Tip of the Day: Check your dryer vents

As the owner of a multiunit brownstone in Brooklyn, I’m used to troubleshooting problems and dealing with malfunctioning appliances. Recently one of my tenants e-mailed me, writing, “The dryer doesn’t seem to be working correctly; we have to run it for hours to dry a single load.”

Visions of dryer fires and carbon-monoxide poisoning sprang to mind, along with possible causes of and solutions for the problem. Did a clogged venting system need cleaning? Was the 12-year-old Maytag washer/dryer combo unit near the end of its service life? I asked the tenants not to use the unit until I could stop by over the weekend.

When I got to the building a couple of days later, I immediately checked the lint screen and the area below it on the dryer. Both checked out clear. (Being able to remove two screws and gain access to the area below the lint screen is a nice feature of some older washer-dryer units.) Pulling the dryer away from the wall revealed that the vinyl vent had sagged with age, and a fist-sized ball of lint had collected at the base of the U-shaped depression.

Installing new metal ductwork cured the problem, and I was spared the high expense of replacing the unit. While my building was completely up to code, I put the money I otherwise would have spent on a new washer-dryer on the following safety upgrades:

• I deployed new smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms throughout the building to provide the highest level of safety. (The existing alarms were due for replacement.)

• I replaced the original hoses on the washer with Floodchek hoses, which are supposed to be burst-proof and were recommended to me by other landlords and property managers in my area. (Consumer Reports has not tested these hoses.) I also ordered the Flo n Stop flood-prevention system, a product we covered at the 2008 International Builders’ Show.

• I added fire extinguishers in every hallway and in every apartment.

It turns out that my dryer has a built-in sensor that prevents the unit from working if it senses a blockage in the vent. To avoid late-night phone calls or endless e-mails, I now check the dryer vent every time I visit the building.—Gian Trotta

Inside CR Test Labs: Measuring washing machine performance

It’s one thing to wish away stains that are both metaphorical and real, as in Lady Macbeth’s tormented line, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Macbeth, Act V, Scene I). But in the Consumer Reports test labs, we do our darnedest with literal spots and stains in our assessments of how washing machines remove grime from a variety of common sources.

For our washing-performance test, we use industry-standard strips of sewn-together six-patch swatches (shown). Before washing (top swatch), each patch gets soaked in either cocoa, wine, sebum—that’s human sweat—or oily charcoal dust. For the Lady Macbeths out there, there’s even a blood patch, along with an untreated control patch. Several strips go into each of various normal and heavy-duty cycles in both an 8-pound and a maximum-size load.

After washing, our technicians analyze the swatches and compare the results using a special instrument, called a colorimeter. (They use the same device to analyze the swatches before washing, too.) The middle swatch shown was washed in the front-loading Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778, without steam; this model scored excellent for washing. The bottom one is a reference swatch indicating how a model that rated a poor in wash performance would do. Compare that swatch to the unwashed sample at the top, and it’s nearly, well, a wash.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read our February 2008 report on washers and dryers, then refer to our Ratings of front- and top-loading washers and dryers to find the model that’s right for your family. And if you’re having trouble with spots, see our washing tips and laundry detergents coverage. Finally, watch how we tests washers in our labs.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense

All washing machines are set-it-and-forget-it when it comes to the water—but it’s still up to you to measure and add the detergent. We’ve seen liquid-detergent-and-fabric-softener dispensers for washers before, but GE’s new Profile WPDH8800J front-loader (left in the photo) is the first washer designed to dole out the right amount of detergent and softener based on the load size, soil level, fabric, cycle, or even water hardness. Called SmartDispense, the new feature is built into the pedestal below the Energy Star–qualified washer and has a claimed capacity of up to 350 ounces of detergent and 85 ounces of fabric softener—roughly six months’ worth for a typical household.

Costing $1,800 with the pedestal, the washer and its matching model DPVH880 dryer, $1,329, aren’t cheap. If you’re willing to dispense with the SmartDispense feature, you’ll find high-scoring front-loaders from our washer tests for as little as $650 and top-loaders starting at $400.

The washer and dryer will be in stores in July.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest report on washers and dryers.

Buzzword: Algorithm

What does it mean? An algorithm is a step-by-step process for solving a given task. The term derives from Persian mathematician Mohammad ibn-Musa al-Khwarizmi (780-850), who’s considered the father of algebra. In a modern context, algorithms are often associated with computer programmers, who use them to tell the machines not just what to do but also how to do it. Google, for example, uses algorithmic techniques to establish PageRanks, which in term determine which sites pop up when you search a term or phrase.

