Fresh water scarcity and contamination is one of the leading matters of concern in developing countries around the globe. When bio wastes like animal and human feces and insoluble impurities like lead and arsenic pollute the potable waters, they become unfit for consumption, and can lead to diarrheal diseases. Diarrhea is one of the primary symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, where stool is passed from the human body with excessive water and fluids, or in extreme cases, with blood.

With the industrial sector on the boom since the last century, not even ground water sources can ensure a safe drinking water source for the children in the third world countries. Cases of water borne diseases in India are high due to the poor waste management systems employed in the municipal corporations, and high levels of fluoride and arsenic in the ground water. The list of water borne diseases goes along with names like typhoid, fever, dysentery, hepatitis A or E, polio among the many others.

When contaminated water is unknowingly employed is activities like bathing, washing, drinking, in the preparation of food, or the consumption of the infected food prepared, it causes and spreads such water borne diseases and infections. Since water pollution at the ground level affects more people than air and land pollution, along with preventive measures at individual level, proper waste management systems need to be installed by authorities, and they must ensure the general public of their very basic right of healthy water supply.

At the personal level, here are some methods you can employ to prevent and control water borne diseases;

There are many types of water purification systems for home use advertised in the market, employing different techniques of water filtration. There are many home utility appliances like storage water purifiers, faucet filters, and countertop distillers which employ these technologies. To make an informed purchase most suitable for your needs, one must take a look at the advantages and disadvantages each filtration technique has to offer;

Reverse Osmosis

Advantages

This type of water purifiers usually employs 5-7 stages of purification, using semi-permeable membrane to pass the water through, and filter out hard water, heavy metal impurities and gastrointestinal disease causing pathogens. The water will taste sweeter and bad odor would be removed. They usually have a durable lifespan of 6-8 years, have a lower maintenance cost, and repairable parts are readily available in the market too.

Disadvantages

Since the semi-permeable membranes in RO purifiers use very tiny pores to ensure undesirable elements cannot pass through, it makes this process very slow, while making it difficult to function well with the regular tap water pressure. Hence they require electricity to pump with water through with increased pressure. These membranes are sensitive to chlorine as well, many a times they need to be coated with a layer of carbon filters to avoid damage. The biggest drawback in this filter system is that during the process of removing Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) and other impurities, it can reject upto 75% of the water-input, even if clean water is supplied into the system to be purified. Such low efficiency can make it an undesirable choice, especially in regions which face shortage of water supply. This also makes the time required to collect a required amount of water significantly longer.

Ultra Filtration (UF)

Advantages

This process drains the pathogenic microbes from the water using a fibrous membrane, similar to what RO systems use. It is a simple physical straining process and doesn’t require chemicals or any electricity to operate; the biggest advantage of this purifier. The membrane uses larger pores than that of RO filters, hence can work well with water from normal tap pressure.

Disadvantages

The simple drain-and-clean mechanism of UF filters require them to be cleaned very often, but can be easily cleaned manually, flushing all the dirt trapped. The larger pores can successfully block pathogens, but are ineffective on hard water, dissolved pesticides and other fine metal sediments.

Ultra-Violet Disinfection (UV)

Advantages

Their unique technology tackles the DNA of the pathogens present in the water, disabling and killing them. These are natural and very efficient filterswhich don’t require any chemicals, don’t alter the pH balance of the water, and consequently consume low electricity. Also, they don’t produce any waste, and manual cleaning and maintenance required is minimum.

Disadvantages

The primary feature missing from these water purifiers is that they can’t filter out salts and metals from the water, and usually require clean water to be passed through. Hence UV systems are most successful when combined with RO systems.

Gravity Filtration

Advantages

These water purifiers use the simplest of technology, by passing the inlet water through layers of sediment filters using gravity and normal tap water pressure. All suspended dirt and sand particles are easily filtered out, and carbon filters can remove any bad odor and chlorine dissolved in the water too.

Disadvantages

It is a simple straining process which remains ineffective on fine metal particles line lead and arsenic. They also don’t affect the TDS level of water, or remove any harmful microbes.

Hybrid Filters or Multistage Purification

Advantages

Most Water Purifiers available in Indian the market employs more than one technology to make it suitable for wider masses and more diverse needs, like the RO+UV or RO+UV+UF water filters. While the RO components clear the hard water, UV and UF make sure the scope of water borne diseases is eliminated. Definitely hybrid filters ensure a higher level of purity.

Disadvantages

Many a times, such complex systems are not required. If your water is supplied by municipal corporations, it is fairly clean and UV or UF can be a good enough choice. RO systems are best suited for purifying water from bore wells. If your water supply is a mix of both, only then you are positively required to opt for a hybrid system.

For whatever water purifier you may select, be sure to always check for TDS regulators to be present in the purifier systems. The higher the TDS, the harder the water is. The TDS regulator must be adjusted with the quality of water supplied to ensure that the purifier is not only removing the bad salts and hard metals, but also retaining the natural minerals in the water. These days there are many advances RO water purifier with mineralizers that can add back some of the essential nutrients that get filtered in the RO process.

Most water purifier sale reps can help you determine the TDS levels in your water with a small handheld TDS meter, which can also be bought online. In case such facilities are not available, it is helpful to remember that RO water is best suited for ground water or water from borewells. UV+UF filters work sufficiently well with municipal supplied water. If you get a mix of both, get hard water supply at timesor in doubt, it is safest to go for RO or RO+ (UV+UF) models to cater all needs.

Managing water crisis: the need of the hour

The blue planet, with more than 70% of its surface covered with water bodies, is facing a global crisis; being unable to provide every individual with fresh consumable water even for their basic needs. The broader reason for this can be understood if we study some water facts. Only 3% of this water on the planet is obtained from fresh water bodies, and the rest 97% is saline, resting in oceans. And out of this small fraction of potable water source, only 1% is accessible and the rest is trapped in glaciers, which too are melting due to global warming and draining into the oceans. Compared to the rising population and proportional increase in industrial water consumption, the depleting water sources pose as a major threat to the survival of human race.

It is indeed an important and sensitive global issue, but especially important in India. The Ministry of Water of India estimated that we have an adequate supply of freshwater, taking into account that covering only 2.5% of the global geographic space, we hold 4% of the global fresh water reservoir. But population is another major factor affecting this distribution, where 16% of the world population residing in this country is fighting over 4% of the world’s freshwater. India being an agricultural country, supplies 80% of its water resource to the agricultural land. For these purposes, groundwater levels have been seen to reduce drastically too. The diverse geographic features of the country, from mountains to deserts also contribute to the unequal distribution of water sources across the subcontinent. Inefficient water treatment plants and poor drainage systems lead to floods and not ‘freshwater harvest systems.’ These are some of the many signs of the national crisis worsening rapidly.

Source: https://businessconnectworld.com/2018/01/11/water-crisis-in-india/

One may ask what a citizen sitting at home can do about a national crisis which the government and authorities must act upon. To answer this, we must understand that at least at the crux of the need of fresh water lies with how much water at the individual level we consume, and if there is any way in which we can reduce our own water footprint. Each human, on a standard, requires 150 litres of water for drinking, cooking, washing, bathing and other uses daily. Hence we can conclude that water conservation can begin from home. The little things we can do to conserve this critical natural resource and reduce our wastage at a personal level can go a long way to help save the planet.

