Most refrigerators built in the last five to ten years come with water filters, which are advertised to reduce harmful contaminants, and in some cases even pharmaceutical traces such as Ibuprofen and progesterone (GEappliances.com, 2012). The problem is that these filters are often suggested to be replaced in six months by the manufacturer, and can carry a price tag of $60 or more. For a refrigerator that is expected to last 10 years, that amounts to $1,200 in filters!
The question is, do you really need a new filter every six months? And if so, is there an alternative to the product-branded filters offered by most manufacturers?
To the first question the answer is almost always no. However, it is impossible to tell with certainty whether or not a particular consumer needs a filter every X amount of months. The best way to tackle this question is to consult a professional in water quality assessment or have the city come out to test water in a particular home. This will at least provide consumers with a basis for their water quality and the life expectancy of a standard water filter. A less exact method involves watching for a slow-down in pressure at the water dispenser (indicating that the filter is saturated), or looking for smaller than normal or hollow ice cubes. These signs indicate that the filter is coming to the end of its useful life and should be replaced.
As for alternatives, there are whole-house, reverse osmosis, and other systems that can provide filtration to the refrigerator and other faucets in the house. These systems often have moderate costs to install, but carry lower operating costs as filters are often cheaper than appliance branded versions. The other benefit is that they can be more appropriate in areas where water quality is especially low and broader filtration systems are needed.
Ultimately, the decision is personal. Water quality varies and so do personal preferences regarding the purity of water for drinking and ice production. Just remember, plugged filters can create problems for the refrigerator and should be bypassed if not changed on a regular basis.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Appliance Repair Tips
MSN recently posted an article providing great appliance repair tips that can be used before calling a service technician. The article (link: http://realestate.msn.com/guide-to-troubleshooting-your-appliances?GT1=35009) explains that many issues can be maintanence related and should be checked by the consumer to prevent un-needed and costly service calls.
This article, and other articles like it, help consumers solve common problems with their appliances and are a great reference tool when manuals and customer service numbers prove inadequate. Consumers may also be able to call their local appliance retailer or servicer for more in-depth advice. WPK Appliance Service center is always willing to help out and provide advice when a problem may be resolved without needing professional service. Many other appliance service/sales companies may also be willing to provide advice over the phone. As a consumer it never hurts to call a local company and ask for advice.
This article, and other articles like it, help consumers solve common problems with their appliances and are a great reference tool when manuals and customer service numbers prove inadequate. Consumers may also be able to call their local appliance retailer or servicer for more in-depth advice. WPK Appliance Service center is always willing to help out and provide advice when a problem may be resolved without needing professional service. Many other appliance service/sales companies may also be willing to provide advice over the phone. As a consumer it never hurts to call a local company and ask for advice.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Consumer Empowerment
Over the last five years there has been a decided change in consumer knowledge and understanding of the products they own. This includes everything from product features to product failures and the possible remedies for all that ails their appliance. The internet has facilitated this change by placing information in front of every consumer with a computer, smart phone, or tablet.
As a technician, I appreciate this change because it provides a more level playing field between the customer and the technician. Technicians who lack the knowledge and skill to perform repairs effectively will quickly be identified by customers and driven out of the marketplace. Conversely, adequately trained and educated technicians will be easier to identify based on their ability to support--and add to--common remedies for appliance malfunctions.
Although this change in consumer knowledge has been significant, it is not as thorough as it could be. Many people simply call their local experts out of habit or frustration. To all those consumers I suggest that you are not doing yourself any favors. As addressed in a previous post you may be missing a simple fix that does not require professional service, and more impotant to this post, you may be missing an opportunity to double-check what the professional is telling you--possibly saving yourself money and frustration.
When a problem does occur, the easiest way to research it is to Google the product's symptoms with the make and model included in the search. Google will most likely return thousands of results but only the first few will be truly relevant to your search. You can then use this information to make a more informed decision about who to call to complete your repair and how to judge whether they are performing up to the standards of an empowered consumer.
As a technician, I appreciate this change because it provides a more level playing field between the customer and the technician. Technicians who lack the knowledge and skill to perform repairs effectively will quickly be identified by customers and driven out of the marketplace. Conversely, adequately trained and educated technicians will be easier to identify based on their ability to support--and add to--common remedies for appliance malfunctions.
Although this change in consumer knowledge has been significant, it is not as thorough as it could be. Many people simply call their local experts out of habit or frustration. To all those consumers I suggest that you are not doing yourself any favors. As addressed in a previous post you may be missing a simple fix that does not require professional service, and more impotant to this post, you may be missing an opportunity to double-check what the professional is telling you--possibly saving yourself money and frustration.
When a problem does occur, the easiest way to research it is to Google the product's symptoms with the make and model included in the search. Google will most likely return thousands of results but only the first few will be truly relevant to your search. You can then use this information to make a more informed decision about who to call to complete your repair and how to judge whether they are performing up to the standards of an empowered consumer.
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