School me on household appliances

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

We are very close to selling our house (offer expected today) and the place we are moving into has no appliances. We need the following:

Fridge
Range
Dishwasher
Washer and Dryer (front loading style is my preferance)
Hood fan style microwave

We went and looked last night and we'll proabaly get stainless steel or a stainless black combo. Our current appliances are black and I like them, but they are generally speaking fairly low end.

I know there are definately some brands to avoid but which ones are considered the real performers/good value for money. I'm not looking to build a commercial kitchen and I don't need a $3,000 fridge for example.

Dishwasher and Washing machine need to be a little higher end because anything with water is much more prone to reliablility issues

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

I replaced everything maybe 2 years ago or so.....went Kitchen Aid appliances(fridge, stove[gas], dishwasher, micro) and the Whirlpool Duet front loads.....

No complaints....no issues.....

J-Ro · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

Replaced all the kitchen appliances 3 years ago. Went Kenmore Elite and everything works great. We spent extra on the dishwasher with no buttons on the front and am glad we did. It looks good and my 1 year old can't mess with it. We also have a W/D set that we bought 7 years ago that still works great - Kenmore Front loaders. Not sure why we buy Kenmore.

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

I really liked the Bosch front loading dishwasher and washer/dryer

The Kenmore elite also stood out for me.

I was surprised that Kitchen Aid wasn't super expensive (IMO). I may go that way.

I don't really care if everything matches although maybe it should...

I'm also going to sneak a new TV into this purchase. smaller 40ish inch plasma (gotta try and convince my wife that they threw it in)

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

DO NOT buy an LG refridgerator and do not buy it from Best Buy (if you have those in Canada)!!!!

That's all I have to say about that.

arof · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

oshensurfer, we do.

I didn't know they sold appliances?

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

oshensurfer, IMO don't buy anything from BestBuy that you cannot accept a total loss on if defective.

Kenmore Elite was what we bought for our old house. Loved that stuff, even though it was just rebadged Whirlpool, GE, etc.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

chavez, Learned my lesson with the fridge. I've had good luck with them fixing my TV. I thought, what the hey and bought the fridge with the service plan. Had no less than 7 service calls for the ice maker. Tried to exchange for a diff one, with no luck unless I wanted to drop another $300 or settle for a lesser model. BS!!!!. You guys can keep on coming back and replacing the icemaker every month for 3 years. No skin off my nose.

Lauri H · Outlaw Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 226 City: Theodosia

We have the Kenmore washer/dryer, front load. They are both about 9 years old. We did have to replace the pump in the washer last year, but they seem to be holding up.
Hubby is a plumber, and recommends the front loader washing machine to everyone. We all have septic systems out here (not city sewer), and the front loader only uses about 7 gallons of water per wash. Plus, you can really cram the clothes in!
Just replaced our dishwasher with the Bosch, and I love it. Very quiet, and works great.
Stove and oven, I can't really comment on. Mine is from the 40's, all rounded edges and stainless steel top with cast iron burners. I will never get rid of it!

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

They did however replace it with the same model fridge after the 4th call for the same issue too. Twisted Evil

I'm about to call again and ask for another new one. Problem is, is that I actually have to go to the store which is a PITA.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

Ooops Sorry but #4 should be about the microwave.
Why would you want to cook hot food in an oven that's above or at shoulder height when there is a great possibility of dumping it on your upperbody when removing it?

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

I would like an ice maker but I don't really like the 2 side by side door style fridge. It feels to me like its smaller because of how narrow it is. We are thinking a fridge with the freezer on the bottom style.

Electric flat top range (easy to clean) no plumbing for gas

Entertaining possibly more since this place is ona lake rather than a crappy suburb but no kids right now (possibly some little people running around in 5ish years.

We seem to do a crap load of laundry for 2 of us

The ktichen is already designed and built for the microwave to go over the stove. We have it in our current place and I don't mind it (although i'm quite tall)

Our current dishwasher sits in an island that seperates our living room from kitchen and it's annoying when its on and being loud. This ktichen is somewhat separated but I still may splurge for a quiter one.

