Consumer Reports - Appliances To Help You to Avoid Unnecessary Hassles

The advancement in technology has given us a plethora of appliances to make our lives easier and comfortable. In fact, the markets are flooded with products which will make you puzzled as to what to choose and what to reject. The situation is made worse by the fact that there are endless number of brands of the same product available in the shops. The customer really experience a dilemma regarding the purchase of a cost effective product without compromising on durability and quality. While some of us depend on our instinct or first impressions and buy a particular brand, there are people who would like to take an informed decision. Consumer reports: appliances play a significant role here in helping the customers to come to a judicious conclusion regarding the products.

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When you buy something in haste, there are chances to repent later. Consumer reports greatly help in preventing customer dissatisfaction as they buy the products after comparing different aspects of brands and products. There are many options for you to get consumer reports: appliances which are reliable and authentic. Exclusive magazines are there which contain reports on various appliances and devices. Apart from that, you can go through the reports that are available on the internet. The noteworthy fact here is that you do not have to wait to get the relevant information. Information is readily available in these sources without any delay. You can go through the consumer reports on the items you would like to purchase. Reports are available on almost all devices and appliances of human use like laptops, cell phones, dishwashers, used cars, vacuum cleaners etc.

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As far as purchase of products are concerned customer is the king. Consumer reports get reliability data from consumers who respond to its yearly reliability survey. The performance of the products are tested in labs. Thus by combining this data - reliability and performance, you can find products which are infallible and free of giving hassles. It is always advisable to check consumer reports for reliability ratings before making a major purchase. This is because simply brand name will not guarantee reliability. With the expertise of the marketing department even a sub standard product can also earn a good reputation.

Most often it has been noticed that the pricey brands are the most repair-prone. Spending more can ultimately result in more problems. Hence it should be remembered that price and reliability always do not go together. There are many products with big brand names which fared badly in consumer ratings. Finally they proved to be so.

The real advantage of consumer reports: appliances is that you can learn from other people's mistakes. You do not have to try each and every novel appliance to take a decision. The opinion of erstwhile consumers are a great help in escaping the inconveniences of purchasing a sub standard product. Rather than the tall claims of the manufacturers and marketing department, you can rely the verdict of consumers who have actually used the product.

Consumer Reports - Appliances To Help You to Avoid Unnecessary Hassles

Consumer Reports

How to Find the Best Faucet Water Filter

What's the best faucet water filter on the market, today? Let me tell you what to look for. You'll find that the "names you know and trust" often don't make the grade.

If you want to protect your health, you should choose a faucet filter that removes the widest range of contaminants. Let's look at some of the most common ones, how they are removed and which products don't do the job.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Chlorine & THMs

These two go hand in hand. Wherever you find chlorinated water, you'll find THMs. The best faucet water filter removes both of them, because THMs are known carcinogens. If you get a water quality report from your local facility, you'll see them listed as TTHMs or total trihalomethanes. The levels can be pretty high and no one really knows how much is safe.

They do know that exposure can occur through drinking or showering. So, not only do you need an effective faucet filter. You also need one for your showerhead.

Brita and PUR reduce chlorine, but not THMs. Only the 0 Ever-pure system reduces both, but there are far less expensive purifiers on the market that do the same job. Ever-Pure chooses to use reverse osmosis in all of there models. Reverse osmosis, like the old distillation devices, do nothing to remove chemicals like chlorine and THMs. Why pay for "dinosaur" devices?

Lead

A toxic heavy metal that cause learning disorders and behavioral problems. The metal builds up in our systems over time and causes nutritional deficiencies in the elderly, as well as high blood pressure and heart disease.

In order for a faucet filter to remove all traces of the common contaminant, it must contain an ion exchange step. Reverse osmosis will only reduce the lead content. Distillation will remove lead, but that's simply not the best choice for today's homes. The reason is that distilled water has had much needed minerals removed. Do not waste your money on a water distiller.

Cysts

Reverse osmosis was often recommended for cyst removal. But, the best faucet water filter on the market today removes cysts without including an expensive reverse osmosis step. The manufacturer has designed a carbon block with a tiny channel that filters anything larger than .5 micron. That will trap a cyst and any other particles floating in your water-line.

A faucet filter can combine a variety of steps to remove all of these contaminants, as well as pesticides, herbicides and known carcinogenic pollutants. But, the ones that include all of the necessary steps are often quite expensive.

The best faucet water filter on the market today can be purchased for 5, but you have to purchase it direct from the manufacturer, if you want the best price. (See resource box). Remember that no matter how much they advertise, the Brita faucet filter and many other similiar brands are very ineffective.

Also, you don't need to pay 0 for reverse osmosis. There are drawbacks to GE and Kenmore; both have been given bad reviews by a number of consumers. Amway's products are simply overpriced.

The best faucet water filter has been highly rated by Consumer's Digest for the last five years and I've never seen a negative customer comment. It works. It doesn't leak and for less than a dime a gallon, my family gets "all they can drink". When you make the choice that I did, you will have the best faucet water filter.

How to Find the Best Faucet Water Filter

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Consumer Reports - Speakers

The best array of audio or video components will let you down if matched with poor-quality speakers. Good speakers don’t have to cost a bundle, though it is easy to spend a lot. For a home-theater system, you can start with two or three speakers and add others as need and budget allows. Size is no indication of quality

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WHAT'S AVAILABLE

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Among the hundreds of speaker brands available, the major names include Altec, Bose, JBL, KLH, Pioneer, Polk Audio, RCA, and Sony, and Yamaha. Speakers are sold through mass merchandisers, audio/video stores, and “boutique” retailers. You can also buy them online, but be prepared for shipping charges of up to 0 because speakers can be fairly heavy.

Speakers are sold as pairs for traditional stereo setups, and singly or in sets of three to six for equipping a home theater. To keep a balanced system, buy left and right speakers in pairs, rather than individually. The center-channel speaker should be matched to the front (or main) speakers. For the best sound, the rear speakers should also have a sound similar to the front speakers. The front speakers supply the stereo effect and carry most of the sound to the listener’s ears. The center (or center-channel) speaker chiefly delivers dialog and is usually placed on top of or beneath the TV in a home-theater setup. Rear speakers, sometimes called surround or satellite speakers, deliver ambient effects such as crowd noise. A subwoofer carries the lowest tones.

Price range: under 0 to over ,000.

Bookshelf speakers. These are among the smallest, but, at 12 to 18 inches tall, many are still too large to fit on a typical bookshelf. A pair of these can serve as the sole speakers in a stereo system or as the front or rear duo in a home-theater setup. One can serve as the center-channel unit, provided it’s magnetically shielded so it won’t interfere with the TV. Small speakers like these have made strides in their ability to handle deep bass without buzzing or distortion. Any bass-handling limitations would be less of a concern in a multi speaker system that uses a subwoofer to reproduce deep bass.

Price range: 0 to more than 0.

Floor-standing speakers. Typically about 3 to 4 feet tall, these large speakers can also serve as the sole speakers in a stereo system or as the front pair in a home-theater system. Their big cabinets have the potential to do more justice to deep bass than smaller speakers, but we believe many listeners would be satisfied with smaller speakers that scored well for bass handling. Even if floor models do a bit better, their size and cost may steer buyers toward smaller, cheaper bookshelf models.

Price range: 0 to more than ,000.

Center-channel speaker. In a multichannel setup, the center-channel speaker sits on or below the TV. Because it primarily handles dialog, its range doesn’t have to be as full as that of the front pair, but its sound should be similar so all three blend well. Dedicated center-channel speakers are short and wide (6 inches high by 20 inches wide, for instance) so they perch neatly atop a TV.

Price range: 0 to over 0.

Rear-surround speakers. Rear speakers in a multichannel setup carry mostly background sound such as crowd noise. Newer multichannel formats such as Dolby Digital, DTS, DVD-Audio, and SACD make fuller use of these speakers than did earlier formats. You’ll get the best blend if the rear pair sounds similar to the front pair. Rear speakers tend to be small and light (often 5 to 10 inches high and 3 to 6 pounds) so they can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf.

Price range: 0 to over 0.

Three-piece sets. Designed to be used as a stand-alone system or integrated with other speakers, these sets combine two bookshelf or satellite speakers for midrange and higher tones with either a center-channel speaker or a subwoofer for bass.

Price range: 0 to 0.

Six-piece sets. These systems have four satellites (used for both the front and rear pairs), one center-channel speaker, and a subwoofer. Six-piece sets save you the trouble of matching the distinctive sounds of six speakers. That can be a daunting task at home, and even more of a challenge amidst the din of a store that doesn’t have a decent listening room.

Price range: 0 to more than ,000.

