Search results

What I wrote to Consumer Reports Below, in italics, is the text of my letter that CR round-filed.  Sorry for the inconsistent line breaks; I'm having trouble getting corrections to "stick". The British and Australian members here may not realize that US-market washing machines (except Miele)...

Low wash levels aren't the big issue I agree that low wash levels are fine, as long as the load is completely soaked. I've seen laundry forum complaints about machines which don't even do that. Good low-flow toilets are ok too. Anyone who complains about 1.6gpf probably hasn't used a Toto...

Why current US-market clothes washers largely suck Careful reading of the page linked below will give you the reason: Unlimited $225/unit direct-to-manufacturer tax credits for clothes washers that meet/exceed 2.8 MEF, and do not exceed a 3.5 water consumption factor (as of 1/1/11; there was a...

Descaler I bought a box of expensive Miele washing machine descaler, which turned out to be pure citric acid. You can get citric acid a lot cheaper, like through Amazon. From what I've read, citric acid is one of the mildest and safest acids to use for descaling. You don't want to use a strong...

City water hardness in Beltsville combo52, if your water comes from WSSC's Patuxent plant, it's soft. From the Potomac plant, a little bit hard. If it comes from a well, that's a different story. http://www04.wsscwater.com/file/General/Reports/TapAnalysis/TapAnalysis2009.pdf

Scale buildup How about periodic descaling, by running the longest, hottest cycle empty, with some citric acid?

Convectors Toggleswitch, my apartment had convectors like that. I got a thermostatic valve which had a separate wall-mounted dial, attached to the valve by a few feet of thin, somewhat flexible tubing. Are those still available?

Multiple-dwelling heat-timer steam heat is the worst OK, having no heat is the worst, but roast-or-freeze heating like Whirlcool described is next. There is a solution, though: A thermostatic radiator valve like shown in the link below. I installed these on my radiators in a Bronx apartment...

Voltage danger USA-style 220V power has 220V between the two hot wires, but only 110V between each hot wire and ground. So working on 220V equipment here ought not be much more dangerous than 110V equipment, unless you manage to interpose yourself between the two hot wires, or short-circuit...

Derating to 80% doesn't apply here Derating applies only to a continuous load, which is 3 hours or more at the maximum current e.g. 15 amps.

The induction hotplate is efficient in comparison to regular gas and electric burners, which lose much of their heat to the room. But an induction system couldn't improve upon a simple coil immersed in the water, like in a washing machine. I have my Miele W4840 plugged into a Kill-A-Watt box...

I don't think you can get more efficient than an immersed heating coil. The full power draw goes toward heating the water. What I'd like to know is, why are the 120V heaters limited to 1000W or so? A 15A circuit can supply 1800W. The electronics do use some power, and so does the motor. But...

Like petek said... I like CFL's, and I leave them on. So I suspect their benefit for me is convenience rather than energy savings.

Ban phosphates (fertilizer) from farms? Not if you like reasonably priced food to cook in your clean pots and eat off of your clean dishes :-)

Where it's legal to use I thought only detergent manufacturers are prohibited from including phosphates in their products. Does any jurisdiction outlaw purchase and use of STPP by individuals?

Chemistry Store vs Soap Goods for STPP For large quantities (e.g. multiple small units making up approx. 50 lbs. total), Chemistry Store's lower prices outweigh Soap Goods' lower shipping costs. Soap Goods' jar looks less convenient for scooping, compared to Chemistry Store's pail. As for the...

Soap Goods packaging Is their STPP packed in sturdy resealable plastic pails like Chemistry Store's?

Background info on phosphates and water quality USA-centric, and dated, but nonetheless valuable background for informed discussion on phosphates. http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri994007/pdf/wri99-4007.pdf

G-forces are proportional to the drum diameter, but are proportional to the square of the RPM. So RPM makes a much bigger difference.

STPP STPP makes my towels softer.