Small appliance

Types and examples

Small appliances include those used for :

• Beverage-making, such as electric kettles, coffeemakers or iced tea-makers
• Cleaning, such as vacuum cleaner
• Cooking, such as on a hot plate, microwave oven, or specialty dish cooking appliance, such as rice cookers
• Lighting, using light fixtures
• Thermal comfort, such as an electric heater or fan

Many small appliances perform a combination of the above processes such as mixing, heating by a bread machine

Prices

Small appliances can be very inexpensive, such as an electric can opener, hot pot, toaster, or coffee maker which may cost only a few U.S. dollars, or very expensive, such as an elaborate espresso maker, which may cost several thousand U.S. dollars. Most homes in developed economies contain several cheaper home appliances, with perhaps a few more expensive appliances, such as a high-end microwave oven or mixer. A few small appliances like chopper, juicer, grinder and mixer may cost you a few dollars. Instead of buying separate units, a food processor will generally be less expensive. Sometime these kinds of smart appliances saves money as well as space.

Powering

Many small appliances are powered by electricity. The appliance may use a permanently attached cord that is plugged into a wall outlet or a detachable cord. The appliance may have a cord storage feature. A few hand-held appliances use batteries, which may be disposable or rechargeable. Some appliances consist of an electrical motor upon which is mounted various attachments so as to constitute several individual appliances, such as a blender, a food processor, or a juicer. Many stand mixers, while functioning primarily as a mixer, have attachments that can perform additional functions.

A few gasoline and gas-powered appliances exist for use in situations where electricity is not expected to be available, but these are typically larger and not as portable as most small appliances. Items that perform the same function as small appliances but are hand-powered are generally referred to as tools or gadgets, for example a hand cranked egg beater, a grater, a mandoline, or a hand-powered meat grinder.

Safety

Small appliances which are defective or improperly used or maintained may cause house fires and other property damage, or may harbor bacteria if not properly cleaned. It is important that users read the instructions carefully and that appliances that use a grounded cord be attached to a grounded outlet. Because of the risk of fire, some appliances have a short detachable cord that is connected to the appliance magnetically. If the appliance is moved further than the cord length from the wall, the cord will detach from the appliance.

Designations and regulations

Designations and regulations of "small appliances" vary by country and are not simply determined by physical sizes. For instance, United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations mandate that small appliances must meet two standards:

• Completely manufactured, charged, and sealed in a factory
• Contains five pounds or less of refrigerant

The designations and regulations of "small appliances" are very important in order to assure the safety of the public. Here are some rules and regulations for small appliances:

• Altering the design of certified recovered small appliances in a way that would affect the equipment's ability to meet the certification standards is strictly prohibited
• The equipment must meet the minimum requirements for certification

Industry

There are a variety of categories of small appliances and various companies specialize in certain categories.

Some categories are dominated by only a few companies, especially white-label manufacturers such as Midea Group; for example, in 2021 The New York Times reported that most American microwave ovens are produced by Midea, including ovens sold by major brands such as Toshiba, Whirlpool, and Black+Decker, excluding companies which produce microwaves separately such as Haier under the GE Home Appliances brand and Panasonic which has its own China manufacturing facilities.

Energy efficiency and environmental impact

As the use of small appliances has proliferated, so has their aggregate energy consumption and environmental footprint. Many jurisdictions now require energy labels on appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, and microwaves to inform consumers about typical energy usage.

The European Union, for example, mandates energy labeling and "standby power" limits for many small electrical appliances under its EcoDesign Directive, aiming to reduce the electricity wasted when devices are plugged in but not in use.

U.S. Energy Star certification also covers a growing number of small kitchen and home appliances, encouraging manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.