We bought it because the salesman at Home Depot convinced us that this dishwasher was one of the top performers, especially in terms of quiet operation, which is an important feature to us.

This Cadillac of dishwashers included an all-stainless interior, garbage disposal in the bottom, and a special air-dry mechanism that allowed the dishwasher to dry dishes without the need for a heater, saving energy.

About six months ago, due to repeated mechanical failures, we were forced to replace the LG with a Kenmore Elite that looks very similar (excepting that it sports 3 LED lights on the front indicating wash/dry cycle).

Fortunately, we purchased the extended warranty on the dishwasher through Home Depot (though we didn’t use one of our Home Depot Coupons, which we should have!). The warranty service (underwritten by GE) paid for a full replacement of the dishwasher after the mechanic determined the cost of the last repair exceeded the full value of the unit.

Read on for our complete review of this LG dishwasher.

LG Dishwasher Review

• The Highs: Extremely quiet operation; dishes cleaned well; beautiful, clean look with integrated controls; huge capacity.
• The Lows: Terrible reliability, requires rinse aid to dry dishes, premium price.
• The Verdict: A poor performance that will dissuade us from purchasing LG in the immediate future.

Let’s start with the good… Four years ago, this LG dishwasher was one of the most aesthetically pleasing offerings on the market, especially for the price. It’s competition at the time was Bosch and GE Profile, both of which were selling for several hundred more than the $850 price tag on this LG.

The dishwasher featured a digital time readout on the top of integrated control panel that would indicate how much time remained on the cycle, and it played a little digital tune when the dishes were finished… a nice reminder for the kids that it was time to empty the load

Dish cleaning was pretty good, but rinse aid is absolutely required since there’s no built in heater. Drying without rinse aid results in wet dishes, as the LG uses a condensing drying system that saves energy. With rinse aid, drying performance was as good as any dishwasher we’ve used, and we were happy to buy rinse aid in bulk and add it to the large reservoir about once every two weeks.

The unit has a very large wash capacity, and includes a nifty built-in garbage disposal that allows you to essentially skip pre-rinse activities in the sink.

Unfortunately, the unit’s reliability was terrible. We experienced four major repair visits in just three years, all covered under warranty. The failures included a motor failure, leaks in the front panel of the washer, and a damaged main circuit board.

The last repair visit, which would have entailed replacement of the entire front of the unit, would have cost nearly the entire price of the whole unit. We were fed up with the dishwasher, and contacted Home Depot’s warranty service for help.

Home Depot Warranty Review

Fortunately, Home Depot’s warranty service (GE, in this case) paid for the dishwasher–and without much hassle. I sent in our original receipt, they contacted the mechanic, and they credited us the original purchase price for the unit via a check.

We researched Consumer Reports before buying the next dishwasher. In the class and price range we were targeting, the Kenmore Elite rated very high (second only to the Bosch, which was more than $400 more). Interestingly, Consumer Reports noted that LG is one of the poorer performing brands for appliances, even though they don’t rate individual dishwashers for reliability.

We scoured our Sears Coupons for a few weeks before landing on a 20% off deal for the new unit, which we installed and will be reviewing soon.

Will We Purchase New LG Appliances?

When you’ve had a bad experience with a brand, it’s hard to consider purchasing another appliance from them in the future.

But as the recent news with Toyota has shown, brand quality can change over time, so we’ll remain open minded to new products from LG, keeping an eye on what Consumer Reports has to say about their reliability over time.

For now, we’re hoping our Kenmore Dishwasher outperforms the LG. So far, so good.

What do you think? Have you owned an LG appliance? What’s your own experience been?

Passive System Motion Detectors

Most homes utilize a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor that will trigger a light.

• Passive systems don’t actively add anything (sound, laser, etc.) to the environment around them. Passive systems simply monitor the surrounding area.
• Infrared (IR) is light with a wavelength between 700 nm and 300 µm. The human eye can’t see it, but sensors can detect it.

What PIR Sensors Detect

PIR sensors act like a photosenser for electrons. Infrared light conducts electrons off an object and those electrons become a signal to the sensor. Most sensors look for a rapid change in IR energy otherwise more subtle changes, like asphalt cooling, would trigger the sensor. That’s why it seems like movement will trip the sensor.

What the Lens Can See

Most motion lights feature a plastic lens with one or two IR sensors. These lenses are typically curved to bend light and provide a much wider field of view. However they cannot “see” through everything. Glass is one substance that blocks IR energy.

What do you think? Have you ever investigated your motion detector?
Image courtesy of Megyarsh

I found prices found through Amazon.com and they are all significantly lower than distributor / manufacturer prices.

