Water Heaters - One Of The Most Underappreciated Household Appliances

Every home owner has a water heater in their house, yet not everyone knows the location of this important appliance. What they do know is that when they go in to take a shower they have comforting hot water if their water heater is running, and they also know that when this appliance is not running their in for a cold surprise.

Quite often appliances are hidden in the basement, closet or garage. The individual in your house that is in charge of the household appliances likely knows where it is. and they are certain to know if it is not functioning as the complaints will be fast and furious.

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Numerous Benefits

A well functioning water heater supplies hot water for both laundry as well as the showers. The family members enjoy the benefits of these appliances practically everyday regardless of that they do not know where the appliances are or how they function. This particular appliance helps to keep the warm as well as clean, unquestionably some very important tasks.

Even though everybody in a family enjoys the various benefits of a solid working unit, the majority of the members don't have to known anything about the mechanical working involved or the costs involved if they are interested in household as well as conservation costs.

Some Water Heaters Function Better and Costs Less To Operate

Water heaters are available in a least five different kinds. Some of these function faster than others and some of them are more economical than others. There are some that conserve energy and there are some that waste energy.

A wise shopper looking at new appliances may look at all the models prior to purchasing to save money on their family budget. The models include those that are powered by solar energy, electricity and natural gas. Each kind heats water using a different method and heats varying quantities of water at different speeds.

Each consumer shopping for a brand new water heater or a more efficient one should look carefully at those utilizing the resources of this appliance on a day to day basis. The selections might make a difference in the satisfaction of the family members as well as the cost of the family budget.

There are several different companies that make these appliances available so consumer reports on the products available might provide some important information. There also are various incentives for using appliances that conserve energy so the shopper may also look into these opportunities prior to making a final purchase.

Water Heaters - One Of The Most Underappreciated Household Appliances

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Are Scented Products Just Household Toxic Chemicals?

They're supposed to make things smell better... outdoor fresh and clean... yet new research finds that scented products (air fresheners, scented candles, laundry detergents, skincare and hair products) give off all kinds of chemicals with those pleasing smells, including a few that are considered toxic. What's worse, the work finds that these chemicals aren't even listed on the labels.

There's no escaping products with fragrances... they're everywhere. Still little is known about these items... they are complex combinations involving hundreds of ingredients after all, and federal law protects fragrances, manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients, leaving the consumer in the dark about exactly what they are breathing in with all that lovely scent.

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The research into just what we're inhaling used some fancy chemical detective work to examine 25 commonly used, best selling products that have scent.

The team placed a sample of each product in a closed glass container at room temperature and then analyzed the surrounding air for any volatile organic compounds. They found chemical concentrations ranging from 100 micrograms per cubic meter to more than 1.6 million micrograms per cubic meter.

Each product tested emitted an average of 17 chemicals. Of the 133 volatile organic compounds detected in the study, almost one quarter are classified as hazardous or toxic under at least one federal law. Yikes.

The most common emissions included limonene, a chemical that has a citrus scent; alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, chemicals that have a pine scent; ethanol; and acetone, the solvent in nail polish remover.

At least a third of the products tested emitted at least one chemical considered a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All products emitted at least one chemical classified as toxic or hazardous. Eleven products emitted at least one probable carcinogen including acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde and methylene chloride.

But wait... what about the products that claim to be "green" or "natural"?

About half of the products analyzed made some claim to being green, organic or natural, but the "green" products sent out just as many dangerous chemicals as any of the other products.

Only one of the 133 chemicals given off by the products actually appeared on a product label (ethanol), and only two of the chemicals were disclosed elsewhere.

The products included solid air fresheners, freshening sprays and oils, laundry detergent, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and personal care items like soaps, hand wash, lotions, deodorant and shampoo.

Cleaning products included disinfectants, all purpose sprays and dishwashing liquid.

Most likely the products you use are among those tested as the team chose widely used brands, with more than half the products being the top seller in its category.