Other shapes and sizes. A “powertower” is a tower speaker, usually priced above ,000, with a side-firing, powered subwoofer in its base.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Lovers of loud sound should pay attention to a speaker’s measured impedance, which affects how well the speaker and receiver get along. Power range refers to the advertised watts per channel. The wattage within a matched pair, front or rear, should be identical. Additionally, a speaker’s power range should exceed the watts per channel supplied by your receiver or amplifier. Speakers sold to be near a TV set typically have magnetic shielding so they won’t distort the picture with their core magnets.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Consider size. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, so see how they’ll fit in your room. Floor-standing speakers might overwhelm smaller spaces. Bookshelf speakers are often a better fit. But some are quite large, so make sure a model you choose will fit the shelf or niche you’ve earmarked for it. And don’t fear that you’re giving up quality for compactness. Many small speakers do a fine job. Style may factor into your decision as well. Some speakers are sleekly shaped, with silver finishes. Others are more conventional black boxes.

Focus on accuracy, not advertising. The most critical attribute of any speaker is accuracy--the ability to reproduce sound frequencies without over-or under-emphasizing any part of the audio range. As our test have shown time and again, some of the lowest-priced speakers can be among the most accurate. Ads often tout two-way or three-way drivers and the size of the cone inside a speaker, but you can’t judge sound quality by these attributes.

Listen for the differences. Even speakers with comparable accuracy scores can sound quite different. One model may overemphasize treble, while another under-emphasizes it. There’s no substitute for hearing speakers, so bring a CD with a familiar piece of music to the store. Pay special attention to the front pair, because those speakers do the most work.

Speakers will sound different at home because of your room size, shape, and furnishings, so see if the retailer will allow a home trial or ask about the return policy. If you’re torn between two choices, buy the cheaper. Stores may be more open to a return if you want to trade up to a pricier set.

Check impedance. If you like to play music loudly, make sure your receiver is rated to handle the impedance (generally ranging from 4 to 8 ohms) of the front speaker pair.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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Consumer Reports - Speakers

Consumer Reports

Who Needs a Drinking Water System?

Most people believe that when they turn on their taps, they are getting clean pure water. However, in most places, this is simply not true. It is important to understand what is in our drinking water, because we all need to be aware of what we are putting in your body. Once we understand what is in our drinking water, we'll also understand the importance of a drinking water system.

It's rare to get clean, pure water from the tap. No matter where you are, tap water will have some type of chemicals or other contaminants in it. Some countries have better tap water than others, and some have great regulations as far as what is allowed in the public water supply.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

However, no matter what the regulations state, it is not good enough. What is in our drinking water includes chemicals, prescription drugs, and natural elements which are all unhealthy for us. A drinking water system, which purifies or filters the water, is the best way for you to maintain your health and still be able to enjoy the freedom of the water that comes to your door.

Depending on where we live, what is in our drinking water may be a scary question. There might be lead, arsenic, or other cancer causing agents. There might also be a huge amount of prescription drugs, or other types of chemicals. A drinking water system is the only way we can be sure of what is in our drinking water, or rather what is not in it. A quality system will filter out chlorine, fluoride, lead and many other chemicals. There's no need to risk it.

Many places add fluoride to water in order to keep it clean and fresh - under the pretense that fluoride might be good for you. Fluoride is good for teeth - but not at all good for a person to drink. Therefore, even when water passes all of the regulations and rules, it is rarely pure and safe water for you and for your family to be drinking.

Tap water can be extremely harmful for you. However, by installing and using a drinking water system you can purify your own water. A drinking water system will filter out the chemicals, get rid of the prescription drugs, and clean the water before you use it. A good drinking water system will leave you with nothing except what you are intended to have - pure and clean water.

Who Needs a Drinking Water System?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Tank Construction Materials

Water tanks are found everywhere, in both residential and commercial areas, and used in many applications. They all share one common thing and that is they are all intended to store water. There are various other aspects which make them different from one another such as in the construction. You will find in water tank retailing from hardware stores that these water storage structures are made of various materials.

There are those made of Polyethylene. They are popularly used in urban settings and applications. They can be utilized either below or above the ground. They are typically cast together to create a single piece of more durable tank. Poly water storage units are also available in many sizes (ranging from several hundred to more than 50,000 liters). They may also be molded into any desired shape. Larger companies which manufacture them offer water tanks in different colors, finishes and other accessories.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

There are also those made of metal. They are made not just from a single type of metal but a variety of metals. The most common is galvanized steel. There are also those made from other treated steel materials like Aquaplate, Colorbond and Zincalume. Water storage devices made from stainless steel are the most expensive metal units. Like the poly counterparts, metal tanks are also available in different sizes and various shapes. They also come in flat/plain or ribbed finishes. There are some which are made polyethylene liners which help prevent the contamination o water with rust. This way, the quality of water is guaranteed. Conversely, when you are planning to install the metal water container and have the tank delivered to your home, inspect it in details as it may have been damaged while being carried to your place. Welds usually break when the cistern is flexed excessively. The size of metal reservoir can go for more than 700,000 liters and are used primarily above the ground.

Water cisterns may also be made of fiberglass. They are very durable and can endure too extreme temperatures. As poly tanks were introduced however, fiberglass contain became less popular because of cheaper price. Fiberglass storage units' sizes can reach up to more than 110,000 liters and used above the ground.

Water containers can also be made of PVC. Water tank retailing of PVC reservoirs are sometimes fitted with steel frame for protection and used in under the ground or deck applications.

There are also units made of concrete and they can exceed a capacity of 1 million liters. In general, concrete storage devices are hard wearing but are prone to crack when used under clay soil ground. When used above the ground, they are able to keep the water cool because light is unable to penetrate. Concrete containers are also less likely to grow algae.

Aside from the type of material, water storage units are also chosen by the consumer based on a few other factors such as the size or capacity of water needed to be stored. You will also need to choose a tank that will suit your requirements and situation. The installation of the reservoir will also need to be considered, if it is to be placed above or below the ground. Cisterns also need to be fixed with appropriate plumbing supplies and fixtures. Then of course, consider the pump which will be used to drive water into your water container.

Tank Construction Materials

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

How to Interpret Consumer Reports on Home Security Systems

If you are still in the process of getting a home security system that is right for your home and family, you've probably come across a great deal of material, both in print and online. Naturally, home security is one of the most talked-about issues today, as it affects every person on earth in one form or another. When looking at the consumer reports concerning the security industry, here are five big things to remember.

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1. Does the technology consistently get high marks? Whether a home alarm system is tied to a company or not, the reviews about the alarm itself can tell you a lot. Do reviews mention a number of false alarms? False alarms are a hallmark of weaker alarm systems and can signal an inferior product. Consistently solid marks on technology can point you to a quality model, with or without professional monitoring.

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2. Get a glimpse into the customer service policies. How did an alarm manufacturer respond to consumer complaints? In the case of a large home security company, did the alarm system's issues get handled quickly by service technicians? If you see the phrase "difficult customer service operators" repeatedly, the company has probably become too big for its own good and started to cut corners in the service wing. Do you want your safety in "difficult" hands?

3. You've heard about the advantages of wireless home alarms, now get the appraisal firsthand. Do the technological advances claimed by wireless alarm manufacturers hold up when reviewed by the users themselves? Many shoppers look to consumer reviews when deciding between wireless systems and their hard wired forebears, so you'll find that consumers often come online to give their take on the matter. See if your concerns about each system are a reality in practice.

4. Gauge the quality of life associated with each alarm system. Is one system remarkable for its ease of use? Did a family emergency get handled promptly by a security provider? Is the added expense of carbon monoxide monitors and heat sensors warranted? One of the big issues with any security apparatus is the effect it has on everyday life. Do the lives of reviewers seem to be disrupted by an alarm and its use? Here is a good way to find out if the many add-ons will be worth it when choosing a certain model of alarm.

5. Weigh the good reviews with the bad. As we know from reading online reviews, someone with a bone to pick can nearly monopolize a page of customer reviews. Remember that a couple of bad reviews might be meaningless if coupled with a large number of positive takes on a product. However, if you see the same flaw being pointed out repeatedly, it's probably for real.

How to Interpret Consumer Reports on Home Security Systems

Consumer Reports

Discover the Truth About Pure Water Distillers

A method that has become popular over the years for making sure water is safe to drink is by using pure water distillers. Some people refer to them as the best types of water filters and the pure water distiller is known to be able to remove many harmful toxins and contaminants in our water. However, these systems have drawbacks that many people don't realise. We will look at these further within this article.

Today, it is more important than ever to filter to our water. Now, although many water supplies do have filtration systems in place in our developed countries that manage to remove deadly bacteria, they are incapable of removing a host of toxins, contaminants and even drug traces! What we need to consider as consumers is if pure water distillers are the best options when it comes to filtering our water.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

The pure water distiller is often the most costly of all the water filters available with prices ranging from 0 to 00 for the most top of the range systems. They are known to be the most complex of all the filtration systems, and if cost is not a problem for you, then they may be the best option, but nothing is set in stone..

