The change to the water rebate. Note that it now covers all of NSW and is for 4.5 ++ star water rated washers only.This is in effect from 1st August 2008.

Therefore the Sydney Water rebate finishes 31st July for 4 star machines. Customers must purchase 4 star machines by the 31st of July or forgo the $150 rebate unless they are buying a 4.5 star machine.

Currently there are only 18 x 4.5 or 5 star washing machines that are eligible for the rebate from 1st August.

Also note that the Wyong shire still have a 4 star rebate of $200 for residents of that shire until 31/12/08.

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Whirlpool Appliances are giving away 1 years supply of Radiant washing powder when you purchase a whirlpool front loading washing machine. The offer is valid from 1st of Feb to the 31st of march. For more information see here Whirlpool front load washing machine promotion

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While this should be a pretty straight-forward task, here are a few additional points to help you get the job done better.

Before you begin turn up the cooling in your fridge, turning up the cooling will allow you to keep fresh vegetables and other perishable items cool while you clean the fridge. Next remove everything from the fridge (including ice trays) and discard anything that is not fresh or does not smell right. Also check the expiration date on milk cartons, chocolates and other eatables.

Next, remove the shelves, crispers and trays. Handle all glass shelves with care and use a clean soapy rag to clean the entire fridge and shelves. Do not use strong chemical cleaners to clean the shelves or the inside of the fridge. Make sure you clean every nook and cranny of the fridge and use a water and vinegar mixture to clean the innards of the fridge; this will remove any soap that might have remained from the previous cleaning.

Once you have cleaned the fridge and shelves, replace the shelves and immediately put back all remaining food items. Finally, clean the exterior of the fridge using a suitable cleaner.

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Dishwasher interiors are usually of two types, plastic or stainless steel and contrary to popular belief it does not require expensive solvents or cleaners to clean a dishwasher. Before you start cleaning the dishwasher you will need either bleach, vinegar, baking soda or Orange Tang drink mix.

Before you begin cleaning the dishwasher read the operating manual to find the temperature preset. Dishwashers usually require water at 60-75 degrees or higher for optimum cleaning. If you are a perfectionist, use a thermometer to measure the water temperature before the wash cycle begins.

To clean any built up mould in the dishwasher add 1 tablespoon of bleach into the dishwasher interior, bleach should get rid of mould and leave the dishwasher sparkling clean.

The citric acid present in Orange Tang will take care of any discoloration and scale. Tang orange can also help remove any hard water deposits that might have built up over a period of time.

Another easy way to clean your dishwasher is to place a coffee cup filled with vinegar in the dishwashing rack and run a full cycle of dishwashing. You can also use baking soda instead of vinegar to give your dishwasher a complete wash.

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Everyday appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and fridges require proper care and one of the most basic maintenance tasks is cleaning. If you have been looking for an answer to the question ‘how to clean a fridge’ or ‘how to clean a washing machine’ - watch our blog over the next week for the answers. Our first post in this series:

How to Clean a Washing Machine

Contrary to popular belief, even washing machines require a clean now and then. If your clothes are retaining odor or do not come out as clean as they used to, it might be time to clean your washing machine. The first step is emptying the washing machine and getting rid of the odor by adding a cup of white vinegar as the machine fills up with hot water. Now, run the machine through an entire wash and rinse cycle and add 1 cup of borax into the washer as it fills with water, wait for the agitator to begin turning before adding soured laundry to the washer.

If your laundry was soured by the washing machine, you can soak the laundry for about 20-30 minutes to remove any previous odor. Add a detergent with fragrance to add that special touch to your laundry.

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Thank you to Fisher and Paykel customer care for providing this detailed response in regards to their washing machines.

230v - USING ALTERNATE ENERGY GENERATION (Non Mains) TO POWER SMART DRIVE AUTOWASHERS

INTRODUCTION

One of the big benefits of the direct drive motor technology found in Smart Drive Autowashers is that the machine is very efficient in its energy usage. As such we often get enquires about the pros and cons of running a Smart Drive from alternate energy sources.

The following is a brief collection of facts and field observations to assist you making any decisions.

PRODUCT FACTS

Average Power Usage

A 500 series machine typically uses an average power of 156 watts to wash 5kg of clothes. Over a 41 minute cycle this equates to a total energy usage of 107 watt-hours or 0.107 kwatt-hours. (Note: 21.4 watt-hours/Kg washing.)

