4 Things to Look for When Buying a New Washing Machine

While it may be tempting to shop for a new washing machine based on price alone, there are several factors that can make a more expensive machine a better investment over a relatively short period of time via savings in both energy and water usage.

These factors include:

• ENERGY STAR rated washing machines – Rated machines use sensors to heat only the amount of water that is necessary to finish the wash cycle, thus reducing both water and energy use. Washing machines that carry ENERGY STAR certifications are up to 30% more efficient than older and non-rated machines. Lower bills in both of these areas can add up to substantial savings over time.
• Higher spin cycle speeds – With all the features that are available on new washing machine models, the speed of spin cycles is often overlooked. A high spin speed in the washing machine, however, can reduce the time of the drying cycle, especially if the dryer has a moisture sensing feature that stops the machine once the items in the basin are dry.
• Reduced water usage – Standard washing machines use about 40 gallons of water per load, while newer models that are engineered with high powered sprayers can reduce water usage by up to 60%.
• Washing machines that use high efficiency (HE) detergent – HE detergents generate a lower amount of soap suds and require less water in the rinse cycle.

The new generation of washing machines may carry slightly higher price tags than older and less efficient models. That being said, by using substantially less energy and water to get wash loads clean, the investment will pay for itself over time.

3 Common Appliance Buying Mistakes

In many kitchen remodeling projects, the range and the refrigerator serve as the cornerstone appliances in terms of utility and appearance. During the decision-making process for these items there are several mistakes that can be made that can result in poor functionality or require the inconvenience of a return of the appliance for another model. These mistakes include:

• Prioritizing form over function – This is a common mistake that has its roots in the fact that many homeowners have a very detailed vision of how their new kitchen should look, but are less clear on how the kitchen will work. This can lead to the purchase of a refrigerator with a single door that can’t swing open fully due to a tight space or the purchase of a range that can’t be ventilated properly.
• Going too big – Super-sizing appliances is fine as long as you’re not making major sacrifices in other areas, such as counter space and storage space. Keep in mind that you will need to store cookware, plates, silverware, pantry items, etc. Also remember that most meal preparation takes place on countertops, so leave room for that activity as well.
• Forgetting to assess the intended spaces for suitability – Don’t assume that the space where your refrigerator is going to go will be plumbed to provide dispensed ice and water. On the same note, you’ll want to make sure that the space for your cooktop and wall oven allows for a proper configuration, for example.

With the time and cost involved with doing a kitchen remodel, the importance of buying the right appliances cannot be understated. By avoiding these common appliance buying mistakes, you’ll be able to get your kitchen remodel done on budget and on time.

3 Tips on Buying the Best Ventilation System for Your Kitchen

It’s often the case that when consumers start planning the purchase of new appliances for their newly remodeled kitchen, the ventilation system is either an afterthought or completely forgotten. In these situations, the error in this thinking doesn’t become apparent until the first big meal is prepared in a growing cloud of smoke and steam that has overwhelmed an inadequate ventilation system.
With that in mind here are 4 tips for buying the best ventilation system for your kitchen:

• Follow the ventilation guidelines as suggested by the manufacturer of your oven – These guidelines will vary depending on the BTUs and configuration of the oven. For example, if the cooktop includes a grill, more ventilation will be required.
• Make sure that the ventilation hood is at least as wide as the cooktop surface – Going a little wider isn’t a bad idea here. Also, the ideal depth of the ventilation hood should cover at least 75% of the depth of the cooktop surface.
• Vent to the outdoors if possible – Venting particulates, smoke and steam to the outdoors gets them out of the house as opposed to re-circulating fans which eliminate odors but can actually re-circulate more than half of particulates back into the house.

While ventilation systems may not be the first thing that people think about when they’re remodeling their kitchen, getting the right one is as important as the rest of the new appliances going into the kitchen. The alternative is to spend time cooking in a “pea soup” fog of steam and smoke that hangs around until it can be blown out of a window.

Making the Choice Between a Chest Freezer and an Upright Freezer

If the location for your new freezer allows the choice between a chest and an upright freezer, there are several factors to assess which can help you determine the best choice for your household. Here are some of the factors to assess with a chest freezer:

The advantages

• Chest freezers can typically store more items than an upright freezer, including items that vary in shape and are larger in size.
• Chest freezers are more energy efficient, due in part to the fact that opening the top of the freezer keeps cold air trapped as opposed to the free flow of cold air that will escape an upright when the front door is opened. 

The disadvantages

• Chest freezers are typically loaded from bottom to top, which can result in the difficulty of retrieving items stored at the bottom of the freezer. 

