Buying Advice
Advice on choosing household appliances: what to look for, the features worth paying for, running costs, what to avoid and which brands last the longest.
Showing 71 to 80 of 107 guides
Panasonic washing machines
Panasonic's reputation in consumer electronics is well deserved. The question of whether that reputation translates to washing machines is less straightforward than it might initially appear.
5 min read
760 views 102 comments Read guide
Are all these environmental issues a money making con?
Environmental performance has become a core marketing tool for appliance manufacturers over the past two decades. Energy ratings, water consumption figures, and eco programme options now feature prominently in all appliance advertising. Understanding what…
4 min read
287 views 7 comments Read guide
Washing machine won’t spin just one item or very small load
The frustration of a new machine that won't spin a bath mat, a single jumper, or a few towels is very common - particularly when an older machine managed it without difficulty. This is…
5 min read
4,318 views 79 comments Read guide
Faulty Appliance? What the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Actually Gives You
Faulty appliance? The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you up to six years to claim against the retailer, not a six-year guarantee. What you can actually claim.
18 min read
10,842 views 267 comments Read guide
Can you connect a dishwasher to the hot water supply?
Whether a dishwasher can or should be connected to a hot water supply rather than cold is a question without a clear universal answer. Manufacturer guidance varies, there are both advantages and disadvantages, and…
4 min read
1,663 views 49 comments Read guide
Why don’t most modern washing machines last very long?
Washing machines have become dramatically cheaper in real terms over the past 50 years. This is not simply a success of modern manufacturing efficiency - it reflects a sustained reduction in the quality of…
4 min read
1,186 views 123 comments Read guide
Do we really need to dump our old inefficient appliances?
Campaigns encouraging households to replace working appliances with more energy-efficient models are a regular feature of the domestic appliance market. The arguments deserve careful examination - both the claimed savings and the costs that…
5 min read
301 views 9 comments Read guide
How are fridges and freezers affected by the room temperature?
Climate class is the manufacturer's specification for the ambient temperature range in which a refrigeration appliance is designed to work reliably. Understanding this prevents choosing the wrong appliance for a garage, shed, or cellar…
6 min read
2,647 views 11 comments Read guide
Climate Classes for fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers
Climate class is a declaration of the minimum and maximum temperature that any specific fridge or freezer is designed to work in and should not vary from.
4 min read
5,627 views 103 comments Read guide
Integrated appliance or not
Integrated appliances are a popular choice in fitted kitchens. The case for choosing them is strong on aesthetics - but it is worth understanding the practical trade-offs before committing to an integrated installation.
4 min read
450 views 1 comments Read guide