Appliance Shopping for the New Home

ConsumerGuide.com is the place to go for shopping advice and product reviews to get the best value for the appliances you need to make your house a home.

If you've completed a purchase of the new house, you're only halfway to having a home. You still may need to finish your new home with the appliances you'll need in day-to-day life. Whether you're replacing older appliances or starting fresh, here are a few guidelines from ConsumerGuide.com on what to look for and how to shop for appliances for your new home. There are also some helpful links to find more information or free product reviews from the experts at ConsumerGuide.com.

Ranges, Cooktops, And Ovens More expensive ranges, cooktops, and ovens are showing up in homes, and the number of commercial-style appliances being installed continues to increase. In a new or renovated kitchen, often there is a bit more room for flexibility, but in addition to weighing your individual needs, be aware of the necessities in installation your new appliance will need. Gas grills present the choice between electric or gas fuel. Also remember when installing your range that it will need proper ventilation. Commercial-style ranges need powerful venting hoods that may require you to install ductwork. Gas-powered ranges will need gas lines; some cooktops may demand extra electrical work; and drop-in and slide-in models will require carpentry fitting.

Three styles of ranges are available. To select a range style best for your kitchen will depend on the kitchen's design: Freestanding ranges have finished sides and controls on the backsplash, slide-in ranges have a seamless built-in look with controls on the front of the range, and drop-in ranges have unfinished sides and may require cabinet modification for a tight fit. Controls are on the front of the range. If you are choosing a range in new construction, here is some additional information to consider when choosing between electric and gas.

Electric ranges are available in coil element and smoothtop designs. Coil element ranges have radiant elements that plug-in and are easily removed for cleaning, drip pans that lift out for cleaning, and offer even heat distribution when cooking. Smoothtop (or radiant surface) ranges have radiant elements on a smoothtop cooktop that heat quickly and are sometimes adjustable in size. Gas ranges are available in open burner and sealed burner. Open burner ranges have large openings in the cooktop for burner, and the cooktop lifts up to be able to clean spills that drain into opening in the cooktop. Drip pans can be lifted off and cleaned easily in the sink. Sealed-surface burner ranges are designed with the sealed burners recessed below the surface of the countertop, the burners are attached directly to the cooktop, which means spills and spatters are contained on the cooktop where they can easily be wiped up.

Here are some helpful links:

Cooking Appliances Buying Guides

Cooking Appliances Reviews

Ranges Reviews

Cooktops Reviews

Ovens Reviews

Washers and Dryers Basic, no-frills washing machines can be purchased for as little as $250 to $350. Moderately priced machines, with features used in the typical home, run from $350 to about $700. Front-loading machines and the newer more efficient top-loaders typically cost in excess of $600 and can easily top the $1000 mark. These pricier models are also more likely to offer more sophisticated control panels.

As a guide, use the yellow EnergyGuide stickers to do your shopping when comparing energy and price on front-load and top-load machines. The lower the rating number, the more efficient the machine is. Energy efficiency can come at the expense of convenience, however: The front loaders, with all that bending required in order to load, are just harder on the back. Top-loading machines got so popular for just that reason--no need for bending over to load.

Purchasing a dryer is less complicated since all dryers do an acceptable job of drying clothes. The main point for comparison is the selection of features that differentiate one model from another. Dryers are available in either gas- or electric-powered models. The choice is usually dictated by the available power supply in the home. Dryers can use one of a number of methods to determine when to stop drying clothes. Most use either a sensor, which judges the amount of moisture remaining in clothing, or a thermostat, which measures the temperature of the escaping air. The sensor is typically more costly to purchase, but generally considered more efficient and therefore cheaper to operate in the long run.

Like washers, dryers start around $250. Those costing $250 to $350 will most likely have thermostatic control and offer the most basic features. The desirable sensor control will add $30 to $50 to the cost of the dryer. Moderately priced machines will cost approximately $350 to $600, have sensor control, and offer convenience features, such as cool down cycles, permanent press cycles, tumble only (no heat), express drying, and temperature options. Models sold for in excess of $600 are more likely to offer special features, such as electronic or computerized touch controls.