Here are some ways in which you can reduce your water consumption and conserve the limited water resources;

Along with reducing your water footprint, you can employ a number of measures to save and harvest water for your own consumption. For every cause and effect, there is also a solution for water scarcity. Rain water harvesting is a traditional and very efficient method to collect the fresh water supplied by rain. You can install harvesting systems and collection tanks on your roofs and employ appropriate filtration systems to obtain clean fresh water right at your homes, which can especially be of great use during emergencies, where you’ll already have saved water during water shortage.

Individual efforts can go a long way in humanity’s collective effort to fight this worsening crisis. Make this blue planet blue again!

Can you recollect how the need for ‘quick fixes” has impacted our lives? Probably not, since we have grown so accustomed to them in our every-day routines. So look at it this way; what if you couldn’t reheat your last night’s leftover in seconds, or had to wait for hours if you forgot to get the chicken out of the freezer in time, or just were out of popcorn and needed pressure cookers to prepare some in the short movie intervals.

Well, now that we have your attention, one can make out what revolution this smart cooking technology of microwave ovens hasbeen brought about in our kitchens. It is easy, fast, efficient and convenient cooking on the go. The food prepared is very safe, hot, and nutritious too. One of these devices can be found in most ofthe modern kitchens all across the globe, and the shorter cooking time and ease in usage has significantly affected the life of working professionals and people who are always on the clock.

Most importantly, it has revived the practice of cooking meals at home, and that has a major impact on the lives of young professionals. The importance of home cooked food is well known and widely understood. No matter how many food joints are ready to deliver your favourite lip-smacking dishes right at your doorstep, such food is not the most nutritious, hygienic, and doesn’t help maintain a balanced diet. Contrasting to that if we compare the benefits of home cooking, the food we prepare at home is always prepared with more care and consciousness, and definitely helps define a routine.

The convenience of microwave cooking has not only made people more aware of their own diet, but also made the tedious task of self-preparation a breeze. After all, no matter how healthy something might be, we tend to neglect that in defence of our convenience. Making absolutely delicious gourmet out of boring packed ingredients wouldn’t have been so fun if it wasn’t for microwave cooking. And more than that, with its handy features like timer, auto cook menu, defrost and multistage cooking, not to forget the bundled recipe books, from simple cooking to complex, everything has been taken care of.

Now the only thing which will stop you from home cooking is going to be your own mood of the day. Since, no more excuses will be given room. Microwave cooking has simplified our lives just for the good!

If you are looking to buy the best microwave oven and have visited some stores or researched online, chances are you are already overwhelmed by the microwave oven types and models available on sale in the market and are wondering which the right model for your cooking needs is. Apart from power efficiency, price range, capacity, and warranty, there are so more important features to look for when making an important and informed purchase. Primarily, more than the sale schemes and post-sales promise, one must take a note of what features are good to have in a microwave oven, and if they are required by you.

Here is a list of some of the most important features to look for in your microwave oven model;

Boiling water

Boiling water for purification is the oldest trick in the book. This time-tested method had been working great for us, till new technologies in water purification systems were introduced, to challenge its credibility. It is generally held that boiling water can kill 100% of pathogenic microorganisms present in the water, but this is not true. There are many mutated tough germs and super bugs which can be left unaffected in boiling water. Also, for killing germs dissolved in water successfully, it is essential to let the water boil for 20 more minutes after it reaches the boiling point; contrary to popular belief where people simply take the water off the heating stove as soon as visible bubbles are seen in the water.

Is boiled water purified water? The answer has to be No. To throw some light on this, here are some differences between boiled water and purified water which may highlight what limitations does boiling water for consumption have when compared to filtered water from purifiers;

Along with the limitations of the process, boiling water instead of using water purifier also poses inconvenience while handling the purification process;

Water Purifiers

The primary function of water purifiers is to filter out dissolved salts and chemicals from the water, like the RO water filters, and purify the clean water obtained from pathogens, like UF and UV water purification systems, which may otherwise lead to water borne diarrheal diseases. Where the tedious task of boiling water simply heats the water and merely reduces the probability of pathogenic contamination, water purifiers on the other hand can successfully filter out dirt, mud, chemicals, pathogens, fine metals and TDS from the water instantly, efficiently, at the normal room temperature, while not compromising on the dissolved oxygen levels of the water.

To conclude, if you wonder “Is boiled water safer than purified water?”, then the answer is not completely. We get better and efficient results from purifying water than boiling water. Still, if you prefer the boiling water purification method, it is advisable to filter out the water afterwards. Make sure you pass the boiled water through water filters after, and not before boiling it, since the water purifiers will successfully restore a balanced taste in the water.

The washer and dryer installation costs are usually built into the cost at which you purchase your new appliance. For instances where, for example, you have bought your machine at a wholesale price or under heavy discounts, many times you yourself have to take care of the washer dryer hook-up requirements.

In case you need vents and connections made into your space, you can always contact authorised washer and dryer installation services from the manufacturers’ helpline. But in most cases, the washing machine installation processes are simple and can be carried at home, saving you time and money. In this article we shall highlight what kind of inlet and outlet connections does one need for different washing machines and dryers.

Connections that you need

A. Electricity

B. Water Supply

C. Drainage/Vents

Installing a Washer Dryer

Installing a stackable Washer-Dryer combo

In case you have floor space constraints to have two separate machines next to each other while installing for washing and drying, there is a possibility of mounting the dryer on top of the front load washing machines, with an external bracket/ stand that are available at separate cost.

Not only is helps in freeing more space in your laundry room, but is also aesthetically pleasing. Also, loading and unloading the machine becomes easier due to the added height which is easier on your back.

Twin washer dryer combo machines cannot provide fully dry clothes in a single appliance. Dedicated electric dryers not only specialise in providing absolutely satisfactory results, but they also have dedicated mechanisms to help vent out moisture from the clothes, as well as the laundry area, leave a clean and dry environment after every cycle.

The types of electric dryers available in Indian markets can broadly be classified into 3 categories. You may choose one that best suits your requirements;

Vented dryers

These dryers blow hot air into the damp clothes tumbling inside the spinning drum. As drying the clothes inside the appliance produces a lot of moisture, the warm and moist air needs to be vented out using ducting hoses, expelling it out in a shaft, open window or ideally any open space out of the laundry room.

They use the simplest mechanisms, building the most affordable dryers in this list. But such cheap clothes dryer technology bumps in terms of energy consumption and generates a lot of noise too.

Condenser Dryer

Somewhat like the vented dryers but so not like them, condenser dryers too blow in warm air into the drum filled with wet clothes. As the heat makes the water evaporate from the items inside, the moisture generated is condensed and stored in a water tank that needs to be emptied, or dispensed out using a hose for drainage.

No external vents need to be built for the appliance to function; hence they are good for windowless room, or rented apartments where you don’t want to make modifications by installing vents. But to avoid moisture build up, it will always to advisable to install a condenser dryer in a well-ventilated area. This technology costs a little bit more than the vented dryers.

Heat Pump Dryer

The working mechanism behind these dryers is remarkably cost and energy efficient, giving credit to a small built-in heat pump that handles heating and cooling functions. Heated air is blown through the wet clothes. The condensed water is drained off and hot air inside is cooled down, only to be reheated and blown through the clothes again. No moisture is expelled out, making them ductless and ideal for rented apartments and windowless areas.

They are the most expensive of the other dryers listed here, but use less than half the energy of a vented or condenser dryer, especially owing to the recycling of air. Consequently, such efficient use by the system sums out to be cheaper than the other technologies in the long run, saving energy and money.

