There are many advantages to integrating your washing machine. There are also a few substantial disadvantages which we will also mention.

The main advantage of building in your washer and dryer is aesthetic. A built in washer can be put pretty much anywhere including your kitchen, your bathroom, a bedroom or a dedicated laundry room. The typical installation usually involves integrating the washer and dryer into the cabinets under a counter-top. This hides the appliances away and makes for a very clean and uncluttered room. This type of integration means that the space on top of the machines becomes much more useful. This is especially important in kitchen or bathroom installations where you need all the counter space you can get. When installing in cabinets under a counter-top, make sure that you configure the doors to open in a ‘french door’ style. That is, they both open in opposite directions making the space between the washer and dryer unimpeded. You should also make sure that the appliance doors open in opposite directions as well. Typically the dryer door swing can be changed, so make your decision on where to place them based on the way the washer door opens.

The main disadvantage to integrating your washing machine and dryer is that it makes service and maintenance extremely difficult. This is especially true if the room where they are integrated is very small preventing them from even being pulled out easily. Often integrated washing machines need to be plugged in and hooked up to water while taken apart for the service man to figure out what is wrong with it. If the hoses and electrical connections are too short, then often the service becomes very long and involved which can drive up the cost of your service call. (Of course, your new washer and dryer will never require service … right?) For the dryer, the vent hose needs to be periodically cleaned. Plus when the machine is pushed back, you need to ensure that the hose is not crushed or collapsed in any way. This is difficult to do and check if you have an integrated dryer.

Closet Integrated Washing Machines

This type of integration is probably the most common. Many condo’s and smaller homes use a small closet for the washer and dryer. Usually, this means stacking the dryer on top of the washer and then building them in as a pair.  Most often a stacking kit is required to safely install the dryer up on top of the washer.  This is a very clean install and a very economical use of space if you have little space to spare. While some closets can accomodate a full size pair stacked up, more often this installation is used with the smaller washer and dryers to fit within a narrow closet space. The main issues of consideration are the water supply, drain and venting for the dryer. If you can find a solution to those issues, then this is a wonderful way to integrate your washing machine and dryer.

Cabinet Integrated Washing Machines

This is another way of integrating your laundry pair. This usually involves installing them side by side under a counter-top. This is most often the best way to use the space in a laundry room the is long but narrow. This is also a popular way of integrating the washer into a bathroom or kitchen. Again ease of use is greatly increased if you make sure that the doors to each cabinet and each appliance opens outward so the the space between the two appliances is clear. This makes for easy moving of clothes from the washer to the dryer.

One-piece Stackers as Integrated Washing Machines

Stackers as they are called in the industry are usually one-piece machines that often incorporate a top-loading washer beneath with the dryer above. This is an ideal design for closet installation and is also very popular in smallish condo’s and apartments. The major drawback is again service. They can be very difficult to service and if one ends up needing replacement, then you have to buy a whole new stacker as they cannot be purchased separately. However, with proper care these machines should last at least 15 years making this less of an issue.

Integrated washing machines and integrated dryers are a wonderful way to work in a small space. Proper preparation and planning can make the installation and maintenance of these units easier and you will certainly appreciate the extra space that you free up by building them in.

Hazard Identified

An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.Two incidents and no injuries have been reported in Canada. Outside of Canada, Maytag has received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

Corrective Action

Consumers should immediately contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased.For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.repair.maytag.com.  Click Here to see if your fridge is affected.

Number Sold

Approximately 193,500 units were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders in Canada.

Time Period Sold

The recalled products were sold from January 2001 through January 2004.

Breakdown of Model Affected 

Side by Side Refrigerators with Serial Numbers ending in: AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, CA, CC, CE, CG, CJ, CL, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ AND Model Numbers beginning with: ARS, CS, JC, JS, MS, MZ, PS

Top Mount Refrigerators with Serial Numbers ending in: AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ AND Model Numbers beginning with: AT, CT, MT, PT.

As an aside, when guys find leaks on the Whirlpool compression fittings, they’ve been cutting them out and joining the ends together with a sleeve. Twice, I have simply heated the compression and soldered completely over it and not had any problems. It looks kind of ugly, but it works for me.

Raleigh began disposing of garbage disposals Monday, banning new or replacement installations. But opponents to the ban plan to put the City Council through the grinder over the move.

The disposal ban, which the City Council approved two weeks ago, is among the first in the country. Violators face fines of up to $25,000 per day.

Under the ban, homeowners can continue to use existing disposals, but no new devices can be installed and existing ones can’t be replaced when they quit working. Homes that have obtained city permits and are already under construction will be allowed to keep their disposals, officials said.

