Reliable
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Blog
Most Reliable Central Air Conditioning Systems
Because there are so many variables—including your local climate, your home’s size and design, how the system is installed, and construction of the ductwork—Consumer Reports doesn’t test central air conditioning systems. Instead, we estimate the reliability of major brands on the market by asking our members about their experiences with the AC systems they purchased and had installed. Historically, members…
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Most and Least Reliable Coffee Makers
Based on these survey results, we used a statistical model to give each brand a predicted reliability rating—an estimate of your chances of experiencing problems by the end of the fourth year of ownership. We also give brands an owner satisfaction rating, which is based on the proportion of members who are extremely likely to recommend their coffee maker to…
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Most Reliable Appliance Brands – Consumer Reports
Yet again, Speed Queen sits atop our rankings and is the only brand to achieve a top Overall Score (though it makes appliances for only two product categories, washers and dryers—see chart below). And once again Viking landed at the bottom of our chart, joined this year by another elite brand, Dacor, which also received an unfavorable Overall Score. The…
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Most and Least Reliable Boilers of 2024
Boilers are far less common than gas furnaces, and that’s reflected in the responses to Consumer Reports’ most recent survey on central heating. Our members installed 1,384 new boilers between 2007 and 2023 compared with more than 25,000 gas furnaces. But just like a furnace, when a boiler breaks you want it repaired—or replaced—ASAP. In our most recent survey, almost…
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Most Reliable Heat Pump Brands
Because you’re likely to use your heat pump year-round, you’ll want one from a brand with a reliable track record. That’s why we asked about 10,000 of our members about their experiences with heat pumps installed between 2007 and 2023. Based on our analysis, we determined that, on average, about half of heat pumps are likely to experience problems by…
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Most and Least Reliable Dishwasher Brands
Our predicted reliability ratings are based on data about nearly 70,000 dishwashers, spread across 28 brands. All of the machines in our survey were purchased by CR members between 2014 and 2024. They include models from popular names such as Bosch and Samsung, lower-cost options like Ikea, and high-end companies such as Miele and Thermador. We combed through the responses…
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Can ChatGPT Do Reliable Call Center Sentiment Analysis?
Can ChatGPT reliably perform call center sentiment analysis? The short answer is yes, with some caveats. This article covers the key steps involved in using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to gain insights into customer emotions and satisfaction levels from call transcripts. You’ll learn how to transcribe your calls, prepare your data, and utilize ChatGPT for analysis. Why AI…
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Reliable and Fuel-Efficient Compact SUVs
They’re all recommended, too, which means you won’t find any with poor reliability, low owner satisfaction, or missing safety features. We’ve listed them in order of their Overall Score. All of them come standard with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), unless otherwise noted. Many of these…
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Most and Least Reliable Vacuum Cleaners
Nonrobotic VacuumsWe also surveyed our members on any problems they have experienced with their vacuums. According to the results, the most common problem was hair tangling in the rollers. Overall, 18 percent of vacuums have had this problem, with upright models (20 percent) being especially prone to entanglements. It was also a major problem for corded stick vacuums (17 percent),…
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Most Reliable New Cars and SUVs Under $30,000
They all come standard with automatic emergency braking (AEB), AEB that works at highway speeds, blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW). We note when they’re optional without pushing the price above $30,000. That’s why some models don’t make the list, such as the Honda Accord. Other models, like the Toyota Camry and Kia K5, have been redesigned,…
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