The most obvious question to answer while thinking of a new washing machine is “Which type of washing machine to buy?” Broadly, all washing machine models available in the market can be categorised of either a Front-load design, or of a Top-load design.

As the name correctly suggests, Top-load washing machines have a vertical washing drum inside its body, allowing you to load your clothes onto laundry by the window on the top. On the other hand, front-load washing machines have a horizontal drum and the clothes need to be fed-in by the front window. But the difference between top loading and front-loading washing machines isn’t only limited to the name.

Due to this minor change in the orientation of the washing unit inside, the entire washing process executes differently; both of these designs providing their own advantages and disadvantages. Here below is a comparison chart discussing the major top load vs. front load washers’ pros cons.

Conventional refrigerators

These economical refrigerator models work on a simple on and off mechanism. When the power is on and the doors of the refrigerators are closed, the compressors start at the highest, and honesty, at the only programmable speed of the cooling compressor. When an optimum low temperature is achieved, the compressors shut down automatically and start again when the temperatures begin to rise.

The advantage of conventional refrigerators is that they always cool as top speeds, giving high and fast results, and of course they are cheaper too. But when they start at such high load, not only they consume a lot of power, too much at times, but also produce a lot of noise during turning on.

Final thoughts

As we can see, both there are various advantages of top-load washing machines, primarily its simple design and economical price. Although one may challenge its efficiency, which on the other hand lists under the advantages of front-load washing machines.

The market for washing machines is very competitive. Stuffed with designer models and “latest technological innovations in washing machines”, many washing machine manufacturers tend to advertise their products in a manner to attract maximum populace.

It can also be seen how different terminologies mean the same thing but some brands coin different words for the same and use them as marketing gimmicks. For instance, the very common Fuzzy Logic washing cycles which are available in most of the latest fully-automatic washing machines can be labelled as ‘Smart Rinse’ or ‘6th Sense’ under different brands.

Here below we list some of the well-advertised and popular washing machine programs which may not be so special, just products of marketing strategies.

What does tonnage in AC terms mean?

In general terms tonnage refers to the weight of an object or thing, whereas in the terms associated with AC world tonnage implies the amount of hot air a unit can remove from the room and cool.

Why AC tonnage is important?

Buying an AC with the right tonnage is an important factor. It does not simply depend on the size of the room, but also on the season during which the unit will be used, number of people in the room etc. But it is advisable to think of the peak temperature during which the unit will be used in a city.

An AC with a lesser tonnage will naturally require more time to cool the room compared to the one with a higher tonnage whereas the latter one will consume more power and energy.

General AC Tonnage size Guide

Keeping in mind the above factors and requirements of the user the following size logic will help you chose the AC with the right tonnage.

Various different tonnage calculators are available online to help users decide the required size of the AC unit, but the above table shows the most common and accurate results to help you guide through the size selection.

The results from different calculators have been combined to give you the most efficient size logic. However, it is always advisable to double check the specific model you are proposing to purchase for the size of room it is being planned for.

Why should your next purchase be an inverter refrigerator?

The refrigerators which we commonly see at homes use basic technologies which, without a doubt have given us good and reliable results. But with rising energy costs people are getting more and more conscious about working efficiency and power consumption of these appliances.

The growing popularity of the inverter refrigerators has made us stop and wonder, why they are so popular in the first place. “How do inverter refrigerators work?” Well, let’s find out.

Conventional refrigerators

These economical refrigerator models work on a simple on and off mechanism. When the power is on and the doors of the refrigerators are closed, the compressors start at the highest, and honesty, at the only programmable speed of the cooling compressor. When an optimum low temperature is achieved, the compressors shut down automatically and start again when the temperatures begin to rise.

The advantage of conventional refrigerators is that they always cool as top speeds, giving high and fast results, and of course they are cheaper too. But when they start at such high load, not only they consume a lot of power, too much at times, but also produce a lot of noise during turning on.

Inverter refrigerators

These come at the higher end on technological innovations. As the name might suggest, they have an inverter built in their compressors. They don’t start at top speeds at the very go. Rather, they start at low speeds, gradually optimising their performances with the temperature requirements.

One may consider them to perform slowly for this very reason, but the fact remains that they can work at adjustable speeds, maintaining their efficient performance which saves both energy and money. And also, the gradual increase of compressor load will not produce as much noise.

Save on electricity bills in 7 simple steps

Apart from the refrigerator door types, size and capacity, there are some very important features you must consider in your new refrigerators. This extension of the refrigerator buying guide will help you with what else to look for when buying a new refrigerator model.

Here are our picks for the top 9 features to look for in a refrigerator.

Looking for more? Check out our article “Newest Innovations, Trends and Technologies in Refrigerators” for more information.

While deciding which water purifier to purchase, the primary factor to keep in mind is the type of water you are going to filter out. There may be many features and post-sales services endorsed in a water purifier model available in market, but the type of water purification technology to choose is what needs to be settled first.

To give you a little recap, here below we have listed everything you need to know about types of water purifiers; the features and differences between various technologies used in them.

How to choose water purification systems most appropriate for your needs?

Firstly you need to check the TDS level i.e. total dissolved salts present in the water supplied to your homes. Most water purifier sale representatives can help you with that.

Tips to choose the best water filter for your homes

Save on electricity bills in 7 simple steps

Summers call for a check on electricity bills and the reasons are surely valid. Air conditioners are high electricity consuming appliances and must be used in an efficient manner to ensure lowest consumption of electricity and highest savings on power and money.

Air conditioners with high star ratings on energy efficiency may cost a little more but will save big bucks in the long run. Does Inverter AC really save electricity? Yes, it does and is a great investment in terms of power efficient mechanisms.

Also check out our article “Does energy star rating really matter” for more information.

But apart from buying modern Energy Star air conditioner models, there are some simple ways to run ACs efficiently and save a little more power on the electricity metres. This AC User’s Guide will give you top 6 hacks to save money on electricity bills

Also check out our article “AC Servicing & Maintenance: How important are regular AC Servicing and preventive maintenance” for more information about AC maintenance.

Most salesmen and ad commercials endorse RO water purifiers, with features they claim will help you choose the best water purifiers from their catalogues, but fewer details are given out about their mechanism, technologies used, and post-sales maintenance required. Just like how every water purification system has features which pose as advantageous and disadvantageous, it is important to study every product and its feature before making an investment in such long-term home utility machines.

Here are some important pointers you may consider before selecting a water purifier best suited for your needs;

With so many technologies and features each one has to offer, while weighing out pros and cons among them, be sure to keep post-sales services like reliable warranty, low cost of maintenance and easy availability of parts of the product purchased in mind. Be sure of checking all of those before you make an investment in a company product.

Window

Window Air Conditioners require a designated window / wall space equivalent to the height and width of the Window AC unit to be installed and can cool down a smaller area more efficiently when compared to a split AC. Therefore, if one needs an AC for a small room, they should go for a window AC.

They are quite pocket-friendly and easy to install since they come in a single unit. The maintenance cost of a window ac is also low.

In case window ACs without a remote-control facility is planned to be used, it may need to be installed at a reachable height to enable easy access to the manual controls of cooling temperatures, fan speed and other features of the window AC.

