microwave with lcd screen brands

There are some significant differences in the two models, however. The original model had two cameras, one over your range and one front-facing for chats. The Next Gen Kitchen Hub adds a third inside the microwave.

That third camera includes AI with what GE Appliances describes as "AI-powered computer vision cooking technology" that can detect ingredients, help determine when food is done, raise or lower oven temperature, note any missing ingredients or suggest recipes based on the ingredients it sees. You can view the in-oven camera feed from the GE app, as well.

In addition to the microwave and its built-in camera, GE Appliances is making this version of the Kitchen Hub Z-Wave compatible, so it can act as a hub for your smart home"s Z-Wave devices. That"s not something I"d deem essential for a kitchen appliance, but it"s a nice option for folks hanging onto the idea of a

The Next Gen Kitchen Hub will be available in late 2020, but we don"t have any details on pricing just yet. AI-powered computer vision cooking technology, accessible for all GE appliances with cameras, will also be available in late 2020. Stay tuned as we find out more about the tablet-wearing microwave that could be your kitchen"s command central.

The Kitchen Hub is a first-of-its-kind, interactive smart kitchen hub with a built-in microwave. It has integrated AI-powered computer vision technology, that can help you plan and make meals, hopefully saving on waste, which reportedly costs US families $800 a year. A press release for the Kitchen Hub states:The next-gen Kitchen Hub from GE Appliances is a 27-inch smart touch screen, 1.9 cubic foot microwave and ventilation combo designed to easily fit in the space above the range. Consumers can use cameras to interact with friends and family, snap and share their culinary masterpieces, and even determine when their meals are done while viewing the inside of the oven from their couch. And if cooking isn"t entertaining enough, the Kitchen Hub Micro provides access to popular apps, such as Netflix and Spotify. The addition of the microwave into the next-gen Kitchen Hub allows the user a full-service kitchen experience.

The Kitchen Hub has built-in Google Assistant support for creating grocery lists, planning meals, internet searching, and temperature control. It also has thousands of recipes through SideChef, and live video chat functionality with multiple camera angles. It sits above your range, and even have an overhead cooktop-facing camera for taking pictures of your meals, from the oven to Instagram in record time. And yes, there"s a camera inside the oven so you can check on your food from anywhere in the house.

So there you have it, a 27-inch touch screen microwave with Netflix. What a time to be alive. For more information on GE Appliances, and the Kitchen Hub, check out their website!

Introducing Kitchen Hub. The first-of-its-kind 27-inch integrated smart-touch screen and ventilation combo that fits easily above your range at the center of your home.

Access over 5,000 recipes with step-by-step instructions in our Flavorly™ app powered by SideChef™. Learn new techniques, store favorite family recipes and control your oven with your voice. As you cook, the high-powered, 4-speed, adjustable 600 CFM ventilation system removes smoke and odors, while our patent-pending air curtain around the screen and cameras protect it from heat, steam and grease. It complies with UL standards for vents above ranges and cooktops.

Access over 5,000 recipes with step-by-step instructions in our Flavorly™ app powered by SideChef™. Learn new techniques, store favorite family recipes and control your oven with your voice. As you cook, the high-powered, 4-speed, adjustable 600 CFM ventilation system removes smoke and odors, while our patent-pending air curtain around the screen and cameras protect it from heat, steam and grease. It complies with UL standards for vents above ranges and cooktops.

Two built-in cameras let you video chat with loved ones and take pictures of culinary creations to post on social media. The forward-facing camera gives you face-to-face time to chat, while the camera located above the cooking surface shows off your range or cooktop, so grandma can double check your work.

Two built-in cameras let you video chat with loved ones and take pictures of culinary creations to post on social media. The forward-facing camera gives you face-to-face time to chat, while the camera located above the cooking surface shows off your range or cooktop, so grandma can double check your work.

Access everything you need to cha cha with your cheesecake. Liven up kitchen chores with your Spotify playlist or watch Netflix and Hulu while you fix the snacks.

Access everything you need to cha cha with your cheesecake. Liven up kitchen chores with your Spotify playlist or watch Netflix and Hulu while you fix the snacks.