A 700 series machine typically uses an average power of 173 watts to wash 7kg of clothes. Over a 45 minute cycle this equates to a total energy usage of 130 watt-hours or 0.130 kwatt-hours. (Note: 18.6 watt-hours/Kg washing)

Peak Power Usage

During the course of a cycle the instantaneous power being used by the machine can vary from 5 watts to 650 watts. A power as high as 650 watts occurs very infrequently (typically when spinning an out-of-balance load) and such high loads tend to last for less than 1 minute.

Motor Starting Surge

The Smart Drive Brushless DC Motor is electronically controlled. One of the big benefits of this type of technology is there is no power or current surge when the motor starts. Power is ramped up progressively via the electronics.

Operating Voltage

The Smart Drive is guaranteed to operate on an AC sinusoidal voltage source of 230V rms +/- 10% at 50Hz +/- 5%.

USING A BATTERY DRIVEN INVERTER SUPPLY

There are many different brands and models of Inverters available in the market today and often their output voltage waveform is modified or non-sinusoidal. We sent an enquiry to an Inverter manufacturer about whether an inverter output had to comply with any regulatory standards or guidelines. The reply read:

“There are no guidelines that modified sine wave inverters are required to follow as pertains to the amplitude, quality or shape of the output waveform. The only regulatory guidelines we choose to follow are safety guidelines.”

As such we cannot guarantee the operation of a Smart Drive Autowasher running from an inverter supply if it does not comply with our Operating Voltage requirements listed in the preceding paragraph.

ARE THERE EXISTING CUSTOMERS WHO ARE SUCCESSFULLY RUNNING A SMART DRIVE AUTOWASHER FROM AN INVERTER SUPPLY? - YES!

There are many installations where Smart Drive Autowashers are successfully operating on an inverter supply. In our experience if the following technical criteria are met by an inverter then operation and reliability should not be an issue:

RMS Voltage: 230V +/- 10% (up to -20% may still work provided the pump outlet hose is not too high i.e. pumping a high head of water)

Frequency: 50 Hz +/- 5%

Peak Voltage: 400V peak - This is the major point!!!

Many inverters have an rms voltage inside specification but do so by having short duration high voltage pulses. The Smart Drive treats this high voltage pulse as a voltage transient and clamps the voltage above 400V. The electronics are well rated to absorb this clamp energy on a transient basis but not 50 times a second (50Hz) continuously. If this continuous clamping occurs then it may lead to premature failure of the Smart Drive electronics or the Inverter electronics.

Power Rating: 2kVA (2,000VA) minimum.

While the Smart Drive only consumes about 650W of power maximum, the VA rating can exceed 1kVA. Successful installations have a rating of 2kVA min.

DOES FISHER AND PAYKEL RECOMMEND A BRAND AND MODEL OF INVERTER TO USE? - NO.

Due to the large number of brands and models it is impractical, not to mention inappropriate, for us to attempt to approve or disapprove the use of any particular inverter. We simply recommend that you do everything possible to ensure any inverter you use complies with the preceding technical recommendations.

DOES FISHER AND PAYKEL PROVIDE A GUARANTEE FOR SMART DRIVE ELECTRONIC MODULES WHEN RUN FROM AN INVERTER SUPPLY? - NO.

Even though the design of Inverters has improved immensely over the last few years, and the incidence of reported problems is very low, we do not know the “quirks” of individual inverters. Should an inverter output go outside our voltage recommendations then it may damage the Smart Drive Electronics and this, obviously, is beyond our control.

USING A MOTOR DRIVEN GENERATOR SUPPLY

Motor driven generators typically generate a 230V rms. sinusoidal voltage output. Whilst the voltage shape is better defined than an inverter a generator can still develop high voltage pulses due to such things as:

(i) Noise of brushes

(ii) Surges due to other equipment coming on/off line

(iii) Surges due to start up - power down.

As such the same technical recommendations as have been outlined in the preceding Inverter Supply Section are an excellent guide line if you are planning to use a generator supply. Please read these technical recommendations thoroughly.

SUMMARY

As has been already mentioned there are many successful installations where customers are using Inverters or Generators to power their Smart Drive Washing Machines. Smart Drive has the huge benefits of very low power usage per cycle and no current surge during motor start not to mention excellent wash performance and features.