Let's now discuss the problem with our water and some of the toxins that need filtering out:

As we mentioned above, our water supplies are unable to filter out many of the chemicals that enter the water. Although they can filter many substances, a lot of un-wanted toxins and traces still remain resulting in contaminated water. Examples of these chemicals include lead, traces of chlorine, pesticides, synthetic chemicals and even traces of a wide array of drugs!

There are also many other pollutants that remain in the water that the main filtration systems are simply not capable of removing. The main questions become - are water distillers really the best choice? Or, are there more affordable systems available with even better technology leaving us with more natural water?

The water distiller works by heating up the water so much that all the toxins are destroyed. It is said that this leaves all the impurities behind in the water and the majority of them are, but sadly not all of them are. Many volatile chemicals can still be carried over with the newly distilled water. What this means is that we still end up drinking contaminated water.

This is obviously a major drawback sine not all impurities are actually being removed and for the price you pay for these pure water distillers, you would expect they would remove all the contaminants and leave us only with the essential minerals.

During our years of research, we have learnt that you can obtain excellent water filter systems, ones even better than the pure water distiller at a fraction of the price. They are also far less complicated to use and install and also have far fewer parts. So, if you have chosen to filter your water you have made a wise choice, especially when it comes to your present and future health. Filtration systems that are known to be the best of their kind are known as systems that use the multi chambered carbon filter technology. These are harder to find but they will offer you the most for your hard earned cash, but more importantly, they will give you the best health benefits. They work by removing all the harmful contaminants of all kinds but leaving the essential water minerals. The result is safe, pure natural water that is a pleasure to drink. Some say it is like drinking and showering from natural spring water high up in the Countryside Mountains before any impurities of any kind get a chance to affect the water.

Discover the Truth About Pure Water Distillers

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

The "Best Faucet Water Filter" Sales Routine

Whether you are a millionaire or a common man like me, you want the best deal for the money you pay, and in this case, the best faucet water filter available for what you spend. Companies that make faucet filters are no different. They are each looking at their profit margins when they develop their product, and will slap a label on that says 'the best' without regards to whether it really is, or what that will mean to the consumer. So it is up to us to see through the propaganda and figure what the item truly is about.

The key when you are looking for a faucet filter for your home should be the technology behind the filter. Not just the brand or the size of the shop, or even the price tag. You can find filters cheaply too. They would be the basic stuff, like the ceramic water filters. They can filter out the microbes from your home's water supply but will they protect you from the ever increasing amount of chemicals in our water systems? They have no ability to do so; they are simply made to prevent germs from entering your system and the rest can do what it likes to your body.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Then there is the much talked about reverse osmosis filtration system which also caters to the microbes. It will not be too effective against any herbicides or pesticides in your water, nor will it protect you from many other chemicals in your water. Unlike the simple and cheap ceramic filter though, the reverse osmosis system actually works against you. The essential minerals from your water are filtered out as well as the microbes when you filter the water through this system and those are not added again to make the water alkaline again. Do you know what water that is essentially acidic in its 'distilled' form can do to your body? It slowly destroys the pipes it flows through, and it's not a pretty picture.

In an ideal world your water will be cleaned and filtered for all contaminants before being sent to your water tank. This is not that ideal world, and you cannot rely on your city officials to do what they should probably do. Most city water supplies are filtered but they are putting massive amounts of water through each day, so it would be easy for an overworked system to let some contamination through. That is why we look faucet filters to bridge this gap, and keep our water safe for daily use.

Be sure to spend your money wisely, and buy the best faucet water filter that can remove chemicals as well as microbes from your water without harming you; for instance, there has been talk of water filters using potassium to soften the hard water as well as cleaning the water through multi filtered carbon filters. It is really all about making up your mind that you will look at the technology in use to get the best filter possible for your family without letting salesmanship, or gimmicks, to lead your decision... you can't lose.

The "Best Faucet Water Filter" Sales Routine

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

How to Fix an Instant Water Heater Unit in a Bathroom

An instant heater is an appliance that heats water as it flows from a pipe. It is used in bathrooms and kitchens for providing hot water. It can be installed to provide the heated water in restaurants and public utility places. The shower sprout is replaced with the appliance. This works when water is turned on and it pushes a diaphragm inside, which acts like a switch. It uses electricity to run. It consumes less power than the hot water cylinder.

Instant heaters fixed in bathrooms should be secure to ensure no risk of electric shock when in use. The product should have the earthling component which makes it safe to use. When purchasing the appliance its important to cross check the electric rating. For home, use the lower than for commercial ratings. The piping point for water in the bathroom should be at a minimum height of six feet. The water pressure should be adequate to run the heater.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

When fixing the heater start by checking all the installations. The power from the consumer unit to the bathroom should be in place. Next check the piping point. The appliance is connected at least a foot off the wall. Add a one foot pipe to the water point on the wall. The source of water should be from the cold water supply. Unpack the heater and tie it to the pipe. Use a threading tape to stop the joint from leaking. Test for the water flow.

After fixing the water heater to the overhead pipe, check the power wiring. Follow the manufactures instructions when connecting to the power source. Ensure all the wiring joints are water tight. Secure all wires with clips to the wall and use a wiring cover. Place the switch with a pilot lamp outside the bathroom door. When the connection is complete test the power and run the water. Set the regulators for hot, medium and warm water on the appliance.

How to Fix an Instant Water Heater Unit in a Bathroom

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

How to Choose the Best Hot Water Heater for You!

The best hot water heater all depends on how the tank is configured. All suppliers can claim that they have the best home appliances on the market. Unfortunately, most people are in the middle of a cold shower once they determine that maybe they should have taken the time to compare. In order for you to benefit from any appliance you should consider how this affects your energy consumption. These appliances typically consume about 10 to 15% of your monthly energy expenses which means that it really needs careful consideration on what to select.

There are a variety of factors that should go into your decision to purchase a new, or upgrade an existing home unit. Some things to consider will be water demand; the size of your family and the amount of hot water each member uses. Space will be another factor to think about as some of the more traditional hot water tanks can get rather large. Ease of installation is also something to consider if you plan on installing the unit without the help of a certified plumber or electrician.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

There are generally three types of heaters that are commonly accepted as best hot water heater in the market. There is the large water heater that heats water using a natural gas or from electricity. These types have large tanks so that they can stockpile a large quantity of heated water which can be available on your demand. These traditional style heaters are typically less energy efficient and, depending on the size of the tank, have a limited supply of hot water.

The most recent type of water heater to hit the market is the tankless heater. These designs are able to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency because they eliminate the large tanks. It is said that this tankless devices use high powered burners to instantly heat water on demand. It is said to run through heat exchangers that consumes 20-25 percent more energy than what the ordinary storage tank heater would.

Another type of design becoming popular with consumers in markets around the world is the hot water dispenser. This is also known as boiling water tap. This is considered best hot water heater for kitchen faucets and bathrooms. You can ask your plumber to install it for you or there are do it yourself guide which will help you mount this unit in your house.

How to Choose the Best Hot Water Heater for You!

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Consumer Reports - Receivers

The receiver is the brain of an audio/video system. It provides AM and FM tuners, amplifiers, surround sound, and switching capabilities. It’s also the heart of the setup--most of the devices in a home-entertainment system connect to it, including audio components such as speakers, a CD player, cassette deck, and turntable, as well as video sources such as a TV, DVD player, VCR, and cable and satellite boxes. Even as receivers take on a bigger role in home entertainment, they’re losing some audio-related features that were common years back, such as tape monitors and phono inputs. Manufacturers say they must eliminate those less-used features to make room for others.

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Sony is by far the biggest-selling brand. Other top-selling brands include Denon, JVC, Kenwood, Onkyo, Panasonic, Pioneer, RCA, and Yamaha. Most models now are digital, designed for the six-channel surround-sound formats encoded in most DVDs and some TV fare, such as high-definition (HD) programming. Here are the types you’ll see, from least to most expensive:

Stereo. Basic receivers accept the analog stereo signals from a tape deck, CD player, or turntable. They provide two channels that power a pair of stereo speakers. For a simple music setup, add a DVD or CD player to play CDs, or a cassette deck for tapes. For rudimentary home theater, add a TV and DVD player or VCR. Power typically runs 50 to 100 watts per channel.

Price range: 5 to 0.

Dolby Pro Logic. Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, and Pro Logic IIx are the analog home-theater surround-sound standard. Receivers that support it can take a Dolby-encoded two-channel stereo source from your TV, DVD player, or hi-fi VCR and output them to four to six speakers--three in front, and one to three in back. Power for Dolby Pro Logic models is typically 60 to 150 watts per channel.

Price range: 0 to 0 or more.