It must also be noted that the inner, user-facing portion of the AC and its extended cooling unit on the outside are an integrated unit in a Window AC. Therefore, its use at a low height needs to be thought through properly if the space where the cooling unit would project outside is a usable area like a balcony or porch, which may hamper free movement of people in such areas therefore. In such cases it may be advisable to install the window AC at a height and plan a window AC with remote control facility.

Split

Split Air Conditioners are mounted on a wall and are generally used for large rooms since their cooling capacity is quite higher. They do not require a window for installation. They come with a compressor and condenser where the compressor is placed in the outdoor unit while the latter is placed in the indoor unit which cools the room,

The split AC also adds a new designer element in the room since they are available in various colors and patterns. These factors lead to a higher cost for a split AC. Most of the major technological innovations in this category are also available in the Split version of ACs which are now becoming the default models is use by and large.

Unlike Window ACs they do not need a wall or window cavity which is equal to the width and the height of the entire AC unit. The indoor unit of a split AC model only needs a small hole through the wall for the cables and coils to pass through but needs enough wall space for the entire indoor unit to be fitted on the inside wall. Typically, most split ACs do not need much height for the indoor unit in terms of wall space but need enough space in terms of width surely, in the range of 2 to 4 feet of space by width. Due to this nature of the indoor unit and that most split ACs also come with remote control facility by default allows their installation on the free wall space closer to the ceiling at a higher height, thereby freeing up the main wall space for other possible uses.

Since the outdoor unit of a split AC is a separate unit it can be installed at some distance and a different place from the main indoor unit, thereby giving that much flexibility for it space planning. However, care should be taken to install it in such a place where is regular maintenance is possible to be carried out without much effort or risk of accessing it, while attempting to service or clean the outdoor unit at periodic intervals.

Distinction between Window and Split AC

The table given below can shed some light on the broader differences between Window and Split AC and help you with which AC to choose between the two.

Conclusion

Both these types of ACs; split and window are efficient in their own ways; both have its pros and cons. Based on these differences marked in this article, one can sure decide which AC suits his or her requirements.

Moreover, budget plays an important role here. If the user is low on budget then it is advisable to consider a window AC however if there are no budget constraints the user can consider a split AC.

Fridge cleaning hacks in 7 simple steps

Keeping refrigerator clean and fresh can be a more challenging task than cleaning the rest of your entire kitchen. Many opt for refrigerator cleaning services, but practically you should clean your refrigerator at home more often than waiting for a service.

Considering it is where the food is left exposed for the longest, you don’t want to leave your refrigerator unsanitary, stained and definitely with any odor. But it is not necessarily such a complicated task.

In this refrigerator buying guide will explain the easiest and 7 most recommended ways to keep fridge clean and fresh.

13 Features and factors to consider while buying an Air Purifier

While browsing through catalogue and choosing the best air purifier to buy, you’ll notice how most of the appliances are so similar yet so different. Give attention to detail and you’ll see the different array of features present in them. Some may be gimmicky but some are very attractive and useful, turning your preferences towards them.

This Complete Guide for Buying Air Purifiers will try to briefly explain each of these features you must look for while buying an air purifier;

Refrigerators are a standard appliance present is every urban home across the globe. These are long term working appliances which typically last 10-15 years without many technological revolutions forcing you to keep up with the newer models. For these reasons, you must buy one which will sustain your growing needs in the years to come.

It is wise to know that a good layout of drawers and shelves might be more important for some, those who cook less often or for more meal at a time, they’d need larger refrigerators, whereas for those who have a lot of frozen food need lesser racks and more freezer drawers. It comes down to knowing what you’ll need the refrigerator for.

This refrigerators buying guide would help you compare refrigerators online, to weigh the benefits the different door type of refrigerators offer, helping you make an informed choice with your next purchase.

What size of an air purifier do I need?

The popular misconception related to air purifiers is that it’s a one-size-fits-all machine. As neglected as this preliminary step while buying an air purifier might be, calculating and properly sizing an air cleaner for a room need not just be a necessary task, but also a clever one.

Having an air purifier which is cheaper and smaller for a room bigger than the devices’ prescribed square footed will waste more of your money than saving it. For instance, if an air purifier for a 300 sq. ft room area is placed in 450 sq. ft room, it will put unnecessary pressure on the appliance.

The ACR and CADR ratings on your air purifier are meant for the prescribed square footage recommended by the manufactures. If you place an air purifier meant for smaller rooms in a bigger one, neither will it be able to serve the, for example, 4x or 5x Air Change Rate, nor will be as effective as the 150/200/160 Clean Air Delivery Rate markings, for instance.

So, how to properly size an air cleaner for a room?

It is honestly very simple; just calculate the square area for which you want to buy an air purifier. For a larger open space with multiple rooms, sum the square footage of the individual rooms and now that is the minimum square footage for which you need an air purifier.

It is always wise to choose an air purifier meant for area equal to or a little larger than your calculated area, not the other way around.

There is definitely is a charm about interchangeable lenses, giving photographers the flexibility to shift between genres or formats, and helping beginners explore their way into their new passion. Given below is a complete beginner’s camera lens buying guide with all types of interchangeable camera lenses explained, listing out the essential features to consider in an interchangeable lens and how to choose camera lens as per your needs.

Camera light sensors are like the ‘films’ of digital cameras. They consist of millions of light sensitive ‘Photosites’ which capture the light reflected on them and convert them into digital images. The larger the film, the more light is captured; consequently producing sharper images with more details. This enables the camera to shoot even in low light, keeping the noise and aberrations low, and also giving a better low lighting performance.

The following camera sensor size comparison chart illustrates the relative sizes of different camera sensors.

On a given camera light sensor, the more the pixels, the smaller the pixels will be. So if we have, say the same sized sensor on a 20MP camera, it will have smaller sized pixels than an 18MP camera. An 8MP camera with larger sensors will produce better quality images than a 12MP camera with smaller sensors. This is the reason why DSLRs of the same number of megapixels will produce much better colour composed images than a smart phone with the same number of megapixels due to much larger sized camera sensors in DLSR compared to the smart phone camera sensor size.

Digital cameras today majorly use two main types of sensors;

For more info visit our Camera Buying guide

How to choose the right type of chimney is just as important a question as having one. Depending upon your kitchen area and installation you can find the chimney most ideal for your needs. Types of kitchen chimneys can be sub categorised depending upon ducting and non-ducting features, design, and installation mounting.

Duct/Ductless feature

Design

Chimney designs can come in either of the 2 variants; Hood or Straight-line chimneys.

Mount

Depending upon the installation process, there are three different house chimney types, classified as;

With the growing dependence on Smartphones, the addiction to smartphones has become a real thing. The scariest part about this smartphone addiction is that you don't know about your addiction till you think hard about it and try not to use your phone.

This addiction affects your day to day activities on a large scale both physically as well as mentally. This could be because just like other drugs, smartphones also give an escape from reality. Studies have found that humans are attracted to things that give them a sense of distraction.

In earlier times, smartphones were used as a tool for communication, however, with time it is used for many other things. We don't just use our smartphones, we rely on them, and this has become a major concern.

Our brains on smartphones produce the same chemical ‘Dopamine’, the feel-good chemical, which gives us an instant high. Similarly, having access to a constant flow of information has all but destroyed attention spans.

The impacts of smartphone addiction don't stop there but goes beyond; our overuse of technology has completely transformed how we communicate and interact with other people. Instead of getting real face time with the people in our lives, we often hide behind a screen.

