How to Choose the "Right" Air Conditioner

 

I received a frantic text from my daughter the other afternoon. Her bedroom air conditoner had broken, and she wanted to purchase and install a replacement unit before the weather heated up.

Now, at least at the time of this writing (Wed. May 1), we have been experiencing a cooler than normal spring.  Personally, in my house we have our bedroom air conditioner installed, but still haven't needed to turn it on.  But!! - hot weather will be upon us anytime now, so I thought this would be a good time to discuss air conditioner purchasing.

Most people who come into our showroom have at least some sense of the amount of space they want cooled.   If you're not sure, the link below is one of many good sizing charts:

https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=35138

NOTE!! These guidelines are meant to apply to a single room space!  

(If you are trying to cool multiple rooms or floors, the sizing gets trickier.Ideally, you should consider buying a separate air conditioner for each space in your home.  

For example, I have four units in the ranch that I own:  three small units for each bedroom, and one larger unit for the kitchen/dining room/living room.   Cold air doesn’t “travel” well, as it naturally sinks as it moves away from the air conditioner.   If you have no choice but to use one large unit for multiple rooms, ceiling and stand-up fans help move the cold air into the farther rooms.  You want to keep the cool air moving!)

We want to "size" your unit correctly - and bigger is not necessarily better!! Air conditioners dehumidify at the same time that they cool, and oversized units actually can cool a room too quickly, resulting in a room that can be cool but still feel "clammy".

(Frigidaire #FHWC124WB1)

Yes!! Knowing the area size is important, but there are other factors to consider, such as:

Where is the unit going?

The most popular type of unit is the traditional window unit, which is designed to fit into a double-hung window with expandable flaps to fill the window space. 

(A word of caution here:  Window widths vary, as do the widths of air conditioners!  Knowing the width of the inside sill of your window will help us make sure the unit you select will actually fit!)  

Other types of units include:

**Portable units: these wheel around and duct hot air and humidity out of the room with a hose that is roughly the size of a dryer vent.

**Through-the-wall units: these can be mounted into “sleeves” built into a wall in a person’s home.  These are very common in condo and apartment complexes.

**Window units with a “slide-out chassis”: these are usually larger BTU units that can be adapted for through-the-wall installation.

 What type outlet do I need? 

Nowadays most air conditioners up to 15,000 BTU can run on a standard 15 amp circuit (the type of plug you use for lamps, televisions, etc.)  Larger units require larger amp circuits.  Check the outlet type in your wall before buying!

How quiet will my unit be?

Even "quiet" air conditioners are going to make noise!  The pricier units (and "pricier" may only mean a few extra dollars) are usually quieter than so-called basic units, but no room air conditioner is going to be silent!   Also, take note that decibel ratings for air conditioners are not standardized (as with dishwashers, for example) so manufacturer claims for noise - or lack thereof - should be taken as guidelines only.  

                                          

 

                                                                   

(The GE AWES08WWF)                                                         

                                                                                                                    

Here at Manny's, we offer air conditioners in sizes ranging form 5,000 BTU bedroom sized units up to  32,000 BTU units for large office spaces.  Bring us your specifications and wants, and we will find a unit that properly meets your needs!

If you have any questions, you can reach out to a sales professional at any of our ten (Soon to be eleven - our Shrewsbury showroom will be opening very soon!!) showrooms listed here on our website.

Can I get a washer in a color besides white?

 I get asked the above question frequently.  Sometimes, especially in more modern homes with open floor plans and kitchens designed for convenience,  washers and dryers are placed in high-visibility areas.  Sometimes a customer simply wants a change of pace, something besides the ubiquitous white washer/dryer pair of the past several decades.

So, back to answering that question, "Dave, can I get a washer in a color besides white?", the answer is, "Why yes you can!"   Today, there are actually quite a few color options, including reds and blues that are not available as options on kitchen appliances.

(I'll segue here for a moment.  If you are in the market for laundry, and would like an overview of options, check out my blog post here 

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5695512488839797470/173006773987333655

To give an example, below is a picture of LG and Electrolux washer-dryer stacks, or "towers".  The LG, on the right, is available in bright, cherry red.  The Electrolux piece is in their "Titanium" option.

