Well using, fine living - Home appliances using tips
2008-08-04

Here are two things we must pay attention to when using home appliances- safety and energy saving. About safety The records of home fires reveal something really terrific and calls for concern. The record shows that in the 1990s, thousands of homes were set on fire just due to malfunctioning of electrical household appliances. What is more anxious, it will bring not only the fire, but also electric shocks and other dangers to family. So we should know these must-follow tips of our household appliances to keep our house from accidents. 1. Read and follow the instructions for all appliances so you understand how they work. Keep the owner's manual in a convenient place to refer to when needed. Also, read and follow the warning labels. 2. Never use a range, oven, or dryer to heat your home. When you misuse gas appliances in this way, they can produce fatal amounts of carbon monoxide. They can produce high levels of nitrogen dioxide, too. 3. Never ignore a safety device when it shuts off an appliance. It means that something is wrong. Read your appliance instructions to find out what you should do or have a professional check out the problem. 4. Never ignore the strange smell or sound. This usually indicates that the appliance is not operating properly. In most cases you should shut off the appliance and other appliances in the area. 5. Remove appliances from the power point by holding the plug, not by pulling the cord. 6. Never leave your home with appliances such as heaters, ovens and stove-tops operating. 7. Remove any build-up of materials around the electric motor of exhaust fans (eg. fluff, dust, lint, etc) More or less these are the key areas related to the handling of electrical appliances at home. And safety should be the primary concern in every household regarding their application.

Must to know: we need professional help .Even if you consider yourself to be handy around the home, DO NOT attempt electrical work of any kind. ALWAYS get it done by a registered electrical contractor - knowledge and experience of that person is your best protection. About energy saving Whether your appliances are manufactured to be energy efficient or not, do you know its overall energy consumption will heavily depend on how you use them? When it comes to buying a new appliance for the kitchen, do you know it can be false economy to choose the cheapest, the running cost of the product has to be taken into consideration? 

See how much electricity each of your appliances uses. Aquarium = 50-1210 Watts Clock radio = 10 Coffee maker = 900-1200 Clothes washer = 350-500 Clothes dryer = 1800-5000 Dishwasher = 1200-2400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption) Dehumidifier = 785 Electric blanket - Single/Double = 60 / 100 Ceiling fan = 65-175 Window fan = 55-250 Furnace = 750 Whole house = 240-750 Hair dryer = 1200-1875 Heater (portable) = 750-1500 Clothes Iron = 1000-1800 Microwave oven = 750-1100 Personal Computer: CPU - awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or less Monitor - awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or less Laptop = 50 Radio (stereo) = 400 Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) = 725 Television (color): 19" = 110 27" = 113 36" = 133 53"-61" Projection = 170 Flat Screen = 120 Toaster = 800-1400 Toaster Oven = 1225 VCR/DVD = 17-21 /20-25 Vacuum cleaner = 1000-1440 Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500-5500 Water pump (deep well) = 250-1100 Water bed (w/ heater, no cover) = 120-380 Yes, there are some ways you use appliances that make those items use more electricity, and here are a few places where you can make some quick improvements 1.switch them off When not in use, appliances should be switched off and unpluged to save the energy used by lights and displays. 2. control the temperature Manage home heating and cooling by setting thermostats appropriately - a couple of degrees up in summer and a couple of degrees down in winter. 3. clean filters regularly Filters should be cleaned regularly to keep appliances running efficiently, and it is crucial to ensure appliances are properly pluged in, if not, waste water that has not been properly treated can pollute storm drains and rivers, harming wildlife. 4. take care of your refrigerator Refrigerators are the topmost consumer of electricity among all home appliances. Don’t store hot food or beverages in the fridge, Clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator regularly, always make sure that refrigerator seals and freezer doors are fitting tightly. 5. use washing machines and dishwashers more efficiently More energy savings can be made simply. By washing clothes at 30 degrees saves energy and the latest detergents wash just as well at low temperatures. Also, it is better to run washing machines and dishwashers less often with full loads, as half-load settings use the same amount of water as a full load and more than half the energy. 6. think twice before turning on the oven. Heating food in the microwave uses only 20 percent of the energy required by a full-sized oven. And while the second-hand heat from the oven may be welcome in winter, it can put an added load on your air conditioner in warmer months. 7. Spend less for hot water. Set the hot water heater at 120° F (or the "low" setting), which is hot enough for most needs. If the tank feels warm to the touch, consider wrapping it with conventional insulation or a blanket made for that purpose. Saving on energy consumption is imperative nowadays. As a responsible individual, you should make sure you are doing your share in energy conservation, especially during these times when energy sources are becoming more expensive and are slowly depleting