How to Buy Major Appliances
What you need to know before you invest
Buying new appliances for your home is a big financial commitment, but it will be a lasting investment if you choose wisely. In this article, we will walk you through key considerations for buying major home appliances in general, as well as a few tips on how to select each appliance, according to your needs.
Before you Start:
Keep the following in mind:
- Buying all your appliances from a single retailer can save on delivery charges and may even get you a volume discount.
- While aesthetics can be appealing, an appliance should be chosen according to lifestyle and needs. Space, finish, special features, and size should all be top of mind when you set out to research your options.
- If you are building or renovating your home, you won't be tied down by dimensions so will have the luxury of picking the appliances of your dreams – budget allowing! If, however, you are replacing an old appliance, you will need to consider both the space available, and current traffic flow of your home. Measure twice and buy once!
Choosing a Finish
- White is the more classic and economical choice when it comes to appliances. It is rarely discontinued and doesn't show bumps and scratches as easily as other finishes.
- When picking your finish, keep a visual of your mother's gold or avocado appliances in mind! While trendy colors may be tempting, they are more likely to be discontinued by manufacturers than a classic finish, and they also become outdated in design trends more quickly.
- Stainless steel is still considered a neutral as it fits well with most décor styles. Stainless has a modern and professional look but requires more upkeep as it shows scratches and fingerprints easily.
- Black is another popular choice in today's market.
Energy Star Rating
Energy Star appliances are eco-efficient and are designed to save you money on your water and energy bills, as well as being gentler on the environment. Energy Star Rating is an internationally recognized symbol that identifies a high-performing appliance, proven to have a reduced footprint on the environment.
Refrigerators
These days, refrigerators come in many shapes and sizes, which means there are ample options to choose from to best suit your family's needs. Establishing the correct size is your first priority: a family of four requires 19 to 22 cubic feet of space on average. Then, you can explore different configurations and options available:
Door Configuration
- Traditional – freezer on top: usually the cheaper option, and frozen foods are at eye level for easy access.
- Side-by-side: practical for small kitchens as the doors don't take up as much space when open. Vertical storage is practical for freezer versatility. They are however the least energy effective.
- Freezer on the bottom: most practical for people whose diet consists mostly of fresh foods. Also offers a deeper freezer space.
Energy Star
Energy Star refrigerators and freezers use 20% less energy than regular models.
Options and Features
- The more features you look for in a unit, the more expensive it will be. But, some features like icemakers and water dispensers are very practical and worth the extra spend. If you settle on a fridge with a water dispenser, look for designs that integrate the water filter. If you opt for the ice-making feature, remember that one situated inside the freezer will use around 1 cu ft of space, where as a more expensive external water and icemaker combo will not take up valuable freezer space.
- Some refrigerators now sport motorized shelves for easy versatility, but for the same convenience without the added cost, look for those designs sporting a crank system. You could even go as far as choosing a fridge that offers conveniences like a wine caddy, removable bins, soda shelves, etc.
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Dishwashers
We all dream of ridding ourselves of the tedious chore of cleaning the dishes and thankfully there are a multitude of dishwashers out there to do just that!
Configuration
The configuration you choose will mostly come down to preference and space. If you have the space for a built-in model, it is recommended because it will add value to your home, but is also most convenient. Portable dishwashers are a good option for apartments dwellers, but that they have to be connected to a faucet when in use. Another option is a double drawer dishwasher, which comes in handy if you have to do smaller loads more often, as you can run the drawers individually.
Interior
A stainless steel interior is better at retaining the heat for drying, but plastic is still a popular choice as it is reliable and more affordable.
Energy Star
Energy Star Dishwashers can save you up to $30 off your yearly energy spend.
Options and Features
- A steam setting will loosen residue before the wash cycle to improve performance.
- Tall tub models are a good option for those who entertain a lot as it can fit more table settings and larger pots and pans.