(Electrolux ELTE7600AT on the left, and the LG WKEX200HRA)

By the way, LG also makes their tower in green (and no, I don't have it on display    

Suppose you want a primary color, but that red is just a bit too bright for your taste?   Well, GE has a Sapphire Blue color on two of their front load sets:

(GE GFW850SPNRS in Sapphire Blue)

Next, here's a pic of a brand new shade of blue, "Glacier Blue" to be exact, courtesy of Electrolux

To the right, Electrolux dyer ELFE7437AG (Glacier Blue)

Are these colors too out-there for you?  Lots of grey/black stainless options are available, such as the new GE Profile all-in-one washer/dryer, pictured in "Carbon Graphite" (or what you and I might call "Gray":

GE All-in-one combo PFQ97HSPVDS.  (I wrote about this unique product a few months ago on my 8-20 post:)

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5695512488839797470/5337393826347161297

A few thoughts:

1) If you are shopping for laundry, you will find that the "non-white" options vary not just from brand to brand, but sometimes model to model within the brand.  Also, should you purchase a washer in a color but not the matching dryer, there is no guarantee that color will be available in the future.

2) You will usually have to "step" one or two models above a manufacturer's basic model to have color options available.

3) You might also have noticed that my examples are all front-loading machines.  Top loading washers are more likely to be available in white only.  The LG dryer below is an exception.

LG "top-load style" gas dryer DLGX7901BE)

As always, if you have any questions you can reach out to a sales professional in any of our ten (soon to be eleven!) showrooms... or shoot me an email.  We're all happy to help you in your purchase!!

Should I buy a Scratch-and-Dent Appliance?

                                                                              

     
                                                                             

Take a look at the two pictures above. Do you notice the green sale tags?  These are examples of open-box appliances, or what is more commonly known as "scratch and dent".  I took these photos from merchandise tagged and ready for sale on our Westfield showroom, which is where you can find the majority of our open-box items.  (Full disclosure:  I work out of the Westfield store.)

Now, using the term scratch-and-dent does does not always do the individual piece proper justice.  True, some of the pieces are displayed on our sales floors because they are literally scratched or dented.  Because we don't unbox new appliances until we've arrive at the customer's house, we sometimes receive the unpleasant surprise of finding that your new refrigerator or washer was dented or marred at some point during its journey from factory to your home.  

(And, just in case you were wondering why we don't uncrate and repack the appliances before delivering them, we've learned that this extra handling only increases the number of cosmetic damage issues, especially considering the types of minimal packaging often used to ship these products.)

Some of the reasons we might discount a piece as open box include:

1. The model might be discontinued.  At this point we usually discount the demo model - with full original warranty - to make room for the new model.
2. The model was ordered by mistake.  Sometimes this is the fault of the customer.  And yes, sometimes it's our fault.  The most common reasons are: wrong color, wrong size, wrong fuel (gas vs. electric).  Mistakes do happen!
3. Performance service issues. Sometimes the appliance does not perform properly.  Maybe the refrigerator isn't keeping temperature, or the dryer won't shut off at the right time.  At Manny's we're proud to have a full service department and can repair just about any product that we sell, but sometimes the repair cannot be performed properly or quickly, and we have to exchange the product.  Once exchanged, we will then repair the appliance and then ship it to one of the stores to sell at a reduced price.
4. The model is dented or scratched out of the box.  This does happen.  Sometimes we deliver a product in a pristine box, only to discover the unit is banged up.  (At this point we offer the customer two options: a damage allowance, or replacement.  Usually, if the ding is on a door - this happens most often with today's giant refrigerators - we can order a door replacement.  If the damage is more extensive, or if you find the imperfection unlivable, we can take the unit back at the time of delivery and reorder.)

These open box pieces will come with the original manufacturer's warranty - and remember, we are a servicing retailer!  Discounts on these products will be anywhere between 10% up to 50%, depending on the product's condition and history.  And yes, we will deliver these products upon request for our normal delivery fee (see a salesperson for specifics and restrictions.)

                                               An open box dryer wrapped and ready for delivery

Back to original question, now:

"Is an open box product right for me??"

There are lots of good reasons to select a discounted open box appliance, and by far the biggest reason is the discounted price!  Especially in these inflationary times, it can be hard to pass up a bargain!  Often we can find an open box piece to bail a customer out of a challenging situation:  Maybe you have a dead refrigerator or stove, with people coming over tomorrow.   Maybe one piece in a kitchen package is backordered or unavailable, and we have the perfect open box piece to complement the rest of the kitchen, and at a reduced price!

