1. Selecting Household Appliances Chapter 18

2. Appliances • Greatly increase the usefulness of various areas in the home • Household devices powered by gas or electricity • Major (large) appliances and portable (small) appliances • Help meet everyone's basic needs • Choosing appliances carefully can help create a home environment that is safe, comfortable, and efficient.

3. Appliance considerations • Most major appliances can be expected to last 10 years or more • When buying, consider your future needs as well as your present needs • Major appliance account for a large part of a housing budget • Purchase and operation costs, features, size, safety, and quality are among the factors you should consider

4. Appliance considerations • Purchase Price • Energy Cost • Features • Size • Safety • Quality

5. Kitchen Appliances • Refrigerators (408) • Freezers • Ranges • Convection ovens • Microwave ovens • Range hoods • Dishwashers • Trash Compactors • Food Waste Disposers

6. Other appliances • Automatic washers (418) • Dryers • Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers (420) • Room Air Conditioners • Water Heaters (421) • Vacuum Cleaners • Personal computers (422)

7. Portable Appliances • Can be moved easily from one area to another • Include everything from toasters to electric blankets to hair dryers • Tend to be less costly than major appliances