Home Appliances

Water is essential for the sustenance and well-being of all life—plant, animal, and human. The total body water (TBW) content averages 60% of body weight in men and about 55% in women. Vegetables contain about 80% to 90% water.

Rivers and lakes form the source of surface water, while wells form the source of ground water. Water from these sources does not usually conform to quality standards for human uses like bathing, drinking, washing machines, dishwashers, boilers and water heaters, pets, and sometimes even for plants. It is rendered unfit for use due to acidity, smell, color, heavy metals, dissolved solids (TDS), pollutants (organic compounds like insecticides and herbicides), and bacteria and microbes. Hence, the water needs to be treated to obtain the desired quality, free from contaminants, for human consumption.

Treatment of water depends on the contaminants prese...

Water treatment plants treat water from various sources like rivers and lakes. Water from these sources has to be purified to remove floating objects like sticks and other solids of larger dimensions, finer particulate matters, color, odor, pollutants, and harmful bacteria and microbes.

The water entering the treatment plant passes through intake screens to remove floating objects and larger insoluble materials. Back-flushing of the screen with air is done periodically to clear the screen and maintain the effectiveness of the screen.

Coagulants are added to the water to facilitate the subsequent sedimentation process. Water containing the rest of the impurities is taken to a sedimentation tank containing sand filters to remove suspended solids. Sand is then recovered and cleaned so that it can be reused. The next process is the bacterial disinfection and degradation of the...

When some one mentions static shock, you may think of the popular cartoons or TV show slapstick. But here we are dealing with the shock that is caused by static electricity. Shock is a trauma resulting from electricity passing through ones body to another object. If you touch a live electric wire, the current flows through your person to the ground. This gives you a jolt, which could be severe, or even fatal. Such shocks can come from static electricity as well. An example of this is the jerk you might feel if you walk vigorously on a carpet and then touch a metal object, say, a doorknob or any conductor (a material that does not resist electricity) for that matter. The same impact may be felt in a handshake or a kiss. What takes place is an electrostatic discharge (ESD).

To understand static electricity one has to look at atoms. Each atom consists of positively charged Protons...

Are you fond of outdoor cooking, but messing around with a charcoal grill feels like too much like hard work for one meal on a summer evening? If so, then a natural gas grill might be just the right thing for you. Find out how a natural gas bbq can make your barbecuing experience easy and fun.

Natural gas grills are similar to propane grills, but they are connected to your household gas supply. Natural gas barbecues are usually more expensive than the propane ones, but using natural gas is more economical than using propane or charcoal. So, if you are fond of barbecuing and plan to use your grill often, it will cost you less to run in the long term. There are also a number of other unique benefits.

Advantages of natural gas grills

• You don’t have to worry about buying propane tanks
• They won’t run out of fuel during cooking
• They provide...

Static electricity develops when there is an imbalance in the negative and positive charges in an atom. This happens because of friction between two surfaces. Even walking on a carpet - when the sole of the shoe rubs against the rug - can generate this energy. It remains stagnant unless eliminated or dissipated, or balanced. That can take place when the person who carries the charge touches, say, a doorknob or equipment and gets a shock. It is actually an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).

A build up of static electricity can be dangerous. First of all it can damage costly equipment and cause variation in product quality. Secondly, it may sometimes be catastrophic. There could be fire and explosion. Instances of workmen dying of shock too have been reported. Therefore it is essential to resort to precautionary measures. One method that offers safeguard is the use of antistatic mats....

Static electricity develops when the balance between Protons, which have positive (+) charges, and Electrons, which have negative (-) charges (normally they are equal in numbers) in atoms, is disturbed. This can happen because of induction, friction and separation. What actually happens is that sometimes the Electrons migrate to another atom, leaving less or no negative (-) charge to counter the positive (+) charge of Protons. Factors that assist the move include humidity and temperature.

While static electricity does have certain benefits, it also carries a high risk factor. Billions of dollars are lost annually because of process problems it causes in industry, like damage to costly equipments and materials, quality variation in products, shocks, sometimes fatal, to workmen, fire, and explosion. Static electricity attracts dust. Electronic components, which are usually expensi...

Tankless water heater reviews serve as an important resource to compare and evaluate different types of tankless water heaters available on the market. Tankless water heater reviews appear in periodicals, newsletters and books. Like other product reviews, individuals as well as companies and manufacturers post tankless water heater reviews on the Internet. There are numerous Web sites devoted to providing excellent reviews on the available tankless water heaters.