While technology can be a useful tool for keeping us connected, we have to be careful with when and how we use it. Follow these 5 easy steps to cut down on your screen time;

1.Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning

2.Stay away from blue light or any digital screen at least a hour before you go to bed

3.Open your curtains before bed and rely on natural light instead for digital alarms to wake up.

4.Use blue light filters on your screens

5.Install a Screen-Time Check app to monitor the time spent on screen on different apps.

Have you noticed the star ratings on the body of your appliances? Which a higher rated and higher costing AC should be preferred? Read to know more.

Be it reheating your last night’s leftovers, hurrying up on popcorn during movie intervals, or auto cooking ‘gaajar ka halwa’ for immediate guests, microwave ovens have truly given us some amazing hacks to work the kitchen. But a lot of speculation goes around if food cooked in microwave ovens is safe for our consumption? To understand this, we must study how these wonder devices work in the first place.

With the digital revolution of the 21st century on the boom, technology seems to get ‘outdated’ very quickly. Competitive market and ever growing demand has only resulted in devices cramping in more specifications and ‘higher’ specifications into simple old technologies and concepts. A twin cooler is better than single. A 6” screen is better than 4.5”. These are some of the many preconceived notions being encashed by brands and manufacturer companies in the various technical fields alike.

The megapixel hype is one of the best examples of this misunderstood trend by the latest camera smart phones and digital SLRs launching being launched in the market every month. The popular opinion suggests “the more the better,” like how the 8MP standard flagship models replaced 5MP and so on, just because “it sounds better.” But when we come to photography, especially, we need to understand why megapixels are not important. Yes, megapixels do affect the quality of photographs in the sense that the more data captured by the more number of megapixels will enable you to stretch-out the final image without becoming grainy, i.e. not compromising on you image quality, but are definitely not the sole determining factor. Camera lens, better electronics, shutter speed and image sensor quality are probably much more important in this respect.

It is not the megapixels but light sensors which result in higher resolution images. These light sensors are like digital ‘films’ which capture the image. The more light that falls on the sensors, the clearer the image is produced, with more details. This is the reason why 20MP cramped in a smart phone camera will not produce as quality images as a 20MP DLR, which has larger sensors than the ones present in the smart phone to collect the image reflection. Hence an 8MP camera with better sensors may give you sharper results than a 12MP camera.

There are also a number of disadvantages of using more megapixels unnecessarily;

So, are megapixels important? Yes, of course they are. Having an image taken from, say a 42 MP camera, even if you end up cropping a large one-third portion from the picture, your resultant image still has well over 20-25MP of data with great picture resolution. More megapixels will indeed give you the added flexibility to experiment with you captures even after the final shot without compromising on the picture quality. But experienced photographers who understand how to use megapixels efficiently may find a camera of 20 megapixels more than sufficient. It all depends upon how you photograph personally, and what use you are looking to make out of the megapixels. But do more megapixels mean better photo quality? No. The sensors’ quality, lighting, optics and speed will ensure a better picture quality than pixel count.

The market for top water purifiers in India is as vast as it could be. From the metro cities to remote villages, the one need that unites all is the need for clean water for consumption. With a massive population of 1.3 billion Indians, supply of potable water, i.e. clean drinking water, is scarce. Also with a diverse geography, from deserts to seas, the quality of water received by households varies majorly. So when we see advertisements and meet sale representatives, how do we judge for ourselves what water purifier we need for our Indian homes? To make an informed choice, past the gimmicky features endorsed, it is primarily essential to study the water which needs to be filtered.

Water supplied from the municipal corporations is usually filtered out of major dissolved metals and impurities like fluoride, arsenic and lead. To take care of the pathogens dissolved, which may lead to water borne diseases, one can opt for UV filters in their water purifiers. They cannot filter out the dissolved salts from the water, but can disable the DNA of the pathogens, only killing them without removing their dead bodies from the water. This is the most efficient and natural filtration process, which eliminates no water, and doesn’t use any chemicals during the process as well.

UF water filters employ membranes to filter out water. Even though just like the UV water filters they are unable to remove the Total Dissolves Salts, i.e. TDS from the water, they can eliminate the dead bodies of the microorganisms successfully. UF filtration process doesn’t run on electricity, which RO and UV water purifier require operating. Hence for areas which face shortage of electricity, if we have access to clean water supply from municipal corporations, filters running simply on UF technology can be the most appropriate choice for water filters in such homes.

In areas along the coast where hard water runs in the supply lines, Infrared filters can come to the rescue, which use heat and light to separate negatively charged water ions, giving them a softer feel. Other forms of Ion Exchange filters similarly ionize the water molecules via the process of electrolysis. Such filtered water is lower in acidity and softer in taste, as the alkaline water is separated from the acidic.

If your home relies on bore wells, or faces shortage of clean water supply, RO filters can be a good choice for water filtration system, which can remove TDS and other harmful pathogens, unlike the UV and UF filters. RO filters use semi-permeable membranes to filter the water and obtain the desired results, but in the process can reject up to three quarters of the water-input, even if clean water supply is maintained. Such amounts of water wastage cannot be afforded by homes troubled by shortage of water. In such cases, if homes are assured of clean filtered water from municipal corporations, one can opt for UV and UF filters, or else Distillation water filters. These water purifiers use heat to evaporate the impure water, and collect the condensed water vapor, filtered out of all impurities.

Informed choice and decision making can gift your family the health they deserve visit our water filter buying guide!

Our bodies are primarily constituted of water; varying between 60-70 percent in men, women, and children. Water forms the base of human life and existence, and therefore it is essential to keep ourselves hydrated with good quality water intake. Just like how healthy machinery requires continuous maintenance and oiling, human body too is a marvelous piece of machinery in which water ensures the smooth functioning of bodily activities.There are many health benefits of drinking good quality water;

Throughout the day as we perspire, urinate and breathe, our bodies lose out their water quantity.. It is held that every individual must have an estimate of 6-8 glasses of water each day. But one may understand that one size never fits all. The recommended intake for women is between 2-2.5 liters of water a day and 2.5-3 liters for men. It is also important to not overdo ones’ consumption, since excess water intake will lead to excessive urination and consequently salt loss from body. The best way to keep your intake under check is to follow your thirst. Human bodies are intelligent and automated machines, and your thirst is usually always the best indicator of your required water consumption.

There are two cooling technologies used in refrigerator models available in market. Both of them have their own advantageous and disadvantages over the other. In this comparative refrigerator buying guide blog we will try to decode them in the simplest manner.

Direct-cool

It is the simplest mechanism available for cooling inside refrigerators. The cool conditioned air is dispensed out from the vents without any fans. The air is circulated inside using naturally convection. This causes unequal cooling and freezes the water content in the food items, or builds up frost on the walls of the refrigerator from the moisture levels inside at particular uncirculated spaces inside the refrigerator.

This simpler mechanism definitely costs cheaper too but poses a lot of inconvenience for the users. Not only the refrigerator becomes difficult to clean, the food quality is also compromised. You would have to manually defrost and thaw the foods to get rid of the frost build up and this would affect the food texture heavily.

Frost-free

As the name suggests, this mechanism was introduced to combat this frost build-up problem of the direct cool technology. Frost free refrigerators use cooling fans to circulate the air inside the closed volume, providing even and efficient cooling. You avoid messy frost build up inside the refrigerator volume, save yourself from the manual defrosting processes and enjoy the freshness of evenly refrigerator food.