Why the buzz? At Consumer Reports, we’re increasingly encountering the term algorithm in reference to smart appliances: dryers that know when loads are dry, refrigerators that can self-regulate their temperature, and dishwashers that sense when dishes are done. (You can bet the dishwasher shown, from a 1952 Consumer Reports article, did not feature such gadgetry.)

This leap forward in appliance design started years ago when electronic controls replaced mechanical ones. On a range, mechanical controls limited you to turning on the appliance and setting its temperature. You had to make any subsequent adjustments on your own—say, turning down the temperature during the cooking process. More-sophisticated electronic controls have allowed manufacturers to develop software settings based on an understanding of how food reacts at different temperatures.

The pizza setting on two new GE Profile electric smoothtop ranges, for instance, use algorithms to distinguish between fresh and frozen pizzas so the cheese melts evenly without burning the crust. Those same ovens have a slow-cook mode that uses algorithms. “With slow cooking, you can’t just put the oven at 180°F and leave it there,” explains Brian Steurer, systems manager at GE for free-standing electric ranges. “If it’s a beef dish, you first have to raise the temperature to break down the collagen. Then you gradually lower the temperature to tenderize the meat without boiling away the moisture.”

“Algorithms are a good thing if they do what you want them to,” says Robert Karpel, a project leader in our Tech department who handles appliances. But that’s not always the case. The soil sensors on some dishwashers misread dirt levels and increase wash time and water use even if the loads are only lightly soiled. In other tests, algorithmic settings prove no more sophisticated than standard settings: The pizza mode on those GE ovens, for instance, was only as effective as the conventional oven control.

We’re not suggesting you avoid algorithmic bells and whistles, but don’t base a purchase on them—you might end up spending more for no noticeable performance enhancement. Instead, read our reports and Ratings of washers and dryers, ranges, and dishwashers. If a feature ends up saving you time or does a better job at a given task, so much the better.—Daniel DiClerico

Prevent a dryer fire at your home

Recent incidents in Stuyvesant, New York, Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Erwin, North Carolina, point to the dangers of dryer fires. In fact, on average, more than 13,000 fires start in laundry rooms in the United States each year, resulting in 10 deaths and $97 million in property damage. Nearly 4,000 of these fires arise from lint buildup that occurs when people fail to clean their dryer vents. The following advice can help you prevent a disaster.

When it comes to dryer fires, flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic (plastic is shown at right) are the most problematic because they can sag and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. Metal ducts, either flexible or rigid (rigid is shown at left ), are far safer because they don't sag, so lint is less likely to accumulate. What’s more, if a fire does start, a metal duct is more likely to contain it.

No matter which kind of duct you have, clean it regularly. Also clean the lint screen each time you use your dryer and get rid of any lint inside, behind, and underneath the dryer. These simple steps will not only reduce the risk of a fire, but your dryer will also dry your clothes faster and use less energy. Learn more dryer-safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, whose illustration is shown at right.

Essential information: Watch our safety alert video for more information on preventing dryer fires. If you’re in the market for a new dryer or washer, read our February 2008 report on laundry appliances. And find the best detergents to get your laundry clean.

Buy the best appliances and kitchen gear

Shopping for appliances and kitchen gear shouldn’t be a race against the clock. You’re going to live with these products for years, so it’s important to choose models that blend performance, value, and brand reliability.

But if you can’t dedicate loads of time to researching your purchases, scout our all-star lineup of appliances and kitchen gear below. They’re the top performers from a year's worth of testing at Consumer Reports. Note that models within groups are listed in performance order, and prices for dishwashers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, and washers are for models with a white finish.

Watch Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home & Yard franchise, present five top-performing appliances on NBC's Today Show, from November 19, 2007.)

(Click on each appliance name below to see models, then learn more about this gear using the links in the "essential information" section.)

• Cooktops & wall ovens
Essential information: Read our buying advice.

• Dishwashers
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out which dishwasher detergents work best.

• Gas grills
Essential information: Read our latest report, prepare our easy, delicious grilling recipes, and watch a video buying guide.

• Microwave ovens
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and take our microwave safety quiz.

• Ranges
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice.

• Refrigerators
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out how much storage space refrigerators really offer.

• Vacuum cleaners
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and watch a video buying guide.

• Washers & dryers
Essential information: Read our latest report on laundry appliances and buying advice for washers and dryers. Use our washing tips to keep you clothes looking their best, and learn how to avoid dryer fires.

• Wet/dry vacuums
Essential information: Read our latest report.