Appliances
Big Chill appliances--so cool!
- Alfresco Grills (Commerce, CA): open-air kitchens, including refrigeration, burners and grills
- Big Chill (Boulder, CO): awesome retro-styled kitchen appliances made from name-brand components (Whirlpool, Amana and others), with stamped steel exterior panels powder coated in your choice of low-VOC paint colors. Vintage-look refrigerators and dishwashers are assembled in Boulder, CO and stoves, hoods, microwaves and wall ovens assembled in Reading, PA by the company that makes Blue Star appliances.
- Thermador (formerly headquartered in Huntington Beach, CA) was acquired in 1998 by the German company, BSH Home Appliances, and continues to manufacture Thermador Professional Series cooktops and ventilation hoods at a facility in La Follette, TN. BSH also built a manufacturing facility in New Bern, NC where dishwashers, cooktops, and washers and dryers are made. Use Dealer Locator.
- CookTek (Carrollton, TX): energy-efficient induction cooktops that use electromagnetic energy to heat metallic cookware, while leaving the glass-ceramic stovetop cool.
- Dacor (City of Industry, CA): a full line of kitchen appliances, including ranges, wall ovens, outdoor grills, "microwave in a drawer", and ... built-in coffee makers that grind the beans, froth the milk, and brew a perfect cup of coffee! All made in USA.
- FiveStar (Cleveland, TN): professional ranges, cooktops, and hoods
- Peerless-Premier Appliance Co. (Belleville, IL): free-standing electric and gas ranges with enamel or stainless steel finish. Available from Home Depot and other home appliance stores.
- Prizer-Painter Stove Works (Reading, PA): makers of BlueStar™ ranges, cooktops, charbroilers, and wall ovens. Restaurant-quality appliances for the home, in 190 color options (!), hand-constructed in their Reading, PA plant. Check the dealer locator for where to buy.
- Sub-Zero Freezer Co. (Madison, WI): Sub-Zero brand built-in and undercounter refrigeration, Wolf gas/electric dual fuel ranges, and much more, manufactured in Fitchburg, WI
- U-Line (Milwaukee, WI): makers of under-counter refrigerators, icemakers, and wine storage appliances. All products assembled in Milwaukee using domestic and foreign parts.
- Viking Range Corp. (Greenwood, MS): manufacturing premium, restaurant-grade kitchen appliances for the home, including ranges, cooktops, ovens, refrigerators, and outdoor gas grills. Click on "Where to Buy" to find a dealer.
- Kenmore-brand appliances: at least some models are made in USA. Available from Sears and KMart. (Sears is a retailer, not a manufacturer, so Kenmore washers and dryers are manufactured by many different companies, including Amana, Frigidaire, GE, Jenn-Air, LG, and Whirlpool. Enquire about the origin of the model you are interested in.)
- Staber Washing Machines (Groveport, OH): energy efficient top loading tumble action washers, for residential or commercial use. These unique washers have a six-sided inner tub that rotates inside a stationary half of an eight-sided outer tub. The washers use much less water, detergent, and energy than traditional top loading washers. Each load is larger because there is no agitator taking up space. Because of their energy efficiency, these washers also are suited for homes using solar power. The website has informative video and photographs that explain how the washer works.
- Speed Queen (Ripon, WI): best known for coin-operated laundry equipment, Speed Queen has brought its reputation for quality and durability into the home market. All Speed Queen brand laundry equipment is manufactured in Ripon, Wisconsin by Alliance Laundry Systems. Check the site's dealer locator.
- Whirlpool Corp. (Benton Harbor, MI): 9 manufacturing facilities in U.S., including clothes washers (Clyde, OH), dishwashers (Findlay, OH), compact and chest freezers (Ottawa, OH), slide-in and freestanding ranges (Tulsa, OK), refrigerators (Amana, IA), and KitchenAid stand mixers (Greenville, OH). (Whirlpool Military Discount - Get 25% Off Most Products Sitewide ([Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Maytag Corp. (formerly of Newton, IA): On March 31, 2006, this U.S. manufacturer of washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers became a subsidiary of Whirlpool. Whirlpool continues to market Maytag Corp. brandnames, including Maytag, Amana, Magic Chef, and Jenn-Air, but closed the Newton facility.
