Home Appliances

Without the refrigerator, you'd be salting your meat, tossing leftovers and drinking everything warm. Examine the inner workings of this food-preservation icon.

By Marshall Brain & Sara Elliott

Americans spend an estimated $250 million annually on air purifiers for their homes. Asthma and allergy sufferers are responsible for most of these sales. How can you benefit from owning an air purifier?

By Ed Grabianowski

Make your kitchen feel like new with our instructions on sharpening knives and scissors; fixing china, porcelain, and glass; making a polish for brass, silver, and copper; and making new potholders out of old towels.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Everyone loves a fire. But the chopping and storing and constant stoking of firewood can be a drag. Now there's an alternative that's not only more convenient, but also cost-effective and environmentally friendly: the wood pellet stove.

By Emilie Sennebogen

The green movement is bringing tankless water heaters to the forefront of the appliance market. They last longer, don't take up much space and give you as much hot water as you want. Is there a catch?

By Charles W. Bryant

Your water heater's just bought the farm, and now you're in the market for a new one. Where to start? From fuel source to size, here's what you need to know.

By Charles W. Bryant

Lots of people like the relaxing massage they get from the water jets in a hot tub. But some people prefer a gentler touch. How are air tubs different from whirlpools?

By Dan Fontaine

There's nothing worse than having your AC go on the fritz in the middle of summer. And one of the biggest reasons for air conditioning failure can be easily prevented.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Getting your oven dirty is easy. Getting it clean again is another matter entirely. Self-cleaning ovens sound good, but do they really work as well as their makers promise?

By John Kelly

For busy families, every minute in the kitchen counts. But for some chefs, it's less about how long it takes to cook and more about how long it takes to clean. That's where nonstick cookware comes in.

By Jessica Brown

Washing machines make the work of getting your clothes clean so much easier than laundering them by hand. How do these machines mix duds and suds so effectively?

By Stephanie Crawford