Some builders and residents said they would protest the disposal ban at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“I don’t think this has been handled properly at all,” resident Caroline McCall said. “I feel that it was a knee-jerk reaction.”

City officials said putting food and grease through a disposal and into the municipal sewer system clogs the lines and frequently causes back-ups and overflows.

Raleigh has had almost 100 sewer overflows in the last three years, with raw sewage sometimes flowing into area streams. The state Division of Water Quality has threatened to fine the city for each overflow if it doesn’t correct the problem.

Mayor Charles Meeker said disposals also waste about 500,000 gallons of water a day citywide.

“I suspect that, once the public understands the environmental problems and the water wasted, they’ll understand this is the right thing to do,” Meeker said.

McCall and developer Richard Gaylord said they don’t understand the city’s action.

“They have no way of knowing if the grease spill (causing a sewer overflow) came from a garbage disposal or where the grease came from,” McCall said.

“I don’t think people had forewarning,” Gaylord said. “I think there is some confusion out there as to how this will be implemented and what the parameters are.”

The ban also has come under fire from City Councilman Philip Isley, who missed the March 4 vote on the issue, and from the mayors of Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon.

The six towns are part of the municipal water and sewer system, so Raleigh’s regulations apply to residents in those towns as well. The other mayors said they should have been consulted before Raleigh enacted the disposal ban.

Isley said he plans to ask council members to take a step back and study the issue in committee, but he said he might not have the votes to support the move.

My (Neighbour’s Appliance) opinion is that this will not stop people from pouring grease down their sinks.  People have been doing it since we got indoor plumbing and will continue to do it until indoor plumbing is somehow eliminated. 

The Bravos steam dryer offers a variety of steam cycles, including the 15-minute “Rapid Refresh” setting, to quickly rejuvenate a single item or outfit. The “Custom Refresh” steam cycle is for larger loads and is ideal to de-wrinkle clothes left overnight in the dryer, or to refresh and deodorize throw pillows, comforters or curtains.

“It’s a new way of thinking about laundry,” said Blane Buckingham, director of Maytag brand marketing. “Many items of clothing, like sweaters or skirts that have only been worn once, may not need a complete wash and dry cycle or a trip to the drycleaners. The Maytag Bravos steam dryer quickly refreshes and deodorizes these items so they can be worn again, saving time and money.”

The Bravos dryer conveniently connects to the existing laundry-room waterline, so there is no reservoir to fill, just on-demand steam cycles with the push of a button. Inside the dryer, a small nozzle distributes a fine mist of water throughout the heated dryer as clothes tumble. The heated air combines with mist to form steam to help relax wrinkles and remove odors from dry clothes.

The Maytag Bravos washer and dryer adds the power of steam to its list of highly appealing features. The washer offers the preferred top-load design, largest capacity available (4.6 cu. ft.), and high efficiency functionality that saves 51 percent more water and 62 percent more energy than conventional top-load washers(1). The Maytag Bravos washer recently earned Tier II certification from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE).

As with all Maytag brand appliances, durable components and dependable features are at the heart of the Bravos pair — including an impeller wash system with Sensi-Care(TM) technology, commercial-grade stainless steel wash basket, and Gentle Breeze(TM) Drying System with IntelliDry(R) sensors — providing years of smooth and reliable performance.

“Maytag brand washers last longer than any other leading brand(2),” said Buckingham. “This is a level of dependability that has built trust with Maytag brand appliance owners for more than 100 years.”

Visit http://www.maytag.com for more information.

From the Whirlpool Press Release.

All of the winning products were featured in the February issue of Woman’s Day Kitchens and Baths. Awards will be presented at the annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) in Chicago, April 2008.

“We are proud to accept these prestigious awards from one of the most respected publications in the industry,” said Paul McCormack, Senior Marketing Manager at Miele. “It’s an affirmation of Miele’s commitment to producing high performance, quality products that are durable, green and packaged in an innovative design blending form and function.”

Independence™ Series – Judge’s Comments:
“Finally, we have a 30” counter depth, fully integrated, well-designed refrigerator – at the right price,” states Arthur Tanturri, of Chelsea Fine Custom Kitchens and judge for the KB Awards. “Hands on a slam dunk. Everything is flush and uniform, plus the size at 30” is the perfect width. In our world, 36” is too big and 24” is too small. Miele is really listening to designers when they bring new products to market. It makes our lives easier as high-end kitchen designers. We can finish our jobs with the right elements. We are selling aesthetics and practicality. Things like this product enable us a lot more.”