- Better Living (Holiday Island, AR): makers of Sun Aire™ Ductless Heaters and Sun Aire™ Air Purifiers, all made in USA
- Energy Kinetics (Lebanon, NJ): manufacturer of System2000 home heat/hot water systems, more energy-efficient than traditional gas or electric water heaters and furnaces. Runs with natural gas, oil, or propane, and works with radiant, radiator, baseboard, forced-air systems, and heat pumps.
- Phoenix Manufacturing, Inc. (Phoenix. AZ): whole-house evaporative cooling units. Air is drawn through water-soaked cellulose pads and cooled by evaporation, then circulated through the home. Brands include Frigiking and AeroCool.
- Port-a-Cool (Escondido, CA): portable evaporative cooling units, perfect for home workshops, garages, factories, and storage areas. These units take advantage of "heat of vaporization" (i.e., the cooling of air as water evaporates) and are less expensive to operate than conventional air conditioning.
- SUNHEAT Heaters (Grand Island, NE): infrared space heaters with quartz heating elements in an enclosed metal chamber, all contained within furniture-grade wooden cabinets.
- SunRise Solar Inc. (St. John, IN): American-made solar-powered attic fans, easy to install out of the box. Models for shingle, tile, shake and flat roofs, eligible for Federal tax credit.
- Accumulair (Mobile, AL): pleated panel air filters in many sizes, filter dust and allergens from indoor air. Available from AirFilters.com. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- APEC Water Systems (City of Industry, CA): water purification and water softening conditioning systems, including under-the-sink drinking water systems, whole-house water softening, and shower/bath filters. All made in USA.
- Aprilaire (Madison, WI): whole-house humidifiers and air cleaners, made at facilities in Madison and Poynette, WI and Avondale, AZ.
- Aquasana (Haltom City, TX): manufacturer of water purification systems, including counter top and under-counter drinking water filtration, shower filters, and whole-house filters. All made in USA. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Austin Air Systems (Buffalo, NY): "From the filter, to metal forming, to powdercoating, to final assembly, every Austin Air cleaner is proudly made in the USA." Designed to improve indoor air quality for pet owners, folks with allergies, or anyone wanting to reduce indoor air pollutants.
- Kinetico Water Systems (Suwanee, GA): manufacturer of water filtration systems, including whole-house, under the sink, and counter-top models using nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.
- Oransi (Austin, TX): high performance air purifiers made in USA with all of the key components from the US except for the motor (Germany).
- SpringWell Water Filtration Systems
(South Daytona, FL): whole house water filtration and water softening systems, designed, built, and packaged in the U.S. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- TRACS Manufacturing (Rockledge, FL): portable UV-C air purifiers with HEPA filtration, made in USA with all-steel, welded construction and powder coat finish. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Better Living (Holiday Island, AR): makers of Sun AireTM Ductless Heaters and Sun AireTM Air Purifiers, all made in USA
- (Orem, UT): high-powered blenders that make smoothies, ice cream, bread, fresh juice...apparently just about anything! (I think Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor would love one!). Blendtec blenders are designed and assembled in U.S. with domestic and a small proportion of imported parts. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Bunn (Springfield, IL): the majority of all commercial equipment models, and some of the SpeedBrew home coffee makers, are assembled at facilities in the USA. Check product descriptions.
- Champion Juicer (Lodi, CA): fruit and vegetable juicer that also comes with optional grain mill attachment
- Jiffy Steamer (Union City, TN): travel, home, and professional steamers for removing wrinkles from clothing, draperies, and tableclothes.
- KitchenAid, a brand of Whirlpool Corp.: assembles Stand Mixers and Blenders at its Greenville, OH facility. Coffee grinders made in India and assembled in Greenville. Other products imported. Stand mixers, blenders, and coffee mills available from Macys.
[Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Lasko (West Chester, PA): with additional manufacturing operations in Franklin, TN and Fort Worth, TX, making oscillating and tabletop fans, air circulators and box fans (some box fans made in China, check origin), available from Do It Best
- NESCO/American Harvest (Two Rivers, WI): food dehydrators made in USA with U.S. and foreign parts. (other appliances imported)
- Toaster Central (New York, NY): there may no longer be toasters made in the USA, but here is a guy who refurbishes vintage toasters and waffle makers to make them good as new! What a fun way to add some retro to your kitchen counter.
- Vita-Mix: (Cleveland, OH): originally focused on the commercial blender market, Vita-Mix also makes high-end blenders for household use, designed to juice whole fruits and vegetables, grind grains, mix and knead bread, and even make hot soups using "friction cooking"
- Wahl Home Products (Sterling, IL): shavers, trimmers, and other grooming appliances, for people and pets. Most products assembled in USA from domestic and imported components.
- Sun Oven (Elburn, IL): light-weight portable solar oven consisting of an insulated box with folding aluminum reflectors, a glass window, and carry handle.The Sun Oven can be used year round for baking, boiling and steaming foods. My sister bought one of these and reports that it cooks wonderful bread!
- SunRise Solar Inc. (St. John, IN): American-made solar-powered attic fans, easy to install out of the box. Models for shingle, tile, shake and flat roofs, eligible for Federal tax credit.
- Hoover: In January 2007, Whirlpool sold Hoover to Techtronics Industries (a Hong Kong-based company with factories in Mainland China). Subsequently, the Canton, OH Hoover plant was closed and all machinery auctioned off in November 2007. As of 2019, some Hoover models are assembled in Cookeville, TN by TTI Floor Care, a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries.
- InterVac (Palm City, FL): flush-mounted central vacuums for home, RV, or boat. Featuring a self-contained unit with its own 12 amp motor and dust bag, and 40-foot hose. The convenience of a central vacuum without the need to install piping.
- Kirby (Cleveland, OH): I've had several vintage Kirby vacuums in my life, and they had strong suction, virtually indestructible cast-aluminum bodies, and came with lots of interesting attachments (including, back in the day, a hair clipper attachment for home barbering!). Known for being sold via in-home demonstrations, Kirby home cleaning systems can now also be bought on-line. So much more than a vacuum, these machines also scrub tile, buff wood floors, and shampoo carpets and upholstery. Kirby has manufacturing plants in Ohio, Texas and Tennessee.
- Metro Vac (Oakland, NJ): specialty handheld and floor vacuums, including DataVac for computer keyboards, pet grooming vacuums, as well as car and floor care. Their motto is "Deliberately Made Better in the USA". I love mine because it has great suction and is very portable.
- Oreck (Cookeville, TN): Oreck vacuum cleaners are assembled at the factory in Cookeville using domestic and imported parts. After many years in Long Beach, MS, Oreck moved to Tennessee in 2007, citing skyrocketing insurance rates, a labor shortage and lack of housing after Hurricane Katrina. More recently, the company filed for bankruptcy in May 2013. In July 2013, the Oreck family was outbid by Royal Appliance Mfg., a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based TTI Group that also owns the Dirt Devil and Hoover brands. As of 2019, TTI still operates a manufacturing facility in Cookeville, TN that assembles some Hoover, Royal and Oreck models.
- Rainbow Vacuum Cleaners (Cadillac, MI): vacuum cleaners that use a water filtration reservoir to trap dust, dirt, and allergens. (No comment on the "home demo" sales approach)
- Rug Doctor (Fenton, MO): carpet cleaning machines that combine brushing action, warm soapy water, and a strong vacuum to produce professional results. I borrowed my sister's Rug Doctor when I was moving, and it made my carpets look new. Over the years, I have rented Rug Doctor machines periodically to clean my carpets.The attachments are great for cleaning stairs, rugs, and upholstery too. Made in USA from domestic and imported parts.
- Shop-Vac (Williamsport, PA): upright and portable wet/dry vacuum cleaners for industrial, commercial or home use. Assembled in USA from domestic and imported parts. Available from many home improvement stores.
- Tacony Corp. (Fenton, MO): in 2000, Tacony brought production of Riccar and Simplicity upright vacuums from Taiwan to the U.S. at a new facility in St. James, MO. (Cannister vacuums are imported.) Find a retailer at SimplicityVac.com or Riccar.com
