How to Shop for Appliances Online

When you walk into an appliance store today, it’s helpful if you’ve already been shopping online. While salespeople carry a catalog of knowledge in their head about the many brands on the showroom floor, it can be overwhelming to hear it all at once.

If you’ve already done some research, you’ll walk in knowing what you’re looking for, the comparative features that are most important to you, and what you can afford.

Here are some things to consider when shopping online for appliances:

Before you start shopping, determine your wants and needs. What are your colour preferences? What are the dimensions of the available space? What functions and features do you need?

You may still want to start with a quick trip to a local retailer where you can see all the brands in one spot, compare features and prices, and get a true picture in your mind when you go back to the internet.

Next, look at some retailer websites, which can tell you the marketplace price right in your neighbourhood. You can start comparing the services and qualities of one store to the other.

As you narrow down the products and brands you’re most interested in, start searching for product reviews. Begin with third-party product testing sites like Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports (subscription required), or JD Power.

You’ll also find plenty of independent customer reviews online, which you definitely need to take with a grain of salt. Sometimes people are paid to review a product. Other times, a negative review is more a result of bad customer service than an actual problem with the appliance.

People only tend to write a negative review when they have a very bad experience, and a good review if they’ve had a really awesome experience. People who are just happy and satisfied don’t usually share their thoughts. The reviews you see are only a very small percentage of the total number of units sold.

If you know you want a specific brand, then go to manufacturer’s sites to simplify your options, see more reviews, and find out about any manufacturer promotions.

The last online search you’ll want to do is for after-warranty service and non-warranty service for the product you have in mind. How hard will it be to get parts or find an authorized service centre for your purchase?

Buying appliances is the third biggest expense in your life after a house and car, and could be with you for 15-20 years. We certainly want you to be happy with your purchase. Use these tips to narrow down your options, and then let us help you find the best appliance to suit your needs.

Choosing the Right Cooktop For Your New Stove – Gas Versus Radiant Versus Induction

When choosing a new stove, you’ll be faced with deciding between several options that are available today.

• Gas flame burners burn gas and apply heat directly to your cookware.
• Electric radiant burners have coiled metal elements that radiate heat from below.
• Electric induction cooktops create an electro-magnetic field that passes from the stove elements to the cookware (while staying cool to the touch).

Gas

Gas is an appealing choice for those who prefer the flavour of cooking over an open gas flame. Home chefs will also find it easier to control their cooking on a gas stove, because:

• You can make very small adjustments to the height of the flame, and see exactly what you’re working with.
• You can adjust the heat faster with a gas stove. When you turn off the flame it removes the heat right away, which is not the case with other types of cooktops.

It’s worth noting that gas stoves typically cost about 20% less to operate than electric, and are also less costly to repair. If you didn’t previously have a gas stove, you must factor in the initial cost of connecting the gas line from your furnace up to your kitchen, or in some cases putting in a new gas line if you do not have one.

Induction

Induction cooktops are gaining in popularity, because they have many of the benefits of a gas stove without needing a gas line. As soon as you stop the energy transfer from an induction element to the cookware, the heat stops. If something boils over, you can quickly wipe away the mess – definitely not the case on an electric cooktop with coil elements.

Induction cooking is also the most energy-efficient choice. 90-95% of the heat generated is transferred to the pan. This is only 80% in electric radiant burners, and 50% in gas flame burners (yet because gas is so inexpensive to operate, it is still the lowest cost overall).

The final thing to consider before selecting your stove is what type of cookware you already own. Only ferrous metals such as cast iron and stainless steel work with induction elements, and cooking vessels must also have a flat bottom to heat properly. You can use a specially designed metal plate to heat other types of cookware, but you will sacrifice much of the energy efficiency.

Before automatically choosing the most familiar electric range, consider the benefits of gas and induction cooktops, and whether one of these alternatives might be right for you.