Appliances
Ice makers, compact dishwashers, mini fridges and the bigger stuff. Sizing advice, honest picks and simple fixes for common problems.
Appliances are some of the most expensive things in a home, and the hardest to return. Before we recommend one, we look at the questions people actually run into: Will it fit? How loud is it? What does upkeep look like after a year? What breaks most often?
We start with smaller appliances that make a real difference in daily life, like countertop ice makers and compact dishwashers for apartments and small kitchens, then work up to bigger purchases. You'll also find troubleshooting guides for common problems, which can save you a service call or a replacement.
Sizes, capacities and noise levels are listed in plain numbers so you can compare without digging through spec sheets.
Best picks and reviews
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Best Garbage Disposals for Septic SystemsCan you have a garbage disposal on a septic tank? Yes, with the right unit and habits. Our picks, including InSinkErator's Septic Guard, and what the EPA says about pumping more often.
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Mini Fridges With a Freezer That Actually FreezesMany mini fridges have a tiny 'freezer' that barely keeps ice frozen. These have separate freezers that hold real freezer temperatures in Taste of Home's testing. Our picks for the best mini fridges with a freezer for bedrooms, dorms and offices.
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Best Nugget Ice Makers for Home (Sonic-Style Ice)Soft, chewable nugget ice at home: our picks from GE Profile Opal, Frigidaire, GoveeLife, Gevi and Igloo, plus which keeps ice frozen longest and what to know before you spend $400.
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Best 30-Inch Under-Cabinet Range HoodsDucted, convertible or ductless: our picks for a 30-inch under-cabinet range hood from Hauslane, Cosmo, Winflo, Kobe and Broan, plus how much CFM you need and when make-up air comes into it.
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Best Apartment-Size Washer and Dryer Sets That Stack in 24 InchesCompact 24-inch washer and dryer sets stack in a closet and often need no vent. Our picks from LG, Bosch, Miele and GE, with reliability data and power needs.
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Battery Backup Sump Pumps Worth Buying Before the Next StormSump pumps fail when you need them most: in a storm, when the power's out. Our picks for the best battery backup sump pumps and combination systems from Wayne, Basement Watchdog and Zoeller.
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Garage-Ready Chest Freezers: The Highest-Rated PicksA regular chest freezer can quit in a cold garage. The best garage chest freezers below are rated to run from 0°F to 110°F, from a 5 cu. ft. convertible to a 20 cu. ft. giant.
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Compact Dishwashers for Small Kitchens: 5 Top Picks for 2026Our picks for the best countertop and portable dishwashers for apartments and small kitchens, including models that need no faucet hookup at all.
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Countertop Ice Makers: Best Bullet, Nugget and Clear Ice PicksOur picks for the best countertop ice makers, from a $90 bullet ice machine that works for most homes to the best nugget and clear-ice makers.
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Countertop Ovens Big Enough for Bread and 9x13 PansMost toaster ovens can't fit a 9x13 pan or a Dutch oven. These countertop ovens can. Our picks for the best countertop ovens for baking bread, casseroles and cookies when you're short on oven space.
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Electric Tankless Water Heaters Worth Buying in 2026Our picks for the best electric tankless water heaters for whole homes, small homes and single sinks, plus the electrical service you'll need before you buy.
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Garage Refrigerators Built for Hot and Cold ClimatesGarage-ready fridges are built for heat and cold that would stop a kitchen fridge. Our picks for the best garage refrigerators, what the 38°F to 110°F rating means, and what to do in a freezing garage.
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Home Backup Generators: Top Portable and Inverter PicksOur picks for the best home backup generators for keeping the fridge, lights and furnace running in an outage, from quiet inverters to 9,500-watt dual-fuel portables, plus how to size one safely.
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Instant Hot Water Dispensers Worth Buying (Under Sink and Countertop)Near-boiling water on tap for tea, oatmeal and pasta. Our picks for the best under-sink instant hot water dispensers, plus a countertop option with no plumbing.
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Portable Induction Cooktops Worth Buying, Including for Large PansA portable induction burner boils water faster than most stoves and plugs into a regular outlet. Our picks for the best portable induction cooktops from Duxtop, Breville and more, and what to know about big pans.
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Which Portable Power Station Can Run a Refrigerator? 5 Best PicksHow big a power station you need to keep a fridge running in an outage, with our picks from EcoFlow, Anker, Jackery, Bluetti and Generac and a simple sizing guide.
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Best Portable Washing Machines for ApartmentsNo laundry hookups? A portable washer that hooks to your sink can save trips to the laundromat. Our picks, the types explained, and what to check with your landlord.
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Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems: Top Picks for 2026Our picks for the best under-sink reverse osmosis systems, with the certifications, flow rates and waste ratios that matter, and a tankless option for small cabinets.
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Best Tankless Water Heaters for an RV or Camper (2026)Our picks for the best RV tankless water heaters, from premium Truma and Girard units that replace your tank heater to budget and portable options.
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Toaster Oven Air Fryer Combos: The Top 4One appliance that toasts, bakes and air fries. Our picks for the best toaster oven air fryer combos from Breville, Cuisinart and Ninja, from a big oven that fits a 9x13 pan to a budget toaster oven.
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Upright Freezers for a Garage: Frost-Free Picks Worth BuyingGarage-ready upright freezers rated from 0°F to 110°F, most of them frost-free. Our picks for the best garage freezers from GE, Frigidaire and Gladiator, plus frost-free vs manual defrost.
