AHAM's Blog

Follow These Tips to Keep Your Dishwasher and Food Waste Disposal Working

When was the last time you cleaned out the filter in your dishwasher? Do you keep it full of a rinse aid? Is there a bad odor coming from your kitchen sink?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might not have been properly maintaining your appliances. Although today’s appliances are much longer than they used to be, they, like your car, have to be properly maintained. Doing so will not only save you money in costly repair bills, but ensure that your appliances provide you with years of trouble-free service.

A recent article in the Mercury News provides plenty of good tips to keep your dishwasher and disposal working. As noted in the article:

“Electric dishwashers have a filtration system that requires regular cleaning, especially if you don't scrape or pre-rinse dishes.

"The maintenance on a dishwasher depends on how you treat it," says John DeSilvia, host of DIY Network's “Rescue My Renovation.”

If you're not a pre-rinser, he recommends cleaning the filter once a month. Just look at the bottom of your dishwasher, find and remove your filter, then scrub away debris with a soft brush. Rinse and reinstall.”

Additionally, to destroy any bad odors that may be emanating from your food waste disposer, the article recommends that you make a solution of one cup of vinegar with one cup of baking soda and pour it your sink’s drain, letting it sit for 15 minutes before running cold water and flushing it out.

To read more tips, click here to view the full article.

Also, you can learn more about the environmental benefits of food waste disposers here. You can also get expert advice on all your major home appliances, including tips on what to look for when making a purchase as well as how to maintain them here.

Need Some Inspiration for Your Kitchen Remodeling?

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, and the one we spend a significant amount of time in, particularly if you have a family to cook for. A “dream kitchen” complete with shiny new appliances, plenty of workspace and a welcoming atmosphere is something many of us want.

Are you looking to update the design of your kitchen this year? Need some inspiration? Dwell magazine, which focuses on modern home design, has compiled a list of tips and predictions from designers in an article titled 101 Kitchen Design.

As the author notes in the article’s introduction, “This is when we might heed German graphic design visionary Otl Aicher, author of The Kitchen Is for Cooking, who wrote: ‘The kitchen is a function of man’s social nature. Cooking is only a pleasure when others join in eating. And cooking is even more of a pleasure if others join in the cooking.’ And all the design genius in the world is not going to get that fresh fish into the frying pan, or those well-scrubbed potatoes into the oven.”

"AHAM 6" Home Appliance Shipments Up 5.8 Percent Over March 2012

For the third consecutive month this year, data released by AHAM showed that shipments of the “AHAM 6” major appliances in the U.S. increased compared to the same month last year. The AHAM 6 includes clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, ovens and ranges. According to the March 2012, AHAM Factory Shipment Report, shipments were 5.8 percent higher than March 2012.  Year-to-date shipments of the “AHAM 6” appliances are up 5.5 percent over the same period last year.

Get this data directly from AHAM each month by subscribing to the monthly Factory Shipment Report. Visit the AHAM Store to purchase a one-year subscription. Each monthly report includes the number of shipments for cooking (ranges and ovens), home laundry (washers and dryers), kitchen clean up (dishwashers, disposals and compactors), food preservation (refrigerators and freezers) and home comfort appliances (room air conditioners and dehumidifiers). Subscriptions are based on the calendar year.

Additionally, AHAM has a five-year data series available, which includes the Factory Shipment Report for the current year as well as from 2008-2011.   AHAM also maintains shipment data by state, and even by county.  This data is often helpful to utilities in demand forecasting.   AHAM’s latest energy trends data should be released soon as well.

Allergy Season is Coming: Are You Prepared?

The good news for the millions of Americans who suffer from allergies is that they can take action against symptoms before they start.

Dust and pollen are common airborne allergens that cause these symptoms. Here are some everyday steps you can take to help you avoid them.

• Keep windows closed in the car and at home and limit outdoor activities, especially when the pollen count is high.

• Shower before you go to bed to help remove allergens that may have collected on you or your clothes throughout the day.