For upright freezers, advantages include:

• The configuration of an upright allows for easy access to frozen items with sliding shelves and storage bins.
• Added visibility can enable better rotation of frozen goods
• Uprights have a much smaller footprint than chest versions, allowing for more open floor space. 

Disadvantages include:

• Uprights, despite their higher cost, have less storage capacity then chest style freezers.
• Uprights cost more to operate, due to a lower level of energy efficiency. As previously mentioned, opening the front door of an upright allows cold air to escape, which requires the freezer’s motor to run until the escaped cold air is replaced.

While the end objective is the same, the uses of these two types of freezers are very different. Consider the above-mentioned factors to ensure that the freezer you buy matches the way you intend to use it.

3 Tips on How to Save Money on New Appliances While Being Smart About It

Saving money on new appliances is relatively easy but being smart about how that money is saved takes a little bit of extra work. Here are 3 ways to buy new appliances, save money, and not pay more in repairs than you saved on the purchase:

• Buy ENERGY STAR rated appliances – One of the ways in which appliances get rated is by proving through testing that the savings in energy efficiency will substantially reduce the overall cost of the product in a reasonable time frame. It’s not unusual for rated appliances to cover their purchase cost over time by dramatically lowering utility bills. 
• Buy only what you need – If you’re working on a tight budget, you can probably survive without paying for a bunch of technological innovations that you may or may not be able to use. Focus on the functionality of each product, exactly what you need it to do, and nothing more. 
• Buy packages, but not just any package – Buying a package deal can be the right move to save some money but only if each item in the package holds its own in terms of reliability, operating efficiency, and energy savings. Do some research to ensure that each product in the package has solid reviews. Otherwise, the expense of repairs and/or an eventual replacement of one underperforming item can far exceed the money that was saved at the time of purchase. 

While everyone likes to save money on their appliance purchases, there are smart ways to achieve savings as well as the plans that end up costing more over time than was saved up front. These tips can help you make sure that the money you save stays in your pocket and your appliances stay in your home for the long term.

3 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Microwave Oven

Microwave ovens, much like the other appliances in your kitchen, are typically purchased with the idea that you won’t be buying another one for several years at minimum, unless you happen to buy one that just doesn’t quite work with the rest of your kitchen and/or your cooking preferences.

Here are 3 factors to consider before buying a microwave oven that will keep it in your kitchen as long as the rest of your other appliances:

* The ways in which your microwave oven will most likely be used – If most the items you intend to cook in your microwave are coming out of the freezer, going into the microwave, and then straight to the dinner table, a microwave without a bunch of bells and whistles will suffice. If you are planning to incorporate the use of your microwave into complex recipes and other culinary delights, look for added features that can play a role in your gourmet creations.

* Deciding between a countertop or wall-mount model – While countertop versions are far more common, wall mounted microwaves are gaining in popularity for their aesthetics as well as for saving room on the countertop. Wall mounted versions will require installation and wiring, so be prepared for these extra costs.

* The inclusion of added features – The advancements in microwave oven technology have enabled one-touch cooking, convection cooking, and brown/ crisp options. While adding these features will increase the cost of the unit, the investment will likely be a good one as long as they are utilized.

Microwaves have come a long way from the machines that just boiled water and made popcorn. Taking these factors into consideration can make sure that your microwave delivers the versatility you need while complementing the style of your kitchen.

Buying the Best Wine Refrigerator for Your Collection

If you are wine enthusiast with a growing collection, proper refrigeration is a must, especially if you plan on aging some of the bottles that have been collected. Here are 4 tips to make certain that the wine refrigerator you purchase stays around as long as the bottles in your collection:

• Take note of types of wine you plan to collect – The majority of wine bottles are “Bordeaux-sized”, with bottles of champagne and burgundy being slightly wider across the body. A collection made up of these wider bottles will require a refrigerator with more capacity than one used for standard-sized bottles.   
• Buy more capacity than you need now – If you plan on continuing to collect wine, estimate the capacity you need now and buy a refrigerator that is about twice the size of your current collection.
• Temperature controls – If you plan on aging wines in your collection, go with the higher precision of digital controls to ensure that the refrigerator’s temperature doesn’t stray from the optimal storage level of 55 degrees.
• Opting for dual temperature zones – If you plan on using your refrigerator for storage only you won’t need separate temperature zones. On the other hand, if you plan on serving directly from your wine refrigerator, you’ll want to be able to set a storage temperature as well as a serving temperature, which should be in the range of 45 to 50 degrees for white wine.   

The foundation of building a superior collection of wine is proper storage. By following these tips, you can make certain that your growing collection can be accommodated and that when you open that $100 bottle you've been aging, you get exactly the taste that you planned for.