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Household Appliances: The Basics

If you’re looking for your next vacuum cleaner, heater, air conditioner, humidifier, or dehumidifier, look no further! DealNews posts great deals so you can find cheap household appliances.

A Quick Guide to Vacuum Cleaner Buying

Purchasing a vacuum should be simple, but now that there are so many options, you might find yourself second-guessing your choices. Check out some of these tips and details from this buying guide from Kohl’s , or check out this guide from the DealNews Blog .

Vacuum Cleaner Types

  • Canister vacuum cleaner
    • Works best on hardwood or small carpeted surfaces
    • Consists of a suction hose and separate unit with motor and receptacle
  • Upright Vacuum
    • Great for large carpeted surfaces
    • Uses motorized beater brush to loosen and remove dirt
    • Bagless and bagged models available
    • Many include attachments for various uses like dusting
    • Best for multi-surface (i.e., hardwood and carpeted) homes
  • Handheld Vacuum
    • Great for small areas
    • Small and typically battery-powered
  • Stick Vacuum
    • Lightweight and battery-powered
    • Includes motorized brush
    • Better for hard flooring than carpets
    • Most are bagless
    • Also known as “sweeper vacuums”
  • Robotic Vacuum
    • Autonomous vacuum that uses sensors to clean
    • User selects settings like cleaning time and floor type
    • Typically not as powerful as other vacuums
  • Pet Vacuum
    • Specialized upright vacuum cleaner
    • Detachable beater brush

Bagged vs. Bagless

When purchasing a vacuum cleaner, a common question is whether you should purchase a bagged or bagless model. A couple of details to help with your purchase include:

  • Allergy Concerns: Bagged vacuum cleaners release less dust into the air, making it more allergy friendly.
  • Cost: Although bagless vacuum cleaners have filters that will eventually require cleaning or replacement, the cost impact of not having to replace the bag each time the dust compartment is full makes bagless vacuum cleaners a bit more cost-effective.

Common Vacuum Terms

Agitator: Brush at base of the vacuum that moves debris up to be suctioned into a bag or canister.

Belt: The belt causes the brushes to rotate and process debris.

Cleaning path: The cleaning path is determined by the width of the base of the vacuum cleaner — the wider the base the larger the cleaning path.

Filtration: Filtration systems help remove dust mites from floors and furniture. This is ideal for reducing household allergens.

HEPA air filter: High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are extended-surface filters that capture up to 99% of all dust particles.

Motor: Measured in amps, watts, and volts, the motor power determines the suction of the vacuum. Greater suction power means you spend less time cleaning your floors.

Motor protection system: A safeguard that protects a vacuum motor from overheating.

Retractable cord: An feature that automatically winds the cord for storage in the machine.

Self-propelled motor: A feature that propels the vacuum on its own for easier maneuvering.

Blog Articles About Household Appliances

What to Look for When Buying a Fan

Find a Vac That Doesn't Suck: The Ultimate Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide

Don't Sweat It! 9 Tips for Getting Air Conditioning on a Budget

Your 9 Biggest Warranty Questions — Answered

5 Ways to Deal With Common Warranty Pitfalls

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ceiling fans save money?

Running a fan is significantly cheaper than running an A/C unit because you can target rooms you're utilizing instead of your entire home.

However, a more important question is whether a fan meets your cooling needs. A fan alone may or may not keep you cool, so the trick is to use the fan in conjunction with your air conditioning. Fans do not actually cool the air, so if you’re stuck in an 85-degree room you’re just having 85-degree air blowing on your skin.

This trick can save you hundreds of dollars each year, so in short, yes, fans definitely save money! Check out this blog post for more info!

Do air purifiers work?

A machine that quietly hums in the background while cleaning your air may sound too good to be true. But if you’re an allergy or asthma sufferer, a quality air purifier may be worth the investment.

This study concludes that air filtration through HEPA purifiers are useful for allergy sufferers, but notes the effectiveness is limited to one room instead of a whole house. While air purifiers are limited in what they can clean from the air (dust, smoke, pollen), the added relief can aid those who have tried many other solutions.

It’s important to note that air purifiers are not very effective, if at all, in cleaning out mold or VOCs that accumulate in the air from adhesives, paints, or cleaning products.

Humidifier vs. Dehumidifier: Which do I need and why?

Humidity regulation, whether by a humidifier or dehumidifier, helps with comfort levels in your home. According to Richmond’s Air Heating & Air Conditioning , a good humidity level for the home is between 35% and 45%. You can measure this with a hygrometer or you can try a few tricks like the one found here for low humidity measurements, or here for high humidity measurements.

High and low humidity can each create different issues in your home and body. Low humidity can damage your furniture, floors, and doors, causing them to crack. It can even cause caulk or glue to shrink, creating gaps that allow air to leak out. Worse, high humidity affects sleep , and exacerbates breathing problems like asthma by creating a breeding ground for mold and other allergens .

Low humidity is also problematic, causing dry skin, nasal irritation, and even spreading the flu .

By: Kristen Harris, Manager

A Georgia girl with three years of experience in IP Law and grounded in understanding marketing and consumer motives. When she's not working with the fabulous staff of DealNews, you can find her whining at rowing practice and browsing the Hot Deals on the site.

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