Filtered Water Pitchers

Filtered water pitchers are a simple option for purifying water. They are easy to use and require no installation. The filters reduce lead, copper, mercury, cadmium, zinc, and other impurities from drinking water. A Brita water pitcher costs about $16 and requires filter replacements every 40 gallons. Filter replacements cost about $6.31 each.

Aqua-Pure Water Filter

I have the Aqua-Pure AP200 Under-counter Water Filter installed in my kitchen. It filters the cold water coming out of my kitchen faucet- reducing any sediment, lead, and chlorine taste and odors. Installation requires mounting the filter beneath your sink and running a supply and return water line. The AP200 costs about $69.57 and replacement cartridges cost about $29.50. Cartridges should be replaced every 2,000 gallons.

Cost Comparison

Lets find out how much filtered water you can drink from the initial filter unit plus one filter replacement.

Brita Pitcher
A Brita Pitcher and one filter replacement will cost you $22.31 and get you 80 gallons of filtered water. That means you pay just under $0.28 per gallon.

Aqua-Pure
The Aqua-Pure unit and one cartridge replacement will cost you about $99.07 and get you 4,000 gallons of filtered water. That results in a little less than $0.03 a gallon!

What do you think? Did you realize how cheap filtered water can be?

I’ve been wading through the literature and here’s a summary of the latest and greatest features:

• Upgraded Style: New SmoothTouch controls which are essentially flat, easy-press buttons grace the face of the new line. A nice-looking LCD glow ring surrounds the start control, and they’re offered in some pretty cool new colors (including our favorite: chili pepper!)
• More Motion: New SmartMotion technology tosses clothes in 5 different patterns. The idea is that moving clothes in different ways ensures they don’t get bundled up and they rub on each other in different ways to break loose grime.
• Less Vibration: via a less-common direct drive motor (with no belts) and a VibrationGuard technology that automatically adjusts as imbalances are detected.
• More Cleaning with Cold Water Cycle: All Kenmore front-load washers are EnergyStar qualified, but this latest feature goes a step beyond to claim 43% less energy than a regular cycle washer with the same results.
• Better Cleaning Detection: With SmartSense and StainTreat options designed to auto-adjust rinse times and reduce the need for pre-treating stains.
• Steam Option: To reduce ironing.
• Larger Design: at 4.5 cu. ft., it puts them in the extra large category, with a claimed ability to wash 44 tee shirts in one load.

We’ve had good experiences with Kenmore in the past (we’ve got their Elite Stainless dishwasher and an elite top-load washer right now). We’re interested in seeing these appliances in action.

Sears is dubbing their new line revolutionary. We think they’re headed on the right track.

The new Kenmore Front Loading Washers and Dryers can be found at Sears.com.  If you’re thinking about buying, make sure to check out our Sears Coupons page for the latest deals and information.

Sure&Secure Extra Tall Top of Stairs Gate with Banister Kit

The name gives you a pretty good description. This baby gate (official site) is designed for the top of the stairs in conjunction with a banister. Banisters create a unique challenge for baby gates because you don’t want to drill any holes but need to securely anchor the gate in place.

The Pros: This gate includes hardware for mounting in several different scenarios – round banister, square banister, and directly to the wall. The “buckle & strap assembly” is like a very strong, heavy-duty zip tie. Orange guides make it easy to know where to drill.

The Cons: The gate can shift a little making it tough to latch accurately every time. Unlatching is also a little challenging. The directions are rather confusing.

Overall: This baby gate attempts to work in a very difficult setting- top of the stairs with a banister. It provides a secure barrier but at the cost of being a bit frustrating to install and operate.

Sure&Secure Baby Gate Review

This white gate measures 33″ tall and can span a distance of 30″ to 54″ wide. There are two sets of bars that overlap allowing you to set the appropriate width. The hinged side is secured by two heavy-duty, buckle and strap assemblies. Make sure to really crank these as tight as possible or you may notice your gate shifting. The latch mechanism is divided into an upper and lower portion. Each has it’s own orange guide to help with drilling. The latches are held in place by two screws. Drywall anchors are included.

To open this gate, you press the thumb tab on the upper latch while lifting the gate straight up. You have to really pull before the gate swings open. To close, you simply push the gate until it latches. Make sure the gate connects with the upper and lower latches.

Overall, this gate does what it’s designed to do. It creates a safe barrier at the top of the stairs and even mounts to a banister. What really keeps me from recommending this gate is the cumbersome installation and operation. The difficulty arrises because there are lots of different pieces- each needing to be installed in a very exact location.

Stylish&Secure Extra Tall Decorative Walk-Thru Gate

This stylish gate features a sort of “aged bronze” finish that works well with many of today’s contemporary homes. It’s a pressure mounted gate that will swing open in either direction.