The world of Air Conditioning buying guide technology is advancing by the hour. With the latest and more attractive features being endorsed by competitive brands, they sure have caught our eye by compare ac online

If you are looking to best ac for home or want to keep abreast with the latest development in the AC technology world, here are the top 8 new technologies in air conditioners;

1. Digital Inverter Compressor

Digital inverter technology is one of the most important innovations of AC technology. To provide better efficiency, the leading brands have started using the dual inverter technology. It gives an increased operating frequency range which enables to increase the efficiency of cooling inside the rooms.

The inverters come with advanced BLDC motors (Brush-Less Direct-Current motors) which help to maintain the desired temperature with minimal power fluctuations. Other concepts help the inverter to optimize its peak performance even in the extreme temperatures, helping in achieving the perfect cooling for the room and maximize energy saving.

2. Sensor network for smart cooling

This feature comes with different names like ‘follow me’, ‘iSee” technology, ‘Smart Human sensor’ etc. It detects the number of people inside the room as well as recognizes human absence to optimally cool the room.

Another feature allows the sensor to be placed inside the remote that controls the cooling in accordance to the information received from the remote sensor.

3. Pollution Control

Since the pollution levels have tremendously increased, the manufacturers recognize the importance of air filtration for a healthy lifestyle of the consumer. The PM 2.5 and VOCs are two major hazardous elements which affect the health of the consumer.

The best ac for home unit creates a bio climate inside the room which prevents the ions of hydrogen and oxygen to mix up with harmful bacteria and other airborne agents. Also available are some models of air conditioner with air purifying filters. In an aim to give out non polluted air, some ACs also use multiple stages of filtration through which the cooled air is passed, doubling as air purifiers.

4. Humidity Control

During the rainy season conventional air conditioners not only consume more energy but also make the room uncomfortably cold which leads to health ailments like common cold, severe headache etc.

The AC manufacturers have found out a way from the above mentioned problems with features like Dehumidification, Auto Humid Control or dry mode, which make sure that the air conditioner detects the high humidity outside the room; thus enabling them to deliver dry clean and fresh air without any stickiness even in the most humid regions.

5. Auto Clean

Filters are an important component of the ACs and if ignored, it could drastically reduce the cooling capacity. But the manufacturers have designed a solution for this pestering problem. With features like iClean or Blowclean mode the manufacturers have dedicated a dust box which collects the dust particles swept by the brush or blown by the blower.

The cleaning barely takes 5 to 7 minutes to complete and once it is completed, the brush or the blower comes back to its original position providing the user a hassle free cooling experience.

6. Controlling AC via Wi-Fi and smartphones

Many AC manufacturers have developed apps to control the AC using a smartphone. These apps come with features like Wi-Fi Connect technology and Wi-Fi Direct functionality. Connect the AC with the Wi-Fi router and you can easily control the AC from anywhere, including from outside the home.

This can be particularly useful if you wish to have a cooled room ready for you when you are back home after a long workday. Some apps would also give the estimated power usage of the AC and other details, differing in models from brand to brand.

7. 4D Airflow

There was a time of conventional ACs with 2-way cooling system. The AC manufacturers introduced functions like the 4D swing function and the Coanda airflow.

These features enable the cool air to blow in multiple directions in the room to ensure thorough cooling, also spreading the air flow in a way that it does not directly hit the people in the room with the help of a bigger fan. As a result, every corner in the room is nearly as cool as the area in front of the AC blade.

8. Fast Cooling technology

With a lot of buzz around the ‘fast technology’, manufacturers have adopted various methods and techniques to cool the room as quickly as possible. The features vary from different brands and come with the names such as Hcool, PowerChill and 3D cool extreme.

Visit our air conditioner buying guide

This technology helps bring down the room temperature to a comfortably cool level in a matter of minutes without compromising on the energy saving aspect.

Chimneys are kitchen essentials, aiming to keep your cooking area free from harmful smoke, heat and odour. To fulfil this purpose, kitchen chimney filters play a primary role at every stage of air handing and cleaning. They collect the grease and dirt suspended in the air while cooking, keeping you and your kitchen safe and clean. Having well maintained and clean chimney filters also improves the efficiency of your chimneys. It is wise to go for filters appropriate to your cooking needs, which are broadly classified into three kitchen chimney filter types, depending on the structure, material and filtering process.

Action cameras are small lightweight cameras with standard features like record, pause and stop, but shoot incredibly wide angles of high-quality images in almost any environment. The biggest advantage they offer is their portability factor. They can be small enough to fit into the palm of your hands but are built to withstand very rough use. Action cameras are fun gadgets to have for sports junkies for recording their adventures in skiing, diving, surfing and gliding, by mounting these cameras onto their gears, or be very well mounted on standard tripods or monopods without the need of carrying them around.

If you are considering buying an action camera but are not sure “What makes a good action camera?” in the first place, here we have listed the top 9 must-have features for any action camera you must consider before buying one.

1. Design and Shape

The advent of technology has established that the smaller and lighter a gadget is, the more mobility and stability if offers. Action Cameras take this into consideration and are usually popular for their three unique shapes as Cube, Bullet and Box, where each one of them is more convenient for certain applications than others.

2. Water Proof

The action cameras are always made to withstand tough weather and conditions. Either you can buy one with waterproof exterior case for safe housing during outdoor activities, or go for special action cameras built for underwater use which can also withstand extreme pressure metres below sea level.

3. Resolution

The image and video quality is the top feature to consider in any camera, and action cameras must be able to provide sharp and crisp shots. 720p resolution cameras have now been replaced by 1080p for good reasons. 4K models have started hitting market shelves, but might be expensive and unnecessary purchases if you don’t own any 4K screen to view the videos.

4. Image Stabilisation

This is a very important factor to consider since adventure videos can very easily be jerky and lead to haze in video print. There are two types of stabilization offered, where Optical Image Stabilisation is more efficient than the Electronic, but it comes with a higher cost.

5. Frame Rate

The more number of frames that are captured per second, the smoother and seamless video will it produces. But very high frame rate will also use a lot of memory and be more taxing on the hardware, consequently won’t be available in higher resolution cameras. Hence a 60-120 fps camera with 1080p resolution will be a better choice compared to 240fps with 720p.

6. Field of View

It is measured in terms of angles it can cover of a given scene. Every action camera has a fixed focal length with wide-angle lens. Some action cameras will allow you to choose between wide, medium, and narrow frames. Very wide angle can also lead to Fisheye-Effect. For those who don’t prefer this aberration, “Remove Fisheye” setting is also available in some models.

7. Connectivity

Either wireless or wired connectivity options may be available for easy transfer of recorded data from the camera to a Smartphone, PC, TV or the web. This is especially very handy if the camera doesn’t have a screen for instant playbacks.

8. GPS

Having Global Positioning System in-built in your action camera will automatically geo-tag all your images and videos taken, making it easier to locate in online maps for personal records or social-media posts.

9. Memory

More than good storage capability of pictures with respect to the high resolution of your camera, memory cards can also affect the quality of images it is storing. If your memory card is slower than the fps of the camera device, your card will not be fast enough to write the data, leading to dropping of frames and resulting in jerky footage.

10. Battery

Cold temperatures, wireless connectivity, and high resolution camera shoot can drain camera batteries. It is advisable to have enough battery life to sustain a few hours of continuous use, or carry spare batteries, just in case.