The easiest medium to refer to nowadays is, of course, the Internet. On Web sites featuring tankless water heater reviews, one can ask questions about the appliance and take advantage of the information provided. Experts are very often available to answer questions regarding the product and its installation. These experts can also provide solutions for common problems. Web site resources effectively explain issues, list...

Tankless electric water heaters are one of the two types of tankless water heaters, the other being tankless gas water heaters. A tankless water heater is a compact home appliance that provides hot water whenever needed without storing the water. Cost effectiveness, easy installation, energy efficiency, less maintenance, longer equipment life, and unlimited supply of hot water are the main advantages. Gas, propane, and electricity are the prime heat sources for tankless water heaters.

The tankless electric water heater usually has more than one heating element and these elements provide a high heat output. Tankless electric water heaters require less energy. Further, they do not store water and heat the water instantly as it flows through the unit.

Tankless electric water heaters are available in two different models: flow-controlled and thermostatic. The flow-controlled t...

Tankless gas water heaters, alternately known as demand water heaters or point of use water heaters, have become quite popular nowadays, due to their attractive features such as cost effectiveness, easy installation, flexibility, less maintenance, and an unlimited supply of hot water.

In the case of tankless water heaters fueled by gas such as propane, the supply of hot water depends on the size of the burner. The functioning of a tankless gas water heater is simple. When the faucet is turned on, the burner within the heater is automatically ignited and this heats the water instantaneously. The unit shuts down when the hot water tap is turned off. Tankless gas water heaters have larger capacities than electric models, and can supply water to two or more showers simultaneously. They are also used to produce hot water for a single point.

Tankless gas water heaters are more e...

Tankless water heaters are cost effective alternatives to conventional heaters, which require a substantial amount of energy. Easy to install, tankless water heaters do not require a storage tank to supply hot water. Tankless water heaters are known by different names such as demand water heaters, inline water heaters, instant water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and point of use water heaters.

Tankless water heaters function differently from standard water heaters – a water flow sensor controls the water flow into the heater. Later, the burner is automatically ignited and the water flows through the heat exchanger, which in turn instantly heats the water to the required temperature. The process stops automatically when the hot water tap is turned off. The temperature can be adjusted with the turn of a dial. A specialty of tankless water heaters is that they never run out...

Tap water often contains impurities like phosphates, nitrates and heavy metals. Reverse osmosis water is compartively pure and is odorless and colorless. Water purified via reverse osmosis is free of dissolved minerals. It has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Reverse osmosis water does not contain fluoride, which is sometimes found in tap water.

Reverse osmosis water is also free from sulfates, arsenic, aluminum, radioactivity, salts, detergents, bacteria and most viruses. It is classified as soft water, since all hardness is removed during the process of reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis water is acidic in nature. The removal of alkaline mineral from water produces acidic water. Acidic water can be dangerous to the body system, causing calcium and other essential minerals to be stripped from bones and ...

The air conditioning unit of a car is often easily overlooked—that is, until it malfunctions. And when it does, it is often too late for simple troubleshooting procedures. Unlike your household unit, your auto air conditioning unit is more complex.

Your auto air conditioning unit is a system that functions much like your cardio-vascular system. The compressor is the heart that pumps a refrigerant called Freon throughout the air conditioning unit. Freon, a combination of gas and liquid, causes air to cool when compressed.

Like your ordinary household air conditioning unit, your auto air conditioning system will not work as it should when Freon levels are low. Make sure you have a mechanic check Freon levels regularly before the unit experiences major breakdown.

The ability of the Freon to carry heated air away and leave cool air behind depends on the pressure applied...

Natural gas grills are all the craze in outdoor cooking, and it isn’t surprising why. Read on to find out it is and what benefits you can get from it to decide if it is right for you.

The advantages of using a natural gas grill

Natural gas grills are extremely convenient to use. Because it is fueled by your own home's natural gas line, it always has a constant supply of gas so you never need to refill. And because there is no refilling, there are no bulky tanks (unlike propane-based gas grills).

Natural gas grills are also very easy to use. Most models come with instant on/off switches – just wait a minute or two for your grill to be ready. It is also very easy to control temperature using a natural gas grill, so there is almost never any need to worry about burning your steak or whatever food you are grilling. Your barbeques always come out precisely cooked and perf...

Remember that even the simplest gas grill is more complex than a charcoal grill or pellet grill. Making a gas grill work can be tricky – and you need more than just a matchbox and good weather to pull it off. So before you even consider buying a gas grill, read this first.

