Front Load Washing Machines - More Affordable and Energy Efficient Than Ever

For design appeal and functionality, front load washing machines have become an increasingly popular choice. US consumers are now flocking to buy what was once primarily a European design. Take a look at some of the features of these machines and you are likely to be won over by the front load camp as well.

Front loaders are generally more costly than top loading machines, but many of their outstanding features help consumers justify the extra expense. And, now that an increasing number of manufacturers have gotten into the front load game, these washing machines have become more accessible to the average consumer budget.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

One of the main well-known advantages to the front loader is its incredible efficiency. Across the board, consumer studies show that water usage and energy consumption is greatly reduced with these washers. Save money in the long-run, especially as energy costs continue to skyrocket.

The added convenience for the front load washing machine user is clear as well. Because they don't have the washing agitator that top loaders do, the average front loader can handle larger load sizes. Many a top loading machine owner has grappled with the difficulty of stuffing in larger articles to be washed. That challenge is eliminated with the front loading option.

Without the agitator that in large part defines the standard top loading machine, the front loading washing machines excel in other categories as well. Many owners have remarked how much quieter their laundry room became after having purchased a front loader. Likewise, the life of their wardrobes have been extended greatly due to the gentler washing process.

The advantages don't stop there. Because of the basic mechanical design, the front loaders are able to spin at greater speeds, which reduces the cycle length. Home makers can do more laundry in less time than ever before.

Aside from all the practical advantages, the design features make the front loading machines attractive to look at as well. Their appearance, across the board, is more in line with that of a professionally designed piece of machinery. A variety of color choices, now made available by most manufacturers, makes the front loader an interior designer's choice of machines.

If you are mulling over the purchase of one of these machines, you'll be happy to know that the variety of options has increased, and nearly all manufacturers have nice entry level choices for the budget conscious consumer. Whirlpool, for example, has multiple models at various prices. Check out LG electronics for some equally affordable machines. If you want all the bells and whistles, consider a front loading machine made by Miele, Bosch or Euro-Tech. Other brands to consider when you are doing your comparison shopping are Amana, GE, and Maytag.

Again, the good news for the consumer is that as more manufactures enter the front loader market, the prices become increasingly accessible. Now is a great time for you to increase your washing capacity, save on energy bills and improve the appeal of your laundry room. The answer -- front load washing machines.

Front Load Washing Machines - More Affordable and Energy Efficient Than Ever

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

How to Find the Most Efficient Water Softener for Your Home

The signs of hard water are fairly obvious which makes it that much easier to know when you must soften your water. However, the difficult part can be selecting which water softener is the best for you. There are several water softeners to choose from, so it is important you do your research to decide what is most efficient for your needs.

The most vital aspect to selecting a quality water softener is being an educated consumer. There are tons of different water softeners to choose from, so what makes one better than another? You will want to look at different manufacturers, compare prices, and determine what type of setup will fit and be most convenient for what you're looking for.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Water softeners come in all sizes, so make sure to find the one that fits. You don't want to get home and find out that you can't use your new water softener because of a size problem. Also, look into what type of environment the water softener will be used in. They are quite versatile, but certain units are better than others in certain environments.

A great way to know if you are getting a quality water softener is to look at water softener ratings. This will inform you of the amount of minerals that can be removed from the hard water before the unit requires recharging. Some units may appear promising but require consistent maintenance that can become quite costly.

There are numerous water softener vendors to choose from, so it is recommended that you research and talk to others for any comments they may have. Some of the more popular vendors include Kenmore, Kinetico, and General Electric. Kinetico is known for their convenience and ease of use. However, they are costly units for the amount of upkeep that is required. Kenmore offers a wide range of water softeners from very basic to high-quality units.

Another thing to consider when purchasing your water softener is whether the unit is electric or non-electric. It makes it much more convenient if the unit is electric, but some of the more popular brands like Kinetico are non-electric. The last thing to consider is if you are looking for an ionic exchange unit or a magnetic water softening unit. Both styles are offered by most vendors.

It can be a difficult task to find the perfect water softening system for you. However, with the proper research and some feedback you should have no problem eliminating your daunting hard water dilemma.

How to Find the Most Efficient Water Softener for Your Home

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Consumer Reports Cited Fuel Efficient SUVs

With the prices of gas and fuel increasing steadily, consumers tend to turn their backs on the sport utility vehicle (SUV) market. Sports utility vehicles after all has a reputation for being gas guzzlers and that is why most consumers now opt for more fuel efficient smaller cars like a sedan or a coupe.

consumer reports subscription

But the versatility and the loading capacity of an SUV is hard to match, even by large sedans. That is why Consumer Reports came out with a list of the most fuel efficient SUVs to help consumers choose the right kind of vehicle that would suit their needs and wants as well as their budgets. The list of the best and worst SUVs when it comes to fuel economy is the result of a battery of tests that were performed by Consumer Reports on the SUVs that are currently available in the market.

Consumer Reports

"With more crossovers, hybrids, and car-based SUVs entering the market, it's now much easier to find an SUV that gets gas mileage similar to a midsized sedan," Rik Paul, the Automotive Editor for Consumer Reports, quipped. The editor also pointed out that consumers can save a lot of money that is usually spent on fuel simply by doing research before choosing a car to buy. And the magazine has provided prospective car buyers with a comprehensive list of the best and the worst fuel efficient SUVs in the market so as to aid them in choosing a vehicle.

Aside from giving their readers an idea which vehicles are noteworthy, they also showed them which vehicles to avoid where fuel economy is concerned. The information presented by Consumer Reports is a great help to prospective car buyers. What can be more helpful though are the pieces of information about choosing after market parts for the vehicle like EBC brake rotors or other car parts.

Some of the sport utility vehicles tested by Consumer Reports posted gas mileage which is similar to that of a conventional family sedan. Models like the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Saturn Vue Green Line, and the Toyota RAV-4 model that uses a 4-cylinder engine each posted 23-26 miles per gallon, and that is not far from gas mileage ratings achieved by some sedans. While there are SUVs that boasts of good fuel economy, there are also those that would burn a hole in your pocket with gas mileage ratings that seem to use up each gallon of fuel faster than you can say jag. Small SUVs which have performed poorly on the fuel economy tests are the Kia Sorento LX, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, and the Jeep Liberty Sport.

The tests conducted by Consumer Reports gave a result of an equally weighted average of city, highway, and one-day trip gas mileage ratings. For the city driving gas mileage rating, Consumer Reports simulated stop-and-go driving with a total of 18 stops, four minutes of idling, and speeds reaching up to 40 miles per hour. For the highway mpg rating, testers drove the vehicles through eight 5-mile laps with a constant speed of 65 miles per hour.

To find out the gas mileage rating of the vehicles for a one-day trip, testers pushed the vehicles through 155 miles in a day. The trip is constituted by 26 percent freeway driving, 11 percent two-lane highway, and 63 percent varied countryside roads with turns and minute elevation differences. The tests conducted show the overall performance of the vehicles in terms of fuel economy, other components of the vehicles were not tested.

Other noteworthy SUVs in the midsize segment are the Lexus RX400h, with a gas mileage rating of 23 miles per gallon, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited which posted 22 miles per gallon. The BMW X3 3.0si, the Nissan Murano, and the Toyota Highlander Limited also posted good gas mileage ratings of 19 miles per gallon. Consumer Reports however did not find any vehicle in the large SUV segment with unusually good gas mileage figures.

Consumer Reports Cited Fuel Efficient SUVs

Consumer Reports