A feast for the eyes… Miele’s new Independence™ Series is here and luxury refrigeration, as we know it, will be forever better. Independence™ embodies Miele’s legendary quality and innovation… from its high performance dual-compressor system and intuitive MasterCool™ touch controls to its patented Wi-Fi RemoteVision™ technology that delivers total peace of mind as it protects valuable food and wine investments. Estimated retail price listed for a 30” bottom mount combination refrigerator / freezer with stainless steel door panels is $7,295.  Retail prices for the entire assortment will be made public in late April when the products are on retail display, but may be provided upon request for qualified news stories.

DA 424 V Ventilation Hood – Judge’s Comments:
“At last, a hood that won’t mess up sight lines as the telescopic hood elevates out of the way when not in use,” states Tanturri. “Our kitchens look like furniture and especially for open settings, you want to enjoy the aesthetic value. When you are cooking certain foods with a lot of heat, steam or smoke – you want the ventilation close to flame – but you don’t want to leave it there. Most ventilation is installed up too high because of the aesthetic – and then it doesn’t work effectively. This product just makes sense. It’s a really good invention. The best inventions are the simplest ones.”

Miele’s height-adjustable DA 424 V island ventilation hood showcases a unique motorized height adjustment feature, which enables the hood to glide up, out of the way, or down, closer to the cooktop when needed. A simple touch to the controls smoothly shifts the product to the perfect elevation to remove smoke and odors, or to a more ergonomic level for the cook. Estimated retail price listed as $4,099 and is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter 2008.

Whirlpool offers consumers the largest breadth of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. Its more than 700 innovative models include:

• The Whirlpool Duet steam washer. The washer naturally steams away tough stains, from grass to grease, without pre-treating. This model also saves consumers 73 percent water and 77 percent energy, compared to top-load washers manufactured before 2004, and using the normal cycle.
• The Whirlpool Cabrio Steam dryer combines mist and heat in the dryer to naturally steam away wrinkles and odors, reducing trips to the dry cleaner and providing front-load laundry efficiency in a top-load configuration.
• Energy efficient refrigeration combined with flexible technology options through the Whirlpool Centralpark connection. The refrigerator offers a plug-and-play platform right on the door, providing support to consumer electronics including a digital picture frame and digital music player without compromising on energy efficiency.
• The Maytag Bravos high-efficiency, large-capacity top-load washer. The Bravos system features an impeller wash system with Sensi-Care technology and a commercial-grade stainless-steel wash basket – providing the thorough, dependable clean of a front-load system in a top-load configuration.
• The Maytag EPICz high-efficiency front-load washer’s space-saving design, providing dependable performance features and commercial-grade components, is one of the most energy efficient in the industry. The washer received NSF International (formerly National Sanitation Foundation) certification for its sanitary cycle, which heats wash water up to 153-degrees Fahrenheit.
• The Maytag brand dishwasher with a SteamClean option. SteamClean delivers enhanced cleaning performance on glassware for soil and spot removal. Whirlpool Corporation was the first in the appliance industry to launch a steam option in dishwashers.
• A new SteamClean option for Jenn-Air dishwashers. The SteamClean option enhances an existing wash cycle, such as the China/Crystal cycle, with improved soil and spot cleaning to produce an even more lustrous shine. In addition to steam, these models also have a new silent sound package, making an already quiet, energy efficient dishwasher even quieter.

For more information, see the Whirlpool Press Release here.

The BHS line of products are Thermador, Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau. Much of the 2007 growth came from the new Bosch line of front-loading washers and dishwashers.

The company was also awarded the 2007 Excellence in Energy Star Promotion Award and 2007 Annual Flex Your Power Award. They were also ranked highest in customer satisfaction for the second consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates in the dishwasher category of the 2007 Major Home Appliance Study.

From Reuters:

“We will file a report to refute the charge with the ITC,” said Na Joo-young, an LG spokeswoman. “We will respond actively, but the process will take a long time.”

LG had no plan to file a counter suit over the case, she added.

I’m not sure what this means but I suspect that LG plans to mire this in legal proceedings which essentially means that they get to continue doing whatever they want and there is little that Whirlpool can do about it.  Should be fun to watch though.

Getwithgreen.com recently did a nice little review on the energy use of Sub Zero’s. I was surprised by how good a rating they have – plus they use partly recycled plastics. They might look like SUV’s but they consume like a compact. Here are some of the features noted in the article:

• The largest Sub-Zero refrigerator consumes less power than a 100-watt bulb, due to dual refrigeration technology.
• Sub-Zero products are manufactured in the United States, which reduces the environmental impact caused by international shipping of materials and parts.
• Sub-Zero has worked hard to find/use energy efficient motors.
• All refrigerant used is non-ozone depleting.
• All vehicles used in the production are electric or propane powered.
• Aggressive recycling programs at the factory for all scrap materials.

You can read the full article here.