If our technical recommendations for inverters/generators are adhered to we are not aware of any reasons why you should experience operational or reliability problems.

View Fisher and Paykel Top Load Washers

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Today, shopping online is getting bigger and bigger. Everyday new e-commerce shopping sites are started which sell everything from baby products to cars, and you can purchase these items and even have them delivered to your house as soon as the very next day.

It’s not surprising that with the amount of credit card fraud on the internet, alot of people are still very scared of purchasing online, even though in many ways it’s just the same as purchasing over the phone.

Below is a list of easy steps which anyone can follow in order to make your online shopping experience more secure:

1. Keep your pass words secure - The only person that should know any of your passwords is you. Make sure your passwords are not easy to guess, and don’t use things such as your birth date, address or any information that anyone can find out about you. you this free password tool supplied by Microsoft.

2. Only shop with reputable online stores - Making sure the merchant you are shopping with is reputable is another big step towards shopping safely online. Customer reviews are a great way of getting feedback on a store, and in my opinion, the older the online store the better. I would not suggest shopping with a site that is less then 1 month old unless you can verify it is safe. Shopsafe is a site which lists only safe and secure shopping sites.

3. Ensure the site has encryption - When ever you shop online make sure you can either see the padlock logo in the bottom right corner of the internet browser, or that the url starts with “https”. Any site that does not have these characteristics means is not encrypted and any credit card details will be transfered in plain view to prying eyes.

4. Always make sure you print or keep record of a receipt - As a general rule always make sure you keep your receipt from the purchase. If a receipt is not provided, then request one from the merchant.

5. Check your statements - Always be sure to check your statements regularly, if you ever notice anything odd report this to your bank immediately.

And there you have it, 5 easy steps that will make your online shopping experience much more safer and secure.

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Answer - The bowls in the washing machines are designed to extract the water from the clothes during the spin cycle. As the machine spins the water in the clothes is dragged towards and out of the holes in the bowl, this action creates a shadowing effect (water stained appearance) as the water is unevenly extracted from the clothes. Once the items are hung out and are completely dry they will no longer have this appearance.

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When you think about it, the appliances you buy can really have a significant effect on the way your household functions. You should have to settle for nothing less than the perfect appliances for you and your family to live with. Once they are purchased, they will ideally be forgotten about, and should become part of the structure of the home. Used every day, and by the majority of the household, these machines need to accommodate several factors to make them the perfect appliance for you and your family. I have narrowed down the 10 most helpful and necessary hints to remember and focus on when considering new appliance purchases. These should not be ignored. The fridge, the dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, vacuum and other everyday appliances can become a convenient extension of the home, or can become a frustrating and exhausting chore to deal with. After service calls, hundreds spent on upkeep and maintenance, re-fitting of the room surrounding, and constant cleaning of the wrong appliances, you will have wished you had read these tips. These will save you time, money and most importantly provide your home with more convenient and simple living.

1. Determine Your Needs and Assess Your Living Habits

Probably the most important step to take. Recognize what features you and your family need in an appliance, and buy it accordingly. You do not need to spend the extra money on a Side-By-Side fridge if there are only two of you living at home. Evaluate what you need, what you want, and what you can afford and buy in relation to that. This way, you save money, energy and space in the long run.

2. Check the Energy Ratings on your Appliance

While an appliance may be cheaper in initial cost than another, it may make up the difference in the long run. Energy saving appliances are better for the environment, and ultimately more cost effective. Make sure to check the Energy Rating on the front of every appliance.

3. Measure your Space Carefully

Make sure you have measured the dimensions of the space where your appliance is going carefully. Ensure space if the machine needs plugs and wiring at the back. Also, check the size of the doors and corridors that you need to carry the machine through to get into place. You dont want to buy your perfect machine and then realize you cant fit it into your home!

4. Compare Machines

Rarely will you find the best machine for you on the first visit to the show room. Instead, check the features and prices of several different machines. Search the web to view different models and to more clearly compare. Then, go and find the real machines so you can further understand what you REALLY need and what is the best purchase for you and your family. Make sure you check aspects of the machine like price and versatility. Many machines have features like more than one operating mode or changeable interior layout. Truly versatile machines have the ability to change with your household.