Dolby Digital. Currently the prevailing digital surround-sound standard, a Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver has a built-in decoder for six-channel audio capability--front left and right, front center, two rear with discrete wide-band signals, and a powered subwoofer for low-frequency, or bass, effects (that’s where the “.1” comes in). Dolby Digital is the sound format for most DVDs, HDTV, digital cable TV, and some satellite-TV broadcast systems. Newer versions of Dolby Digital, 6.1 and 7.1, add one or two back surround channels for a total of seven-channel and eight-channel sound, respectively. To take advantage of true surround-sound capability, you’ll need speakers that do a good job of reproducing full-spectrum sound. Receivers with digital decoding capability can also accept a signal that has been digitized, or sampled, at a given rate per second and converted to digital form. Dolby Digital is backward-compatible and supports earlier versions of Dolby such as Pro Logic. Power for Dolby Digital receivers is typically 75 to 150 watts per channel.

Price range: 0 to 0 or more.

DTS. A rival to Dolby Digital 5.1, Digital Theater Systems also offers six channels. It’s a less common form of digital surround sound that is used in some movie tracks. Both DTS and Dolby Digital are often found on the same receivers. Power for DTS models is typically 75 to 150 watts per channel.

Price range: 0 to 0 or more.

THX-certified. The high-end receivers that meet this quality standard include full support for Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and DTS. THX Select is the standard for components designed for small and average-sized rooms; THX Ultra is for larger rooms. Power for THX models is typically 100 to 170 watts per channel.

Price range: 0 to ,500 and up.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Controls should be easy to use. Look for a front panel with displays and controls clearly labeled and grouped by function. Onscreen display lets you control the receiver via a TV screen, a squint-free alternative to using the receiver’s tiny LED or LCD display. Switched AC outlets (expect one or two) let you plug in other components and turn the whole system on and off with one button.

Remote controls are most useful when they have clear labels and buttons that light up for use in dim rooms. It’s best if the buttons have different shapes and are color-coded and grouped by function--a goal seldom achieved in receiver remotes. A learning remote can receive programming data for other devices via their remotes’ infrared signal; on some remotes, the necessary codes for other manufacturers’ devices are built-in.

Input/output jacks matter more on a receiver than on any other component of your home theater. Clear labeling, color-coding, and logical groupings of the many jacks on the rear panel can help avert glitches during setup such as reversed speaker polarities and mixed-up inputs and outputs. Input jacks situated on the front panel make for easy connections to camcorders, video games, MP3 players, digital cameras, MiniDisc players, and PDAs.

A stereo receiver will give you a few audio inputs and no video jacks. Digital-ready receivers with Dolby Pro Logic will have several types of video inputs, including composite and S-video and sometimes component-video. S-video and component-video jacks allow you to route signals from DVD players and other high-quality video sources through the receiver to the TV. Digital-ready receivers also have analog 5.1 audio inputs. These accept input from a DVD player with its own built-in Dolby Digital decoder, an outboard decoder, or other components with multichannel analog signals, such as a DVD-Audio or SACD player. This enables the receiver to convey up to six channels of sound or music to your speakers. Dolby Digital and DTS receivers have the most complete array of audio and video inputs, often with several of a given type to accommodate multiple components.

Tone controls adjust bass and treble, allowing you to correct room acoustics and satisfy your personal preferences. A graphic equalizer breaks the sound spectrum into three or more sections, giving you slightly more control over the full audio spectrum. Instead of tone controls, some receivers come with tone presets such as Jazz, Classical, or Rock, each accentuating a different frequency pattern; often you can craft your own styles.

DSP (digital signal processor) modes use a computer chip to duplicate the sound characteristics of a concert hall and other listening environments. A bass-boost switch amplifies the deepest sounds, and midnight mode reduces loud sounds and amplifies quiet ones in music or soundtracks.

Sometimes called “one touch,” a settings memory lets you store settings for each source to minimize differences in volume, tone, and other settings when switching between sources. A similar feature, loudness memory, is limited to volume settings alone.

Tape monitor lets you either listen to one source as you record a second on a tape deck or listen to the recording as it’s being made. Automatic radio tuning includes such features as seek (automatic searching for the next in-range station) and 20 to 40 presets to call up your favorite stations.

To catch stations too weak for the seek mode, most receivers also have a manual stepping knob or buttons, best in one-channel increments. But most models creep in half- or quarter-steps, meaning unnecessary button tapping to find the frequency you want. Direct tuning of frequencies lets you tune a radio station by entering its frequency on a keypad.

HOW TO CHOOSE

First, don’t assume that pricey brands outperform less costly ones. We’ve found fine performers at all prices. Points to consider:

How many devices do you want to connect? Even low-end receivers generally have enough video and audio inputs for a CD or DVD player, a VCR, and a cable box or satellite receiver. Mid- and high-priced models usually have more inputs, so you can connect additional devices, such as a camcorder, a personal video recorder, or a game system.

The number of inputs isn’t the only issue; the type also matters. Composite-video inputs, the most basic type, can be used with everything from an older VCR to a new DVD player. S-video and component-video inputs are used mostly by digital devices such as DVD players and satellite receivers. If you have such digital devices or may add them, get a receiver with a few S-video and/or component-video inputs. Both can provide better video quality than composite-video.

All these video inputs require a companion audio input. The basic left/right audio inputs can be used with almost any device to provide stereo sound. A turntable requires a phono input, which is available on fewer models than in years past.

To get multichannel sound from DVD players, digital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers, you generally use a digital-audio input. With this input, encoded multichannel sound is relayed on one cable to the receiver, which decodes it into separate channels. The input on the receiver must be the same type--either optical, the more common type, or coaxial--as the output on the other device. You usually must buy cables, about and up, for digital-audio, S-video, and component-video connections.

What kind of sound do you want from movies? All new digital receivers support Dolby Digital and DTS, the surround-sound formats used on most movies. Both provide 5.1 channels. Most receivers also support Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, and sometimes Pro Logic IIx. If you want the latest type of surround sound, look for a receiver that supports Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES. These offer 6.1 or 7.1 channels, subtly enhancing the rear surround. Fairly few movies using these formats are available, but offerings should increase.

What kind of music do you like? Any receiver can reproduce stereo from regular CDs. Most models have digital signal processing (DSP) modes that process a CD’s two channels to simulate a sound environment such as a concert hall. DSP modes feed a stereo signal through all the speakers to simulate surround. For multichannel music from SACD or DVD-Audio discs, get a receiver with 5.1 analog inputs.

How big is your room? Make sure a receiver has the oomph to provide adequate volume: at least 50 watts per channel in a typical 12-by-20-foot living room, or 85 watts for a 15-by-25-foot space. A huge room, plush furnishings, or a noisy setting all call for more power.

Is the receiver compatible with your speakers? If you like to blast music for hours on end, get a receiver rated to handle your front speakers’ impedance. Most receivers are rated for 6-ohm and 8-ohm speakers. If used with 4-ohm speakers, such a receiver could overheat and shut down.

Is it easy to use? Most receivers have legible displays and well-labeled function buttons. Some add an onscreen menu, which displays settings on your TV screen. An auto-calibration feature adjusts sound levels and balance to improve the surround effect. Models with a test-tone function for setting speaker levels help you balance the sound yourself.

Two tips: When deciding where to place your receiver, allow 4 inches or so of space behind it for cables and at least 2 inches on top for venting to prevent overheating. If setting up a home theater is more than you want to tackle, consider calling in a professional installer. Retailers often offer an installation service or can refer you to one.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org

Consumer Reports - Receivers

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports Mattress Ratings - The Good News and Bad News

If you are looking for mattress ratings from a credible source, such as Consumer Reports, there's good news and bad news.

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The Bad News

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports does not rate mattresses. There are a couple of reasons for this, they say. First, their testers disagree on which mattresses are most comfortable. As a result, Consumer Reports says that mattress choice is largely a matter of personal preference.

Second, Consumer Reports says that model names from the top mattress brands differ from store to store. As a result, they say it is impossible to compare models. In addition, they say that even for mattresses that are similar, there are differences in important characteristics that can affect comfort, such as quilting, padding, springs, etc.

Consumer Reports, however, does offer some sound general advice on mattress shopping, such as the importance of lying on different beds to see which one you personally prefer. But in regard to which mattress is best, they will not be of much, if any, help.

The Good News

Is it futile, then, to search for which mattresses may be best? Probably not -- if you know where to look. A terrific source of mattress information can be found on hundreds, if not thousands, of online message boards that are scattered across the web.

People often use these message boards to ask others which mattresses they think are best. People then reply, often giving advice based on their own mattress ownership experience. The responses tend to be very informative, credible and free of "guerilla marketers" -- people within the mattress industry who provide bogus online mattress reviews to sway consumer opinion one way or the other.

By the way, you don't necessarily have to post a mattress question yourself on a message board. You can simply search the web for existing message board threads about mattresses or a particular mattress type or brand you are interested in.