Microwave ovens have become a kitchen must-have. Whether you’re trying a new recipe, reheating your meal for dinner or making popcorn for movie night, a microwave makes your life a whole lot simpler. At Target, find microwave ovens based on the size of your counter, the wattage you need and the brand you love. Countertop Microwaves are easy to use and one of the most essential kitchen appliances. They give you the versatility needed to prepare everything from frozen pizza to dinner plate quickly and easily. If you’re split between an oven and a microwave, pick the microwave with a built-in convection function. These microwaves can be used for power grilling, baking and other functions just like an oven. You can mount this onto your kitchen cabinet or place it on the countertop. To avoid the hassle of messy cleanups pick stainless steel microwave ovens that are super easy to clean and maintain. Whether you choose an over-the-range microwave or a regular one, a microwave oven gives you fast, even, thorough and quick-cooking options.

What appliance will become the hub for the smart kitchen of the future? While companies like LG and Samsung seem to point towards the fridge, GE thinks its Kitchen Hub microwave, which it debuted at CES 2020, will be the centerpiece.

The exterior of the Kitchen Hub has a mammoth 27-inch touchscreen running Android; it"s like a large tablet attached to your microwave, through which you can stream movies through apps like Netflix, control smart home devices, and do pretty much everything you can do with an Android tablet. And, because it has Google Assistant built in, you can do everything by voice command.

But calling this thing a microwave with an Android touchscreen would be missing out on its more interesting features. Its tricks begin with the three cameras embedded in the Kitchen Hub: One on the inside, one on the front, and one facing down at your cooktop. The Hub uses computer vision to identify objects, such as food items, and then can suggest recipes that use those ingredients. In my house, this is always a challenge later in the week when we have a random assortment of foodstuffs, but don"t know what to make for dinner.

For instance, let"s say you were making a roast chicken. As you"re seasoning the bird, the Kitchen Hub can tell the oven to start preheating. After you put the chicken in the oven, the Kitchen Hub will monitor its progress using either a thermometer or a camera in the oven itself. When the chicken is done cooking, the Kitchen Hub will automatically turn the oven down to keep things warm without overcooking. And, you can use an app on your smartphone to check in on the progress, similar to the camera in smaller smart ovens like the June smart oven.

I like the idea of a screen in the door of a microwave, rather than that of a fridge. For one thing, the orientation of the screen makes it better for watching TV—I love cooking, but I hate having to dash between my kitchen and my living room to see how the Eagles are doing when I"m making a Sunday gravy during football season. Plus, if you"re cooking something, it makes more sense to have the recipe in front of you, rather than having to look over to a display on your refrigerator.

GE launched a Kitchen Hub last year, but that was basically a large over-range vent, and lacked the AI capabilities of this year"s model. Adding the microwave, which has a 1.9 cubic-foot capacity, definitely makes it more appealing, especially for those (like me) whose microwaves are mounted above their stoves.

GE said that the new Kitchen Hub will be available towards the end of 2020, and has yet to set a price. Considering the previous model was around $1,200, we wouldn"t be surprised to see the new one in that same range. That"s more than a few dinners out with the family, but this "microwave" can do a heck of a lot more than just reheat your burrito.

Microwaves in restaurant, cafeteria, and food truck kitchens need to be able the handle a heavy workload. They are required to defrost, steam, re-thermalize, and cook foods in a matter of minutes. Therefore, the more durable they are, the longer they will last, and the more features they have, the more useful they will be. The Amana RC17S2 Heavy Duty Commercial Microwave Oven is just such an appliance. The stainless steel construction on both the inside and outside of the microwave will ensure that it will last for years of service. It also boasts a programmable timer and eleven power levels, as well as 100 memory settings that will perform whatever function is needed. When looking for an efficient and functional microwave that will provide faithful service, then consider the RC17S2 as a viable addition to your collection of kitchen equipment.

Focus on the design elements you prefer by removing the microwave from sightlines and enabling more design versatility. The SMD3070AS 30 inch Microwave Drawer offers flexible placement options below an island, peninsula or standard cabinetry, or can be installed below your wall oven. This Sharp Microwave Drawer allows you to showcase your design savvy and create a kitchen that flows with your lifestyle.

The SMD3070AS Microwave Drawer allows you to choose a location that works for your lifestyle. Cooking is easier and faster when the Sharp Microwave Drawer Oven is installed adjacent to your food preparation area: in islands, peninsulas or under the counter. Available in 24-inch and 30-inch widths. Accessories available (SKMD24F0AS, SKMD30F0AS).

