House and Home
Displaying 1 - 1 of 0 Articles
Categories
-
July 24, 2017
Keep the old or get a new appliance?
Replace or Repair Your Old ApplianceFix the Old or Go to UAKC to buy a New One How bad is the old one? Is your old refrigerator making grinding noises, and keeping you up at night? Really, if you're worrying about having a refrigerator full of spoiled food, you've got a very good reason to consider a new refrigerator. You should be heading down to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center right now. How old is the old one? If your old refrigerator looks like this: ...then what are you waiting for. Seriously, these days if you get more than 15 years out of your fridge you are ahead of the game. Also, it's not unusual at all for people to hand down a 8-10 year old refrigerator when buying a new home or doing a kitchen remodel. We all have different ways of justifying a new purchase in our mind, and it's certainly reasonable to consider the age and likely failure of an old appliance to justify a replacement. How much is it going to cost to repair the old refrigerator? Well, just the trip charge is likely to cost you in the $50 range, and then there's finding the problem, getting the part which often needs to be ordered, and you know the rest. So, how much are you willing to spend to get your old fridge back in working order? My top price for repairing a refrigerator that is 8 to 10 years old is $250. If it's -
July 22, 2017
Compact Washers and Dryers to fit Your Space
Buyer Advice for New Compact LaundryBest Prices and Best Selection at UAKCFor too many households, the choice for washing clothes has been between using a laundromat, or a dingy public laundry room in the basement of an apartment or condo complex.Today, however, there are often laundry spaces in townhouses, condos, and apartments that are designed for compact laundry installations for owners or renters. Here are three possibilities for space confined laundry.Compact single unit Washer/Dryer ComboLG WM3488HS The LG WM3488HS above is a combo washer/dryer unit that does washing and drying in the same drum. It's only 24" wide, and it fits where others won't. The LG unit above uses a 120v motor to run both the washer and dryer. Of course, drying with 120v. power will take longer than a traditional 240v. unit, but sometimes that's all you have. The dryer is a ventless condenser model. All in all, there is no need for 240v., no need for a gas line, and no need for an exterior exhaust vent. Just hook up to water and drain lines, plug-in, and go. Some users complain about a longer dry time.Single unit Stacked Washer/Dryer GE GUD27ESSJWW Unitized Spacemaker® 3.2 DOE cu. ft. Washer and 5.9 cu. ft. Electric DryerUnlike the single unit LG, the popular downsized GE model above has a washer on the bottom and an electric dryer on the top. The washer is a traditional agitator-type machine, and the dryer is also a traditional dryer in that it must be vented -
July 19, 2017
More Free Stuff
Choose your brand. Buy something. Get free appliances.Free Appliances with Purchase at UAKCIs it too good to be true? The copycat effect is here in the form of free dishwashers and other great appliances. For years, Thermador has been promoting a free dishwasher with the purchase of other select Thermador appliances. Why? Brands are often famous for a single product category. Thermador, is famous for its cooking products. Now a part of BSH, one of Thermador's sister companies is Bosch, a brand that is known for its dishwashers. So, it only makes sense that Thermador dishwashers are manufactured by Bosch. Yet Thermador customers would consistently purchase a Thermador oven, and a Thermador cooktop, and then choose a different brand dishwasher, perhaps a Miele, an Asko, or yes even a dishwasher from their sister company, Bosch. But Thermador wants their customers to buy a kitchen full of Thermador appliances. Voilà, give customers a free dishwasher when they buy other Thermador appliances, too. This package might include not just cooking products, but also Thermador refrigerators, vent hoods, etc.Well, it turned out to be such a good idea that other brands now offer free dishwashers or other appliances, when you select their brands. Right now, if you make a qualifying purchase at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, you can get a free dishwasher or more from the following brands:GE Free Dishwasher RebatePurchase 3 or more qualifying GE Cafe Appliances and recieve a GE Cafe dishwasher valued up to $1000Thermador 1-2-FREE PromotionIgnite your imagination. -
July 17, 2017
Jenn-Air Connected Appliances
