Black Friday is almost upon us!!

Well, actually, in the major appliance industry "Black Friday" is really "Black November"!  

If you think you might have noticed a big jump by retailers with their tv, radio, or perhaps in social media ads, you're not wrong.  Everyone (Manny's included!) is out there screaming and clamoring for your attention, letting you know that sales and deals are the best of the year.  These days, manufactuerers often reserve their best deals and discounts for November.

It wasn't always this way. Not that long ago, up until sometime in the early 00's the week leading up to Christmas was the busiest retail shopping days, with business reaching its crescendo on December 23 and 24.

What happened?  

Black Friday's origin was most likely back in 1924, when Macy's decided to offer steep discounts in conjunction with their famous Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The term "Black Friday" as a retail event came into vogue in the 80's. By then the Holiday shopping season would run from the day after Thanksgiving up to Christmas, and for many retailers these four weeks were essential to their end of year profit - or even survival.  Hence "Black", meaning "In the black, or showing a profit", versus being "In the red."  The name stuck, and eventually migrated from the U.S. to other countries.

As companies sought (as they always do) to out-do one another, stores began opening earlier and earlier.  Some companies stretched their deals into Thanksgiving Day itself.  As the Internet became more of an influencer, manufacturerers began discounting to retailers on earlier and earlier dates.  For the past few years the discounts we receive begin in early November (November 5th this year, to be precise,) and will run until December 3.  

This gives you four weeks to take advantage of these exciting deals.  So no, you do NOT have to stand in line outside our stores on Thanksgiving afternoon to save more money on your new refrigerator!

I found this link from History.com very useful regarding the history of Black Friday:

https://www.history.com/articles/black-friday-thanksgiving-origins-history

"So just how much can I save on my appliances right now," you ask?

You'll find the savings do vary from model to model, and in some cases color by color on the same model! (The latter can be true on a lot of refrigerators especially, where often we only receive manufacturer's discounts and allowances on the best-selling stainless steel colored model, and not the older colors.)  Our sales professionals can guide you through the pricing labywrinth, and help you find the best deal that meets your needs and wants.

Looking for a basic washer?  Look no further!  We are offering three different top-load Whirlpool brand washers this month for under $500!!

Need to replace that aging refrigerator? Let me offer this GE counter-depth French Door fridge as an example.  Regular retail is $2699 (OK, almost no one ever buys this fridge at that price!)  It frequently goes on sale during promotional periods for $1999 (and is one of our best sellers in this category.)  This month - $1499!!  This is probably the best price on a name brand counterdepth fridge I've ever seen!

GE GWE23GYNFS

Are you thinking about redoing your kitchen?  I'd like to point out three of the many good reasons to consider Manny's as your final destination.

1) You get to work with seasoned professionals who know their products, who know which questions to ask in order to help narrow down your search, and help you find products that both match your vision as well as take the least possible bite out of your wallet.

2) We share inventory and warehouse space with approximately 140 other retailers, giving us "buying power" equal to the Big Box and Internet giants that are always lurking out there.

3) In addition to being able to at least match (and often beat) other retailer's sale prices, we have the advantage of being able to offer exclusive rebates on multi piece packages. A recent example: One of my customers just finished purchasing a GE Profile kitchen package from me.  GE offered a very aggressive rebate of $750 on this five piece package.  By buying from me at Manny's, I was able to give him an additional $600 in an "independent retailer only" rebate!  

Another quick word about our additional rebates:  Many of our rebate values are doubled for November!!  Our rebates normally give you back $100-$500, but if you buy during Black November you will receive $200-$1000, depending on the number of qualifying products you purchase.

In closing, if you're going to be in the market for appliances in the next few weeks, we hope you will consider purchasing from us at Manny's.  We will do our best to make your visit worthwhile.

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!

Thanksgiving is coming!! Is It Time For a New Range??

That's right!  It's almost Thanksgiving!!

For many families that means it's time for someone to be planning a delicious feast for their loved ones and friends.  That also means that for many families it's time to think about upgrading that old stove!

Two questions I often get asked when someone is contemplating a new stove purchase:

1) Is this a good time to buy, or should I wait?

2) What's new and better about today's range vs. my old stove?  What should I be looking for?