When is open box not a good idea?   Well, if having an appliance that is completely free of blemishes or even minor scratches, then your discerning eye may not want to accept a piece that has been touched and checked out a few times on our sales floor.  Perhaps you simply like the idea of "brand new", the way some people always want to purchase a new car versus a used model.   That's fine - we can always help you with that brand new purchase as well!!

If you have any questions on our open-box appliances (or anything else for that matter) please reach to us at any of our ten (soon to be eleven!!) showrooms.

Endangered Appliance Species Part III - The Portable Dishwasher

 In this article I'd like to finish my look at "endangered" appliance species:  the portable dishwasher!

These machines would be 24" wide (same as a built-in unit), include an adaptor so it could attach easily to your kitchen sink, castors to allow one to wheel the unit back and forth to the sink, and a butcher block top that could double as a work surface. Portable/convertibles usually sold for about $100 more than the equivalent built-in model, but when compared to the cost of plumbing in a built-in unit (not to mention the cost of a plumber!), that upcharge was easy to justify.

(An aside: Portable dishwashers always make me think back to my beginnings in the appliance industry.  Back in November '93 I applied at the now defunct Lechmere in Newington, CT for a seasonal part time job. (For those too young to remember, Lechmere was a popular mid to upscale department chain that sold everything from appliances to audio/video to luggage and compact discs)   By coincidence, the store's GM happened to be walking by and mentioned that they had full time openings in "majors".  Long story short, I took the job, and here I am thirty plus years later still discussing the benefits of dryers and dishwashers!

Every Sunday morning we had to be in the store an hour early to change all the sale tags, removing the tags for last week's promo, and attaching new tags to each appliance.  To make this tedious job easier, we would each borrow a portable dishwasher and take advantage of the butcher block top that was always a feature on a portable, and use these as a portable desk!)   OK, end of aside!

Back in 1994, while the built-in dishwasher had become by far the more popular option, dishwashers were available in both built-in, and "convertible".  Yes, the industry marketed a portable dishwasher as a flexible appliance, one that could be "portable now", and "built-in later."  Talk about convenience, yes??  Most companies had one or two models, and they were available in the "color packs" that were common in all types of pre -2000 dishwashers, where reversible front panels allowed you to choose white, almond, or black to match the rest of your kitchen.*

So...what happened?

First, the American kitchen became larger, and more "upscale".

Consumers began to demand more style in these larger kitchens, and more convenience to assist with their ever-more-hectic lifestyles. Dishwashers became a standard appliance in new or remodeled kitchens.   Portable/convertibles were primarily relegated to apartments, or older kitchens that did not have the proper space and plumbing for a built-in.

Second, dishwashers became, in general, better!  

Cleaning improved, racks became more flexible, water consumption decreased, and noise levels decreased - dramatically!   Upscale dishwasher brands such as Bosch, Miele, Kitchenaid, and others became high-demand status symbols.   These manufacturers did not manufacture equivalent portable models.

Finally, (as in the case with the coil range) manufacturers simply started phasing out models. 

As this took place, the units also became more basic.  For example, the butcher block top of the 90's turned into a utilitarian plastic top.  As the industry realized that very few consumers ever bothered to "convert" their portable into a built-in (personally, I have never sold even a single conversion kit!), that option disappeared.  One by one, model choices for consumers were phased out, until today only two remain.  Both are useful, energy efficient models, with mid to lower-middle feature packages and do a good job cleaning, but the demand for these is close to nonexistent.

To the right is the GE portable dishwasher, Model #GPT225SGLBB, in black.  It is also available in White and Stainless-steel.  Below is the Whirlpool WDP370PAHB.

Now, just in case you are interested,  we at Manny's stock both these models, and are usually available for pickup or delivery within a couple of days.

(One last note:  Portable dishwashers, like built-in models, are still available in an 18" size.  24" is by far the "standard kitchen" size, but there are some applications (cottages, small or in-law apartments) where the six inch space saving is paramount.)

If you have questions or comments on any of the above, please reach out to us, either at my email below, or by contacting any of our ten locations.

* In case you were wondering what happened to the reversible panel option:  Dishwasher color packs went away in the late 90's when kitchen appliances switched to a "monochromatic" look.  As part of this "improved" styling, dishwasher fronts became slightly curved instead of flat, which eliminated the chrome trim pieces that supported the panel packs.  Instead of having a black front dishwasher with your choice of colors for the main panel, the entire front was one color, be it white, almond, black, or beginning in the early 00's, stainless.