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Ventless Washer Dryer Combos: Best Picks With No Dryer VentAll-in-one washer dryers wash and dry in one drum with no vent. Our picks from GE Profile, Samsung, LG and a compact 24-inch GE, plus how long drying really takes.
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Water Filter Pitchers for Well Water (and What They Can't Do)A pitcher can improve the taste of well water and cut some contaminants, but it can't make unsafe well water safe. Our picks for the best water filter pitchers for well water, plus what to check first.
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Best Water Softeners for Well Water (2026)Well water is often hard and can carry iron. Our picks for the best water softeners for well water, how to size one, and when you need an iron filter too.
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Whole House Water Filters for City and Well Water: Top Picks for 2026City water and well water need different whole house filters. Our picks for the best whole house filters for each, what they remove, how fast they flow and what upkeep really costs.
Guides and how-tos
How-to
Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Spinning? Here's the FixA humming disposal is almost always jammed. Here's how to free it safely with a hex wrench, reset it, and know when the motor is done and it's time for a new one.
Buying guide
Mini Fridge Sizes Explained (Cubic Feet to Cans)What actually fits in a 1.7, 3.1 or 4.5 cubic foot mini fridge, typical dimensions for each size, and how to pick the right one for a dorm, bedroom or office.
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Nugget Ice vs Bullet Ice: Which Countertop Ice Maker to BuyNugget ice is soft and chewable. Bullet ice is quick, cheap and hollow. Here's how the two kinds of countertop ice makers differ in price, speed, melting and upkeep.
Buying guide
How Many CFM Does Your Range Hood Need?A simple way to size a range hood for a gas, electric or induction stove, why duct length matters, and the 400 CFM make-up air rule that catches a lot of people off guard.
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Chest Freezer vs Upright Freezer: Which Is Better?Chest freezers hold more, cost less and use less energy. Upright freezers are easier to organize and often frost-free. Here's how to choose for your home.
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Countertop Ice Maker vs Fridge Ice Maker: Which Do You Need?A countertop ice maker makes ice fast but doesn't keep it frozen. A fridge ice maker is slow but always stocked. Here's how they compare and who should buy which.
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Countertop vs Portable Dishwasher: Which Fits Your Kitchen?No room or plumbing for a built-in dishwasher? Here's how countertop and portable dishwashers compare on size, capacity, hookup and price, and who should get which.
Buying guide
What 'Garage Ready' Means for a Fridge or FreezerGarage ready means a fridge or freezer is built and tested for garage heat and cold. Here's what the ratings mean, why regular models fail in garages, and what to buy.
Buying guide
How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use? (And What Can Run It)Most modern fridges use about 100 to 250 watts while running and 1 to 2 kWh a day, with a startup surge several times higher. Here's how to find yours and size backup power.
How-to
How to Clean a Countertop Ice Maker (and How Often to Do It)A simple routine to clean and descale a countertop ice maker with vinegar or a cleaner, plus how often to do it so your ice stays fresh and the machine keeps working.
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How to Clean a Dishwasher Filter (Takes 10 Minutes)A dirty filter is the most common reason a dishwasher smells or leaves dishes gritty. Here's where to find it, how to clean it, and how often to do it.
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How to Clean a Front-Load Washer That SmellsThat musty smell comes from mildew and soap residue in the door gasket, drum and drain filter. Here's how to clean each part and keep the smell from coming back.
How-to
How to Hook Up a Portable Dishwasher to a Kitchen FaucetStep-by-step instructions for connecting a portable or countertop dishwasher to your kitchen faucet, which adapter you need, and how to disconnect it safely.
How-to
How to Test a Sump Pump (and How Often)A 10-minute bucket test tells you whether your sump pump and backup will work in the next storm. Here's how to test both, what to listen for, and when to replace.
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How to Test Your Well Water at Home (and When to Use a Lab)What to test for in well water, how home test kits work, how to take a proper sample, and when you need a certified lab instead.
How-to
How to Tell if Your Pans Work on Induction (the Magnet Test)Grab a fridge magnet. If it sticks firmly to the bottom of your pan, it'll work on induction. Here's how to test, which materials work, and what to do if yours don't.
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Induction vs Electric Cooktop: What's the Difference?Induction heats the pan directly and is faster, safer and more responsive. Electric (radiant) cooktops work with any pan and cost less. Here's how to choose.
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Reverse Osmosis vs Water Softener: Which Do You Need?A water softener fixes hard water for the whole house. Reverse osmosis cleans drinking water at one tap. Here's how they differ and when you need both.
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Tankless vs Tank Water Heater: An Honest Cost ComparisonTankless heaters save energy and last longer, but cost more upfront. Here's how the costs really compare, and which type makes sense for your home.
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Washer Dryer Combo vs Stackable Set: Which Is Right for You?An all-in-one combo saves space but takes longer. A stackable pair is faster and can do two loads at once. Here's how they compare on space, time, cost and hookups.
Buying guide
What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need? (With Examples)Size a tankless water heater in two steps: add up your flow and find your temperature rise. Includes simple formulas and examples for 1, 2 and 3 bathroom homes.
How-to
Why Is My Ice Maker Not Making Ice? 9 Fixes to Try FirstMost fridge ice makers stop working for simple reasons: a switch, a filter, a frozen line or a warm freezer. Here's how to find the cause and fix it yourself.