The pros: This gate is easy to assemble and operate. It goes up quick and doesn’t require any screws (no holes to patch later). The gate also has a spring to latch the gate automatically.

The cons: While it includes hardware for mounting at the top of stairs, this gate is still not the preferred option. You’ll need to re-tighten the pressure mounts periodically.

Overall: This gate has a good latching mechanism that you can operate with one hand. It’s an ideal choice for hallways and open doorways but I wouldn’t mount it at the top of stairs.

Stylish&Secure Baby Gate Review

This baby gate measures 36″ tall and can fit an opening 28″ to 48″ wide. You can achieve this maximum width by inserting the included extension frames (similar to dining room table leaf inserts).

This gate is pressure mounted meaning that the gate is held in place by tension bolts and is not actually screwed into the wall. There are optional mounting cups that are screwed into the wall but ultimately the gate is still held up by tension. This gate is also a walk-through style meaning there is a bar along the base that you step over. It’s a small bar but a tripping hazard nonetheless. For these two reasons, this gate is not a preferred option for mounting at the top of stairs.

You may notice that the gate looks “bent” before it’s installed. Your gate is not damaged. It’s bent to help generate more tension. The downside is that the latching mechanism isn’t aligned until the gate is under the appropriate pressure. Periodically, you’ll have to re-tighten the tension bolts so that the latch continues to function.

Overall, this is the gate I prefer in my home. It looks nice and is easy to operate. The installation was quick and easy and I won’t have to patch any holes after we take it down. Unfortunately, this gate is not an option for the top of our stairs (with a banister).

What do you think? What baby gate do you have?

Our original layout for the basement included 1/4 of the space used as a TV area. But after visiting a number of home theater stores in the area, we’re making a command decision to upgrade the planned TV to a 96″ wall-mounted screen with a high definition projector. Of course, to save money we’re planning a DIY install to share with you!

The bulkhead in the ceiling dictates the placement of the projector in the space (we’ll have about a 12.5′ throw distance). That limits what projector will work for this area, and not just because some projectors won’t work at that distance.

There are many factors that go into projector selection, like the desired brightness of the image at the specified throw distance and screen size, the expected ambient lighting, the resolution, bulb life, and more (a whole lot more, in fact).

To cope with all these factors, we needed a tool to help us know whether a projector would work for our space. The good news is that tool has already been created for virtually every consumer projector, at projectorcentral.com.

After spending only 30 minutes on this site, we’re enamored with the available data. (And you will be too if you’re in the projector market).

The Projector Calculator

By far PC’s best feature is the custom projector throw distance and screen size calculator. This tool allows you to select any popular consumer projector and determine the optimal setup(s) for the unit.  The tool helps you make the trades between screen size, throw distance, magnification, and screen gain.

Before you commit to a big projector purchase, you can know with reasonably high assurance whether that projector will work for your space.

If you don’t already have a projector in mind, Projector Central also provides a tool to help you find projectors suitable for your space. You can’t beat that … one tool that can narrow the field for you and a second that can help you work the fine details.

We’re impressed not only by the tool itself, but by the number of projectors they’ve inventoried for use with the tool. There’s got to be more than 300 projectors available for analysis.

The Best Projector Under $3000?

After reading reviews on PC and working with the tools, we’re currently looking at the Panasonic AE4000 model for the basement. PC claims it’s the best projector under $3K. I’m hoping to find a location to see this projector in action to see if it’s right for our space.

(Photo: pedrosemois7)

When it comes to recessed can lighting, “IC” means “insulation contact”. IC-rated cans (usually labeled as “IC-rated” or simply “IC”) are appropriate for attic installations and anywhere else you plan to have insulation touching the can’s housing. Non-IC cans (almost always labeled “Non-IC”) must have an air gap (3″ or more) between the can and the insulation, meaning you’ll have to cut the insulation back from the edge of the can. Putting insulation in contact with a non-IC can is a fire hazard. To put it simple: Don’t do it.

“Non-IC” cans aren’t good for attic installations because you’ll lose a lot of energy through the area around the can. They’re fine for first floors or basements where you typically won’t have insulation between the joists.

If you’re considering cans for an attic installation, we also recommend looking for air tight cans – cans that are reasonably sealed against air leakage to prevent drafts through the ceiling.

What Cans are IC-Rated?

As a general rule, most 5″ and 6″ cans are IC-rated, while most 4″ and smaller cans are not. This is not universally true, however. Smaller diameter can lights can be built with a much larger housing surrounding the can to provide an IC-rating.

House Odors

A lot of people have odors and bad smells in their house. Here are some of the more popular causes that I explored.

• Pet odors
• Retained cooking odors
• Mildew from rain or leak
• Dead animal

I spent some serious time examining the dryer vent ductwork. We have a vent cover but it’s not uncommon for animals to find their way inside. Even if your dryer vent is up off the ground, make sure it has some kind of cover.