The 30-inch Sharp Microwave Drawer Oven has been designed to complement the widest range of kitchen styles and appliances. The sleek, low-profile design and a stainless-steel finish beautifully complement any kitchen.

The SMD3070AS Microwave Drawer Oven boasts an easy-to-read display that disappears until you need it. The concealed control panel opens at a 45-degree angle, so it’s easy to read and operate.

Of the four appliances in the typical kitchen suite, the microwave is the least expensive. So you might not give it as much thought as you would when buying a refrigerator, range, or dishwasher.

But buying a microwave from a reliable brand increases the likelihood that it will last longer. That means you won’t be prematurely putting a broken countertop model on the curb or tearing out an over-the-range microwave that no longer works.

Consumer Reports has identified the brands of microwaves most likely to last—and those most likely to develop problems or break—based on our members’ experiences with 60,832 over-the-range (OTR) microwaves and 61,480 countertop microwaves purchased new between 2012 and 2022.

Five brands of countertop microwaves and two brands of OTR microwaves received top marks for reliability from our members. And based on their experiences, we can’t recommend five brands of countertop microwaves and three OTR brands.

To calculate predicted reliability, we survey our members about the products they own and use that data to make projections about how new units from a given brand will hold up over time. We also survey members on how likely they are to recommend their microwave, with that question serving as the basis for our owner satisfaction rating. Brands that receive a Fair or Poor rating for reliability aren’t eligible to be recommended no matter how well they perform in Consumer Reports’ tests.

To come up with the Overall Score that you’ll see in our microwave ratings charts, we factor in both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction with the results of the performance tests we conduct in our labs. For microwaves, that includes marks on all the tasks you’d expect: fast and even heating, even defrosting, controls that are intuitive and easy to use, and quiet operation.

“Calculating an Overall Score for microwaves that includes reliability and satisfaction offers consumers a clearer direction of what to choose,” says Tian Wang,  a CR survey research associate.

An over-the-range microwave is a strategic choice if you’re short on counter space and like the fact that it doubles as a range hood (though typically an underpowered one). Replacing an OTR model can be a bit of an ordeal because you have to unbolt it from the wall and cabinets. So when your old one breaks, you’ll want to install a new one from a reliable brand.

OTR microwaves from Electrolux, Jenn-Air, and Samsung are likely to develop problems or break at a higher rate than their competitors, according to our survey. “Because of this, none of these brands can be recommended by Consumer Reports at this time,” Wang says.

Better bets are OTR microwaves from Ikea and Sharp, brands that earned an Excellent rating for predicted reliability. Of the 21 brands rated in our survey, nine other brands earned a Very Good reliability rating. Seven more received a Good reliability rating, which is high enough to retain their eligibility to be recommended by Consumer Reports. (CR doesn’t currently test models from every brand listed in our survey.)

The most frequently reported problems with over-the-range microwaves? Excessive noise, control panels that don’t work properly, and doors that don’t lock correctly. Five percent of the OTR microwaves in our survey had a problem with noise and 6 percent had a broken or faulty control panel.

After that, the most common problem reported for OTRs by our members was a failure to heat food evenly. Members also reported problems with turntables, interior lights, and cooling fans, but they affected only 1 to 2 percent of the microwaves.

When we asked our members what would make them likely to recommend the microwave to a friend, they said how reliable it was, how well it heated their food, and how easy it was to use.

Consumer Reports tests microwaves for performance, including whether or not a model heats evenly and how noisy it is when operating on the highest setting. To avoid problems, opt for one that aces those tests. There are plenty to choose from.

Almost 4 out of 5 CR members who currently own an OTR microwave said the next microwave they purchase will also be an OTR. Only 3 percent said they would switch to a countertop model. The top considerations cited for their next microwave purchase were reliability, performance, appearance (finish/color), and repairability. The factors that didn’t matter as much were brand, recyclability, and special features such as convection, grilling, and WiFi. Based on our research over the past five years, shoppers should plan on paying a median of $378 for a new model. The lowest amount members paid for an OTR was $235 for an Amana, and the highest was $824 for a Café. As you’ll see in our ratings, there are lots of good choices in between those extremes.