5. Check Style and Design

You want your appliances to fit aesthetically into your home. Check the finishes that match your dcor. A stainless steal finish can turn your appliance into a beautiful addition to the home, or use white for a more classic look. Some washers have now been designed with personalized patterns on their exterior. New styles and designs not only make the home nicer to live in, but when it comes time to sell, good looking appliances can make a huge difference to the interior design.

6. Check for Noise Levels

The noise of a machine is something which is often forgotten to take into account when buying. With so much activity going on- especially in the kitchen and living room, it is important to buy a machine that will not affect day-to-day life. Most new appliances have been designed to make minimal noise. Be sure to check the decibel rating if your machine has one, and compare with others. Note also that decibel differences of ten or less are not noticeable.

7. Where to Buy and Who to Buy From

If you want your appliance to be a reliable one, make sure you buy it from a place you trust. Ensure that the sales people supply warranties with all of their products, and that they are helpful and knowledgeable in whatever field you are looking at. Their prices should reflect the quality of their products, so be wary of anything exceedingly cheap.

8. Check the Quality of Products

The country in which an appliance is made can often have huge influences on the way in which it works and the quality you can expect from it. European products are generally at the higher end of the price range, but are better quality and maintain good functioning. Similarly, products from USA are good quality, but you will often find yourself paying for the benefit of US production, not the machine, so they can be overpriced. Korean models are generally good value for money with high features and long life expectancy. In contrast, China often produces cheaper and poorer quality machines. Japan is mostly in between Korean and European production with high technological features. Finally, Australia and New Zealand products are consistently good quality at reasonable prices. Most importantly, buying from these local brands helps to support local manufacturers and economies.

9. Check the Warranty

Make sure that you read and understand the warranty before you purchase. Consider whether the warranty covers the entire product or only certain parts. When purchasing from an online company, check whether they or the manufacturer is responsible if something goes wrong. Check to see if labour is included in the contract and how long it lasts.

10. Check the Quality of Products

Materials that do not require special cleaning products are ideal. Appliances with smooth construction, few cracks and seam where soil can accumulate are best. Also, check how available help is going to be when you need the appliance repaired. Here, it is advisable to buy appliances that have a manufacturer in state or close by if you need parts and installation. Check Consumer Reports and appliance repair firms. Check with the sales person too. From here, you should be able to assess which machines are going to need the least upkeep throughout its life.

So there you have it- 10 hints that should make your appliance buying a roaring success. I cannot stress enough the importance of comparison when buying- and checking that the features of the machine match yours and your family’s personal needs. While some machines can be hugely technologically advanced, it cannot make your home life easier if you dont need them, or dont know how to use them. Make sure to ask the sales people any questions or queries- no matter how insignificant they may seem. After all, these appliances should be living with you for the decades to come!

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There are certain shopping strategies that one would be wise to follow when looking to buy a new appliance. Firstly, measurements of the size of space intended for the machine must be made. Ensure too that the space in which the appliance door will open is large enough.

Second, and perhaps most important, is to ensure good broad knowledge of different brands and models. Identify those features that are necessary for your own personal buying. Are the machines noisy or do they vibrate? What safety features do they have? How much water do they consume? How energy efficient are they?

The cost of operation is another important feature not to be ignored. The more energy an appliance uses, the more expensive running it will be. If an appliance is going to last ten to twenty years, utility bills are an important consideration, thus an appliances energy rating can make a big difference.

There are also things you can do after purchasing an appliance to reduce your energy bills. If your refrigerator is close to the stove, dishwasher or heat vents, try to move it away. This will reduce the heat flow near the machine and thus reduce the energy needed to cool it. Try to vacuum the coils on the back of your refrigerator every three months to eliminate dirt buildup that reduces efficiency. Also, check the door gasket for air leaks. Finally, defrost the your freezer when more than a quarter-inch of ice builds up.

A pre-rinse of dishes is generally not necessary for many machines that automatically per-rinse or has a rinse/hold cycle. Use the ‘energy saver’ option found on many of the machines.

In terms of clothes washers, ensure that the water level used in the washing machine is compatible to the load of clothes. A small load does not require the whole tub filled, finally, clean your dryers lint filter after each use or as necessary.

Small things like this can be greatly significant in terms of energy conservation. Remember to check the energy rating and to compare the features of each appliance available. Your own personal preferences may vary greatly from anothers, so careful consideration is important when deciding what to buy.

If you are interested in more advice in regards to purchasing appliances, please take a look at our buying guides, or email us at
info@appliancesonline.com.au

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