And while you may not find out which mattresses are best on a model level, you will get a good sense of which is best on a brand level, and that can be very valuable information.

Consumer Reports Mattress Ratings - The Good News and Bad News

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports Lists Best First Car for Teens

As summer approaches, parents are once again thinking about buying their teenagers their first cars for that summer job or for those who will be going to college. In choosing the best first car for teens, it is typical that parents should opt for easy to drive vehicles as well as units that come having a good fuel economy.

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Consumer Reports, one of the leading consumer watchdogs, lists some of the wisest choice for teens. What the cars in the list have in common is reliability, driver friendliness, fuel economy, safety and the price, of course. Parents are warned against buying high performance cars for their teens since they are commonly harder to drive and consume more fuel.

Consumer Reports

Since the car will be for teens, it is of utmost importance that parents should take into consideration the aesthetic value of the car they will purchase for their teens. One of the cars in the list published by Consumer Reports is the Ford Focus. Any Focus from the 2002 model year to the present model year is recommended except for the two-door models. Consumer Reports also recommend the Honda Accord EX with the four-cylinder engine. The Accords from 1998 model year to present are highly recommended. The Honda Civic EX and the Mazda 3 are also suggested by Consumer Reports. The 1999 to 2003 models of the Mazda Protégé ES is also recommended as a good buy for your teen.

Another recommended first car is the Nissan Altima 2.5 S four-cylinder. For this model, Consumer Reports recommend those produced for the 2003 model year onwards. The Subaru Forester 2.5X is also included in the list. The Toyota Camry XLE V6 and LE with the four-cylinder engine is also recommended. For the Toyota Corolla, Consumer Reports recommend the 1999 model year release onwards. Number ten on the list is the Toyota RAV4 from the 2001 model year to the present.

Aside from these vehicles, Consumer Reports also cited that bigger cars are also recommended for those who need the versatility and the large cargo space that can only be given by larger vehicles. For pickup trucks, it is recommended that teens should drive vehicles with no back seats. One of the good choices is the Toyota Tacoma. Another is the Nissan Frontier with its reliable Nissan Frontier parts [http://www.shopnisparts.com/nissan-frontier-part]. Both the Tacoma and the Frontier are known for their reliability and driver-friendliness. They are also relatively more fuel efficient than other vehicles in their segment. Other recommended trucks are Ford Rangers, Chevrolet S10s, GMC Sonomas, Chevrolet Silverados Mazda B-Series, and GMC Canyons. These trucks offer a good fuel economy as well as the versatility and safety of large vehicles.

Consumer Reports Lists Best First Car for Teens

Consumer Reports

RV Water Heaters

Rinnai is a brand name for water heaters.  They manufacture various types of water heaters to suit your every need and size.  You can choose from its wide range of solar heaters, natural gas, propane as well as LPG gas heaters, not forgetting the electric water heaters.

The water heaters come in storage tank model and the latest technology the tankless model.  An independent study of Rinnai gas heaters shows that the best way to save energy is by using the tankless water heater model.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Traditional heaters do perform the same way and give you the same results but in a different way.  You will have to put it on and wait for the water to get heated, and then you have the storage tank models that have the capacity to store water well in advance of your requirement.

Now to beat the rest the all new tankless water heaters by Rinnai have stolen the appreciation of many a home maker in the whole of America.  Not only home makers but also restaurant, hospital, and hotel owners including hostel maintenance staff have realized the importance of Rinnai heaters.

With the tankless water heater you are assured of 40 gallons hot water instantly without any hassles, just clean, safe and hot water as soon as you open the faucet.  It works with insulated coils that heat the water instantly while it passes through these coils.  This results in hot water being available for you as soon as you open the faucet.

Since the demand for cheap standard heaters prevails in the U.S. much concern has been shown to the benefit of the consumers, especially in safety and durability. The U.S. government has taken much precaution to test the durability and stability of water heaters using Energy Star ratings that is reliable.

The storage tank water heaters are common and widely used throughout the U.S.  The heating process takes place in an insulated tank that remains there hot until it is time for you to use it.  You could heat from 20 to 80 gallons of water depending on the size of tank you have installed.

The features of all Rinnai water heater models are versatile and durable and mostly energy saving and hence has monetary benefits as well.  Choosing one of the heaters manufactured by Rinnai would be a wise choice not only for home makers but also for a wider circle of institutions and establishments.

RV Water Heaters

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Types of Home Water Treatment Systems

Before we discuss water treatment systems, let us talk about the concern of our water supplies as a whole. This is a time when there is increasing and genuine concern about our water supplies. Currently, there are over 2,000 contaminants that may be found in water.

People worldwide have turned to bottled water being presented to consumers as safer and healthier. Millions are spent on bottled water each year. The bottled water industry is not regulated, and as a result, some of the brands are not any better than tap water. They can contain some of the contaminants consumers are trying to avoid. Home water treatment systems have been designed to provide the purest water possible to homes.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

A popular seller is the reverse osmosis system. Osmosis pushes a weak solution through a semi-permeable membrane to a stronger solution until the solution on both sides is equal. Reverse osmosis initiates the osmotic process. It then stops the process and reverses it. The result is that pure water is one side and contaminants are trapped on the other side. The problem with these however, is that they can also get rid of the much needed minerals, we as humans need. By checking out the water filters we personally use below, you will avoid this known problem.

Faucet-mounted filters are also called point of use systems. Shower filters are attached to the shower head and can be attached to a shower wand as well. Drinking water filters can be faucet-mounted, pitcher purifiers; individual sport bottles are also available. Straws with filters in them are also available and purify the water with each sip.

Counter top models are available. Under the sink and under the counter models are available and designed to be installed out of sight. These systems are effective in purifying water.

Home water treatment systems have many benefits. They improve health preventing many diseases. The Reduced purchase of bottled water means there is a lesser need for the plastic to produce them. There will be fewer plastic bottles that find their way into landfills.

Types of Home Water Treatment Systems

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Water Heater Repair - Is Repairing Your Water Heater Worth the Price?

Not many of us know a whole lot about water heaters or water heater repair. However, it is something that every homeowner has to deal with at some time or another because no water heating unit lasts forever. Determining whether or not you should repair your water heater or buy a new one depends solely on what is wrong with it in the first place. Below is a list of problems and what the best solution is for each.

1) Leaks. Almost always, leaks can be fixed very easily. The leak will usually come from one of three places - the drain valve, the pipes or the tank. The drain valve is the easiest fix. You can simply tighten it and in most cases the leak will stop. If the leak is coming from the pipes, inspect the fittings and tighten each one. If the leak persists, the leak is most likely being caused by a hole or crack in one of the pipes due to corrosion. This is a relatively easy fix and is worth it to do because of the relatively small cost, even if you have to hire a professional. Lastly, if the leak is coming from the tank, the tank most likely needs to be replaced. Generally speaking, purchasing a new one is most likely the best fix here.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

2) Water that is too hot or too cold. This is usually caused by a faulty temperature pressure relief valve. This valve is supposed to shut off the water heater's heating element once the water reaches a certain pressure. If this valve is faulty, it can be dangerous because of the scolding hot water the unit could produce, plus the fact that the unit could burst due to built up pressure. Make sure to call a licensed repairman to inspect your unit.

3) Pilot light. If the pilot light keeps going out on your gas water heater, the problem is most likely with the orifice. Clear it from any dirt or debris. The problem could also be with the thermocouple. If this is the case, it will not cost too much to replace it. If you are handy, you could even do it yourself.

4) Water not hot enough. If the hot water being produced is not hot enough or not hot at all, the problem is most likely with the heating element. If this is the case, buying a new one is probably the best option because repair will be expensive.

Water Heater Repair - Is Repairing Your Water Heater Worth the Price?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Whole House Water Filter Versus Kitchen Tap Systems

Whole house water filters may be just as important for your family's health as the one that you use on your kitchen tap. Plus, with a whole house water filter system, kitchen tap and shower filters are no longer necessary.

New studies have shown that fumes from chlorinated water can trigger asthma attacks. Swimming pool experts have known for years. That's one reason that they limit the amount of chlorine used to disinfect indoor pools.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

The surprising thing is that the chlorine content in your tap water may at times be higher than what they use in the pools. No one needs to be able to drink the pool water, but treatment facilities need to kill pretty much everything that can live in the water and get in the pipes.

With a whole house water filter changes will be seen in the number of asthma attacks that you or your loved one suffers from. Conditions like dry skin will improve. You will not run the risk of chloroform gas build up, which has been found in many houses and is caused by showering in chlorinated water.

Actually with a whole house water filter whole lots of changes will be seen. Even your clothes will smell better and last longer. Whether you add bleach or not, you are still bleaching your clothes, as long as you use unfiltered tap water in the laundry.