The team is not disclosing the brands used in an effort to make a point. Buying Brand B over Brand A isn't going to make a difference. Potentially hazardous chemicals were given off by all the fragranced products tested.

A survey published last year found that almost 20% of the population report adverse health effects from air fresheners, about 10% complained of adverse effects from laundry products. Asthmatics reports of effects are roughly twice as common.

If you're worried about taking in potentially hazardous chemicals from the products you buy, it's a good idea to avoid heavily scented items. Clean with vinegar and baking soda, open windows for fresh air, and opt for products without scents whenever possible.

On the legal front, the Household Product Labeling Act currently under review by the U.S. Senate calls for manufacturers to list ingredients in these scented products, including fragrance mixtures. Contact your senator and make your views known.

Are Scented Products Just Household Toxic Chemicals?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Hard Water or Soft Water: Which Should You Have In Your Household?

Many people have heard the terms "hard water" and "soft water", but most still don't understand the effects of hard water and what causes them. Hard water is water that contains a moderate amount of calcium and magnesium minerals and is known for its pure taste. Soft water is originally hard water treated with sodium, which replaces the calcium and magnesium minerals in hard water. Soft water is not as desirable for drinking, as it often has a salty taste. Both types have downsides, so it is a difficult decision whether or not to soften your water.

You may wonder why hard water is "treated" to become soft water if you are ruining its taste and adding salt. Unfortunately, hard water can wreak havoc on households, causing problems to appliances, piping, reducing the effectiveness of shampoos and cleaning supplies, and making your skin and hair feel rough and itchy. This appliance and piping problems occur because chemicals form when hard water is heated up, which forms a scale. This scale can reduce the flow of pipes and eventually clog them completely. The problems with silverware and skin occur because of its negative interaction with certain cleaning agents. When it's combined with certain soaps, the calcium and magnesium prevent the soap from lathering and creates a soap scum on surfaces instead.

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Besides the bad taste of drinking it, what are other downsides of soft water? The magnesium and calcium minerals in hard water are very healthy, but the excess sodium in soft water is not. Soft water is not desirable for people with high blood pressure or those with a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or kidney issues. When hard water has an excess amount of calcium and magnesium in the water, more sodium is needed to replace it. To begin with, the exchange of minerals is not exact, so there is generally more sodium added to the water than needed. Also, some users complain that it create a good later when bathing or showering in soft water.

So how does hard water become soft water? There are several methods to treat hard water, but the most popular method is by using a salt-based water softener. These softeners replace with calcium and magnesium, as mentioned before. These water softeners require constant replacement of salts and may use a significant amount of energy. After a while, the costs of a traditional water softener may add up.

What are the alternatives to traditional water softening? Instead of using sodium-based water softening, you could buy potassium salts instead of sodium. For people with high blood pressure or kidney disease, this is a wise decision. This does not solve the problems of costs, however. Potassium salts are very expensive and the constant purchase of these salts is not feasible for most.

Another alternative is to try a magnetic-based treatment option. These water treatment products alter the molecular structure of water atoms and use a magnetic current, causing a disruption in the molecular bonds of hydrogen and surface tension is immediately reduced. Therefore, the calcium and magnesium content is the same, but the effects of hard water are significantly reduced. They don't require electricity or require salt to be added to the water. The only downside to the new water treatment is the lack of concrete evidence that consumers seek. Since there is no alteration to the calcium and magnesium content of the water, scientists have a difficult time measuring the effects of these salt-free treatment products. However, most customers of these products feel they have made a significantly positive difference in their households.

In summary, it is entirely up to individual households what type of water they decide to use. If great-tasting drinking water is of the utmost importance to you, then hard water is the best option. If you are particularly worried about the duration of your appliances or piping, then softening your water should be a priority. If you want to try and receive the benefits of both types of water, you could try one of the new types of magnetic-based treatments, although research and evidence on the products has not been extensive as of yet.

Hard Water or Soft Water: Which Should You Have In Your Household?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS