Appliance
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April 17, 2017
New Appliance Finishes
Review of the Latest Appliance FinishesChoices of Appliance Finishes Abound at UAKCThe last half of the 20th century began with most appliances having porcelain enamel on steel cabinets. Porcelain was durable and easy to clean, but the manufacturing process was expensive, porcelain was subject to chipping, and was not environmentally friendly. Eventually, porcelain enamel disappeared in appliance cabinets to be replaced by steel with powder coat painted exteriors or stainless steel. In the last decade, we've begun to see some different choices in appliance exteriors. While painted surfaces remain a standard for base appliances, more expensive stainless steel is enormously popular. In recent years, we've seen new smudge-proof Frigidaire and fingerprint resistant stainless steel in Maytag brand and others. They're still stainless steel, but they have properties that eliminate or greatly reduce the possibility of smudges and fingerprints. European luxury brand, Miele, has introduced a fingerprint resistant steel called CleanTouch, as a replacement to stainless steel.Even more recently, Black Stainless Steel has hit the appliance market and appears to be taking off. Black Stainless Steel is essentially stainless steel base metal with black painted finish. KitchenAid was the first to Black Stainless Steel, and it seemed to take off slowly. But now, it is available in more brands and seems to be rapidly taking hold as an alternative to the shiny stainless steel we see everywhere. Here are some of the brands that are now offering Black Stainless Steel appliances:Brands offering Black Stainless SteelKitchenAidSamsungLGDacorMaytagFrigidaire -
March 20, 2017
Smart Appliances at UAKC
What to look for in Smart AppliancesSmart Choices at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterWhat's a smart appliance?There's more than one definition, but for our purposes here we're going to say that a smart appliance has some degree of connectivity. It might be as simple as an app that notifies you if your refrigerator door has been left open for some period of time. Or it might be remotely pre-heating and cooking a roast from your smartphone. All of this may sound wonderful, but there are pros and cons.Is it safe?Some manufacturers, as well as UL (Underwriters Laboratory) have expressed views on limiting remote capabilities for certain products. For example, should a remote app for ovens allow consumers to put their ovens through a self-clean cycle while nobody is home? Even remotely operating a cooking appliance of any sort has some consumers wary. One manufacturer has a remote app that can be set to operate only by Bluetooth which gives the homeowner complete use of remotely operating the appliance only within the house.How much is the premium for Smart Appliances?The first refrigerator with a TV built into the door launched over a decade ago and retailed close to $10,000. It really had little functionality, and failed miserably. Today, Samsung has a Family Hub refrigerator with a 21" tall wi-fi enabled full-featured communications center in the door and cameras inside that can be viewed remotely eg. from the grocery store with the Samsung app. The Samsung Family Hub refrigerator retails for $5800. -
March 13, 2017
Guideline for New Kitchen Appliances
Preferences, Necessities, and BudgetThere is lots of online advice on choosing new kitchen appliances. But honestly, this can be a difficult process. Some will say, "Start with your budget." Makes sense, doesn"t it? But if you haven't purchased appliances in years, and don't know for sure what you're going to need or what things cost, it's like trying to hit a bullseye wearing a blindfold!On the other hand, just going out blindly looking for appliances seems rather foolish also. You don't know what you don't know, so where do you start? Here is how you might proceed. What is your current status? Building new, remodeling, or just a straightforward appliance update. Make a tentative timeline from now to completion. Eventually, you're going to need a hard schedule. Get started now. Think of the end state. How do you picture your new kitchen in your mind? It's totally OK to to dream a bit. Close your eyes and think of what you hope your new kitchen will look like. Check your favorite home magazines, and clip photos of what you like! My favorite online site for new kitchen ideas is Houzz. Think about a budget. Whether it's $10,000 for a built-in refrigerator, or for all your kitchen appliances, you're going to need to start with a number. Here are the basic product categories you're likely to consider. The categories are necessities. Make sure you get the features that are important to you, eg. refer icemaker and dispenser, self-cleaning oven, quiet dishwasher -
January 23, 2017
Black Stainless - The latest Appliance Color
Latest Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterBlack Stainless SteelA quick look around the major appliance displays at the January 2017 *IBS/KBIS confirmed that the new color/finish Black Stainless is THE big trend in appliance colors. Of course, stainless steel is not going anywhere. In a recent survey, 72% of respondents opted for stainless steel. Truth is, there are tons of appliance colors out there. The custom high end range company BlueStar offers several hundred colors, many of them quite stunning. Luxury appliance brands such as Viking, Bertazzoni, La Cornue, and others also offer their appliances in a variety of colors. But for many of us these brands might not be realistic options, and the bright colors aren't for everyone.Voilà! Black Stainless is here to save they day. It's new and it's different. It really looks classy, but I wouldn't call it bold or risky. After all, it's a combination of the two most popular appliance colors. As near as I can determine KitchenAid was the first major appliance brand to offer Black Stainless steel. Recently, Samsung jumped on the Black Stainless bandwagon, followed now by Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, Electrolux, and LG. I do know that some supplementary brands are on board with this new finish such as Sharp (microwaves) and at least one of the vent hood manufacturers, Zephyr.I think Black Stainless looks good in the photos, but even better when you see it and touch it. Believe it -
January 05, 2017
Happy New Year! Time for New Appliances?