Chlorine is not the only dangerous chemical in tap water. Lead, a toxic metal, has been found in the tap water of some major cities around the country. Whole house water filters can protect you from lead, but if you live in an older home, you may want to test your water after you install the system.

You see, the reason there is lead in some tap water is because lead was used at one time to line copper pipes. It was also used to solder joints. There are a number of reputable labs around the country that can test your water before and/or after you install whole house water filters.

There are more than 2000 cancer causing agents in public water supplies, according to consumer activists like Ralph Nader. A high quality whole house water filter will prevent and trap these chemical agents, thereby protecting you and your family from their harmful effects.

While whole house water filters may at first seem expensive, compare it to the money that you'll save by not having to purchase tap filters or bottled water. If you frequently use bottled water for outdoor activities, you can bottle your own for pennies per day. Just about every department store sells plastic water bottles, and many of the companies that provide whole house water filters also provide glass water bottles. You can even get travel bottles which contain their own activated carbon filters.

You won't need shower head filters and won't have the expense of replacing cartridges for those units. A good quality whole house water filter only needs to be replaced every 3 years or so, unless your water is highly contaminated.

With a whole house water filter blocks of time can be saved, as well. Instead of running around buying filters and bottled water, you can sit in the comfort of your own home and enjoy the cleanest tasting water that you've ever had.

Your shower will begin to feel more like a spa. Your skin and hair and even the clothes you wear will be softer. The best whole house water filters contain multiple stages to remove up to 99.99% of the contaminants in your water, while balancing the mineral content and the pH levels. Once you have one, you won't be able to live without it.

Whole House Water Filter Versus Kitchen Tap Systems

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Christian Consumer Credit Counseling

Christian consumer credit counseling agencies focus mainly on the debt management needs of Christian clients. They are the most appealing, valuable and short-term solutions to anyone who desires to secure a debt free future. They help you consolidate your debt, set up a repayment plan, and arrange to let you maintain tithing. Besides, the agencies provide spiritual counsels that you may require to help you get out of debt problems.

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Consumer credit counseling services are one of the most important requirements of consumers these days, since unsecured debt continues to burden individuals and families. The unsecured conditions are mainly due to personal loans, unforeseen medical bills, huge credit card debts, and unplanned educational expenses.

Consumer Reports

According to economists, debt difficulties not only hurt the family institution, but also affect the national economy. Debt problems can be easily resolved with the assistance of a debt specialist. Consumer credit counseling normally offers debt management specialties through debt negotiation and debt consolidation methods. Their other services are financial education, implementing financial strategies, and personal investments and savings.

In recent years, the number of credit counseling services that specialize in serving Christian consumers has increased noticeably. They are usually non-profit agencies assisting the Christian communities in all their credit debt management interests. Both debtors and creditors use the services of these consulting agencies to settle a debt for less than what is owed. With a good consulting service, you can be debt free in a few years.

Each Christian consumer credit counseling agency has its specific debt relief programs permitting clients to select what is suitable for them. The programs are good for anyone interested in budgeting, debt relief, controlling spending, retirement, investing, mortgages, and education accounts for children. You can find many Christian consumer credit counseling programs throughout the Internet.

Christian Consumer Credit Counseling

Consumer Reports

On Demand Water Heaters Blessing Or Curse?

On Demand Water Heaters, otherwise known as tankless heating units, are generally increasing in acceptance.

Folks commonly look at the original expense when it comes to buying a new hot water heater. Despite the fact that these kinds of heaters may be more expensive at the start, they are usually well worth the additional money.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

It will help to recognize that an instant hot water heater will, more than likely, allow you to reduce expenses as time passes. In addition, they are considerably more eco-friendly as opposed to regular, conventional, out-of-date hot water heaters.

On demand heaters continue producing hot water constantly. They are meant to keep on raising the temperature depending on how fast you use it.

Whenever you use water from numerous areas simultaneously, for example, washing pots and pans and also filling up a bath tub, it's not going to get as hot.

Nevertheless, it's going to continue to provide you with hot water right up until you are finished.

This kind of water heater can help you save some dough on your energy bill. They are likewise much more environmentally friendly whenever placed against the standard hot water heater.

Normally, you'll save between 10-30 % on your energy costs with the use of instant water heaters.

An electric model is without a doubt the higher-priced option. Gas heating units are generally more affordable to use.

Your initial outlay is actually higher, however over the years, it will most likely pay for itself in cost savings on your energy bill.

One more advantage of these types of heating units is the fact that they last a great deal longer as compared with standard water heaters.

Before you decide to go out searching for the best kind of water heater, it will be useful to understand the temperature of your water when it's entering your house.

The rate of which it is advisable to circulate hot water, and just how hot you would like your water to come out of the tap, will likely establish what type of heating system you'll need.

A high efficiency on demand unit will most likely be required for undesirable conditions. Under a few circumstances it is additionally possible that you would need to purchase another on demand unit.

Since on-demand heating units warm water only while it's needed, they function in a different way than a regular heating unit.

Water heaters which have tanks will heat your water to some particular temperature, which you are going to set up.

While you make use of the heated water from your tank, more cold water will enter the tank and thus cause the water temperature to progressively chill down as you use it. If enough time goes by, you are going to run totally out of.

Not merely are tankless heating units more affordable to use, but additionally, they are a lot more reliable.

It might be good to check out selling prices on the web as well as review brands ahead of time, before you realize you're running out of hot water and having to make a hasty decision.

Rinnai and Energy Star are among the most notable brand name manufacturers in this industry.

On Demand water heaters are a wonderful affordable method of getting hot water for your residence.

On Demand Water Heaters Blessing Or Curse?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

How to Change a Hot Water Tank

Make sure you have all the proper tools and materials you need to properly install a Hot Water Tank. Do the necessary research before attempting to install your hot water tank.

First you're going to want to turn off the gas, power, and water supply to the tank. Then put on a hose on the bottom on the hot water tank to drain the left over water out of the tank. Now you will need to take off the inlet and outlet nipples off the water tank, you will need to use two pipe wrenches for this.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

If it's a gas water heater use your two pipe wrenches and disconnect the union, that is between the supply pipe and the inlet pipe or it might be a flared fitting. You can take the flue hat off too as well since the tank is not running.

Now that you tank is disconnected move it out of the way, and put your new one where the old one was. Make sure that you can get to all the dials a buttons properly when you put the tank back. A good rule of thumb is to use about 6 inches around. So this means make sure that there is nothing flammable within 6 inches of your tank. Make sure too that it sits level on the floor, you may have to make some shims.

Put Teflon tape on the inlet and outlet nipples and then put them into the new tank. Make sure that the blue goes into the cold and the red goes into the hot. Also be sure that all the arrow indicators are all pointing in the proper direction of flow.

Attach flexible hoses on the inlet and outlet water pipes. If you don't see a supply shut off valve on the cold side, I would install one, just to cover yourself. After you are sure that everything is connected back properly, open the valve to fill the tank up, while this is happening i would open up a few hot water faucets just to get some of the air out.

Put back together the gas pipes just like they were before... you might need to change it a bit, but not too much. Make sure that you use Teflon tape and pipe dope on each fitting, then tighten them back together with your pipe wrenches. Grab your manufacturer instructions to connect the gas supply tubing. After the gas is on test all your joints, making sure that there are not leaking. You can use soapy water to help with this; it will just bubble for you. Then you may need to go back and crank on them again.

How to Change a Hot Water Tank

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Radioactive Consumer Products

I am sure that most people are not aware that some of the consumer products that are present around us contain Radioactive Material/s (RAM) (i.e. Uranium).

I am posting this, not to scare the public but to raise their awareness on what common consumer products contain this RAM. Furthermore, this is to inform them that radiation has many uses in our daily lives.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Take a look at the following images and see if you recognize them are if they are present in your homes.

Check - Up Gum

Check- Up Gum helped fight plaque. As the gum was chewed, tiny granules of zirconium silicate (the third listed ingredient) scraped the teeth clean.

The reason that Check·Up Gum is featured here is that the zirconium silicate contained elevated levels of uranium and thorium (e.g., 100 pCi/g). The amount of zirconium silicate in the gum was such that the uranium concentration is approximately 7 pCi per gram of gum. Since the uranium series is in secular equilibrium, the gum also contains 7 pCi of Ra-226 per gram. As a matter of interest, there have been many situations where this level of radium in soil has required remedial action.

Although Check·Up Gum is no longer produced, zirconium silicate continues to be used in dental pastes and some toothpastes. Nevertheless, consumers can rest assured that the radiation dose is negligible - the radioactive material is bound up in the zirconium silicate and would not be assimilated even if swallowed.

Tape Dispenser

This is a 3M Model C-15 Decor Scotch tape dispenser. It is slightly radioactive due to the thorium-containing monazite sand that was used as ballast. This particular example came from a 55 gallon drum of tape dispensers that the U.S. Army was about to dispose of as radioactive waste.