Countertop microwaves don’t require installation like OTR microwaves, but they take up a fair amount of kitchen real estate. Large countertop microwaves are typically about 2 feet wide, 1 foot high, and 1.5 feet deep. Models with a smaller footprint tend to be underpowered and usually don’t perform as well in our tests.

Microwaves from Breville, Daewoo, Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, and Sunbeam stood out as the most reliable brands; all five earned an Excellent rating. Eight of the 38 brands covered in our survey earned a Very Good rating.

Five brands of countertop microwaves—Café, Electrolux, Ikea, KitchenAid, and Whirlpool—received a Fair rating for predicted reliability and as a result aren’t eligible to be chosen for our recommended list.

Complaints about countertop microwaves are similar to those about OTRs. Failure to heat food evenly and excessive noise top the list. Noise affects 6 percent of the countertop microwaves owned by our members, and failure to heat evenly affects 5 percent.

The next most common complaints are control panels that break and models that are slow to heat up food or liquids—or both. But overall, these problems plagued only 2 to 3 percent of the countertop microwaves in our survey. Broken door locks, turntables, and interior lights drew complaints to a lesser extent.

Reliability, ease of using controls, how well it heats food, and appearance were the strongest predictors of overall satisfaction with countertop machines.

As with OTRs, consumers are looking for reliability, good performance, and ease of use in their next microwave. Energy efficiency, a reasonable price, and oven capacity are also important factors that affect purchasing decisions. Considerations lower on the list were recyclability, sticking with their current brand, and special features.

You might not be able to control all the messes in your kitchen, but Consumer Reports expert Sara Morrow reveals some simple steps for getting your microwave oven sparkling clean.

Liam McCabe has covered the appliance beat for Wirecutter since 2013, and he worked on the most recent version of our guide to the best countertop microwaves. This guide builds on the work we did there, including interviews with industry experts. For over-the-range models, we pored over customer reviews, read expert reviews from Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports (Microwaves, Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2020, pp. 45–47), searched import records to find the original suppliers for these microwaves, compared more than a dozen models side by side, and tested six machines in our center in Queens, New York.Who should get this

An over-the-range microwave saves space (and usually a little bit of money) by combining a large microwave and range hood into a single appliance. The microwaves themselves work fine—they are not significantly better or worse than countertop or built-in microwaves in terms of heating performance, reliability, or features. The ventilation capability is similar to that of most budget-friendly range hoods, at around 300 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air movement on affordable models, and rarely surpassing 400 CFM even on higher-end models.

If you’re replacing an existing OTR microwave, you should be able to install most new models into the old space without much trouble. Nearly all OTR models have the same 30-inch width. (A few OTR models are designed to fit over a compact 24-inch range. Some brands used to make 36-inch OTR microwaves, but none of them are currently available, as far as we’ve seen.)

If you’re remodeling and trying to decide between an over-the-range microwave or a dedicated range hood, one practical thing to consider is how you use your stovetop: If you use most of your burners most of the time, or if you have a high-end range with super-powerful burners, an OTR microwave may not move enough air to prevent your kitchen from getting smoky.

The common rule of thumb is that you’ll want 100 CFM in your hood for every 10,000 BTU you use on a gas stovetop. Even on a basic range, the two strongest burners alone use at least 30,000 BTU combined when they’re on full power. That’ll stretch the capabilities of a basic 300 CFM over-the-range microwave. If that’s the extent of your stovetop use, an OTR microwave is probably fine. If you regularly use more power (especially if you have a higher-end range, which tends to have stronger burners), you’ll create more smoke than the microwave can clear, and the microwave handle can get uncomfortably hot to the touch, so a range hood is probably a better option. You can look into a countertop, wall-installed, or drawer microwave instead.How we picked and tested

For the most part, this process was similar to how we selected countertop microwaves: We narrowed down the field by figuring out which models were made in the same factories from similar parts, then prioritized models with widely liked features, such as express buttons, door handles (instead of buttons), a mute option, and a sensor reheat mode. We also looked for meaningful differences in heating performance based on some food-heating tests, which included making marshmallow heat maps to gauge evenness and hot spots, and checking soup temps to measure power.