I was hoping to be able to get everything for $5K

1K for fridge
1.5K for laundry
1k for range
$500 for microwave
$750ish for dishwasher

I ahve a freind who owns a furniture store. I'm going to call him up tonight and see if I can get a good deal on this stuff

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

I would say go for the french door type fridge with freezer on bottom. Much easier to put a pizza box into.
Examples: http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=french+door+fridge&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1
Microwaves are fairly inexpensive nowadays.... at least here in the states.
Go for the washer/dryer that can easily handle a king size comforter. Wink

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Big fan of this style... I have standard side by side w ice/water.... But would have gone this route if I had to do it over....then again, I am SOOOO happy with my range.....maybe not(Kitchen Aid does not make one that I am aware of?). I have a thing for having to have everything the same..... Confused

Anyway....the French doors with bottom freezer, w ice/water.... Friends have this one and I LOVE IT.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

chavez, trust me, Karma is going to get you when you least expect it. Wink

I'm not clumsy at all, but you know how hot stuff can get in the microwave. It's also a long way to fall to a tiled/wood floor which will make for a bigger and uglier mess.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Never understood the underfreezer deal. That's the biggest pain in the ass to me. My friends love theirs, but I hate it.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

jt09, Same here. Side by side.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Dragonlady8, I barely use the nukrowave as it is. Karma is going to have to go out of her way to get me from there!

Side by side or top freezer for me too. Don't care for the bottom freezer.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

I am in the fridge more than the freezer probably 50 - 1.....could be more than that.....75 - 1.... So why do I want to spend my time bending over to get what I want....

Freezer on the bottom....stuff I want at a level that is within reach without bending over.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

I have the luxury of having a side by side ( which I own) and a freezer top type (belongs to rental) for current use. Though I prefer the side by side, the freezer width at times is not conducive for my needs when baking certain projects.
The freezer top has no shelves, so that's not any help.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

I wouldn't give two hoots in Hell for Viking anything! So far both refrigerators have gone out--circuit boards. Still waiting, three months, for one of the refrigerators to be fixed. Wine cooler thing went out--circuit board. Oven went out--don't know what was wrong with it but it burned everything for awhile.

The burners on the range each have a different flame pattern than the other so each burner heats differently.

So far the only thing that went out is the microwave. Since it's under the counter it doesn't get used much.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

lcap, I think this would be a great fridge:
http://www.subzero.com/products/detail.aspx?cid=1&productid=68

jjaszkow · Posted: Jan 17, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

Dragonlady8, I agree with you on that fridge. Will you buy me one? Twisted Evil

deepcove · Soul Rider Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 296 City: Vancouver

I recently build a house and used Bosch for the fridge and dishwasher and a bertazzoni 6 burner gas stove with a Faber Hood. I think the stove is fantastic but I do not think I would buy Bosch again. The dishwasher is really quiet but it does not do a very good job on the dishes. I have had the repair guy in once already with a ridge issue within 6 months.

I would also stay away from LG, in my experience they do not make quality products.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

Alter Ego · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 6:34 am Post subject:

i hear bronze is going to be the new stainless steel...i think i might like that.

Bambamski · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

We may be in the same situation right away Canucked.

We just bought all new appliances and it looks like we are moving pretty shortly. All the houses that we've been looking at so far have the stainless steel kitchen aid packages. I HATE stainless steel. We have all black now and really like them. Bosch Dishwasher, really like, I wouldn't buy anything else after having it. The fride is Frididaire, bottom freezer. I wouldn't go with a side by side. We have the LG front load wash and dryer and really like them.

We're looking at houses tonight and two of the places have the sub zero fridge that's built in. If you can swing that, that's the way to for sure.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

oshensurfer

You may be onto something, THANKS! I've never had these kind of appliances before! I'll have an electrician check. Just found out that the small refrigerator is just out of the one year warranty so the circuit board will cost me $300 plus labor. Shocked

Also found out that Viking's are "special" sizes so I can't go to Sears and buy a little fridge to fit, it's built into the cabinets. Evil or Very Mad

I'm strange with appliances; I like what works, not necessarily the looks. Most important thing for me in fridge is how well it makes ice cubes. I hate cubes that melt too fast. Don't think anyone can beat Kenmore. Don't think anyone ever has.

DL, I do like the looks of SubZero. Put that with my favorite looking cooktop and we could have one heck of a cooking party! The Molteni stoves are suppose to cook as good as they look. If they do, the food should be out of this world.

This is my favorite, looks like a piece of artwork.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

booby bunny · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

We have Kenmore elite in our kitchen. We went with the bottom freezer trio thing. It has been okay. They have compression issues. The key is to tell sears that you have an infant in the home... and have to have service with in 48 hours. Otherwise, you will wait 2 weeks for them to come out, 2 weeks for them to get the compressor ordered and in, and 2 weeks for them to come out and put a new compressor in. If you have an infant... it all has to be done within 48 hours.

The dishwasher has had no problems, and the cook-top and ovens are fine.

I think stainless is a fad played out. We have white/black combos, and it looks like a home, not some wanna be restaurant. Wink