11. Mounting system

Action cameras are designed to be mounted on different surfaces like vests, surf boards, bike handles and helmets. Good action cameras might have universal mounting systems and need not be attached to additional accessories. Else, you can purchase appropriate accessories for mounting on the camera on specific surfaces if they are not included in the standard mounts as sold with camera kit.

12. Accessories

It is very important for action cameras to have the essential accessories and mounts which will not only help you attach your camera onto different surfaces like helmets, vest, surfing boards and bikes, but also provide enough support to avoid jerky videos.

We all know how microwave ovens have helped shorten the time we needed earlier for cooking. But microwave ovens not only help in easy reheating and defrosting of foods apart from their cooking aim, but there are also a number of ways in which these versatile cooking devices can be used.

1. Help juice more pulp

Not just your proteins, but you can thaw your fruits too. Just put your citrus fruits or other items in a small water bath and heat twice for 10 seconds to thaw evenly and squeeze out more juice.

2. Decrystallizing

If your oil or honey has crystallized or frozen due to cold, you can microwave it for 30-40 seconds in intervals to obtain a smooth consistency. This is probably the best use of microwave ovens, especially when you use it to dilute the consistency of oil, honey, and cream for beauty routines. They make the product warmer and more comforting, and also easier to apply and be absorbed by the skin.

3. Prepare a heat pad

You can collect some grains in a small sock, like rice, knot it tight and heat it for a minute. It can help with targeted body aches and cramps. You can also prepare a wet pad by soaking hand towel in a water mug and microwaving for 2 minutes. Wet towel heating is highly recommended for cervical pains, and you can simply prepare with this common use of microwave oven.

4. Prepare garnish from herbs

You can take fresh herbs and chop them in tiny pieces, put them in a bowl and heat for 30 seconds. These homemade herbs can be saved for later and added to food as per taste.

5. Squeeze out the dried beauty product.

If your gel-based liners and mascaras have dried out, simply heat them in the microwave for 20 seconds and get the smooth finish just like the first apply.

6. Toast your items

If you are having problem picking out garlic cloves due to moisture, you can roast in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. This will dry the moisture and you can easily pluck out the cloves. This also works with nuts like pistachios, which when heated will crack, and become easier to obtain the nut.

7. Disinfect your accessories

This is a lesser known and uncommon use of your microwave ovens. You can soak in your sponge, brush and even small toy in water with lemon juice or vinegar to disinfect them. You may even add some of it to the used side of your chopping board and heat it for 1 minute.

These top 7 surprising microwave hacks can surely simply your life in unknown ways. Try them now!

Dedicated cameras for photography are complex devices which come with a host of camera features and controls. To throw some light on how the components of a camera affect your shot and frame in their own way, here are some of the features you should look out for on your next camera purchase.

Manual mode – enables you to do more and master the craft with greater. Advanced to professional photographers who have a vivid understanding and experience with these features can play around with settings in accordance to their desired shot. It also comes in handy if beginners want to experiment and learn how each change in setting is affecting their photography.

Auto scenes – for beginners who still are not confident enough to manually control each setting, auto scenes, autofocus and its associated features are the perfect shooting modes to take off from.

Megapixel – high megapixels give you better resolution and cropping margins for your photographs. This is very handy for social media uploads, prints and post-shoot edits, but need not affect the picture quality, per se. Check out “Camera Megapixels” for further details.

Shutter speed – this determines how long the camera sensor is exposed to light. Fast speeds freeze the frames and are essential for action shots, whereas low speeds will allow more light into the sensors and will help in low-light and night photography.

Aperture – the wider the aperture, the more light can pass though the lenses into the camera body. Having a wide aperture in the body will allow you to use lenses with larger range of aperture. It greatly influences the depth of field and low light performance as well.

ISO – it measures the sensitivity of image senor. Large apertures make the camera heavy, and longer shutter speeds might not be favourable, especially if the camera is not mounted on a tripod. In such cases having a larger ISO number will make your camera more sensitive to light.

Auto focus – It is an intelligent feature widely popular in modern cameras, which auto-adjusts the camera to focus the subject. The sensor controls direct the electronic motor systems to zoom-in and out the auto-detected object, to help produce the sharpest possible image at the sensed focal length. Simple point-and-shoot cameras come with a variety of automated features, including auto-focus, whereas DSLRs and MILCs may or may not have this feature, again with the added flexibility of disabling it.

Size and weight – any type of camera, be it compact or one with interchangeable lens has to be of the size and weight you find ideal and comfortable for practical use. Compact point-and-shoot cameras are easy to carry for casual photography. DSLRs and MILCs can be heavy due to body size or the type of lenses you have mounted on it. In those cases you have to consider if the weight f camera is manageable and you can get used to it, and also if you need tripods or extra padded neckbands while shooting with them.

Touch screen – it can just be an additional high-end feature to have. Completely depends upon individual users if they find it easier to browse through menu functions on a touch screen or physical buttons.

RAW shooting – JPEG is the standard format for images but higher models may let you shoot in RAW formats. They don’t typically affect the image as seen on screen but carry up to 4 times the image data as high quality JPEG, and helps in post-shoot edits and photo shops.

Image stabilisation – it helps avoid haze and jerky photos, especially helpful with super zoom lenses which have heavy and will also exaggerate the aberration in images. This feature is available in camera bodies as well as lenses. But certain camera bodies like that of Nikon mostly do not have it. In those cases, go with lens attachments which offer this feature.

Image stabilisation – it helps avoid haze and jerky photos, especially helpful with super zoom lenses which have heavy and will also exaggerate the aberration in images. This feature is available in camera bodies as well as lenses. But certain camera bodies like that of Nikon mostly do not have it. In those cases, go with lens attachments which offer this feature.

• One important factor to keep in mind is the frames per second (fps) of the video camera. 24-30fps is the standard mark, and 60-120fps will help you capture high quality videos of objects in motion too without dropping frames from the motion picture, hence avoiding jerky videos. But it’s advisable to purchase a camera with suitable fps rate, since very high fps uses a lot of storage data and hence is not available in high resolution camera models.
• Similarly very high resolution like 4K video camera won’t offer such high fps. 4K cameras are comparatively expensive and must only be bought if you have a 4K screen to view those videos.
• Other features like time lapse, slow-motion (offered in cameras with high fps), focusing and zooming-in and out of object while shooting are offered by different brands series and models.

Check if the mike can collect the sound from the distances the camera can shoot decently.

Frames per second (fps) – the resolution and picture quality will go to waste if you don’t have a decent frame rate while taking photos. It determines how many frames of images it captures per second, where 24-30 is the normal fps range, and 60 fps will give you great videos of sports. Having good fps will avoid frames from dropping which can lead to jerky videos, hence giving seamless videos.

Zoom – most cameras come with a standard do-it-all-zoom range. The larger the in-built zoom provided, the costlier and heavier it will be. For ultra wide or close-up shots you can use dedicated wide-angle or telephoto lenses respectively if you need to capture footage beyond the standard range.

Viewfinder – DSLRs have mirrors which can reflect images from the lens to the optical viewfinders. They give the most accurate and unadulterated frame-view of the image to be shot. On the other hand Mirrorless cameras are ‘mirror less’ in the sense that they don’t have this feature and hence use an electronic viewfinder of LCD screen to frame the images, which again come with a host of benefits of its own. Also, refer to “Viewfinder vs. LCD screen” to gain further clarity.

Connectivity – wired and wireless, especially Wi-Fi is becoming very common in cameras, credited to the generation of social media and the need to make sharing of posts as easy, and in lesser steps, as possible.

