Appliance Tips

Cooking and Fire Safety

Selecting an Air Conditioner

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Cooking and Fire Safety

How can YOU reduce the risk of a cooking fire in the home?

Careless Cooking Fires are one of the leading causes of household fires in the United States. According to reports from the United States Fire Administration, nearly one-third of all home fires begin in the kitchen area. Cooking is also the leading cause of injuries from home fires.

How can you cook safely and carefully in today's busy environment?

Manufacturers of ranges and ovens, through the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), are working together to reduce the risk of such fires through education. That means changing our cooking behavior.

The first step was to better understand what are the causes and who are the people responsible for careless cooking fires. To do this, AHAM joined forces with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) to conduct an in-depth, six-month study in ten major cities in the United States. The fire services in these cities agreed to complete a special survey questionnaire for each cooking fire reported in this period.

After sorting through more than 2,000 returned surveys, we found the results confirmed some basic beliefs about the causes and behaviors associated with cooking fires but illuminated some surprising statistics.

The range-top was involved in nearly 8 of every 10 cooking fires.
In nearly 3/4 of the fires reported (73%), the person responsible for the fire was not in the area when the fire started.

The other major causes of cooking fires reported were grease, food left on the range, and combustible materials on the range-top.

In nearly 2/3 of the fires (64%), people in the residence did not attempt to fight the fire but left the area.

Unfortunately, one-half of the people who did try to fight the fire, did it incorrectly, further endangering themselves and their families.

A larger percentage of the cooking fires were caused by people in the age range of 19 - 69 than is represented by their percentage of the overall population.

One-half of the cooking fires reported were caused by people between the age of 30 - 49.

A copy of the full report, "Ten Community Study of the Behaviors and Profiles of People Involved in Residential Cooking Fires--Executive Summary" (23 pp.) is available by mail, please send to "Ten Community Study", AHAM, 1111 19th St., NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC a self-addressed stamped ($.78) envelope (9" x 12").

The Recipe For Safer Cooking Campaign is brought to you by:

Brown Stove Works, Inc.
Frigidaire Company
Garland Commercial Industries, Inc.
General Electric Appliances
Matsushita Electric Corporation of America
Maytag Corporation
Miele Appliances Inc.
Amana Appliances
Russell Range Company
Thermador-Masco Corporation
Viking Range Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation

Choosing a Window Air Conditioner

For efficient cooling of smaller spaces, a room air conditioner is a great choice. Today's energy-efficient models can also handle larger areas with ease. The key to successful cooling is matching the proper unit to the space you want to cool. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.

The technology is the same as your refrigerator. An evaporator coil cools the interior (in this case the room) and the condenser coil releases the hot air outdoors. Refrigerant is moved by a pump through tubes between the two coils to transfer the heat. A fan blows the cool air into the room.

AC Terminology and Product Features

Before you go shopping, learn to speak the language.

Btu – The British Thermal Unit (Btu) is the international measurement of energy. Here’s the definition: a Btu is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. In AC jargon, Btus measure the amount of heat an air conditioning unit can remove from the room. As the Btu rating increases, so does the size, weight and cost of the air conditioner. Room air conditioners are generally 5000 – 24,000 Btus. Matching Btu requirements to room size is important. The room(s) won’t cool efficiently if the Btu rating is too low or too high for the size of the room.

EER – The Energy Efficiency Ratio is calculated by dividing the Btus by the number of watts. The higher the EER number the more efficient the unit should be. A higher EER rated air conditioner will also be more expensive, so decide if the higher price tag is worth the energy savings you may be getting. The ratings range from 8-11.5. If it’s really hot where you are, go for a rating of 10 or higher.

Thermostat – The heat-sensing thermostat adjusts the temperature of the air coming from the air conditioning unit. They can be programmable or manual. An adjustable thermostat combined with a variable-speed fan is an effective cooling machine. AC units are available with such features as remote control, 24 hour delay timers and digital temperature readouts.

Filter – Clean air is essential for efficient operation. Look for units with filters that can be easily cleaned or replaced.

Fan – Here’s the thing that moves the air. A variable speed fan combined with an adjustable thermostat is an effective cooling machine. Look for louvers that adjust up/down and right/left.

Chassis - A fixed chassis is characteristic of a lighter weight, smaller unit that's easy to remove for winterization. A slide out chassis is found on larger, heavier models. The unit slides out easily for maintenance.

Before You Buy - Measure the Room

Determine the square footage of the room (multiply length x width).

There are lots of variables to consider when choosing a room AC — number of windows, number of people in the room, which direction the room is facing, ceiling height, etc. Energy Star has this chart on finding the right size room air conditoner to meet your needs.

Area To Be Cooled

Remember – bigger is not better. A unit that’s too large will cycle on and off too frequently, using too much energy and causing unnecessary wear on the electrical components.
Measure the Window Dimensions

Most window air conditioners are designed to fit double-hung windows. Measure the inside dimensions (the lower part of the window that raises). Take an exact measurement, not just an estimate. Take your room dimensions and window measurements with you when you go shopping.

Check the Power Supply

What kind of plug does the unit have? What kind of plug is your wall outlet? Make sure the circuit can handle the operation of the unit. Smaller ones work with a standard 115-volt outlet. Larger 115-volt units may need a dedicated circuit. The largest AC units require a 230/208-volt circuit.

SAFETY NOTE:
When adding a new circuit, always have a licensed electrician connect the power to the panel box. Also make sure your air conditioner is properly grounded. Never alter a plug to fit your outlet.


Other Things to Remember

Weight

How heavy is it? Get some help when carrying and installing the unit. An AC unit can easily weigh over 100 pounds.

Noise

Although newer units are much quieter than older models, be prepared for some additional noise in the room.

Installation

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when installing a window unit. It’s essential that the unit be stable for safety reasons. It’s also essential that the unit be tightly sealed to keep the cool air inside where it belongs. Apply weatherstripping as needed to prevent airflow around the unit. Put the AC in a shaded window if possible for added cooling efficiency.

Need help with installation? Call us: 860-646-1111

Maintenance

Air conditioner problems are easily avoided by doing some simple maintenance. Keep the filter and coils clean or replace them as recommended by the manufacturer.

Need help with maintenance or repair? Call us: 860-646-1111