• Do not hang laundry outside to dry where it may collect pollen and other allergens. Use a dryer or hang the clothes inside instead.

• Use a portable room air cleaner in your bedroom to filter airborne particles and help you breath--and sleep--easier. In a recent survey conducted by AHAM, removing dust was the top reason for purchasing an air cleaner. These portable appliances can be moved from room to room, and a portable air cleaner that's received a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) seal may reduce the level of airborne pollutants.

Before purchasing the air cleaner, you should know the size of the room in which you'll use it. You can search the directory found the AHAM Verifide website and compare models. Look at the ratings for tobacco smoke, dust and pollen, and find the models that have the highest ratings since they will clean your room the fastest. You can then weigh the importance of product features, such as noise levels and design, to find an air cleaner that fits your needs.

You can also obtain your free copy of AHAM's Directory of Certified Air Cleaners here.

AHAM Welcomes Two New Members to Its Supplier Division

AHAM is proud to announce two new members have joined its Supplier Division:

Bonded Logic, Inc is located in Chandler, AZ and manufacture insulation used in appliances made of recycled denim.

Eastman Chemical Company is located in Kingston, TN and they produce polymers, adhesives and chemicals used in the manufacturing of home appliances.

 

Juicing Gains in Popularity

How do you get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables? Do you prefer to eat them whole or make your own juice? If you answered that you don’t get your daily dose of fruits and veggies, perhaps you should consider investing in a juicer.

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, juicers are flying off the shelves as consumers have decided they would rather provide their family homemade fruit and vegetable juices rather than store-bought juices that may have additives and fewer nutrients. In fact, making your own juice gives you the freedom to add what vegetables, fruits and seasonings that fit your taste buds.

The WSJ states that the market research firm NPD Group estimated that juicer sales hit 215 million for the year ending in November – a 71 percent increase from the year before.

As the WSJ reports, “Hoping to slim down, detoxify or just be healthier, more Americans are buying juicers. Some want to boost their fresh-produce consumption in a time-efficient, taste bud-friendly way. Others are going on a multiday juice cleanse, a diet composed of solely fruit and vegetable juice, to jump-start weight loss or a lifestyle change.”

The article continues by noting that, “Juicers generally fall into one of three categories: ‘fast,’ ‘slow’ and ‘whole food.’ The fast kind, also known as traditional or centrifugal juicers, are loud machines that grind produce to a liquid in a few earsplitting seconds. Fans like the thin-textured juice these machines produce, leaving the solid ‘pulp’ behind.”

Some parents have even found juicers to be an easier way of getting their children to eat their veggies. Rachel Johnson, a 32-year-old health coach in Billings, MT, uses says that she’s able to get her young daughters to drink healthily without them knowing. “I put it in sippy cups so they couldn't see the color,” she says.

Do you like to juice? What are some of your favorite recipes? Tell us!

AHAM Welcomes Three New Members to Its Supplier Division

Recently three new members have joined AHAM's Supplier Division:

• Steel Dynamics, Inc., which manufactures various steel products used in appliances. Their head office is located in Butler, IN and the official representative is Nancy Murphy, Marketing Manager.

• Arrayent, Inc., located in Redwood City, CA, provides secure communication service between home appliances and smartphone/web applications. The official representative is Bob Dahlberg, Vice President of Business Development.

• AK Steel, a former AHAM member, is located in West Chester, OH. They provide stainless steel and carbon steel for use in appliances, and the official representative is JB Chronister.

Additionally, all three companies will have representatives at AHAM's annual member meeting next month in Washington, DC. If you are attending, please take a moment to introduce yourself.

AHAM Members: REGISTER NOW for Scaling New Heights!