Jewelries

As a result of an investigation in early 1988 by the Los Angeles County Health Department, various state radiation control programs in the U.S. issued warnings concerning the manufacture and use of jewelry made from old watch parts. These parts often included radioluminescent watch faces and hands. The jewelry, which included, broaches, bracelets, earrings, etc. had become quite popular and because it was easy to produce, the typical manufacturer was a small business operating out of someone's home or apartment. Production is known to have occurred in California, Oregon, Texas and Pennsylvania. The radiation control programs in Tennessee, Texas and possibly some other states invited the public to bring suspect jewelry to their offices to be monitored for radioactivity.

The usual mode of manufacture was to dismantle old watches, clean the parts with some sort of abrasive, polish the pieces, assemble the jewelry, and possibly coat it with an acrylic spray. It seems that there was no awareness on the part of the manufacturers of the potential hazards.

Even though some of the jewelry was worn in direct contact with the skin, and a number of premises were found to be contaminated (e.g., up to 50,000 cpm), there were no reports of injuries to individuals who wore or manufactured the jewelry. Nevertheless, one individual, who had been making such jewelry for six years, was found to have "1/30 of a body burden of radium-226."

Potassium Chloride Water Softener Salt

Hard water contains more minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, that ordinary water. This can lead to the build up of scale in pipes and appliances. A water softener is used to reduce the concentration of these minerals.

In essence, a water softener consists of an ion exchange resin that removes the minerals as the water flows through it. After a while, the resin becomes saturated with these minerals and it no longer functions. At this point, a salt solution is added to the resin. The salt exchanges with the accumulated minerals, and allows them to be washed out of the softener into a drain. This rejuvenates the softener.

A variety of materials can be used as the water softener salt, e.g., sodium chloride (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl). In the example shown here, the water softener salt is over 99% potassium chloride.

All potassium contains potassium-40, a naturally occurring beta gamma emitter, and in large enough quantities it is easily detected with a simple survey meter. This bag, for example, could not get through a monitor at a nuclear power plant without setting off an alarm.

Smoke Detectors

The ionization chamber smoke detector was invented in the early 1940s in Switzerland , and introduced into the U.S. in 1951.

The sensitive component of the ICSD is an ionization chamber that is open to the atmosphere (photo below left). A radioactive source inside the chamber emits radiation that ionizes the air in the chamber and makes it conductive.

Ionization chamber smoke detectors almost always use alpha emitters as the source because of the high density of the ionization that they produce.

Most ICSDs sold today use an oxide of americium-241 (Am-241) as the radioactive source. The typical activity for a modern residential ICSD is approximately 1 uCi, while the activity in one used in public and commercial buildings might be as high as 50 uCi. In 1980, the average activity employed in a residential smoke detector was approximately 3 uCi, three time higher than it is today.

Am-241 is an alpha emitter, but it also emits a low energy (59.5 keV) gamma ray. The Am-241 is mixed with gold and incorporated into a composite gold and silver foil sandwich. The source is 3 to 5 mm in diameter, and either crimped or welded into place inside the chamber.

Other nuclides have also been used. NRC records indicate that approximately 124,000 ICSDs were sold between 1971 and 1986 that employed nickel-63 (Ni-63). These units averaged approximately 10 microcuries of Ni-63 each.

Radium-226 (radium sulfate) was the first radioactive source used in smoke detectors. According to NUREG/CP-0001, U.S. producers stopped making Ra-226 containing smoke detectors in 1963 when they switched to Am-241. Nevertheless, according to NCRP 95, it would seem that radium-containing ICSDs continued to be sold in the U.S. at least until 1978. A typical residential smoke detector contained 0.05 uCi of Ra-226, but some contained up to 0.1 uCi. Commercial smoke detectors employed considerably higher activities.

Radioactive Consumer Products

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Water Heaters - Renting Vs. Buying - The Best Solution

Water Heaters: renting vs. buying - the best solution

There are many advantages and disadvantages to buying or renting your hot water tank but with all the information out there trying to understand what is best for you may not be easy. So I have broken down the pros and cons for you so that you can make an informed decision to which is best for you - renting or buying your hot water tank.

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If you are looking only at the price - then buying is the logical way to go IF you plan on living in your house for the next 6 years or more. For example - most standard hot water tanks last approximately 10 to 12 years on average. So based on the low end (10 years) here is the differential.

per month x 12 months = 8.00 per year times 10 years = ,880.00 Total

New buying price average* (including installation) electric 0 to 0

New buying price average* (including installation) gas natural draft 0 to 1400

New buying price average* (including installation) gas power vent 00 to 00

Even if you buy a top of the line ,000 power vent gas hot water tank you still have 0.00 in your pocket IF you buy instead of rent.

The only exception to this is based on how long you plan on living in your current home. If you only plan on living there for only a few more years then you can certainly save money by renting.

2 years paying 8 per year = 6.00

3 years paying 8 per year = 4.00 (more than an electric HWT purchase)

4 years paying 8 per year = 52.00 (more than a gas HWT purchase)

5 years paying 8 per year = 40.00 (more than a power vent gas HWT purchase)

As you can see, it really doesn't take very many years to more than pay for a new hot water tank in full - after those first few years it just doesn't make sense to rent.

Now here is the information that many water heater suppliers don't want you to know - in Ottawa Ontario Canada the hydro company or Gas Company isn't the ones renting you the tank even though you pay them each month - they are actually renting them to you through a different company that you may or may not even be aware of! To find out whom you are actually renting your water heater from look at your itemized utility bill.

Hidden costs - Many utility companies offer you extended warranties on your water heater so you could be paying an additional .50 to .00 per month for a warranty** that actually has NO VALUE! If you want the proof simply request a written copy of your extended warranty... they may cover the tank itself, but they usually do NOT cover the parts that are more likely to break like the heating element, the pressure relief valve, replacing the anode, OR labour costs: just the tank itself which is just a big metal water bottle without all the working parts.

Here is the next surprise along the way - most of these warranties are ONLY valid if the water heater is properly maintained and serviced (as stated in your owners manual IF you even kept that document). So here's the question: did you pay to have it serviced annually? Odds are you didn't (like all the rest of the people I know including myself) which means they don't have to honour your warranty.

Not only does the warranty cover nothing but now the warranty isn't even valid - even if you pay for it every single month on time for 10 years!

Let's do the math on that extended warranty (based on a cheap .50 per month price):

.50 per month x 12 months = .00 times 10 years = 0.00

Can you imagine giving away 0 of your hard earned money for a warranty that doesn't even exist?

Consumers love feeling secure in their purchases, but too many times they get taken for a financial ride that will keep them paying for years to come. The company renting the tank to you gets rich while we end up retiring broke - all those years of paying could have been avoided and that a month payments could be going to your retirement or vacation account! Wouldn't you rather have the extra money sitting in YOUR bank account earning you interest rather than making the utility companies richer?

Please note that not all companies are the same when it comes to renting hot water tanks and that there are a few companies out there who do actually offer you value for your money, but they are not easy to find. It requires that each of us do our homework to discover the real value of what is being offered.

Also note that the cheapest price may not always be the best price. If you have to keep replacing your hot water tank every 4 to 5 years then where is the money savings? Here are the things to look for when buying or renting a hot water tank:

What brand and model of hot water tank is being offered? Does the price include installation? Does the price include the now mandatory in Ontario "mixing valve"? Does the installer offer any guarantees on their installation? Is the installer licensed to install these tanks or is he just a handyman (please note that using a handy man can potentially negate your home owners insurance policy IF damage occurs due to the improperly installed water heater). What guarantees are offered (if any)? Is the guaranty "pro-rated"? A pro-rated guaranty works just like your car value, buy a new car and drive it off the lot and it already depreciates in value - a pro-rated warranty no matter how long it is will not cover the costs of replacing the tank only a small portion of the tank only value (usually excludes installation as well). If the warranty is only going to cover 0 of the costs after only 2 years then what value is that warranty if you have to dish out the balance? Does the installer offer a maintenance plan for your hot water tank? The anode should be replaced every 3 years in the city, every 2 years in the country on well water.
Nothing in life is simple - but you can certainly take simple steps to insuring that you are getting value for your hard earned money. Please note that you may have to pay a bit more up front to get the security and warranties you want, but in the long run it will save you serious money.

Be sure to check out my other articles on hot water tanks and water heaters for more ways to save money and avoid damaging your most precious asset, your home!

*Note: average buying prices are based on Ottawa Ontario Canada pricing and may not accurately reflect the prices in your country or region.

**Warranties differ from suppliers and companies, read the fine print to understand what those differences are. Some extended warranties are worth the additional costs, most are not.