We added a few tests specific to over-the-range microwaves. Since so many people use their over-the-range microwaves as a kitchen night-light, we favored models with yellow undermount lights and two intensity settings: one bright enough to see what you’re cooking and one dim enough for ambient background lighting. Since most models move the same amount of air (300 to 400 CFM), we favored models with quieter fans. We thought about making ease of installation part of our decision, but we found that it doesn’t vary much from model to model, and most people will hire a professional to hang an OTR microwave anyway.

Since this was our first time testing over-the-range microwaves, and we weren’t sure how smoothly it would go, we kept our group of finalists pretty small, and we limited testing to popular lower-end models that usually cost less than $300. We may test some higher-end models later.

Although we found that most countertop microwaves sold in the US are made by a single manufacturer (Midea), there’s more diversity among OTR microwaves. That could mean that there are real differences in reliability and longevity among brands—though we don’t have enough information to know what they are, unfortunately.

(If you’re interested in the details, we think that, based on shipping records and side-by-side comparisons we’ve done, Midea makes Frigidaire and certain GE models; LG makes its own machines and certain GE models; ditto for Samsung. And Whirlpool Corp. has its own microwave factory in the same sub-district of the same city as Midea, interestingly. That’s where Whirlpool makes OTR microwaves for all of its sub-brands, including Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and KitchenAid. These brands all declined to comment on specific partnerships.)Our pick: GE JVM6175

This GE heats about as well as other over-the-range models we’ve tested, and it has far more controls and comes in more finishes than other microwaves at this price.

The GE JVM6175 has all of the convenient controls that most people seem to want in a microwave, and it heats more evenly than other over-the-range models we’ve tested. The JVM6175 is slightly easier to install than its closest competitors, and it also comes in more finishes, to better match the look of more kitchens. It’s not particularly expensive, either.

Controls are what really make or break a microwave for most people, and the JVM6175 has the most well-rounded set we’ve seen in an affordable over-the-range model. It has express keys (for 1-minute through 5-minute cook times) and an Add 30 Seconds button, all of which are standard on most microwaves. Less common is its Mute option, which lets you reheat your midnight snacks without waking up the rest of the house. Also less common is an option to switch the turntable off, which can help the microwave fit a larger dish (though the hot spots will be more extreme).

The undermount light on the JVM6175 is as versatile as the best of them, with a warm color temperature and half-power setting that are well-suited to work as a night-light, and enough brightness on its full-power setting to clearly light up your stovetop.

In our tests, the JVM6175 did the best job of evenly heating the entire turntable, with minimal hot and cold spots. That’s good news if you heat up big trays or dinner plates of leftovers. The JVM6175 also has some sensor-based reheat, defrost, and cook modes that some people find useful and that aren’t always included in affordable over-the-range microwaves.

Most people will leave installation up to a professional, but if you’re going to attempt to install the microwave yourself, we found that the JVM6175 is a little bit more forgiving than the other OTR models we tested. The mounting template is easy to follow, and it needs one less screw to stay secure.

Like many GE appliances, the JVM6175 comes in a half-dozen finishes, so you should be able to find something that blends in pretty well with your kitchen design:

The fan on this GE is a little louder and whoosh-ier than those on some of the other models we tested, despite its having the same advertised air movement (300 CFM). We’d intended to measure the volume and frequency with a sound meter in early 2020, but we couldn’t get around to it before the coronavirus pandemic shut down our office.

In our tests, the JVM6175 was a little weak—it didn’t heat soup or potatoes to temperatures as high as with most of the other OTR models we tested. This could just be the individual unit we tried out (there can be major power differences from unit to unit among the same model), or this model could actually just be 10 to 15 percent slower than most of its competitors. The difference in performance is not significant enough to change our recommendation, and most people will just learn to adjust the cook times.

As with most other OTR microwaves, the JVM6175 was reported by some owners to have an unexpectedly short lifespan. Some of these instances are certainly due to defective units, but others are also probably due to mis-installation. Whoever hooked up the microwave may not have aligned the vents correctly, or forgot to set it to the recirculation mode, so that the microwave overheated and burned itself out. Even with these negative reviews, the overall user rating for the JVM6175 is among the best we’ve seen for over-the-range microwaves, with 4.4 out of 5 stars at Home Depot, based on more than 4,500 reviews dating as far back as 2016.Runner-up: Whirlpool WMH31017

Although it’s missing some express options and a few other useful controls, this affordable Whirlpool performs well and runs a bit quieter than most over-the-range microwaves.