New Year Resolution: New AppliancesWelcome to 2017. Have you finished your New Year Resolutions? This may be a good time to consider some new appliances. The appliance industry is coming off a great year and there are lots of new appliances available just loaded with popular features. The competition among brands is fierce, so there are savings galore. Do you like to save money on closeouts? Universal Appliance and Kitchen is very opportunistic when it comes to picking up good deals on discontinued models. Here are a is just one that caught my eye from the UAKC website.Kitchenaid KBFS20ECMSKitchenaid 20' French Door Counter Depth RefrigeratorYour Price: $2,399.0033% Off: - $800.00Outlet Price: $ 1,599.00Limited to Stock On HandI owned this refrigerator for several years. It may be my favorite refrigerator ever. I love the French Door design, and the fact that it was counter depth. I also liked the handy water dispenser inside the door, and the clean look on the outside. We had to leave it when we moved, and my wife wanted a side-by-side dispenser model. Guess who won that argument? But it was another KitchenAid. By the way, even though I once worked for this company, I can tell you this is a great buy.Take a look at other closeouts by clicking on the link below:UAKC CLOSEOUTSBut, you don't have to get a closeout to get a great deal at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. They not only have a great selection of brands and models for every -
December 16, 2016
Buy Appliances Now for Best Deals
3 Reasons you should buy appliances NOW.While there is always a chance for prices to rise, there is a very strong possibility that appliances will go up in 2017. Therefore, the 2016 year ending is especially a time to seriously consider buying appliances before the year end - Especially, if you already expect to be purchasing any new appliances in the coming year. Here's why: 1. The housing market is strong. One of the biggest factors driving appliance sales is new home building. The housing market was strong in 2016, and indications are that it will be at least this strong in 2017. Therefore, appliance sales should stay strong and even increase in 2017. With demand steady and even on the rise, prices will likely tic upward.2. New household formation is growing. New appliance purchases increase with new household formations, which are growing as more Millennials begin to pair up, form households, and purchase home goods including major appliances. This will also help push appliance prices upward.3. Appliance replacement cycles have shortened.Buyers have become less willing to pay for durability, more interested in advanced technology, and features, and more willing to replace appliances sooner.These three factors combine to make it very likely that we'll see some price increases in the near future. Since many appliance manufacturers will be issuing new price lists after the year end. January 2017 may bring a number of upward price moves. Potential appliance buyers should anticipate not only price sheet increases, but also for a -
November 11, 2016
Wolf Countertop Appliances from Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
Get your countertop appliances at UAKCSub Zero Wolf is famous for their Built-In Refrigerators and Professional Style Ranges, but that's not the end of the story. Wolf also has a collection of top notch high-end countertop appliances. They're perfect for a Holiday Gift AND they're available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Wolf countertop appliances include a countertop oven, 4-slice and 2-slice toasters, and blender. Here are just two of the collection: With the Wolf Gourmet blender and countertop oven working together, the possibilities are endless. Roasted vegetable soups, classic coffee cakes, hearty frittatas, savory pies, and streusel-topped muffins are just the beginning. Here's a recipe for Grandma's Apple Cake:BEFORE YOU STARTPreheat the oven to Bake 350°F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with the softened butter. Set aside.PREPARATION METHODAdd 1 cup almonds and rolled oats to the blender. Select Manual/Lo and press start. Gradually increase the speed to Speed 8 and blend until almonds and oats are finely ground, about 20 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Whisk to combine. Set aside.Add oil, sour cream and apples to the blender in the order listed. Select Manual/Speed 5 and pulse until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and pulse to combine. Transfer dry ingredients to blender and pulse just until combined. Pour batter into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup sliced almonds evenly on top of batter.Bake until tester inserted into the center -
