Weekly Topic Inspiration: Home Appliances

1. 85

   Simone Smithposted 12 years ago

   Most of us have the pleasure of working with modern appliances- they make life so easy! That said, choosing and maintaining appliances can be quite difficult. Why not make life even easier for folks by sharing with them your tips on purchasing, cleaning, and maintaining appliances? As part of this week’s Weekly Topic Inspiration, we’re focusing on non-kitchen appliances (things like washers and dryers, water heaters, lawn mowers, etc.)- later on, we’ll have a whole week dedicated to kitchen appliances.
   
   Here are some search-friendly title ideas:
   GE Appliance Service: A Guide to Getting it Fixed Fast
   Where to Get the Best Stainless Steel Appliance Package
   Appliance Energy Usage: An Overview
   Rebates for Energy Star Appliances
   Central Air Conditioning Units: Prices and Tips
   Central Air Conditioner Prices
   Central Air Conditioner Ratings
   Central Air Conditioner Parts
   The Best Portable Air Conditioner
   The Best Window Air Conditioner
   The Best Air Conditioner Brand
   Garbage Compactor Basics
   Waste Compactors 101
   Tankless Water Heater Installation
   Water Heater Installation Cost
   The Best Tankless Water Heater
   The Best Gas Water Heater
   The Best Electric Water Heater
   The Best Water Heater Brand
   Hot Water Heater Leaking? Here’s What to Do
   Leaking Water Heater Repair Guide
   Water Heater Replacement Cost
   Solar Water Heater Price
   Solar Water Heater System Basics
   Best Electric Lawn Mower
   Electric Start Lawn Mowers
   Toro Lawn Mower Repair Tips
   Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades: Tips & Tricks
   The Best Front Load Washer
   Washing Machine Repair Basics
   Great Energy Star Washing Machines
   How to Install a Wood Burning Stove
   Installing Wood Burning Stoves: The Basics
   
   If you'd like to join in on this week's topic by writing a Hub, follow these steps:
   
   1)    Stop by this week's Weekly Topic Inspiration Question.
   2)    Click the green button "answer this question".
   3)    Click the gray button below the box (leave that empty) that says "make a Hub about it."
   4)    Give your Hub a very specific title, like Easy Summer Gardening Projects for Kids or Challenging Summer Activities for Teens
   5)    Create good quality original content that hasn't been covered before.
   6)    After you publish your Weekly Topic Inspiration Hub, come back to this forum thread and post a link to your Hub with a brief description of what you wrote about and why.
   
   For more information on the Weekly Topic Inspiration program, check out the Learning Center guide.

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Austinstarposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I have answered the Best Electric Lawn Mower with this hub - http://austinstar.hubpages.com/hub/What … -the-Money
      I really enjoy the peace and quiet of mowing days now. The electric mower is so quiet I don't even know when Bob is mowing :-)

      replyreport
2. 0

   screamingposted 12 years ago

   A key to saving money is knowing the manufacturer. An example would be whirlpool. Whirlpool price is much higher then say Roper. Both are made by the same company. Why does one cost more then the other? Because Whirlpool as a brand is advertised heavily. Roper however, the exact product, most have never heard of. So you're paying more for the same product to cover the advertising costs.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's really good to know! You ought to write a Hub on that, screaming. I bet it would be quite useful!

      replyreport
   2. 60

      noenhulkposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Agree! great to learn this thing. It is really fun to learn things and apply them on our daily lives. My aircon is going to be 4 years old now without any defects. I just call every 6 months for cleaning. And I do not forget the 3 minutes warm up before setting it to a more cooler button.

      replyreport
   3. 76

      Cre8torposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You are right about branding costs but also know, for example, that a company like Delta will make a faucet (say the model "xyz" and sell it to contractor supply houses and then sell the same model (xyz1) to a Home Depot. The home depot model will be cheaper for 2 reasons...1: They buy in such mass quantity and 2: because where the contractor model will use brass for some parts and have a much more durable finish, the Home Depot model will use nylon and a cheaper finish. To the eye, they look identical, to me, not even close. Much the same for other products and brands.

      replyreport
      1. 85

         Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Oho! Smart!

