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WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SMART APPLIANCES

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Some manufacturers are now offering “smart” appliances — appliances that can be connected to smart electric meters or home energy management systems to help you shift your electricity use to off-peak hours. Air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances may be available as smart appliances.

Smart appliances don’t just turn off during times of peak electricity demand — instead, they use subtle ways to shift energy use. You might not even be aware of it. For example, your air conditioner may run slightly less often. Or your refrigerator might delay it’s defrost cycle until the middle of the night. If your utility charges lower rates for electricity at night, also called time-based rates, you could save on your utility bill.

Such changes may be unnoticeable to you, but could add up to significant savings for your utility — savings that can be shared with you. Your utility provider can tell you more about the availability of smart grid technologies and time-based electricity rates in your area and how they can benefit you.

 

How to Avoid Refrigerator Repairs

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Spend 30 minutes on these simple maintenance steps to keep your fridge running in tip top shape. It’s hard to believe, but six simple maintenance steps will prevent almost 100 percent of refrigerator breakdowns and eliminate those service calls.

Step 1: Clean the condenser coils (5 minutes)

Step 2: Clean the condenser fan (5 minutes)

Step 3: Wipe down the door gasket (2 minutes)

Step 4: Clear the freezer vents (5 minutes)

Step 5: Set the temperature controls to the middle settings (1 minute)

Step 6: Clear and clean the drip openings (2 minutes)

REFRIGERATOR TIPS

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Refrigerators with forced air condensers are the only kind that can be built in. Models with regular static condensers will not be able to dissipate the heat if used in this application. This will result in poor cooling efficiency and damage to the compressor. You can tell forced air models by the fan, located in the compressor compartment, used to circulate air through the condenser.