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Where to Buy Appliances
Finding the right appliance, buying it, and getting it delivered and installed without hassles can be an aggravating experience. But we found that many stores serve their customers well, and you don’t have to pay more to get this kind of treatment.
How to Get the Best Deal on Appliances
You want sound buying advice, careful and prompt delivery, and a trouble-free install—but you don’t want to pay a steep price for them. Fortunately, you don’t have to.
Kitchen Appliance Trends
Kitchen appliances continue to evolve due to new tech and changing styles—and because manufacturers and retailers need reasons to convince you to replace perfectly functional units.
Finding the Best Appliance Fixers
When a major appliance goes offline, it can feel like a far-from-minor problem. You need to fix it—fast.
Should You Repair or Replace an Old Appliance?
Your dryer isn’t working. The estimate is $300. Do you fix it or buy a new one? To decide whether to repair or replace, consider how much time your investment is likely to buy you—but be aware that published lifespan figures can be misleading.
Finding Low Prices for Appliance Repairs
Once you have identified repair services that offer high-quality workmanship, you need to consider price. Our undercover shoppers found that company-to-company price differences can be substantial.
It's the Little Things: Many Inexpensive or Free Changes Can Provide Big Home-Energy Savings
Making simple repairs or improvements and changing wasteful habits will yield enormous energy savings for most families. Before spending thousands of dollars on new windows, a furnace, or solar energy system, take basic steps toward fixing common sources of waste.
Home Improvements that Require Some Spend, but Will Pay for Themselves Quickly via Lower Utility Bills
Most of us want to reduce our energy usage, regardless of upfront costs, but limited budgets prevent many homeowners from paying for expensive improvements. Here are affordable-to-most projects that will, in relatively short periods of time, pay for themselves via lower utility bills.
These Projects Will Save Considerable Home-Energy Usage, but Have High Upfront Costs
If you wanna go big, these projects dramatically reduce energy use—some even offer paths to completely eliminate your home's net energy usage. But the high up-front costs or long payback periods make these improvements impractical for many families.
How to Find a Good Plumber
Plumbing is seldom exciting. It works fine for years, faithfully filling, flowing, and flushing. But when a pipe leaks water through your kitchen ceiling, the excitement may become more than you can stand.
How to Deal with Your Plumber
With any company you choose, dealing wisely with the plumber nets better work and saves you money. Whether you need a remodeling job or repairs, if possible get a written price quote before work begins.
Plumbing Do's and Don'ts
Following these rules will help reduce the seriousness and frequency of plumbing problems.