Before we move into the new house, we're going to need new appliances and are starting to go insane with all the options out there. Refrigerator and washer/dryer are a must since they won't come with the house. It currently has the original 1980 wall oven and countertop range (with downdraft ventilation). We're currently budgeting about $1500 for each (washer/dryer combined) and might replace the stove if we have enough left over.
We've pretty much decided on the Maytag Neptune washer/dryer and a Jenn-Air slide-in range/oven but are at a loss for the refrigerator. We've heard that both Maytag and Fridgidare suffer from high repair rates (which was backed by Consumer Reports). We at least know we want a side-by-side model but there are still too many variables. We've found that Samsung has some nice models with a lot of features for the money, but I haven't been able to find anything about how well they perform or hold up.
So what opinions do you all have to offer? And would you recommend extended service plans (Lowes has a 3-appliance package that will offer coverage for 4 years beyond the first for a total of $199)?
Thanks in advance for the feedback, Cy
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
I bought a Amana side by side fridge new when I moved into my current house and it has never had one single problem except for a light bulb burned out. The ice maker and water dispenser still work perfect.
I never purchase any extended warranties for my appliances. I don't care for most of them start when the unit is new and most units come with a 1 year factory warranty anyway. Pretty much now, if you have an appliance that needs to be repaired, you can go to the internet to get the repair help for free and just purchase the needed part. Posted by Sideshow (Member # 1231) on :
Cy, my opinion is not to worry about all the research and such. I would simply select a retailer that you are comfortable with and then select something from them that you like and suits your needs. For example, I've had great customer service from Sears on several items and wouldn't hesitate to buy a major appliance from them because I know that if I have problems they'll take care of it. Besides, I would think that most major appliance retailers are selling quality appliances anyway.
I wouldn't purchase extended warranties myself either.
Posted by Cavy Dan (Member # 1352) on :
Sideshow has a point....the retailer in which you buy your major appliances shoudl be taken into account as well. I've also heard that Sears is very good (as well as prices).
As far as brands...I've heard good things from Kenmore (make the best dishwashers that i know of!) as well as Whirlpool (my brother and wife fully furnished their entire house with Whirlpool products when they built their house 3/4 years ago), and Frigidaire.
My parents have a GE fridge as well as washer/dryer and replaced the fridge and dryer a few years ago after having their previous ones for 20+ years! 2 cents...
Good luck! Posted by MaryandRalph (Member # 244) on :
Over the years we have bought all of our major appliances from Sears. We always shopped the other big "Box" stores and ended up going back to Sears. They are competitive on price and have the service network to handle any problems. Plus depending on the size of the store they have most of the major brands available.
Posted by Bandit (Member # 1867) on :
We have a Kenmore (sears) works great. Most of our kitchen stuff is Kenmore or Hotpoint.
Posted by HotWheelSS aka HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
I suppose I could tell you all this at dinner on Friday, but oh well....here goes.
I've been thinking a lot about appliances as we get ready to build our house. I've been using the minimal size units to get by until I can get what I really want. Because I often end up cooking at many different people's houses for the whole group on weekends, I've had the opportunity to compare many combinations and brands.
Forget the extended warranty. The chance of something breaking in the first 5 years is minimal, and appliances are simple enough to do most fixes by yourself. http://www.appliancestuff.com/
Check the reliability records on Maytag and Jenn-Air again. There really are less expensive brands with same or higher quality. A recent Consumer Reports listed appliance ratings. I really like our front load washer & dryer (they're also stackable). They are extremely sturdy, hold a LOT of laundry, use little soap, and were considerably less expensive than the Neptune series. We've had 6 years of trouble-free use so far, and got a nice Energy Tax Credit and rebate for their efficiency ratings.
Also, check cross-brands. i.e. Kenmore/Roper/Whirlpool/KitchenAid, etc. One may be considerably more than the other in price, but be the same product and parts, especially in dishwashers. It definitely doesn't have to be the most expensive one to work well. There are nice energy efficient ones available for around $300 and still rated a Consumer Reports Best Buy.
