A small domestic appliance (also known as a small electric appliance or minor appliance or simply a small appliance, small domestic or small electric) is a portable or semi-portable machine, generally used on table-tops, Countertop or other platforms, to accomplish a household task. Examples include , , , , and . They contrast with (known as "white goods" in the UK), such as the and , which cannot be easily moved and are generally placed on the floor. Small appliances also contrast with consumer electronics (British "brown goods") which are for leisure and entertainment rather than purely practical tasks.
Uses
Some small appliances perform the same or similar function as their larger counterparts. For example, a
toaster oven is a small appliance that performs a similar function as an
oven. Small appliances often have a home version and a commercial version, for example
,
, and
are small
Home appliance. A food processor will perform the tasks of chopper, slicer, mixer as well as juicer. Instead of buying multiple small appliances, you can buy a single food processor.
The commercial, or industrial, version is designed to be used nearly continuously in a restaurant or other similar setting. Commercial appliances are typically connected to a more powerful electrical outlet, are larger and stronger, have more user-serviceable parts, and cost significantly more. These commercial versions are capable of performing heavy tasks in one go.
Types and examples
Small appliances include those used for :
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,
kettle,
toaster, or coffee maker which may cost only a few U.S. dollars, or very expensive, such as an elaborate
Espresso machine, which may cost several thousand U.S. dollars. Most homes in developed economies contain several cheaper
, with perhaps a few more expensive appliances, such as a high-end microwave oven or mixer. A small appliances like chopper,
juicer, grinder and mixer may cost you few dollars. Instead of buying separate units the
food processor will be less expensive. Sometime these kind of smart appliances saves money as well as the 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
, while functioning primarily as a mixer, have attachments that can perform additional functions.
A few gasoline and Propane-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
Cleanliness. 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,
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.
See also
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Appliance (disambiguation)
-
Domestic technology
-
List of cooking appliances
-
List of home appliances
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Standby power
-
Yellow goods (retail classification)