Finally, I had a breakthrough! Fred had the same nasty odor in his basement, so we turned to our good friend Google.

We discovered that some old lamp fixtures feature a plastic collar at the base of the fixture. This collar heats up from the bulb and gives off a bad fishy odor. Both Fred and I had these lamps in our basement. This also explains why the smell was intermittent and infrequent: the collar needed to heat up before it began to smell. We both removed these rings from the lamps and have been odor free ever since.

This same odor can occur when receptacles short out or switches melt nearby plastic. If you have a strange smell, be sure to check your light fixtures and outlets.

Workbench Top Materials

Most workbenches you purchase will include a steel, particle board, or Medium density fiberboard (MDF) top. They may even have a combination of these materials like a particle board top with a stainless steel veneer. If you’re not sure, check the owners manual. The Craftsman Workbench (review) has heavy MDF workbench top with a clear protective coating.

How to Maintain your Workbench

Stainless Steel Work Top
Stainless steel is a great surface to work on. It’s usually one solid piece and has no seams. Steel is non-porous meaning it won’t absorb liquids. For spills, promptly wiping it clean will avoid rust or corrosion. Clean the surface with a mild dish soap and soft cloth. Dry completely after cleaning.

The problem with steel work-tops are the dents and scratches that can occur over time. Light scratches will often blend in with the surface but deeper scratches will be more obvious. Deeper scratches can be obscured by applying a scouring pad. Gently move the pad in-line with the existing grain.

Coated Particle Board or MDF
Both particle board and MDF also make for great work-top materials. They are sturdy and have minimal recoil. The coating on these surfaces help protect them from stains – sealing the pores. Mild soap and water will be enough for occasional cleanings. Targeted cleaning agents should be used to remove grease and oil.

To keep these surfaces looking like new, use auto wax. The wax will help protect from scratches and give the top a beautiful sheen. Apply the wax just as you would to a car, working in small circles.

What do you think? How to do you maintain your work surface?
Image courtesy of Robert S. Donovan

How Dimmer Switches Work

Back in the olden days, dimmer switches varied the voltage that traveled to the lamp using a rheostat, basically an adjustable resistor that would sit in a serial electrical circuit with the lamp.  When the dimmer was set to full brightness, the rheostat applies little resistance, allowing the full voltage to travel to the lamp.  When the dimmer was set to low brightness, the rheostat applies a high resistance, converting some of the electrical energy into heat.  The result: the dimmer switch could get hot – not as bad as a small oven sitting inside a wall plate, but enough to pose a fire threat. These dimmers were extremely inefficient – they wasted about 50% of the energy at quarter-brightness – not such a great trade!

Travel forward to the present day.  Today’s dimmers work by very quickly turning electricity on and off 120 times per second using a device called a TRIAC. The result is that a lamp is on less often, thereby emitting less light.  Because the on/off action happens so quickly, our eyes can’t detect the flicker. The benefit: much more of the electricity heads straight to the lamp, and little is wasted to heat. Even with the improved efficiency, however, some power is still consumed in the on/off switching mechanism (between 1% and 3%).  This energy is converted to heat and must be dissipated through the wall plate into the room.

How Dimmers Dissipate Heat

Dimmers dissipate this heat by heat sinking the electronics in the dimmer switch with the metal faceplate at the front of the dimmer.  Take a look at this picture of the four Leviton digital fade dimmers installed in a four-gang box in our basement:

Each of the dimmers has a metal surface plate for heat sinking. See how the two outside Dimmers have fins on their exterior edge, while the inside dimmers have no fins? According to Leviton, a dimmer switch with both sets of fins intact is rated for 600 watts, with one set of fins intact, 500 watts, and with no fins intact, 400 watts.  The limitation is because a dimmer with fewer fins cannot dissipate as much heat. So, our overhead lighting in each zone will be limited.  For the two outside switches, the limit is 500 watts, and for the two inside switches, 400 watts.  We plan to use energy efficient dimmable CFLs, and expect each circuit to carry only 200 watts.

Maximum Watts on a Dimmer Switch

Dimmer switches are usually rated for 600 watts.  Always check the specific dimmer switch you plan to install for wattage limits.

How Energy Efficient Bulbs are Changing Things

Back in the day, a typical dimmer switch would be limited to controlling six 100 watt fixtures.  With today’s energy efficient lighting, 100 watts of traditional incandescent output can be achieved with a 23 watt compact florescent.  Theoretically, that same dimmer switch could control more than 25 of these lamps.  Just another reason to make the switch to CFLs…

What do you think? Do you use dimmers in your own home?  Ever give a thought to the electronics behind them?

(photo: exfordy)