If our pick is sold out or you just want to save some money, the Whirlpool WMH31017 is another solid over-the-range microwave. Like the GE JVM6175, it evenly heats its entire turntable, with minimal hot and cold spots, and has a great cooktop light, with a bright high setting and a night-light-appropriate half-power setting.

The Whirlpool’s main downside is that it’s missing most of the express controls, though it does have an Add 30 Seconds button. There’s also no mute option, no turntable-off function, no sensor-based modes—the control panel isn’t as busy, in general. Most people will get along just fine without any of those settings, and most won’t even miss any of them, aside from the express-cook options.

Whirlpool Corp. makes microwaves under the Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and KitchenAid labels. Most of them are similar to the Whirlpool WMH31017, based on what we’ve seen of them in stores. We think you can expect similar performance across the board, so if you find one of the other models on sale, or you prefer the look or certain options, you’ll still be getting a good microwave.

We tested the GE JVM3160, which is the bottom-end microwave in that company’s OTR lineup. It’s a solid alternative to the Whirlpool WMH31017, with more express controls but less-even heating, and roughly equal lighting and fan-noise characteristics. It’s also one of the few models that’s still available in the classic Bisque finish. GE also makes a slightly larger and more expensive model, the JVM7195, which is otherwise similar to the JVM6175.

We’d intended to test the Samsung ME16H702SE, but we couldn’t get our hands on one before the coronavirus pandemic closed down our office. Like many Samsung appliances, it’s usually one of the cheaper major-name OTR microwaves you can get. But it also has a lower average user rating than the rest.

The Magic Chef MCO165UW is usually the cheapest OTR microwave you can get, but it also has the lowest average user rating we’ve seen in the category. It doesn’t have a night-light setting, its only express control is a not-very-useful Add Minute option, and it has a dead spot in the center of the microwave.

Insignia (Best Buy’s store brand) has a few OTR models. We didn’t test any due to time constraints, but based on some research, we think the stainless-steel NS-OTR16SS9 model could be essentially the same low-end microwave as the Magic Chef. However, the black-stainless NS-OTR16BS8 appears to be a higher-quality model.

Most of the brands we’ve covered have higher-end models that we didn’t test—GE Profile models are a notable example. Some premium appliance brands have microwaves, too, often included as a toss-in with a larger kitchen-appliance package deal. Based on what we know about how microwaves are built, these are all built in the same few factories as the cheaper models, most likely around the same core components. So the main differences are in the aesthetics and control panels. Higher-end models might blend in better with a higher-end kitchen design, but don’t expect them to reheat your lasagna more evenly, and they may or may not last longer.

One notable higher-end model is the Whirlpool WML55011 (or any of the similar models made by Whirlpool Corp.), a low-profile OTR microwave. It’s a few inches shorter than anything else, fitting into spaces with lower-mounted cabinets. It’s tall enough to fit a cup roughly the size of a pint glass. It’s an expensive microwave, but it solves a unique problem.Microwave safety, care, and maintenance

Most of the advice from our guide to countertop microwaves and our article on microwave fires applies here as well. In a nutshell: Rest easy about microwave radiation, clean your microwave regularly, don’t slam the door, don’t run it empty, don’t run it with any metal utensils or foil inside, and don’t try to repair it at home.

Over-the-range microwave installation is a little tricky, so most people hire a pro to set their microwaves up, and that’s a perfectly reasonable choice. But it’s not impossible to do it on your own. (I had never installed one before I wrote this guide, and my handyman skills are well below average, but I managed to hang one in about 45 minutes on my first try.) All of the OTR microwaves we tested come with a paper template to help you properly line everything up and make the right holes. The support hardware is also always included. You’ll need your own power drill, stud finder, and a variety of drill bits, plus a pencil and some tape. And you’ll need a buddy to help you lift the microwave into place.

For over-the-range models in particular, the most crucial step to longevity is to make sure the installer sets up the ventilation properly. All of the models we tested could vent three different ways, and if it’s not set to the correct mode, the microwave can easily overheat and burn itself out. Manufacturers recommend that you remove and clean the grease filters under the microwave monthly, and if it has a charcoal filter, every six months.