If you’ve purchased a washing machine or dishwasher in the last few years, your model probably includes economy settings. Now is a good time to ask yourself if you have ever used the appliance in conservation mode. Why or why not? There can be very good reasons to use, or not use, the eco-settings on your home appliances.

Go to any home improvement or appliance store and take a look at the list of Energy Star-certified dishwashers, washing machines, and hot water heaters. Just about every single model has a setting that allows you to conserve even more. At their ideal, eco-settings for plumbing installations save you money twice – once for a reduction in water consumption, and once more by using less electricity (or gas) to heat the water. But making use of your energy saving settings you’ll get all that, plus the satisfaction of reducing your contribution to dwindling municipal reservoirs and climate-changing carbon emissions.

However, there is another side to the economy setting story: In some cases, the option can actually decrease the performance of your appliance to the point where it simply no longer meets your standards. If the eco-setting can’t accomplish the very job that the appliance is designed for, it doesn’t do you much good for saving water, energy, or money. Worse, if the dishwasher or washing machine doesn’t get things sufficiently clean, you’ll wind up having to run it twice — using more energy in the long run than you would if you just operated it in the normal mode.

Where you can really run into trouble with economy settings is if you purchase an appliance based on its conservation claims, only to find that the reduced power mode doesn’t perform satisfactorily. In many cases, you might be better off buying a different unit altogether. That’s why it’s important to look beyond the Energy Star rating and check out consumer reviews of the products you buy so you get a sense of how they have worked for other people.

Finally, don’t forget that your own actions plays a role in an appliance’s performance as well. If you overload a washer or dishwasher, or use settings inappropriate for the task, they might not work properly whether in economy mode or not. Make sure you are following all the manufacturer’s recommendations for the appliance before deciding that the eco-setting is what is causing the problem.

It can be tricky choosing from so many appliance options to find the model that works best for you. If you need help picking out economical appliances or plumbing installations in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, or beyond, Avis can help — give us a call today at (239) 542-4421.

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