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The Real Reasons Your Appliances Die Young


Modern appliances pack in more features and efficiency than ever — but you might need to accept that they won’t last as long as Grandma’s old fridge.

Regulations have improved appliances by many measures: They’ve removed leaky pilot lights in gas stoves, replaced ozone-depleting freon in refrigerators, prevented cooktop fires and burns through safety sensors and better insulation, and reduced water and power used by washers and dishwashers exponentially, saving consumers money. That means precise temperature controls for refrigerators, as well as motors and that can operate at variable, and therefore more efficient, speeds based on heat or humidity; computer-driven ignition systems to replace always-on pilot lights in gas stoves; and sensors and computer algorithms in dishwashers and washing machines that adjust water usage. The catch is that any feature — even a dishwasher rack, which doesn’t require touchscreens or computer circuit boards — adds complexity to a machine and potential for problems, said Daniel Conrad, a former product engineer at Whirlpool Corporation who is now the director of design quality, reliability, and testing for a commercial-refrigeration company.

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