         replyreport
3. 60

   shuck72posted 12 years ago

   Honestly I have a gas powered mower but after researching and writing about this topic I am thinking of getting an electric one. 
   
   http://shuck72.hubpages.com/hub/Best-Electric-Lawnmower

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That was FAST! Fantastic Hub! If you end up getting that electric mower, I recommend adding some original photos of it to the Hub, plus a Ratings Capsule! The star rating will show up in search results and give your Hub a boost.

      replyreport
   2. 82

      MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I certainly agree with the information you shared about the differences between gas and electric mowers.

      replyreport
4. 56

   JPhillipiposted 12 years ago

   This article is about sharpening your lawn mowers blades. I found out it is actually pretty easy to do and I did not know dull blades rip the grass turning it brown. I will start sharpening my own mower blades from now on.
   http://jphillipi.hubpages.com/hub/Sharp … wer-Blades

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, this is a good thing to know indeed! I always thought dull blades just meant less effective cutting- not damage! Thanks for making the useful Hub.

      replyreport
   2. 82

      MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Your advice makes a ton of sense. I'm glad I read about sharpening lawn mower blades.

      replyreport
5. 76

   Cre8torposted 12 years ago

   I would like to write on most of these since you've rolled right down my lane with this topic but I don't want to be a hog...I'll be very happy to take the air conditioner parts title though. Thank you again Simone for your help in inspiring new ideas.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, there are plenty of titles available, and not that many Hubbers have been taking them this week, so have at 'em!

      replyreport
6. 61

   ktrappposted 12 years ago

   Last year my power was out for three LONG days after a wind storm knocked down hundreds and hundreds of trees. It was then that I learned really quickly how much my central air conditioner means to me!
   
   Here is my WTI Hub:
   
   Central Air Conditioning Units: 7 Easy Maintenance Tips
   
   Check it out and see what this pic has to do with air conditioning your home:
   
   

   replyreport
   1. 82

      MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maintenence is key. You pointed out some helpful tips that we can use to keep our air conditioners running efficiently. Oh, by the way, the dog is so adorable.

      replyreport
   2. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ktrapp, this Hub is the bees knees. Amazing.

      replyreport
7. 0

   mts1098posted 12 years ago

   Every kitchen should have a clear sided toaster...I wrote on this appliance because I used to always burn my toast and really wanted a better way to see the bread cooking...
   
   A Clear Sided Toaster: The Best Kitchen Appliance

   replyreport
   1. 82

      MarleneBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I love, love, love the clear sided toaster idea!

      replyreport
   2. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I know!! I totally want one! Hahaa, I liked your other invention ideas, too.

      replyreport
8. 56

   JPhillipiposted 12 years ago

   Here are some good tips on protecting your window air conditioner.
   http://jphillipi.hubpages.com/hub/Prote … onditioner

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I was surprised to see how much of a difference some of these things can make!

      replyreport
9. 80

   angela_michelleposted 12 years ago

   This is my submission for this week. How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade: http://angela-michelle.hubpages.com/t/30a76f

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Super helpful, this! I never mow lawns... which is probably a good thing, since I had not known about sharpening the blades until this WTI theme rolled around.

      replyreport
10. 76

    Cre8torposted 12 years ago

    Here are my 2 WTI hubs. I did go ahead and do a second since no one had taken it. Thank you Simone for the work you do to provide us with ideas.
    
    http://cre8tor.hubpages.com/hub/Hot-Wat … What-to-Do
    
    http://cre8tor.hubpages.com/hub/Central … ning-Parts

    replyreport
    1. 85

       Simone Smithposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Daaaang Cre8tor. Your Hubs rock.

       replyreport
       1. 76

          Cre8torposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I'm very glad you think so. I am looking forward to the "appliance inspirations" too.

          replyreport
11. STAFF

    HubPagesposted 12 years ago

    Hey everyone! The new thread is up.
    
    This week, we'll be sharing accounting tips! Stop by the thread for some search-friendly title ideas.

    replyreport
12. 57

    ysiegelposted 12 years ago

    I'm new at this but I wanted to give the weekly topic a try. I wrote about vacuum cleaners.
    http://ysiegel.hubpages.com/hub/HowtoChooseaVacuum
    
    This week's accounting topic looks a bit more challenging.

    replyreport