Endangered Appliance Species Part 2 - Electric Coil Ranges

Once upon a time the circular, removable coil top range was the latest and greatest in convenience and style, replacing the sluggish, ugly "solid disc" elements that ruled until the 80's.

Smooth top ranges have been the norm since I'd say the late 90's, but I still get customers who have held onto their ranges for decades, and are either choosing (or are forced!) to replace their traditional coil top range.  Generally, they are disappointed to find that the circular, easy-to-pop-out-and-replace coils they became used to have largely disappeared.  Indeed, if you want any features beyond what I would call the essentials (convection oven fans, air-fry options, warming burners for example) then you have no choice but to embrace the glass-ceramic smooth top surface.

For those of you who are intersted, this article chronicles the history and evolution of the smoothtop, including a short piece on Donald Stookey, the "inventor" of the glass ceramic top: 

https://eurokera.com/blog/the-discovery-of-glass-ceramic/

The transition and focus to smoothtops has been gradual over the past three decades.  When I started in this business in the mid-90's both coil and smoothtop ranges were proudly displayed in roughly even amounts, and both types sold briskly.  Today, my sales floor displays exactly one coil range, the uber-popular JB256 (in fact, this range made the list of the top ten appliances SKUs as I mentioned in a prior blog (10-28, should you want to look it up!)

So, yes, you can still purchase a decent, basic coil range.  However... even the coil range has undergone mandatory changes.

Enter the "Sensi-Temp" elements, which are designed to turn off if a pan reaches too hot a temperature (from boiling dry, for example).   This is a mandated safety feature you will find on any coil-top range, and has been the UL code since 2018.

Sensi-temp element.  Notice the center of the element, which has a safety sensor that will turn the burner off once a certain temperature is exceeded.

Smooth top ranges do offer several advantages over coil tops, which is the main reason the appliance industry has slowly "forced" customers into abandonng their coil ranges by simply eliminating options on what is now mostly a price-conscious choice. 

Having said that, coil ranges still are the right choice in certain scenarios:

For example, you may...

1. Use cast or glass pots on the stovetop frequently, and aren't willing to switch to other cookware materials  
2. Need an inexpensive, easy to maintain range for a rental property or starter home  
3. Have a small kitchen requiring a 24" or 20" stove.

The advantages of smooth-top ranges are numerous.  I'd say the most important are:

1) Faster heatup time

2) Options to add a warming burner

3) Additional feature options such as double ovens, convection or air-fry ovens, even an induction cooktop.

  (Want to know about Induction tops?  I refer you to one of my earlier blogs, dated May 24 2023.)

4) Contemporary styling

5) Easy cleanup - one surface to clean, not several

6) Durability - smoothtops tend to have less frequent repairs as the top "protects" the heating elements.

Now, if you do prefer the older style coil top range, at least you can take solace in the fact that some are still available.  Technology adavancements do bring change: older customers may still remember those old solid disc burners!  (shown above.  The industry had just about phased these out by the mid 90's when I began selling appliances.)

Below is the previously mentioned GE JB256, with two high speed coils, an extra large oven, lift up top, and a self-cleaning oven.  As I said, this is still a very popular model in the right application.

Next up - The Disappearance of the Portable Dishwasher !!

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https://eurokera.com/blog/the-discovery-of-glass-ceramic/

Endangered Appliance Species Part 1 - Whatever Happened to the Trash Compactor?

I had a customer come into our Westfield store the other day wanting to look at a replacement trash compactor.  He was surprised when I informed him that we had none on display, and seldom field requests for them.

"Why don't people buy compactors?" he asked.

"That's a great question!" I replied.

You would think that in light of today's landill-challenged planet,  a space-saving appliance would be in every hone.  Actually, compactor sales have been in decline since the late 80's, and as of 2019 less than 4% of households contain one.

Why?  What happened?

Some of the more commonly cited reasons include:

1. Smell- compacted food and debris will eventually stink.
2. Weight - a compacted bag of trash can weigh over 30 lbs.   Many people, especially seniors, can have a problem with a bag that heavy.
3. Price - compactors today sell in the $1000-$1200 range. The best selling unit in our distributor year-to-date is the GE UCG1520SS ($1199, $1149 in black or white.)
4. Shape - compactors make a taut rectangular trash bundle.  This often doesn't work well with a circular trash receptacle.

