After winter frosts and snows melt into spring slush, we welcome the heat of summer... to a point. A 6,000 BTU air conditioner is the perfect size for a bedroom, small play room, or home office, and will generally suit small rooms up to 250 square feet (read more about air conditioner sizes here). Although there are lots of cheap air conditioners out there that tend to pop up in stores around the summer months, choosing an AC unit from an established brand can ensure that you end up with a model that is quieter, energy efficient, and more reliable. 

Time is valuable. If you're buying a new washer for the first time in a while and have heard about how today's washers take longer, or your last modern washer turned out to take forever to wash, you might be wondering: How long does a washing machine take to wash clothes these days? How can I make my washer wash faster? And the truly inquisitive may also want to know: Why do washing machines take longer now than they used to? Isn't that a bad thing?

There's no doubt about it: dishwashers save us a ton of time. We no longer have to spend up to an hour or more processing the day's dishes with a sink full of soapy water and a bunch of towels on hand. Washing your dishes in a dishwasher uses less water than hand washing and is also a lot more sanitary: today's dishwashers heat the water to 140°F or higher to blast away germs.

Are you in need of a coin operated washer and dryer for your apartment or other commercial location?  Are you wondering where to begin in the process of researching new models? Installing coin operated washers and dryers can be a great way for landlords to increase their monthly income on apartment rentals, and if you're an entrepreneur in the laundry business, you may be looking for new machines for your laundromat. There are several coin operated dryer models on the market, but they aren't as widely advertised as traditional dyers.

In this article, we'll profile top-selling commercial washers and dryers from manufacturers Whirlpool and Speed Queen. Whether this is your first purchase of a coin operated dryer or you're replacing an existing model, taking a close look at the features of these models will help you compare and contrast with other models you are considering.

Are you trying to decide between a ductless or ducted under cabinet range hood? Also known as recirculating hoods, this type of hood is economical and easy to install. It's a common choice for manufactured homes and apartments where installing ductwork would be prohibitively expensive. 

In this article, we'll go over what you need to know about ductless hoods and review three affordable, popular models.

If you are looking for a new range and have only a 24 inch opening to work with, choices can be limited. Many of the ranges designed to fit into a 24 inch space are lower end models, most without smooth tops and often not available in stainless steel. For many customers with small spaces, a coil top range can do the job.

However, if you want a smooth top for your condo, apartment, or small kitchen, 24 inch electric range smooth top models can be hard to find and even harder to find reviews for. We wrote this blog to help provide more information about a few of the great models that are available in smooth top for the 24 inch market to help you find the best model for you.

If you are moving into a small apartment or a tiny house, or are otherwise just constrained for space, you may be scouring the internet to learn more about compact washer and dryer models. Compact laundry appliances are more common in Europe than in the US, but maybe those Europeans are onto something! Compact washers and dryers can be a little more difficult to come by than full size models, and there isn't as much information out there about them. 

Here are some things you should consider with a compact washer and dryer, plus reviews of two highly rated models from GE and Bosch.

Microwaves have historically come in two basic categories: standard over-the-range microwaves and countertop microwaves. Over-the-range microwaves are designed to fit nicely above your range and have standard 30" widths. Height-wise, they are typically between 16" and 18", and they generally offer a capacity in the 1.7 to 2.0 cubic foot range. Over-the-range microwaves are practically standard issue in most modern kitchens, and the cabinetry and layout in modern homes generally work well for these products. 

If you are shopping for a new refrigerator, you may be wondering what a frost free refrigerator is. "Frost free" is a term that has been used in the refrigerator industry for decades. Terms like "automatic defrost," "frostless," or "no-frost" all refer to the same technology. Many older style refrigerators and some modern mini refrigerators and freezer-only units require manual defrost.

Frost buildup on the coils in the freezer can impair the unit's ability to keep things cool. It can prevent the door from sealing properly and give your frozen foods an unpleasant "freezer" flavor. Manual defrost freezers need to be cleaned out 1-2 times a year and allowed to sit for 2-3 hours so the frost can melt. This is not a chore that everyone enjoys... or will actually do! 

With the new government standards related to water and energy consumption and the popularity of front load washers, the industry has introduced many new top load machines that are designed to compete with front load washers. These machines can offer similar energy savings to front load machines and large capacity wash baskets with no agitators, making them comparable to the front load design. We compare the advantages of disadvantages of HE top load washers compared to front loaders and traditional agitator washing machines.

If you are in the process of researching a new washing machine, you'll want to consider these models - and check out our washing machine buying guide for even more information!