Jenn-Air Wall Ovens take voice orders from AlexaSmart Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterJenn-Air® Connected Wall Ovens Respond To Alexa Voice CommandsEasy Upgradability Helps Ensure Ovens are "Future Proof"Jenn-Air® has been a true leader in using technology in their appliances, particularly in cooking products. A few years ago they launched a revolutionary oven with a 7" touch full color screen that serves as a culinary center automatically cooking food to the user's desired doneness. They've continued as an early adopter in "smart" appliances with connected wall ovens, that can be operated with apps for iPhones and Androids, and are tied in with Nest home controls. Now, they can be connected to Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. Here's how it works:Simple voice commands have been created for everything from preheating and setting timers to changing temperatures and cooking modes. For example, while hands are busy prepping and mixing ingredients, preheating the oven to a desired temperature can be initiated simply by saying "Alexa, tell Jenn-Air to preheat the oven to 400 degrees." Owners of Jenn-Air® Connected Wall Ovens can now use their voices, along with the brand’s existing IOS and Android wall oven apps, to control many essential functions of this luxury, high tech appliance. The new voice command feature, enabled by Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, is easily activated using the brand’s free wall oven “Skill,” one of thousands available at the Alexa Skills Store.Jenn-Air® Connected Wall Ovens are already largely controllable using the IOS and Android mobile apps, whether for -
July 15, 2017
Tips for Periodic Appliance Checkups
Maintaining Your Major AppliancesHere are some tips to maintaining, cleaning, and inspecting your washing machine and clothes dryer. You can save time and money by following this advice, and avoid breakdowns, or hazardous situations.Washing Machine It's a good idea to periodically check and replace the fill hoses on your washing machine. If you have rubber hoses, you should consider replacing them with braided stainless steel hoses. It is recommended that you replace your washer hoses every 3-5 years. While you are back there, take a look at the electrical connection. The plug needs to be firmly in place, the cord connection to the washer should have a restraint, and should not evidence any corrosion or burn marks. Also, you should periodically clean the inside of your outer washer tub. Whirlpool makes a cleaner called Affresh for this purpose. There are also a variety of home remedies including using combinations of bleach, vinegar, and/or baking soda. You can discover these cleaning remedies online, or just look on the aisles of your grocery store for washer cleaning products. If you have a front loading washer, pay special attention to cleaning the front gasket, especially at the bottom where it's possible for moisture to settle and mold to grow.Automatic DryerMake a habit of cleaning the lint filter in your dryer once a week. It's also very important to regularly clean the dryer vent. If you're lucky you'll have a short direct vent pipe to the outside that you can clean with a vacuum -
July 14, 2017
Dishwashing Tips for Cleaner Dishes
Three tips for cleaner dishesTry these tips for cleaner dishes, or get a new dishwasher at UAKC Here are three suggestions to make sure you're getting the most out of your dishwasher:1. Don't pre-clean your dishes.Some people want to give their dishwasher a little help by pre-washing their dishes. While you certainly don't want to put your leftover for baked on food in your dishwasher, it is not a good idea to rinse off your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergents contain chemicals that keep food particles removed from the dishes in suspension so that they don't get redeposited on your dishes. If you put only clean dishes in the dishwasher, the detergent will find no dirt particles and wind up as a film on your already clean dishes.2. Hot water gets dishes clean.Typically, dishwashers will heat incoming water to 150 degrees or more depending on the cycle selected. However, the incoming water needs to be 120 degrees for this to happen. Even if your water heater provides water at 120 degrees, if your dishwasher is located too far from the water heater, the hot water may not be hot enough by the time it gets to the dishwasher. My water heater is at one corner of my house, and my dishwasher is clear over at the other corner, as far as it can be from the water heater. We need to run the hot water at the sink near the dishwasher for a few minutes before we -
July 11, 2017
Counter Depth Refrigerators
Why Buy a Counter-Depth Refrigerator?Most appliances have common widths, such as 24" for a dishwasher, and 30" for a standard range. They also have fairly common depths of 24" - 26" inch so they fit fairly snug in 24" - 25" deep cabinets. Refrigerators have a tendency to stick out several inches more, and that's OK since they have storage in the doors, and need room for the doors to open wide and clear the adjacent countertops.However, over the years we've seen a tendency for refrigerators to get even deeper to handle the bigger capacity consumers have requested. For example, it's not uncommon for refrigerator brands to top out at a whopping 27 cu.ft. for a 36" wide freestanding refrigerator. Here's a giant 27.8 cu.ft. refrigerator from GE that is not only 35 1/2 inches wide, it also has a 34 3/4 inch depth (not including handles). That refrigerator will stick out about 10" beyond most cabinets. In many kitchens this is not a problem. Indeed, this 27.8 cu.ft. GE refrigerator is a popular model. But, if you have a galley kitchen, with cabinets on both side of a narrow aisle, you may not even be able to open the refrigerator and freezer doors all the way! Counter-depth refrigerators to the rescue. Unlike the full-depth refrigerators, counter-depth refrigerators are typically only 27"-28" deep. Of course, since they are slimmer than their bigger full-depth models they have less capacity. If kitchen space is an issue, it's definitely worth the trade-off. (I -
