens. They come in professional looking stainless steel finishes while others are in glossy black. Some are also made to blend with the interior of the kitchen. One of Fisher and Paykel’s prominent ovens is the OS3002SS Stainless Steel Single Oven. This oven comes with a convection oven feature and it is built in to the kitchen cabinetry. In the Electric oven genre, Fisher and Paykel is able to offer their clients the OB24SDPX1 Electric Single Oven, it is capable of 2.0 cu. Ft. cooking space.  This is one of the only 24 inch professional style wall ovens available. It has a built in cooling fan and you can program it according to your preferred cooking times. Fisher and Paykel also have great Double ovens. One of them is the sleek Titan OD301M (OD302SS) Electric Double oven. This double oven has a self cleaning feature and you can bake, roast and boil with it. The Fisher and Paykel Titan also comes in a single oven variety the OS301M  (OS302SS) Electric Single Oven, the single oven comes with the similar features of its double door cousin.

Dishwashers – Dishwashers have undoubtedly made life a little bit easier. Fisher and Paykel makes this household chore easier with their Dishwasher machine product like the DD603SS (DD605 SS).  It has 9 wash cycles with 12 place settings as well as an anti flooding device and an adjustable rack. Another Dishwasher from Fisher and Paykel is the DD603IH (DD605IH) Built in Dishwasher. This dishwasher has 9 cycles and 14 place settings and is made to be built in with the cabinetry. The main difference between the DD603 and the DD605 is the silverware rack and and the sound insulation. A single drawer model is also available for smaller kitchens (DS603SS or DD605SS).  All of Fisher and Paykel’s dishwashers have thick sound insulation so that you would not be bothered by a noisy kitchen machine. Like the Ovens, Fisher and Paykel’s Dishwashers also come in a variety of colors and designs suited to fit your lifestyle.

Refrigerators – Fridges are one of the biggest selling kitchen use products in the Market. One of Fisher and Paykel’s refrigerators is the Active Smart E522BR Stainless Steel, Bottom Freezer Refrigerator. It is a free standing appliance and has a total volume capacity of 15.96 cu. Ft. Another Fridge for Fisher and Paykel is the E522BLXFD stainless steel, bottom freezer refrigerator. This fridge boasts of 4 shelves and has a total volume capacity of 18.33 cu. Ft.  Fisher and Paykel has also introduced a french door model to the US market, the  RF201ADUX.  This model will prove itself as a great miser of space with a lot of storage flexibility.

Washers – Fisher and Paykel has a wide variety of washer to offer their clientele. One of these washers is the Fisher and Paykel Intuitive Eco IWL16 that features electronic touch. It has varying wash presets as well as spin speeds of up to 1000 rpm. It also has a fabric softener dispenser. Another Washer is the Fisher and Paykel EcoSmart GWL15. It has an electronic touch control and also has a delayed start timer as well as an End of Cycle Timer with white exterior color.   The new Aqua Smart washers (WL26CW2 or WL37T26DW1) are North America’s most energy efficient clothes washer.  The difference between the two models is just the control panel.

Fisher and Paykel have a wide variety of products that range from kitchen to other household products. In effect, this gives their customers a good product line up to choose from, while providing the best of customer support.