Take a moment to register now for AHAM’s annual member meeting,  Scaling New Heights, to be held this year in Washington DC, Sunday, April 28 and Monday, April 29.  This yearly event provides an excellent overview of AHAM’s key issues and priorities.  AHAM staff and member volunteers will comprise an expert panel discussion titled AHAM Critical Updates which will not only include U.S. federal and state legislative activities, but also important Canada provincial regulations and legislation that affect the industry.  Additionally, each division will have its own meeting which will focus on the division-specific issues.  Join this yearly gathering of the membership and industry friends to learn about the industry’s common goals and challenges.  AHAM’s Hotel Room Block Expires April 5th!  AHAM’s Early Registration ends April 12t!   Register now!

Follow These Tips for an Organized Refrigerator

Keeping a clean and organized refrigerator can be a lot harder than it seems, especially if there are several people living under the same roof, with each person having their own foods, drinks, condiments and leftovers.

Here are some tips found in a recent article from Fox News:

• Clean out your fridge before going to the grocery store. Amy Brady, a professional organizer from TheClutterConsultants.com suggests moving items with closer expiration dates towards the front and later expiration dates towards the back ... just like a grocery store!

• Use the refrigerator the way it was intended. Refrigerators were designed to keep food fresh in specific areas. “Deli meat and cheeses should be stored in the meat/deli tray because that's usually the coldest spot in your refrigerator,” Kuper points out. “Vegetables should be stored in the crisper drawer because it's designed to seal tightly to keep in humidity. The door of your refrigerator is best for storing jarred foods that can withstand frequent exposure to room temperature air.”

• Assess the situation. “Start with the top and work your way down,” says Donna Smallin Kuper, author of How to Declutter and Make Money Now. “Be sure to open and unwrap everything to see what you have. Check expiration dates and throw out anything that is clearly bad or questionable.”

• Turntables. Brady and Kuper are both fans of storing things like condiments, leftovers, or large drink containers on Lazy Susans, or turntables. They make things easier to find and prevent them from getting shoved or lost in the back of the fridge.

For more tips on how to keep your refrigerator organized, click here to read the rest of the article. What are some of your tips? Tell us!

New Study Finds Air Conditioning Has Reduced Premature Deaths By 80 percent Since 1960

Anyone who has experienced summer without air conditioning knows how uncomfortable it can be, and many of us have probably heard stories from our parents and grandparents about how difficult life was when few people – if anyone – had the luxury of cooled air. However, according to a new study, life before air conditioning became commonplace was also deadlier.

The Washington Post has an interesting article highlighting a new study conducted jointly by Tulane University, Carnegie Mellon University, the National Bureau of Economic Research and MIT analyzed U.S. heat-related deaths between 1900 and 2004, and found that after 1960 (before which air conditioning was not commonplace), there were on average 600 premature deaths each year on days in which temperatures rose above 90 degrees – one-sixth as many as would have occurred under pre-1960 conditions. By 2004, 85 percent of American homes had air conditioning.

According to the Washington Post:

            “It’s all due to air conditioning,” said MIT environmental economics professor Michael   Greenstone, one of the paper’s co-authors, adding that factors including increased          electrification and health-care access did not affect heat-related mortality.

                The likelihood of a premature death on an extremely hot day between 1929 and 1959 was          2.5 percent, the academics found, dropping to less than 0.5 percent after 1960. The paper,           which is under review at an academic journal, compared days on which temperatures                exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit with days when they ranged between 60 and 69 degrees        Fahrenheit.

The article goes on to discuss that in developing countries, such as India, very few people have air conditioning and as more people enter the middle class, they will be able to afford air conditioning.

In the article, Indian Institute of Technology professor Ambuj Sagar, states, “To me, if there is any policy relevance of this study, it is that the developing countries, in their drive for a comfortable life (which will also help adapt to hotter temperatures) are following the same pathway that their industrialized-country counterparts because they don’t have any other pathway available.”

As more continue to enjoy the benefits of air conditioning, there will be continued focus on energy efficiency, which manufacturers of portable room air conditioners have worked on diligently over the years. For example, in 1990, the average room air conditioner consumed 862 KWH/Hr and by 2011 that had decreased to 644 KWH/Hr – over a 25 percent reduction! Additional information on the increased efficiency of home appliances can be found in AHAM’s Trends in Energy Efficiency.