Kitchen Appliances - What You Need To Know When You Shop


by Christopher Brown - Date: 2007-03-13 - Word Count: 517 Share This!

Very few things will add as much to your kitchen as your appliances. More convenience, more features and more attractiveness can all be achieved through making good purchasing decisions.

When you begin shopping for appliances such as refrigerators, ovens or dishwashers, know what you want before you ever leave your house. If it is affordable for you, buying all your appliances together makes the most sense. Rather than just buy appliances because they are must-haves for today's world, you can give your kitchen a "together" look that fits in with the style of your home. So decide what kind of look you are going for and what features you want before you shop, and you will be well on your way to a more enjoyable kitchen atmosphere.

One of the biggest considerations when buying an appliance is "Will it work?" You certainly don't want to spend $1000 or more on an appliance only to find that the small part you need to replace in the icemaker every six months is hard to come by. Once you've found something you like, ask the salesperson what types of warranties are available and do some outside research to make sure you can get replacement parts easily should you need them.

If a warranty is offered to you, read it carefully. Sometimes you may not even need it. Some manufacturer's warranties are good for as long as a warranty you can buy, and many people feel that service warranties are a waste of money because if something is going to break before it's time, it will probably happen in the period covered by the manufacturer's warranty. If you do decide to go with a warranty, don't spend too much money, as it may not be that useful in the long run. And if nothing goes wrong during the first warranty period, renewing it may not be wise.

If you are concerned about the amount of service your appliance will need or how much it will cost, call the manufacturer. They should be able to supply you with enough information to make your decision.

You also want to think about the amount of activity your appliance will get. If you use your appliances daily, such as a dishwasher, you will want a machine that can handle the capacity and you won't want to penny-pinch if this is the case.

Pay close attention to the energy consumption of your machine as this is often overlooked by some consumers. Not only is energy efficiency important for the environment, it will save you money. The law provides that EnergyGuide labels be placed on most appliances. If the appliance you wish to buy is not labeled properly, think about looking elsewhere. Visit http://www.ftc.gov/appliances/ to comparison shop and find an appliance that will save you money.

Your appliances can truly make your life easier or they can be a hassle if you don't have the appropriate information before you buy. Make life less stressful and be sure to find out what your appliance will need and how to take care of it before you shop, and you will have wonderful options at your fingertips.


Related Tags: warranty, ovens, dishwashers, kitchen appliances, refrigerators, energy consumption, energyguide

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling websites. Chris also takes pride in many of his own do-it-yourself projects around his own home.

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