Ovens - When buying an oven, your first decision should be whether you want a gas oven or an electric. This decision is based on your cooking preferences. Also, consider the type of cleaning process it uses. Standard ovens will have to be cleaned manually, but there are now self-cleaning ovens with programmable settings, which use high temperatures to clean off any residue. You can also get continuous cleaning ovens that absorb or burn off splatters, making it even more convenient.

Refrigerators - As a rule of thumb, plan on purchasing 8-10 cubic feet of space for a family of two, then add an additional cubic foot of space for each family member. Refrigerators with freezers on the top are more energy efficient than models with side freezers.

Dishwashers - Always find out the amount of water a dishwasher uses for every different cycle. Features that reduce water usage are very important. Newer, more expensive stainless steel models enhance efficiency during drying cycles and can tolerate higher water temperatures.

Ventilation Hoods - The most important thing to consider when purchasing a new ventilation hood is its fan. Axial fans are inexpensive but not as powerful as centrifugal fans. Try to find hoods that have a tempered glass light lens. These are more durable than the plastic lens, which yellow and crack, and they last longer. If you can, try to find one that has a low sone rating. The lower the sone number is, the quieter your range hood.

Garbage Disposal Systems - There are a few things to consider when you want to buy a garbage disposal. Think of how many meals per week are prepared in your kitchen, how often you entertain, and the importance of quiet operation and long product life. Find out also if your kitchen is hooked up to a septic or water system.

Air Conditioners - When looking for a powerful air conditioner, check out the yellow energy tag (represented as Energy Efficiency Ratio or EER) and consider its efficiency. The EER numbers range from a minimum of eight to a maximum of 12. You'll want to look for high EER numbers. After this, you also need to consider the space of the room you'll be putting the air conditioner in, as well as your budget. Do you need to cool the whole room? Does the weather change a lot where I'm located? The answers will help you find a suitable model that will fit your needs. Try to match the unit's cooling capacity with the size of the room. According to the Department of Energy, air conditioner size should be determined by multiplying the room's square feet by 20.

Water Heaters - Look for hot water heaters that are energy efficient. The EnergyGuide label gives you two important pieces of information when you're comparing different brands and models: estimated energy consumption and estimated yearly operating costs. Use this information to determine which models are the most energy efficient. As for tank size, it refers to the number of gallons of water that the water heater can hold. The more gallons of hot water you need per hour, the larger the water tank must be to accommodate the need. Of course there are also tank-less systems which heat water as you need it. Tankless water systems are powered by either electricity or gas and turn off when not in use. However, they cannot be expected to supply you with large amounts of hot water at any given time.

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