GPS – it can be good feature to have for geo-tagging in social media post, or self records.

Weather-shield – weather proof and dust proof cameras will help you shoot outdoors without worrying about rain and dust clogging your device system. Water proof cameras are specially built to shoot completely submerged into water, and withstand the pressure of water under surface.

These were some of the important features of a good camera that you must look for when buying a new camera.

Not just the content of food, but its cooking method also determines a lot about the quality of nutrition in your diet. Grilling is not just a fun activity; a part of the occasional Sunday brunch. It can also be very beneficial for your food and help you develop a healthy lifestyle.

Why is grilling food a healthier option? Here is a list of advantages of grilling food over other methods of cooking.

Top productivity apps to get the most out of your smartphones

Smartphones are probably the most useful devices of our time and naturally have become an inevitable aspect of our daily routines. They have changed the way we work and have made our life easier.

Smartphone apps can help you make the most out of your device in way you probably hadn’t thought of. Here is our selection of the top 7 apps which are a must-have on latest smartphones.

What’s the purpose and benefits of an air purifier?

When you pay the price for a dedicated clothes drying machine, don’t be surprised by the versatile functions this machine can and will offer you. Understanding dryer settings and functions can be perplexing for new users. This Buyers Guide for Clothes Dryers aims to brief you about the most common Dryer Cycles, Settings, and Features you are likely to come across in your new purchase.

One of the most annoying and common issues with smartphones is limited and sometimes short battery life. With our growing dependence on Smartphones, heavy battery discharge is a common issue.

Smartphones use lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. In such battery, lithium metal and lithium ions move in and out of individual electrodes, causing them to physically expand and contract. However, such processes are not completely reversible and the batteries lose their charge capacity and voltage as the number of charges and discharge cycles grows.

Our mobile battery life depends on two factors:

• How we used it on the particular day.
• How we used it in the past.

If you too experience certain battery life issues in smartphones, then checkout these 7 tips and tricks to extend your battery life.

The introduction of microwave cooking technology has made working the kitchen a cakewalk. If you are a not-so-keen cook who is trying their hand at home cooked food, say for a better lifestyle choice or mere experimental reasons, microwave oven cooking can help you hack the game and even sparkle a new interest in your culinary skills. Using this very technology, there are many recipes you can cook in microwave oven in minutes.

These ovens do come with a choice of auto cook menus which can prepare for you delicious gourmet at the ease of pressing a button. But now if you are trying to up your game a notch, and go past ready-to-eat finger foods and instant cup noodles, go for some home cooking recipe books specially written for microwave cooking. Unlike popular belief, a wide range of cuisines and cooking styles can be pulled off with ease and exceptional taste; from grilling and baking, to continental and even heavy Indian preparations. Also, the food prepared will not consume heavy and gaudy spices, and won’t compromise on the nutrients and texture like other heat-cooking styles. Now that’s a winner deal!

To get you started, here is our selection of 5 top selling microwave cooking recipe guides;

Bring home one now, and start experimenting gourmet!

Proper ventilation and circulation of air is important in any fireplace to keep the surroundings safe from harmful smoke and provide fresh air draft to facilitate the burning flame. In a similar fashion, chimneys are necessary and play an important role in any kitchen, keeping the cooking area free of strong odour, heat and oil reduce. But for the chimney to be efficient and be able to perform well, it is vital to select the appliance appropriate to your needs.

A. Kitchen chimney size guide

The kitchen chimney must be placed directly above the gas stove to cover the complete area which will expel heat, so that the chimney can take in the hot air rising above and collect the oil and smoke effectively. For these purposes, it is essential to buy a chimney at least the size of the gas stove, or larger, but definitely not smaller. Standard sizes available are of 60cm and 90cm, suitable for 2 to 4 and 3 to 5 burner stoves respectively. To leave room for a gas stove upgrade, you can buy a chimney larger in width than your existing stove.

B. Calculate kitchen chimney suction power/capacity

Ultimately the power and effectiveness of the chimney will be determined by the suction power. The thumb rule for a chimney suction power calculator is to multiply the volume of your kitchen into 10, meaning that the appliance must be able to process 10 times the volume of the kitchen area in an hour. So if your kitchen volume is 40m3, then you at least need 400m3/hr of suction power.

C. Selecting which type of Kitchen Chimney to go for

As you will find yourself scrolling through catalogues from different brands and manufacturers, you will notice how these simple and common kitchen appliances have complex classifications and designs to suit every purpose. There are many ways you can classify your kitchen chimney, based on properties like;

D. Installation of kitchen chimney

There are other variables which must be kept in mind which can affect the effectiveness of your kitchen chimney;

• More number of bends, longer length and smaller kitchen chimney outlet pipe size will provide hindrance in throwing the smoke out of the kitchen. It’s always advisable to have broader straight pipes installed close to the vent so that maximum smoke is eliminated with having to travel long distance.
• Non vegetarian food and strong flavourful cuisines like barbeque and Indian food use a lot of oil, heat and spices and produce more odour and smoke. Considering these, a chimney installed in kitchen cooking vegan continental food would require much less suction power than, say a Bengali non-vegetarian kitchen cooking fish in mustard.

While buying a new refrigerator or upgrading from an older one, there are a few things you must keep in mind even before you start browsing your catalogues.

Deciding the correct size of refrigerator is probably the most important decision you’d need to make since all refrigerators more or less serve the same purpose indeed. This decision of yours would be influenced by three major factors.

1. Family size

Can’t stress this enough but refrigerators are long term investments made for at least 10 years kept in mind. If you have a large family or see it gets larger in the years to come, or say the use the appliance getting more in the future where you cook for more than one meal at a time etc., go for a larger appliance.

You may also want to check out the volume distribution of the refrigerator for different storage compartments like vegetable crisper drawers and freezers; they too influence the size of refrigerator you need.

If your have a tendency to store many food items that need deep freezer storage, or you deep freeze few seasonal items for long periods (like mango pulp for example), you can include this while deciding overall refrigerator capacity. In some cases, buyers may even consider a separate deep freezer itself if they have the space and budgets for the same in their cooking areas.

General guide given to new refrigerator buyers;

2. Space considerations

If you are replacing an already existing refrigerator in the same installation spot, go for an upgrade only vertically. In case you want a higher capacity fridge than your older one, make sure the width of the new fridge isn’t more, just taller in height.

For a newly modeled kitchen or new space for a refrigerator, measure the volume of the available space. Refrigerators advertise internal volume is cubic feet and liters, but the internal capacity is a lot smaller than the actual space volume it occupies.

Leave good margins of 2 inches on all sides and top of the refrigerator. The heat from the fridge needs to be dispensed out so no matter what, don’t miss this step out. It is also important to measure the doorways of your apartment if the refrigerator can be easily brought into the home and installed without making adjustments in the doorframes and surroundings.

3. Layout

If you are placing your refrigerator in a corner spot, make sure you don’t opt for a model that opens doors in two opposite directions. A top/bottom freezer options or single door variant would be the most ideal for you.

If you are tight on space on either sides of the refrigerator, that is when you go for French doors and side by side refrigerators, since you’ll only have a half width of the refrigerator width to swing open.

Even if you think you’ll be able to accommodate a slightly slimmer single sided door refrigerator, keep in mind that you will be required to open the refrigerator doors more than 90 degrees to be able to swing freely and pull out vegetable boxes and shelves for easy access and cleaning purposes.