Small Home Appliances

With summer here, there’s no better time to celebrate the warmer months with cool cocktails in the comfort of your home. Whether it’s an after-work happy hour or a weekend soiree you’re planning for your backyard, serving up a bevy of perfectly chilled cocktails will definitely let you toast to a season of summertime fun.

When planning a summer party, keep in mind that drinks are often the most important element. In other words, you don’t want to be just serving wine or beer. When planning a summer cocktail party, consider the base of the drinks you’re going to serve, and don’t limit yourself to single spirit drinks. For example, it’s always a good idea to have a rum-based drink, vodka-based drink, and of course, the obligatory fruity, frozen summer concoction.

With that in mind, cold drinks require ice, and this is especially important in on-the-rocks beverages, as ice is a major factor in constructing the perfect Tom Collins or Scotch. The best quality and tasting ice either makes or breaks a great drink, and cubes should be shaped in such a way that it does not take up much surface area, as this prevents the drink from “watering down.”

Therefore, if you’re throwing a summer cocktail party, don’t forget to have ample amounts of ice. While your refrigerator’s icemaker can provide enough ice for a few glasses of water or ice tea, you may have to seek other methods of obtaining larger amounts of ice. Many people purchase ice from the supermarket or even from ice companies. These companies use state-of-the-art ice making equipment with a reverse-osmosis purification process, and the resulting ice is bagged and made available to customers.

This type of ice most often comes in the form of dry ice, glacier block ice, and cubed ice. Dry ice is carbon dioxide in a frozen state and is ideal for keeping perishables frozen for long periods of time. Because dry ice doesn’t melt into water but turns into a gas, they are not used directly in beverages. Glacier block ice comes in large blocks and perfect for camping on ice chests. Cubed ice, on the other hand, is what most people use in their drinks, and these can be purchased in various sized bags and quantities.

However, if you don’t want to deal with the issue of buying cubed ice from an ice company, a portable ice maker may be just the solution. These types of units are compact, good for countertop placement, and usually produce ice in minutes without needing to be directly connected to a water line. Instead, bottled or tap water can be poured directly into the icemaker. Furthermore, many portable ice makers can produce ice in different sizes and cube shapes.

Our product team has spent the majority of the summer months testing and reviewing some of the most popular portable ice makers on the market today. Well-known icemaker manufacturers include Franklin Chef, Amcor, Avanti, and Sunpentown, but when NewAir, a company primarily known for its air conditioners and heaters, offered to supply us with their NewAir AI-210SS portable ice maker to try, we were excited to see how it measured up in terms of features when compared to competing units. Here’s what we found:

Style and Design:
When we received the AI-210SS icemaker, we really liked its sleek and stylish design. It featured a silver body with black accents that looked great sitting on our kitchen counter. Although it weighed approximately 46 pounds, we could tell it was constructed of heavy duty materials and built to last. This 115 volt icemaker easily plugged into a household outlet, and the front door was easy to open and close. Also included was a removable bin and ice scoop. The LCD screen was bright and easy to read, and we were able to have the unit up and running after just a few minutes. We also appreciated the fact that it even had a “Self-Clean” function.

Ice Making:
According to NewAir, the AI-210SS portable ice maker produces ice in as little as six minutes, and we found this to be true. Twelve pieces of ice per cycle were made in our choice of three different sizes (small, medium, and large), and instead of having to deal with a water line, we simply poured bottled water into the reservoir. In terms of maintenance, when we were done using the AI-210SS, we simply emptied the unused water via the side mounted drain.

Overall Impression:
Overall, we feel the NewAir AI-210SS is the best choice for homeowners that need a compact ice maker. It makes a large amount of ice in a short amount of time and is actually more affordable than other units with similar ice making abilities.

By: Jeanie Wong

The bottled water industry has virtually exploded world-wide. The belief is bottled water is safer and purer than our tap water. The reality is the industry is not regulated and as a result, some bottled water is no better than tap water and contain some of the contaminants we are seeking to avoid by drinking bottled water.

Different types of home water filtration systems purifies the water and removes over 2,000 known contaminants including lead, mercury, and known poisons. Untreated water has been linked to cancer, learning disabilities, viruses, and skin conditions. Lead in the water leads to birth defects as well as learning disabilities.

Faucet mounted systems are relatively easy to install. They attach to the faucet and the water is purified as it comes out of the faucet. This system is also called a point of use system. Most of them come with replaceable filter cartridges. This could be the option if the home is small, or if only the drinking water is to be treated.

Whole-house filters are ideal, especially for large homes. The system is connected at the point which water enters the home. The water in the shower, bath, toilet, and all taps are purified. Since there is little to no contaminants in the water there is a greatly reduced risk of them escaping into the air. This could reduce or prevent the occurrences of respiratory problems, skin problems, and other health conditions.

Shower filters attach to the shower head or to a hand-held shower wand. They are relatively easy to attach. This system might be considered if the home is smaller.
They also have replaceable filter cartridges.

Under the sink/counter models are designed to be placed out of site. If space is a commodity, than this might not be an option. Countertop models are effective and are linked to the water supply. These models might not be a choice if there is not enough counter space..

Single drinking water filters, can be faucet mounted, whole-house, or pitcher models. There are individual water filters usually in special bottles. They are also available as straws that can be reused.

The different types of home water filtration systems are all very effective in purifying water. Budget constraints, space, and need will likely suggest the best system for an individual. There are options available. Even if you have a home system, individual systems are especially good for traveling as they are very portable.

By: John Collins

Broken appliances are a reality of life. No matter how well we care for our refrigerator, washer or dryer, they will break down at some point. However, throwing out a broken appliance is not always the best option.

Appliance repair is a cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternative to replacing a broken home appliance. By employing experts to repair an existing machine, you save the money you would have spent on a new one. You also have the peace of mind of knowing that your appliance is safe and working properly.

See the Savings with Appliance Repair
Any homeowner who has purchased an appliance knows that they are expensive! Even though appliance repair may seem costly, it is a clear winner when compared to the price of getting a new appliance. Appliance repair companies have the expertise to repair a whole range of home appliances including:

Dryers Washing machines Garbage disposals Dishwashers Microwaves Hood vents Cooktops Double ovens Built-in ovens Many companies will even offer free estimates for their repair services. When you need a dryer repair, for example, you’ll be able to know in advance how much money you will be spending – and how much you will be saving!

Safety First
Although it is tempting to either make do with an appliance that doesn’t quite work, or to try to repair it on your own, you can actually make a bad situation worse by doing so. If an malfunctioning appliance is not taken care of, you risk incurring further damage and causing even more disruption to your life. In some cases, it may even create an unsafe situation in your home. If you need an oven repair, for example, not getting one may lead to a fire hazard or gas leak. Trying to repair appliances ourselves is equally dangerous. We are so accustomed to all of the appliances in our homes and we tend to forget that they are actually complex machines. Professionals are the only ones with the tools and qualifications to do proper repairs in a safe manner.

Appliances provide functions that make our home life easier, but when they don’t work they can affect all aspects of our domestic situation. Getting the expert stove, dishwasher or refrigerator repair that you need is the financially and personally responsible decision, and one that will help life get back to normal as quickly as possible.

By: Matt Gallo