July 08, 2017
Getting A Great Dishwasher that's Quiet
Quiet Dishwashers at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterHow much will a good quiet dishwasher cost?Well, you knew this was coming. It depends! There are a lot of variables, depending on what is important to you. The average retail price for a dishwasher in the U.S. is around $500. However, to get the dishwashers with the best cleaning features, longest warranties, and the quietest ratings, you'll need to pay a premium. For example, the very quietest dishwashers available are 40 db or even less, and you can expect to pay near $1,000 and even more for a dishwasher in this category.All dishwashers are not created equal. It is true that better dishwashers cost more money, but there are also diminishing returns for most of us. At some point, the difference of the next $100 spent on added dependability, quietness, and cleaner dishes is not discernible. So, what we've done here is to leave off the entry level products that are advertised by the big box stores. Here are a few great dishwasher brands that have received terrific ratings from several sources and authorities. They'll not only get your dishes clean, they're built to last, and they're the quietest dishwashers in the industry.BOSCHBosch has made a lot of noise over the years, by touting how little noise their dishwasher makes. It's probably fair to say that they invented quiet as an important feature in dishwashers. They're part of BSH, and one of the largest appliance manufacturers in the world. Though they manufacture -
July 06, 2017
A Primer on Washing Machines
Choosing the Best WasherGetting ready to buy a new washing machine? Here is the first decision you'll need to make. There are three basic types of washers to choose from. We describe each washer type below and provide an example from each of the three major brands.1. GE Traditional Agitator Type Top Loader WasherAgitator type washers were the primary type of washing machine used in the U.S. since the post WWII era up to the 2000's. They're still a popular choice for those who want a washing machine like Mom used to have and prefer the high-post agitator in the middle. Here's an example from GE.GE® 4.2 DOE cu. ft. stainless steel capacity washerGTW485ASJWS ENERGY STAR® qualified Stain PreTreat Speed Wash Rotary electronic controls with cycle status lights2. Whirlpool HE Top Load WasherHigh Efficiency top load washers have been around for about twenty years. They're absent the high post agitator of traditional washers. Instead, they have an impeller in the bottom of the tub that turns and moves the clothes in much less water than traditional agitator top loaders, but they still do an amazing job of cleaning clothes. Below is a Whirlpool HE Top Load Washer:4.3 cu. ft. High-Efficiency Top Load Washer with a Low-Profile Impeller Model #: WTW5000DWPresoak Option Deep Water Wash Cycle Clean Washer Cycle with affresh® Washer Cleaner Smooth Wave Stainless Steel Wash Basket Quick Wash Cycle 3. Electrolux Front Load WasherFront load washers have become very popular over the last 20 years. Originally popularized in -
July 04, 2017
Happy Fourth of July
Independence Day ThoughtsCooking, Washing, and Cooling Appliances in 1776When we think of our Founding Fathers, our thoughts go to the grand portraits of Washington and Jefferson and their mansions in Virginia. Of course, life for most people in the 18th century was as the philosopher Hobbes described, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short".CookingCooking was still mostly done over a fire, but in the second half of the 18th century Ben Franklin invented a cast iron stove. An improved version of his invention that vented upwards became popular for decades. Nevertheless, cooking was very rudimentary when compared with the appliances we have today.Cleaning Consider the poor housewife or servant. Washing in the last half of the 1700s, was a planned event, even a community event, which took place sporadically near a stream or river where water in large vats was heated to boil the clothes. Lye and ash were the chemicals of choice, soaps didn't come along until the 1800's, along with wash tubs and washboards.CoolingRefrigerators didn't exist. There weren't even ice boxes. So food preservation consisted of various dried foods, as well as cured meats and fish. A common breakfast and supper might be little more than bread and milk. For diinner (a mid-afternoon meal), fresh chicken, pork, and some beef were staples and wild game and fish were also plentiful in the New World. Corn was common at most meals, potatoes less frequently, as well as seasonal vegetables.Well, "We've come a long way baby." It's interesting to think that
Displaying 1 - 1 of 0 Articles