A new home appliance is a major investment, not only in the initial purchase cost but also in the use, care, energy consumption and maintenance. Most major home appliances have a relatively long life expectancy; therefore, a poor choice can be both irritating and costly. Carefully choosing a few quality items that should last a lifetime is a better investment than purchasing lower quality products that may only last 3-5 years. Here are some features of the basic home appliances that you should keep in mind.

Cooking ranges and ovens are a must in all households. Free-standing ranges and slide-in ranges are the most common. They are self-contained, sit on the floor and easily adjustable. A drop-in range is one more variant; it's permanently installed flush with the base cabinets and is supported on a low cabinet base. The best material for cooking ranges is considered to be porcelain enamel because it is durable, resistant to heat, acids, stains and scratches. Its color will not fade or yellow with use. Electronic controls and timers are a good investment, because they are more precise and reliable than mechanical controls and help you save energy by preventing overcooking.

Among ovens, the feature allowing them to decrease cooking time and thus save electricity is convection cooking. In convection ovens the fan blows the heated air over and around food, increasing the rate of moisture evaporation. There are also combination ovens, allowing you to choose among methods of coking or combine them for faster cooking. Automatic self-cleaning is one more feature you may consider for your convenience. The ovens save enough energy while cooking to self-clean without extra expenditure.

Microwave ovens became an indispensable part of most kitchens today. The idea of “meals in a minute” is very appealing in our fast life. However, microwaves are good for reheating food rather than complex cooking.

Refrigerator is one more home appliance the household can't do without. A great variety of models have new convenience and energy-saving features. It's very important to measure the space available for a new refrigerator if you are going to buy one. The newest models include side-by-side refrigerators with three doors that allow minimal loss of cold air. For families that require a lot of refrigerator space, there are separate refrigerator and freezer units designed to be used together. Build-in refrigerators and freezers are made to be flush with surrounding cabinets. To create the built-in look, custom panels can be placed on doors to match cabinets. Check out the features of each model that can add to the convenience. Automatic defrost systems, through-the-door dispensers, reversible doors, adjustable food storage controls, and so many other features are called to make your life a bit easier.

Dishwashers are owned by more than half of households in America. This appliance cuts valuable time off your chores, minimizes kitchen clutter and uses less water to do a better job than hand-washing. Here, technology also introduced a number of irresistible options as sophisticated controls, stainless-steel interiors, water-filtering systems and even built-in water softeners. Today's dishwashers use half of the electricity and less water than older models, so there's no point in refusing buying one for the sake of saving.

Washing Machine is a large consumer of both energy and water, so the key to selecting the right one is to purchase the most energy-efficient model that fits your lifestyle and space. Stainless-steel tub is the best option for those who wash frequently; otherwise you can do with porcelain-coated steel or high-grade plastic, which are cheaper but less durable. If your wash includes a variety of fabrics and levels of dirtiness, choose a machine that offers specialty cycles such as delicate and extra soak, as well as one for a second rinse. Multiple water-level settings will ensure the most efficient wash for loads of different sizes and help you save both on detergent and energy consumption. Top-load machines' cost is lower initially but they are less energy-efficient in the long run, while front-load machines are gaining popularity because of their ability to save energy, amount of water and time required for washing and drying clothes. So, the initial higher price of such machines is justified in the long run.