Choosing the Right Appliance, the Right Way

by David Donovan

Oh no! Your refrigerator is on the fritz and you’re at risk of losing all of your refrigerated food!

Hooray! You’re going to get a new refrigerator after all this time making due with that old one!

A Catch-22 if there ever was one, the trauma of having an appliance go bad combined with the excitement of getting a new one to replace it. But replacing that old trusty appliance isn’t as easily done as you might think. Today, there are so many different varieties of the same appliance that it really takes some consideration (or at least it should) before choosing the new appliance for your home.

Some of the things you need to consider when looking to replace an appliance are cost, functionality, energy usage, warranty and of course, the size of the new appliance. Let’s look at each consideration.

Cost – Cost is the primary determining factor when shopping for a new appliance. Sometimes an appliance going bad is an unforeseen occurrence and the homeowner isn’t financially prepared for it. For this consumer, function over flash plays a key role and a refurbished appliance may suit them best. For a better understanding of refurbished appliances and the pros and cons that go along with buying them, click HERE for our companion article. Other consumers may not have financial restraints and may simply be remodeling their kitchen or laundry room. For this consumer, brand name recognition is probably a criterion. In the end, your budget will tell you which appliance you’re going to get.

Functionality – Functionality usually goes hand in hand with cost. The more elaborate and feature-packed the appliance is, the higher it’s more likely to cost. Again, it depends on what you want out of your appliance. Do you absolutely need a refrigerator with a water or ice dispenser or are you just as happy filling up a glass at the sink?

Energy Use – Most appliances today come with the yellow Energy Guide label affixed to them. This informative sticker provides a wealth of information on how much energy the appliance uses and it can help you in choosing the most energy efficient appliance for your home. If the Energy Guide label confuses you, then simply click HERE for a detailed explanation of how to understand one.

Warranty – The standard warranty on the appliance is important. While some manufacturers offer extended warranties, they can get pricey. If the standard warranty is a decent one, then you know that the manufacturer expects their product to last at least that long if not longer. An appliance with a one-year warranty tells me that the manufacturer is either not confident in this model or they are trying to make a quick buck by practically forcing an extended warranty.

Size – One of the most evident considerations, but one rarely given, is the size of the new appliance. With a dizzying array of heights and widths available on today’s appliances, it can be easy to head home from the store with an appliance that’s too big for the space left behind by the last one. Properly measuring –not the old appliance, but the space where the appliance will be going – is necessary before shopping for a replacement. By measuring the space allowed, you can definitely be sure you’re buying an appliance that will fit within the space. I suggest always taking your tape measure to the store with you to double check measurements against the floor model of the appliance you’re considering.

The bottom line when buying a new appliance is whether or not you actually need to replace the old one. Is your appliance simply acting up but otherwise working fine? If so, then there are a number of articles on this site that can help you troubleshoot your appliances. Perhaps you would save money by having your current appliance repaired instead of buying a new one outright. Sometimes, it’s a simple fix that you can manage yourself or an inexpensive repair that is all that’s needed to get your appliance back up and running. But then again, there’s nothing quite like getting a new washing machine!