How to Cut Utilities Bills with Gas Wall Oven

These days, home owners everywhere are looking for ways to save on their monthly utility bills. After all, utility expenses are higher than ever, taking up a larger proportion of many home owners' expenses than ever before. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that all home owners can take as a way of reducing their monthly utility costs and cutting down on energy consumption in the process. In this sense, it is a win-win situation for all parties involved, including the planet.

Consider New Appliances
One of the first things that any home owner should look at when trying to reduce energy costs is the current state of their home's appliances. Often times, older appliances are simply not energy efficient enough to save the home owners any money. In fact, older ovens, stoves, and refrigerators can be downright wasteful and can cost a home owner hundreds of dollars more over the course of a year.

Upgrading appliances, then, is a good first step to take. It is good to look at this as an investment, as it will require some money up front. Still, the energy savings should pay the cost of the appliances off in just a few years. Not to mention, new appliances can add to the overall look of one's kitchen as well. 

Specifically, home owners may want to consider shopping for and installing a gas wall oven at the home. This can be a great and energy-saving alternative to a traditional oven and stove. In addition, it also saves space within the kitchen by essentially being built into the wall. Therefore, cabinet and cupboard space can still exist above and below the unit. A gas wall oven can substantially reduce one's monthly energy costs, especially with the high price of gas these days, because such an oven is energy efficient and uses less gas to get the job done.

Furnace and AC Maintenance
Another great way to go about saving money on utilities in one's home is to ensure that one's air conditioning and heating units are well maintained. This includes changing air filters as necessary, making sure there are no leaks in pipes or problems with ducts, and having the units professionally inspected and worked on at least once per year.

Insulation
Finally, if a home is not well insulated, this can be the equivalent of throwing money out the window. Home owners should take the time to ensure that their window and door seals are tight and take steps to prevent drafts. This will keep one's home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without having to spend more on energy and utility bills in the process.

Cooking Quick Meals Using Microwave Ovens

Today's busy professionals, challenged with meeting responsibilities while needing time for relaxation at the end of the day, are finding that microwave ovens offer an inexpensive way to create delicious meals while cutting down on time-intensive preparation and cooking efforts.

Quite a few dishes can be made cheaply and easily in the microwave throughout the day. By following some simple recipes, everyone from tired business executives to late-shift janitors can enjoy comfort foods and snacks that take minutes instead of hours at a low cost.

Breakfast, Fast
Although familiar frozen microwave biscuits and calorie-laden breakfast platters are an easy option, healthier choices are viable and quick to prepare. Zap whisked seasoned eggs for one minute on high in a butter-brushed bowl, then re-whisk and cook for 30 seconds for light and fluffy scrambled eggs. Or add cheese and microwaved bacon or cooked crumbled sausage to flour tortillas, warmed between damp paper towels, for an on-the-go breakfast burrito. If a high-fiber breakfast is the goal, try a warm bowl of hearty oatmeal with chopped fruit.

Lunch in a Rush?

Soups, chilis and stews do exceptionally well in microwaves, as they won't lose too much moisture and dry out. Pair some piping hot tomato soup with a turkey club sandwich, using leftover breakfast bacon. Chopped chicken breast served with steamed broccoli over rice with lemon-pepper sauce can be made in minutes. Popular picnic staples like hot dogs and brats heat evenly when wrapped in damp paper towels and quick-steamed in the microwave, which can even bake the potatoes just right for a quick homemade potato salad side dish.

Dinner is Served

Imagination is the only limit in microwave cooking, even when it comes to making an entire meal in thirty minutes or less. So many accessories and techniques now exist for microwave chefs to achieve great results that there are few foods that can't be turned into successful dinners. From a creamy beef stroganoff over egg noodles to macaroni-and-cheese casserole, sloppy joes and chicken enchiladas, microwave ovens enable fast access to a satisfying time at the dinner table.

Tasty Treats

With less time every day to savor little things, flash cooking makes parking on the sofa with a big bowl of microwaved chocolate-topped popcorn or a cinnamon-swirled coffee mug cake an easy feat. Microwaves also allow pre-cooking to get a jump on tomorrow or defrost meat for dinner in a hurry. With reading and experimentation, mastering microwave cooking is a snap.

Tips in finding the Best Baby Monitors

When buying baby monitors, most people do not know where to begin or what they need out of this electronic device. However, when doing some research and understanding one’s needs, a consumer can find the best product for his or her needs. With that being said, here are four tips to find the best baby monitor.

Know the need: Often, a customer will walk into a store and feel overwhelmed when looking at the available selection of electronic items. When this happens, a shopper will often feel out-of-place and walk up to the salesperson who will probably not know much about this device. Sadly, a buyer will walk away without buying what he or she needs. Other times, the customer will buy a product that does not meet their needs. To fix this, a consumer should know what they need out of a baby monitor; for example, some will want one with a long-range while others will want a monitor with a long battery life. When knowing one’s needs, it will be easy to approach the situation and find the most useful product.