- A delay-start option is convenient if you want the dishwasher to operate when you are asleep or away, so you don't have to listen to it running.
- Different cycles allow for more effective use of your dishwasher - research the various technologies available before choosing.
- Forced-air mode means that warm air is pushed down during the drying cycle do that your upside-down bowls and glasses don't collect water.
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$191.44
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Macys Canada
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Ranges
Ranges can be separated into two main categories:
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Electric |
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By far the favorite of professionals.
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More precise heat levels.
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Heat is instant and cools down fairly quickly.
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Grills can often be customized to accommodate different pots and pans.
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Grills are heavy and a little more difficult to clean.
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Needs a special natural gas or propane line brought into the house to run.
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What is a convection oven?
A convection oven contains a fan that circulates heat for quicker cooking and more even heat distribution.
Options & Features
- Self-cleaning ovens are by far the most popular these days. You will never have to scrub again! Also, these ovens are better insulated to contain the high heat required for the cleaning process, which in return saves you money on your regular operating costs.
- Double ovens offer you two completely separate ovens in the same appliance for added flexibility.
- Warming drawers are useful to keep food warm while you serve the appetizer.
- Steam technology helps to add moisture to your foods.
$191.44
(30% off)
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Macys Canada
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Freezers
If your family relies on frozen foods, a free-standing freezer could be a necessary addition to your home.
| Chest Freezers |
Upright Freezers |
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Typically more affordable
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Bigger freezing space
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Energy efficient
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Requires more floor space and the lid has to be free of objects.
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Food can be difficult to access
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Food is easier to organize and access
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Food gets freezer burned quicker
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Easier to move
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Each time the door is opened, a large portion of the cold air escapes
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Capacity
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when determining the size of freezer you need:
- How big is your family?
- Do you make preserves or do you have a hunter in the family?
- Do you buy in bulk? Do you like to take advantages of sales?
- Where will you put your freezer?
Options and Features
- Frost-free freezers are a little more expensive but will save you from having to empty its contents out a few times a year to defrost it.
- An interior light can be very practical for chest freezers – Not every model has one.
- A fast-freeze option is a good feature to look for. It keeps the food you freeze as fresh as possible and keeps the overall temperature of the freezer from rising when you introduce warm foods.
- Shelves and buckets are a must if you want to keep some sort of organization in your freezer.
- A built-in thermometer on the outside of the freezer is helpful to keep an eye on temperature.
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$191.44
(30% off)
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Macys Canada
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Washers & Dryers
Washers and dryers have drastically evolved in the past few years to offer high efficiency, different configurations, and fancy new features. You will be faced with choosing between the following two configurations:
| Traditional Top Loaders |
Front Loaders |
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Classic and best value.
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Wide range of models available.
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Can't be stacked and you need space above your appliances to open the lid.
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There are now some high efficiency top loaders available in the market, but they are closer in price to the newer front-loaders.
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High efficiency
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Very popular right now but more expensive
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Shorter drying times
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Generally offer more capacity than top loaders
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The top of the machine is free to be used as a folding surface or storage
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Front-loaders can be stacked to accommodate smaller homes or apartments.
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Specialty front-loader soap is often required in order to keep the machine running well.
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Energy Star
Energy Star washer and dryers can save up to $550 in energy bills over the lifetime of the machines.
Options and Features
- Moisture sensors stop the dryer as soon as your clothes are dry.
- Fresh Hold TM is a clever feature offered by Maytag designed to protect your wet clothes from developing odors if you forget them in the washer for a while.
- Fast Spin Cycle – the faster the spinning, the less water remains in your clothes, which allows for a quicker, and more energy efficient drying.
- Stack-Kits – Some front-loaders can be stacked for more economical use of space in smaller homes or apartments.
- Pedestals allow you to elevate your front-loading washer and dryer so you don't have to bend down to access your clothes - a useful feature if you have back issues!
- Some models include storage drawers for cleaning products.
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