The site Disposable America expands on these points nicely:

https://disposableamerica.org/course-projects/anastasia-day/compactor-failure/

So, What if you do have to replace your compactor?   

As I mentioned above, compactors cost upwards of $1000, and options are limited.  The best selling unit in our distributor year-to-date is the GE UCG1520SS ($1079, $1149 in black or white.)   https://www.mannystv.com/products/GE-Appliances/ge/ucg1520nss.html

Or, What if you want to upgrade your kitchen, have a 15" wide (the standard cabinet opening for a compactor), and don't want a compactor in your shiny new kitchen?

Well, plenty of refrigeration products are built to fill that 15" space: beverage centers, wine coolers, second refrigerators, even icemakers!  Plan to spend anywhere from $1000 to $3000 on a built-in style secondary unit (built-in units, built for either a 15" or 24" cabinet opening, are designed to work with zero air clearance, and are therefore pricier than a free standing unit.)

A couple of examples:  First, the GE wine cooler PWS06DSPSS

To the right, the Whirlpool wine cooler WUW35X15DS

If these aren't in your price range, other "free-standing" versions of these products are available, usually in the $300-$600 price range.  

How to tell whether a unit is designed to be "built-in"?  The width is the giveaway.  Free-standing products are intentionally NOT 15 or 24".  The manufacturers want to make sure you don't try to build in a fridge that is not designed for that appliacation!

If you have questions on any of this, or would just like help with your remodel project, you can reach out to any of our sales professionals in any of our ten showrooms.

Coming soon- "Whatever happened to the Good Ol' Electric Coil Range?"

Unusual situations (or, Another reason to buy from a local appliance retailer)

"So, David.  Tell me why I should buy from Manny's instead of one of the big retailers?"

I get asked a question like this at least a couple of times a month.  And, to be honest, it is a great and very fair question!  Just what does a retailer like Manny's offer you, the consumer, vs. the Big Box Behemoths out there?

I'll start with some easy answers:

1) We can normally deliver faster.   Often we can send professional delivery personnel to your house 2-3 business days after you order an appliance.   Note --We can also hold your merchandise if you're not quite ready to take delivery.

2) We service what we sell!  With only a few exceptions, we are factory authorized to service your appliance, whether within the manufacturer warranty period, with an extended warranty period (should you have had the foresight to purchase a service contract with us), or outside the warranty period.

3)  EXCLUSIVE REBATES!!  This is a big plus!!  Yes, we have access to manufacturer rebates not available to the so-called Big Box stores.  Manny's is part of the New England Appliance Group, a powerful wholesale buying group.  This group negotiates with the vendors so that its members can offer exclusive rebates to customers - that's on top of any national rebates that are in play.  These rebates can be as large as $1500, and are often in the $300-$600 for three and four piece appliance packages.

Here's a sample rebate:    

These are all excellent reasons to consider Manny's for your next appliance purchase!

Today, I would also like to talk about one more reason that doesn't get brought up as often:

"I have an unusual situation.  I'd like to discuss this with someone who knows what they're talking about."

And yes, this statement also comes up several times a week. Here at Manny's, being a "specialty retailer", one that finds solutions for customers every day, we feel we are better equipped to help you out with these issues.

Some of the questions we get asked include:

• -- The drain spout for my washer is very high.  What can I do about this?  Which washer should I buy?
• -- I'd like an over-the-range microwave that also serves as an exhaust vent, but I don't have very much space above my stove.  What can I do?
• -- Can my range be converted from natural gas to propane? If so, what do I need to do?
• -- My old dishwasher (or stove, or refrigerator, etc.) is only four years old and it's broken.   What are my options?
• -- I'd like a new French Door refrigerator, but I only have 68" in height.  What are my options?
• --I'd like to take advantage of the President's Day promos, but I won't need my appliances delivered for a while. What should I do?
• -- I need to replace my dishwasher, but I can't install it.  Can you help us?
• -- I need to replace an old range that doesn't have a back.  I've heard they've changed over the years.  What should I do?

(Photo of Bosch slide-in range)

You get the idea.  We're specialists!  We've probably run into your scenario before, and can offer advice and solutions to your dilemma.

I like to think that we aren't just salespeople, but appliance consultants.  Take advantage of our expertise and our experience.  Many of Manny's employees, myself included, have been in the appliance industry for decades!

Please reach out to any of our ten stores with your appliance questions or needs.  We look forward to helping you out!