How-To Tips for Choosing Your Kitchen Appliances

Electronics & Appliances>Buying Tips | Smart

June 19, 2018

Refrigerator

  • Determine how much space you have in your kitchen (and the doorways you’ll need to fit it through) and how much space you’ll need in your fridge.
  • Once you’ve addressed the available space and the needed space, consider these options:
    • Top-mounted freezer model - Offers the least interior capacity and requires you to bend down to the refrigerator area.
    • Bottom-mounted freezer model - Offers the same capacity as the top-mounted, but puts the refrigerator at eye level.
    • Side-by-side model - The most popular model, and offers more vertical interior space, tall and narrow doors with convenient access to both fridge and freezer, and is better for low-clearance areas.
    • French-door model - Features two half doors to the fridge with freezer drawer below, and is better for low-clearance areas.
  • Also think about what type of convenience features you want, like filtered water and ice through the door, crisper bins, adjustable shelves, digital temperature controls and more. These come with a price, but with the Synchrony HOMETM Credit Card, you can take advantage of greater buying power to help you get everything you want in a refrigerator! Visit mysynchrony.com/welcomehome to learn more.

Range

  • Decide between a gas or electric stovetop and what burner style you want.
    • Electric coils are the least expensive, but the hardest to clean.
    • Induction burners heat up quickly, use less energy and are easy to clean.
  • Measure your available space and the range before you buy! The standard width is 30 inches, but can measure up to 36 inches or more.
  • How much space do you need in your oven? Be sure you know the standard oven compartments: 5 cubic feet for a freestanding range, and 3 cubic feet for a wall oven.
  • Add additional convenience features as desired, including convection cooking, temperature probes that can alert you to cooking status, and knobs versus digital controls.

Vent Hood

  • Decide whether you need a ducted or non-ducted hood.
    • Ducted - Elements are exhausted outside the house.
    • Non-ducted - Elements are filtered and air is recirculated back into the kitchen.
  • Be sure to size your hood around the size of the range. It must cover the full width of the range, and at least 50 percent of the front burners.
  • The strength is based on the amount of air it moves, measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). The Home Ventilating Institute recommends a minimum of 40 cfm for every foot of range.
  • Choose how it will need to be mounted: under cabinet, wall- or ceiling-mounted chimney or a custom built-in.

Dishwasher

  • Figure out the right size for your kitchen, based on the available space and the load size you will need. The common width is 24 inches. Do you entertain or do heavy cooking? You may want to size up. Remember to measure your kitchen and the appliance before buying.
  • Pay attention to features like adjustable racks, soil sensors, noise, and cycle and control options to decide what would benefit you the most.

1Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Promotional financing offers available at the time of purchase may vary by location. See store for details.

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