October 23, 2016
New Kitchen Appliance Trend
Get trending appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterBuilt-In Coffee MakersThe booming business in built-in coffee makers has caught many industry experts by surprise. Built-in coffee makers have been around for quite a while, but there has been limited demand until recently. European luxury appliance brands such as Miele, Gaggenau, and Thermador have had built-in coffee makers for many years. But now, U.S. competitors in the luxury space such as Wolf have added coffee makers, and other super premium brands such as Jenn-Air and Bosch have also entered the space.While built-in coffee makers are hardly a necessity, customers are stretching their appliance budgets to acquire automatic coffee makers in many kitchen remodels, and new semi-custom and custom homes. There are a host of feature differences from one device to the next. Some models can be connected to plumbing while others have water tanks that require filling by hand. One built-in coffee maker even stores your whole coffee beans and grinds them on demand. Other options may include automatic cleaning features, one or two cups simultaneously, frothing features, cappuccino option, and more.It's a good idea to do your research, or consult the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. -
October 07, 2016
Small Appliances are Booming
Thinking Small (small appliances) at UAKCDeluxe 24" Appliances Now Available in SouCalUniversal Appliance and Kitchen Center has long been known for having the best selection of major appliances in all Southern California. That selection has been growing with all the new European sized 60cm. wide appliances that have been launched in the U.S. (60cm. is approximately 24 inches).For decades the standard size for U.S. ranges, cooktops, ovens, and hoods has been 30", and most single family homes today include 30" wide base and upper cabinets. However, for various reasons, there are large numbers of housing units in Southern California that have 24" wall and base cabinets that need 24" wide appliances. All the popular U.S. brand 30" wide ovens, ranges, and vent hoods won't fit in these cabinets, so only basic 24" apartment models have been available. That's all in the past, as new products are now available for 24" cabinets at a variety of price points and with a variety of features. For example, here is a new Bertazzoni stainless steel 24" wide gas range, a nice upgrade from a U.S. standard model. If you're looking for a full suite of built-in appliances in this category, you might start with Bosch, a European appliance manufacturer with a great reputation. Bosch is a premium brand, that has great quality, and at a price below the luxury category. Miele is also a European brand with a good selection of European size (60 cm) wide appliances. -
September 13, 2016
Who's on First?
Sorting out AppliancesChoosing the right washing machineWhen you're choosing a new washing machine several factors come in to play, and effect our decision. Here are a few of them.Size:You need a machine big enough to do the job. Tub size can matter, but remember that front load machines will hold more than equivalent sized top load machine, and sorting and frequency of washing need to be factored in when selecting tub size.Cost:Everyone has a budget. Appliances can seem expensive, but think about the life span and how often you use your washer.Features:There are an abundance of features on today's washing machines. Make sure to take advantage of this, and don't buy a stripped down machine. I remember hearing about a customer who insisted on the most basic washer available, and later complained that it lacked a permanent press cycle.Brands:Brands DO make a difference, and it's easy to get confused. For example, the Whirlpool Corporation owns and manufactures several appliance brands, eg. Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air. However, that does not mean that these brands are the same. For example, Whirlpool laundry products are high quality and hugely popular. Even though Maytag washers and dryers are made by Whirlpool Corp, there are significant differences between Maytag and Whirlpool. Maytag has many heavy duty, commercial parts, that are absent on the Whirlpool as well as a longer warranty and a higher price. You may need advice in choosing between the Whirlpool and the Maytag and weighing the value of heavy duty
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