Water Heaters - Renting Vs. Buying - The Best Solution

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Install A Water Heater Timer To Save Energy

Most people are willing to do the little things to save energy and money, but all too often they just do not know what options are available to them. Well, if you are one of the millions of US homeowners that are using an electric storage tank water heater, one of these small things that can make a big impact is installing a timer to regulate when there is power to your water heater and save energy. With the high cost of energy these days, a little extra savings every month can add up to big savings on your budget.

The idea behind installing a timer stems from the inherent inefficiency in the design of a tank water heater. These models are great and do a fantastic job as evidenced by their continuing popularity to this very day. They are affordable and reliable, lasting for many years. But the design of these units leaves a bit to be desired in terms of energy efficiency. The way a conventional tank storage unit works is that water enters a large tank and gets heated by two elements. There is one element up top and one at the bottom of the tank.

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The flaw in the design that renders these models less than optimal in performing their jobs is the fact that water that gets heated and does not get used will eventually cool down and require heating again. This inefficient cycle gets repeated over and over again until the water is finally used in your home. Each time that water gets heated and goes unused, you are wasting energy throwing away money.

That brings us to one practical solution to this problem. If homeowners will take the opportunity to install a timer, then you can prevent the cycle of heating and cooling and only heat water when it is really needed. If your water heater has an adequate first hour heating rating, you only need to give the unit a one hour head start on heating the water you will need in order to have a sufficient supply for your use.

This is a project that most people can do themselves without the assistance of a plumber but there are some situations where installing a water heater timer makes sense and some where it doesn't. If you have already installed a heat trap and insulated your pipes, you won't reap the same benefits as homeowners that do not have heat traps and insulation in place. Also, timers are not a good fit for gas-powered units.

Saving money can be simple once consumers know what their options are and then they take action on the ones that are a good fit for their homes. Installing a water heater timer is one of these simple tasks that people with electric water heaters can perform and save energy and money. You get the financial savings as well as the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are being a responsible user of the planet's natural resources.

Install A Water Heater Timer To Save Energy

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Tankless Water Heater Comparison of Four Major Water Heating Brands

Tankless heaters are becoming more and more popular thanks to their long term saving effect on electricity and water. There are many brands in the water heater market but the following tankless water heater comparison focuses only on four major brands that have provided top quality models according to the industry magazines and consumer reviews.

Rheem

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Rheem company has a variety of different options to offer, which run on gas, are innovated, and that will provide you with plenty of hot water when you need it.

Rheem is a company that is private and has been in operation since 1927. Today there are the leading producer in North America of water heaters and have won multiple awards in the water heating category.

For smaller homes, Rheem provides their RTG-53 series, which is perfect for providing hot water to 1-2 different bathrooms within a home. For those with 3 bathrooms, the RTG-74 series is perfect. The GT-199 heavy duty option is an excellent option for those homes that have over three bathrooms in use.

The main advantage of Rheem tankless water hears is that they can operate multiple appliances, even over a period of time. The controls on the heaters are electric as well so that the thermostat can be easily controlled to keep water from becoming too hot, which is especially important for families that have children.

Stiebel Eltron

Stiebel Eltron is a company that was founded in Germany back in 1924. Through the years, the have been known for their water heaters and the company is now the top manufacturer in Germany.

The products that they offer vary from mini tankless water heaters, which are extremely compact, to larger options that are made to support larger household hot water needs. They provide special scald guards on their heaters.

They also offer thermal cut off safety sensors as well as special temperature controls that are all digital. Prices vary depending on the option purchased, but the average price on these heaters is about 0.

Noritz

The vision of Noritz company is to change the way that hot water is used to help eliminate detrimental effects that occur to our environment. They are an up and coming company in the industry, and although thy have not been around as long as some of the other companies, they have the largest plant for manufacturing tankless water heaters.

Noritz is a company that was originally based in Japan. They offer products that are compact and offer installation that is easy whether you are installing indoors or outdoors. The supply of water provided by their heaters is impressive, at 13.2 gallons each minute. One big advantage is the 10 year warranty that is on the heat exchanger, and they provide a three year warranty on the other parts of the system.

Electronic controls allow users to prevent scalding issues, and some of the newer models even come with alarms that go off when so much water has been used. For heavy demands, the N-084M-DV, the N-132M, and the n-084M are good options. For simpler household needs, the N-69M-OD, N-063-OD, and the N-063S are all good options.

Bosch

Bosch is a company well known for their innovative products and it is one of the top selling tankless heaters manufacturers out there. The 12 year warranty is one of the big pros this company has to offer, since this is a longer warranty than any of the other companies offer on their brands.

Their water heaters are made to save space and they provide plenty of hot water, even for homes that are using several appliances at once. More than 7 gallons of water are delivered for each minute, making sure consumers do not run out of hot water.

These products are light weight, there is freeze protection built in, and it has a 120 volt electronic ignition that can be used. Although a few consumers have reported malfunctions, as you compare tankless water heaters, you will find that what Bosch has to offer is definitely top of the line.

Tankless Water Heater Comparison of Four Major Water Heating Brands

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Whole-House Water Treatment Systems - The Biggest Bang For Your Clean Water Buck

If you're thinking about buying a home water treatment system for your home but aren't quite sure which direction to take, let me point you in the direction of whole-house water treatment systems. In my humble opinion, these comprehensive systems give you the biggest bang for your clean water buck.

You see, when it comes to a home water treatment system, drinking water shouldn't be your only concern. Because you also need clean water to bathe and cook its just makes sense that whole-house treatments are the better investments.

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Let me explain why I'm making this recommendation.

I'm sure you're already aware that providing your family with clean, contaminant-free water helps to promote their health and well-being. Whole-house treatment systems are the most convenient way to deliver clean water from everything that dispenses water in your home.

Just think about it. By connecting this home treatment system to the main water line that comes into your house, you can have safe, pure water from faucets, baths, showers, toilets, washing machines, etc. And because the water flowing through the pipes in your home is free of corrosive chemicals, your family won't be exposed to lead or copper that has leached from the pipes.

There is also an environmental bonus attached to whole-house treatment systems. The water that leaves your home and goes back into the sewer line will be free of chemicals and bacteria, further protecting your family and community.

Last, but not least, is the cost of this type of home treatment system. At less than fifty cents a day, quality whole-house water treatment systems are, by far, the least expensive and most convenient way to filter and purify water.

Just as a comparison, you could pay between and a gallon for bottled water and not be sure of the true quality of the water. In my way of thinking, that's an expensive chance to take with the health of your family.

So now that you know all this, what's your next step?

My recommendation is to be a good consumer and take a look at some whole-house water treatment systems. As a starting point, I recommend looking at a home treatment system that uses a multi-stage filtration process. I have found this technology to be the best at removing a wide range of toxins, bacteria and odor-causing sediments, while lowering dangerous levels of chlorine. As an extra health bonus, multi-stage filtration leaves beneficial minerals untouched.

Make no mistake about it. Whole-house water treatment systems can give you the biggest bang for your clean water buck!

Whole-House Water Treatment Systems - The Biggest Bang For Your Clean Water Buck

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Laundry Detergents - The Curse Upon Our Environment And Water Systems

Laundry detergents can best be defined as a cleansing substance, especially a synthetic liquid or powder that dissolves dirt and oil using Surfactants to remove grease from the cloth, Abrasives to rub off the dirt from the fabrics, Ph substances are components that have a high ph factor to stabilize the other harder substances being used, Caustics used to break up dirt particles, Softeners are added to deal with the harshness of other components being used, Oxidizers are essentially used for bleaching.

The vast majority of detergents being used today are of the synthetic type, although our society is becoming more aware of the detriment these agents have on our Environment. It Is important to note that more and more people are choosing to use more environmentally friendly products.

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I am not blaming our water problems solely on the detergent as most of our problems with our water today comes from the industrial use of chemicals and their polluting our our soil, from the steel mill, lumber mill, oil refinery, farmers and the various herbicides and pesticides, even the Dry Cleaner you visit once a week is a serious contributor and the list could go on. It is the polluting of our ground, which leaches into our water table that is causing our main woes.

The main point I wish to bring forward is that we have alternative methods to produce and consume our every day products. With the technologies at our disposal, we can as individual consumers make a difference. By this I mean we do not need to subject our environment to as much synthetic chemicals as we do. Our laundry practices are contributing to our ground level water pollution and also the contribution to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) through the heating of the water.

Our society is single handedly destroying the second most important substance on earth. At present the World Health Organization says that there is about One Billion inhabitants on earth without safe drinking water. Yet the majority of us in North America take it for granted. Lets not forget that out Water Treatment Plants are subjecting us to Chlorine everyday. Chlorine is just a bad as the aforementioned chemicals used by our industries as it is also a carcinogen.

Enough with doomsday lecture. There are SOLUTIONS to our involvement in the on-going polluting of the environment.

Until next time: BE GOOD TO YOURSELF AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

Keith Weir

Laundry Detergents - The Curse Upon Our Environment And Water Systems

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