Narrow down: When a customer knows what they want, they can narrow down the list. Ideally, when choosing a four or five potential products, one should look for reviews and look at them in person. When testing them out in person and reading online reviews, a shopper will know what monitor will work for his or her situation. To get the most out of this, a shopper should read dozens of reviews on each model; when reading up on the product, one will know, with near certainty, which product will work with their situation.

Other parents: Before taking the plunge or testing a few monitors, one should ask local parents for their help. A parent with a child under the age of five has probably recently used the device in their household. When getting real world advice from a trusted source, one will feel good about their purchase.

Test: Now, this is not always an easy proposition, but one should test the baby monitor in person. When testing it, one parent should sit near the monitor and the other near the receiver. When performing a thorough and drawn out test, one can determine if the product works as intended. Of course, while in the store, some may feel awkward at doing this; however, it is a critical step as knowing how the monitor works in a real environment is essential.

With these four tips, a shopper can find a baby monitor that meets their needs. Remember, this is a serious investment and one must take their time to know what they need and what will work in their life.

A Guide to Avoiding Leaks in Washing Machines

Washing machines are major appliances which require care and proper maintenance to remain functional. Without this attention, disaster is close at hand, with the potential for ruined floors and expensive repairs lurking behind every leak. There are several ways to avoid leaky washers, including replacing the hose, paying attention to the water pump, keeping the machine level and employing an automatic shut-off valve. 

Replace the Hoses

The rubber hoses that provide hot and cold water to a washer are built to be strong, but not everlasting. The more time passes, the more these hoses become brittle and hard. When this happens, they are prone to damage, such as cracks. And, it only takes a small crack to cause a massive leak. These hoses should be checked on at least an annual basis for problems. If they feel hard, delicate or otherwise damaged, they should be replaced at once. Even if no problems are detected, the rubber hoses should be replaced every five years, to ensure proper function.

Pay Attention to the Water Pump

Washing machines have water pumps that help circulate and drain the water. If the water pump malfunctions, the water will not drain properly, instead remaining stagnant in the machine. This water then becomes a leaking problem. A broken water pump will often make a loud, clunking noise. Any sudden, loud noises should be investigated as potential water pump problems and addressed right away.

Keep the Machine Level

The machines are large and loud; during the average washing cycle, there is a lot of force employed. If the washer is not level, the entire machine will move and shake. To the casual observer, it may seem humorous to see the machine’s dance across the floor. However, this could lead to property damage and leaks. Make sure the machine is level by checking its legs. Most legs on modern machines are easy to adjust; some require just a slight forward tilt of the washer, while others can be manually tightened.

Use an Automatic Shut-Off Valve

An automatic shut-off valve for a washer is one is a device which, upon installation, detects when the machine is on and off. When the machine is on, everything functions as it should; the hoses are free to transfer water. When the machine is determined to be off, however, these hoses are clamped down. This means that there is no potential for accidental leaks or floods. Some of the automatic shut-off valves even have a floor sensor which shut down the hoses if there is any water pooling at the base of the machine.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Mattress Online

The best way to get a good night's sleep is to have a quality mattress to sleep on. Unfortunately, the only way to determine if a mattress is right for you is to actually lay on it before you buy. If you decide to buy yours online, what can you do to guarantee that you are getting the most value for your money?

Inquire About A Money-Back Guarantee

It is common for online retailers to return your money if you are not satisfied with the product that you have purchased. If you decide that your bed is too firm or too plush, make sure that you have the ability to return it for a full refund.

Do You Save Money Buying Online?

There are a few tricks that can help you save money when buying bedding online. For example, buying a product from another state can help you avoid paying sales tax on your purchase. Additionally, online retailers may be willing to offer free delivery on most purchases. That alone could save you as much as $100.

Can You Get Help From A Salesperson?

The one disadvantage about shopping online is that you don't get to talk to a salesperson face-to-face. While some consumers may appreciate the ability to shop without a lot of hype or hassle, it can be nice to have someone to talk to if you have questions about your purchase. If you do want someone to talk to, look for a site that offers real-time chat with a customer service representative.

Only Buy From Reputable Dealers

While you might think that you are getting a good deal buying from a discount retailer, you should stick to dealers that you have heard of. If you have to buy from a clearance section, you should only buy clearance from a major company. Anyone who wants to buy from an outlet retailer should look for something with a brand name on it. This will ensure a minimum level of quality from your bedding.

Never Buy Used

This is one item that you never want to buy used. In general, you never want to buy anything that you will be sleeping on through an auction site. Although the seller may claim that your item has never been used, that cannot be verified or guaranteed.


Buying a piece of bedding online can save you money while making the shopping experience less stressful. However, you have to make sure that you are buying from a reputable dealer that has a good return policy. Otherwise, you could be stuck with something that you cannot use.