A gas grill works on three elements – spark (fire), oxygen and gas. The spark is normally supplied by the igniter, which is usually a push button or knob (sometimes built into the gas grill) that makes a popping noise to produce electricity to ignite the gas. The noise you hear is actually a little spring-loaded hammer hitting a crystal, causing the generation of thousands of volts inside the crystal’s face. The resulting voltage is enough to generate a spark that lights the gas in the grill. Subsequently, the burner mixes gas and oxygen, spreading it out over the cooking area. Each burner has a pair of electr...

Reverse osmosis is a process that finds application in the purification of water.

Reverse osmosis systems consist of a series of tubes containing stacks of spiral wound membranes. These tubes are mounted on high-pressure containers. The membrane stack consists of two very long semi permeable membranes with a mesh in between, sealed along the sides. This is wound up in a spiral tube with another mesh to separate the outside of the stack. The spiral winding provides a very large surface area for transfer.

Between each membrane layer is a mesh separator that allows pure water to flow without obstructions. Water is forced through one end of the spiral cylinder and out through the other end. The resulting pressure forces the water through the membrane and collects in the space between the membranes. Pure water flows around the spiral and is collected in the center of the tube.<...

Clothes put out on a clothesline to dry have a wonderful fresh air scent. Unfortunately doing this isn't an option for many people, but perhaps the only option for others. If you rely on a dryer to dry your clothes, it's inconvenient when things go wrong. It can cost you a lot of money either to repair your dryer or if your dryer takes longer than it should to dry your clothes. Here are a few tips to help you get your laundry dry and back into your closet faster.

Of course the most obvious part to maintain on your dryer is the lint filter. You probably already know how important it is, but it still deserves a mention. Typically lint filters are either on top of the dryer or just inside the dryer's door. Lint filters are the most common part to cause extended drying times. If your filter is clogged with lint, it'll block airflow.

You should clean your lint filter after ever...

Can you really save 40% on your electricity bills by plugging a small box into your AC socket?

In the past six month a number of products have been advertised on TV and online which seem too good to be true. I’d like to explain the reality of these exciting claims and give you a layman’s understanding of how Power Savers work.

A Power Saver is a device which you plug in to your power socket. Apparently just by keeping the device connected it will immediately reduce your power consumption. Typical claims are savings between 25% and 40%.

The technology behind Power Saver units comes from German research coupled with Asian manufacturing and it is based on sound scientific principles.

Electricity is not stable. When electricity flows the voltage can rise and fall all the time. The rises in voltage are known as ‘spikes’ and they cannot be used by your appliance...

You toss your load into the dryer set the timer and walk away. You return to grab your work pants and get ready only to discover the dryer isn’t performing like it should. Here’s some dryer repair tips to help you get your dryer working again.

If it isn’t working at all there are a few things you can try.

1. No Power
Make sure that the power cord is plugged in. Unplug and plug it back in. Check the breakers to make sure it hasn’t tripped or that a fuse is not blown. You can also use a volt meter to check the plug itself to make sure there is power going to the plug.

2. Door Switch
In the door is a switch or sensor that when you close the door it presses against a lever which then activates a door switch which allows the dryer to start up. If that lever becomes broken the switch can’t activate and then the dryer can’t start. You may need to replace th...

Dryer running too hot? Not hot enough? Not heating at all? Taking forever to dry? Sounds like you are going to need some dryer parts. But what the difference between Generic and OEM?

When you are shopping for parts the price should not be the only thing that makes your decision for you. Sure a great price is wonderful but the quality of the parts is really important to.

After all if you save a few dollars but the part lasts for only a short period of time then you’ve save nothing. Remember if the pricing sounds too good to be true it most likely is.

Quality of the parts is also dependant on the manufacturer. Reputable companies produce reputable parts and you can still get a great buy just by shopping online.

OEM stands for original equipment manufacture. That means the parts are supplied by the actual manufacturer of the dryer and they are sold as OEM...

You’ve paid the builder big bucks to design your dream home so imagine your surprise when months later you discover a huge collection of lint in the attic because of an inferior clothes dryer vent installation.

First off let’s get something straight. Many builders will defend their practices claiming they are perfectly acceptable. But by law depending on where you live this is not generally not considered a legal install.

Code states that the dryer exhaust must vent outside and installing the vent near an attic vent does not meet code requirements. Using a proper exhaust vent and everything is fine but venting into the attic itself is unacceptable and yet it occurs far too often.

The way a clothes dryer exhaust is installed can cause serious problems in your home. Mildew can grow and cause illness in just a short period of time. In fact the moist humid atmospher...