Here are some helpful links:

Laundry Care Products Buying Guides

Washers Reviews

Dryers Reviews

Combination Washer/Dryer Reviews

Refrigerators and Freezers Selecting a refrigerator or freezer that's right for your family's lifestyle and home requires a great deal of thought--and a measuring tape. You need to consider how your current model suits your needs as far as capacity and configuration, and whether you need more or less food storage area. You also need to look at the physical space in the kitchen; you might want a huge new fridge, but you might not be able to fit it into your kitchen without doing a major renovation.

Side-by-side refrigerators, with their large freezer capacity and convenient configuration, are the most popular refrigerator models. They are also the least energy efficient models. Most manufacturers offer a through-the-door ice maker/water dispenser as an option on all side-by-sides and while this is a popular feature, it is also the most frequent cause of repair for these models. Top-freezer refrigerators are the next most popular models, which tend to offer smaller freezer compartments than side-by-sides, and the freezer is at eye level, placing the refrigerator at a lower and less convenient place. Top-freezer models are less expensive than comparable side-by-side refrigerators, and can hold very large horizontal items like pizza boxes and birthday cakes where the fridge compartment in a side-by-side unit might be too narrow.

Bottom-freezer refrigerators are catching on in popularity, although manufacturers generally offer only one or two models of the freezer-on-the-bottom units. These refrigerator freezers are the most energy-efficient, and place frequently used refrigerator space directly at eye level. In general, most freezer doors swing open like the refrigerator doors, instead of sliding out like a big drawer as they once did. And as an added bonus, the freezer compartments on these models are larger than for top-freezer models.

Here are some helpful links:

Refrigerators and Freezers Buying Guides

Refrigerators and Freezers Reviews

Side-by-Side Refrigerators Reviews

Top-Freezer Refrigerators Reviews

Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators Reviews

Freezers Reviews

Dishwashers The newest attempts at innovation in dishwashers involve cosmetics, sanitation, energy savings, and novelty. Cosmetic improvements include hidden controls located on top of the door, inside the unit, and an increased variety of door colors and panels. Some dishwashers offer a sanitation feature that provides an extremely high temperature rinse. In the interest of energy savings, delay start features are available on some models and will allow you to run the unit when energy costs are lower. This feature is also useful in limiting noise in the kitchen. Still other new features include a top drawer for flatware or two drawers that can wash loads separately. In the interest of cost savings, a moderately priced dishwasher can do as an effective a job of cleaning as any of the pricey models and still blend in nicely with the decor of your kitchen.

Basic no frills models can be purchased for under $300. Expect these to be noisy and limited in features. Moderately priced units will run from $350 to $600. They may be a bit noisy, but should be well featured and do an acceptable cleaning job. The amount of insulation around the dishwasher tub reduces the noise, so check to see how thick the insulation is. Thicker insulation will make the dishwasher quieter. For units that are exceptionally quiet, feature state-of-the-art design, cleaning sensors, novelty features, or stainless-steel interiors, expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1200 or more.

When shopping for a dishwasher, be sure to compare the number of spray arms. Units typically have from one to three of these arms. The more arms there are, the better the cleaning is likely to be. Does the unit have a spray arm in the top of the machine? Often lower-priced models do not have this arm. In addition to the cost of the machine, you will want to inquire about installation costs. Does the company install the unit or will you need to hire an installer? How much will the installation cost? When comparing energy costs use the yellow EnergyGuide stickers that are required on appliances. For most units this will give you a fairly clear idea of energy usage.

Here are some helpful links:

Dishwashers Buying Guide

Dishwashers Reviews

Built-In Dishwashers Reviews

Portable Dishwashers Reviews

Specialty Dishwashers Reviews

Microwaves When buying a microwave, remember: To determine the size and power of the oven, think of the number of people in your family and whether you plan to use the microwave for primary cooking. Ovens are available as countertop, under-the-cabinet, over-the-range, or built-ins. Selecting a microwave oven for cooking full meals for a family will require a larger, high-power unit. Also consider the size of your cookware. Will it fit in the oven? How will you use the microwave? For more advanced cooking, look for defrost/cook/keep warm options, and be sure to measure how much space you have for the oven.

Here is a helpful link:

Microwave Ovens Reviews