Home Appliances
Home appliances make life easier, but what's really going on inside them? HowStuffWorks Home Appliances articles take a look inside common household appliances.
How to Diagnose a Water Heater Problem
Which Works Best: Laundry Pods, Powder or Liquid Detergents?
Getting to the Bottom of the Bidet
What's the Difference Between Toilet Paper and Tissue?
How Often Should You Clean Your Humidifier?
Gas vs. Electric Stoves: Which is really more efficient?
Magnetic Air Conditioners: A High Tech Way Of Keeping Cool
Stop Hand-washing Your Dishes!
Does Your Fridge Water Taste Bad? Here's How to Fix It
How to Clean an Oven
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Induction cooking uses electromagnetism to heat pots and pans in a jiffy, avoiding wasted energy and allowing greater control over temperatures. So is it worth the price?
By Julia Layton
While the ease of washing clothes has gotten very high, so has the use of water and energy to get those clothes clean. How much water does washing one load of laundry use?
By Sara Elliott
Vacuums have come a long way since they were first introduced, but the ones on the market today have really made some strides.
By Sara Elliott
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Most of us hate to iron, but it's a necessary evil. Or is it? There may be a new dryer on the market that can eliminate this thankless chore all together.
By Sara Elliott
Front-load washers are all the rage right now, but high-efficiency top-load washers have five features that sill beat their shiny new counterparts.
By Sara Elliott
You've been wondering how to test a blower motor. Learn how to test a blower motor in this article.
You finally bought that refrigerator with an automatic ice make and a cold water dispenser, and now you have to hook up a water line to the refrigerator. Learn how to hook up a waterline to a refrigerator in this article.
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If you're planning to do renovations in your home, it's important that you know how to understand electrical outlets. This article will help you learn how to understand electrical outlets.
Your water heater isn't heating up the water properly, and you'd like to learn how to diagnose a water heater problem. Learn about how to diagnose a water heater problem in this article.
You installed a sump pump to save money, but now it's costing you even more. Learn about how to diagnose sump pump problems in this article.
Defrosting a freezer can give you more storage space and help the freezer run more efficiently. Learn about how to defrost a freezer in this article.
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Most people would like to make their appliances last longer. Learn about how to make appliances last longer in this article.
Air conditioning has fundamentally changed how people experience the world. When it's hot outside, walking into an air-conditioned house is like walking into another season. How do air conditioners keep us cool?
Yes, you do have to clean the machine that cleans your clothes! Fortunately, it's easy to do.
By Alia Hoyt
If your kitchen seems too cramped or crowded, consider replacing your oven with a built-in wall unit. This article shows you how to install a wall oven.
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Some people prefer to sharpen a knife by moving the blade in circles against sandpaper, while others keep the blade at an angle. Learn how to sharpen a knife with sandpaper from this article.
Waterless urinals still haven't quite broken through to the mainstream, but they can save users billions of gallons of water over standard models. Read on to find out how they work, and stay safe and sanitary.
By Matt Sailor
Waterless urinals are designed to work without H20. So exactly how much water do they save compared to standard models? You might be surprised to find out.
By Matt Sailor
A problem with your dishwasher is easier to diagnose than you might think. Learn about how to diagnose dishwasher problems in this article.
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You noticed that your hot-water heater is not functioning properly, and probably needs draining.
The price tags on some of the newer high-efficiency washing machines might cause you to hesitate. But if you look at the costs of running a washer over the long haul, something that uses less energy becomes a bit more appealing.
If you have a high-efficiency washing machine, you'll need high-efficiency detergent -- or else you might find a mountain of suds in your laundry room. Which brands are best?
By Alia Hoyt & Debra Ronca
Washer/dryer combinations are compact and convenient for small spaces, eliminating the need for two separate machines. But are they really as energy efficient as they seem?
By Echo Surina
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Buying a new household appliance is usually a long-term investment, whether you're replacing an old unit or setting up home for the first time. Before you buy a clothes dryer, though, you need to understand the difference between the two types that are most commonly available: gas and electric.
Your clothes dryer is one of the highest energy-consuming appliances in your home. But even with all the energy-saving appliances on the market today, do high-efficiency dryers exist?
By Carol White