Side by Side refrigerators don't provide as much room as a stacked model and they aren't as efficient. I hate having to reach with two arms for something in the back of a side by side and not having elbow room. Side by sides are just too cramped. Pizza boxes are an example of something that doesn't fit well in either side (unless you go side by wide, but they are really spendy). A fridge on the top and small freezer on the bottom is a more efficient use of cubic square feet. Since the fridge is used more, it's convenient on top by being a direct reach-in. A fridge/freezer combo is fine for ice cream or ice cubes, but not for storing food for long term (there's a lot of temperature fluctuation from frequent use). Long term frozen food should be stored in a chest freezer (they aren't very expensive). A chest freezer is accessed less than a combo unit and is able to maintain a steady, colder temperature (zero), and preserves the food better. Also, the cold doesn't spill out of a chest freezer when opened the way a combo unit does. Question: What is it about ice out of most home ice cube makers....why do they always seem to have a strange, garlicky smell & taste?
As far as ranges go, it all depends on what you like to cook on. Ceramic cooktop models are easy to clean, but from my experience with them, are usually smoking hot and difficult to regulate a steady temperature, especially a low simmer. I prefer gas over electric cooking. For me, gas is easier to regulate and it's instant heat. No waiting for elements to come up to temp and fluctuate off & on. Electric ovens are more consistent in temperature than gas, but again, it's a matter of personal preference and experience. A gas cooktop with electric convection oven combination is becoming more common and would be what I'd choose.
Something I've heard from other people, and something to think about when making a big meal is, if one side of the range is a grill or griddle, two burners on the other side just aren't enough. An ideal situation is a 4-5 burner stove where you can use a portable cast iron griddle for those occasional weekend pancake feeds, but have all the burners available for the 90% of the time when you really need them. Indoor grilling eventually makes a horrible greasy mess, even when a draft hood or fan is used. The condensation carries the grease all over the kitchen and it sticks everywhere. The outdoor BBQ grill is much better and you haven't lost half your range space to something you don't use regularly.
A long diatribe, but you asked for opinions!
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
Kenmore in my opinion is the best. No problems at all with them. Had a Maytag washer and had to have them come out and take it back because it broke down after a month. Got a replacement and that too went bad. They took it back, gave me a refund and went and bought a whirlpool washer. No problems ( knock on wood ). Posted by Big A (Member # 1761) on :
If you buy a dishwasher, stay away from Bosch. While it does an outstanding job of cleaning it's too expensive to keep running. I bought the top of the line at cost, which was still expensive and it has broken down three times in 5 years with the cost of repairs from $100-$150 for parts each time and I supplied the labor. The worst part of the Bosch experiance is there VERY POOR customer service. My parants have had there Maytag Neptune washer/dryer for two TROUBLE FREE years. Thats a good choice. I've had Jenn-Air products in the past but nothing current. You might want to check some other similar products which are as good as or better than Jenn-Air for much less money. I've had an Amana side buy side for 12 years with only one inexpensive repair. You'll fine that most everything is made in Mexico or Asia with the exception of brands like Viking and other expensive brands, $4000-$20000 for a refrigerator, are made here.
Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
Thanks for all the feedback, everyone.
Posted by Opie (Member # 2007) on :
It is hard to beat Kenmore and Sears does stand by thier products.
Posted by blkragss02 (Member # 1801) on :
quote:Originally posted by Opie: It is hard to beat Kenmore and Sears does stand by thier products.
Very true! Posted by mhayman (Member # 146) on :
GE has been very reliable for me. Last year we just got rid of an old GE refrigerator that my parents had given to me years ago. They had it for over 20 years and it was still running fine when I gave it away. My company (real estate developer) also uses GE appliances for all the new homes and apartments. They have found them to be the best value and least trouble.
I have access to a GE appliances website (through my office) that offers INCREDIBLE savings. Last year we bought a new refrigerator, washer and dryer for $1200. We saved almost $200 on the washing machine alone compared to the prices at the local stores. Hopefully we won't need to repair or replace those anytime soon and they haven't had any troubles so far.
quote:Originally posted by HotWheelSS aka HTWLSS: Question: What is it about ice out of most home ice cube makers....why do they always seem to have a strange, garlicky smell & taste?
It is mainly due to the quality of the water used. If you have bad ice or water, install a R.O. system (a GOOD one, not the sale item at Home Depot) and you will see a huge difference. The ice test - see how clear your ice is. Bad water gives cloudy ice, good water gives clear ice. As water freezes, all the "bad" stuff compresses in the center of the cube. A bad ice cube is cloudy. A good ice cube is clear on the outside with a little cloudiness in the middle. A perfect cube would be clear. Ever notice how you can buy ice that have holes in the center? All the bad stuff is gone!!!
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