1) Well, the answer to the first question is a resounding, unequivocal YES!  I'm sure you've heard of "Black Friday"? This is traditionally the time of year where giant retailers try to out-advertise and out-do each other in an effort to to get you, the consumer, psyched about the upcoming holiday season.  

Well, in the appliance industry, these deals actually begin on November 5!  I think of Appliance "Black Friday" as "Black November."

So yes!  If you are contemplating purchasing a new stove (or any appliance, or even a new computer for example) now is the time!

2)  To answer the second question I'd like to start by listing the questions you should ask yourself (and that we, the experienced sales people at Manny's, will probably be asking you as well) to help determine the correct product that fits your needs and budget.

Note:  (For the sake of this blog, let's assume you are replacing or looking at the traditional sized 30" wide range.)  

If you are looking to replace a wall oven and or cooktop please scroll down two entries, where I discuss "built-in appliances.

Now, there are smaller width  20" and 24" wide ovens available (normally for smaller kitchens or apartments), and larger "professional" ranges in the 36" and 48" size.)   Note-- If you are looking for one of these non-30" range, we can still help you!! Just ask one of the sales pros in any of our eleven locations.  

Let's start with some easy questions:  

Are you looking for an electric or gas range?    (And if the range is gas, hopefully we're asking whether you have natural or LP, meaning bottled, gas?)

Are you looking for a "free-standing" range (a traditional style range with a back), or a "slide-in" range.  These backless ranges have become more popular in recent years as people remodel and upgrade their kitchens.   The picture below should help (free standing range is on left, slide-in on right):

         

What color would you like?  If you have a white or traditional black kitchen, you will find your replacement choices have become more limited, especially in more modern, upscale styles.  Stainless steel, which almost always now comes coated  to help resist fingerprints and make cleaning easier, has been the most popular appliance finish for nearly twenty years now, and shows no signs of becoming dated.

Now, There have been some very nice improvements worth mentioning:! (This part should help answer the "what's new" question!)  

First, Induction ranges have become more popular (and it's about time!!)  If you're unfamiliar with all the benefits of induction cooking, I encourage you to check out my blog entry from  10-29-24  entitled "Why aren't you buying an induction range?"  I thnk it's a great question!

1) Oven cavities have become progressively larger over the years (while the stove itself still fits into a 30" opening).  

2) Cooking surfaces are more powerful.  It is not uncommon for an electric range to have a burner that exceeds 3000 watts (vs. 2100-2500w max a generation ago.)  Gas ranges boil water much faster!  Back as recently as the early 2000's for example, a 12,500 BTU burner was a big deal, and marketed as a "High Output" burner.   Today, stoves can have anywhere from 15K to as much as 22K BTU on one burner, (and usually have a lower BTU on the low end for better simmering as well!)  

(Do note that the high output on LP fed burners is reduced, sometimes as much as 20%)

                                            ***

Once these questions are asked and answered, it will become easier to hone in on models that match your wants and needs.

Some of the features on today's stoves, roughly in order of most basic to most expensive, include:

Self cleaning ovens.   Often, these stoves also include a steam clean feature, which is faster and more eco-friendly then the traditional high-heat self clean cycle.  What is steam clean?   Here's an explanation, courtesy of Frigidaire:

https://support.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/FAQs/Cooking/RangesStoves-WallOvens-Cooktops/electric-and-induction/When-and-how-do-i-use-steam-clean/

Five burners vs. four.  The majority of electric smooth-top ranges include a fifth burner at the center rear of the cooking surface.  This burner serves as a "warming" burner, to help maintain temperature and simmer on a recipe item that has completed the cooking process.

(Note - in gas ranges, not only do many stoves include the fifth burner, but a griddle plate is often included, or at least available as an option.)

Convection and Air-Fry.  Do you have a table top air fryer at home?  If so, then guess what?  You essentially have a mini convection oven.  The convection feature (forced hot air circulation, allowing more even and faster cooking) becomes available as an option in stoves once you get beyond the "entry level" models in a manufacturer's lineup.  In addition, recently many stoves are including an air-fry button on the oven control keypad, using the convection fan and heating elements together.

Double oven.  Most manufacturers offer a couple of models with two ovens, one above the other.  This offers two advantages:  1) the ability to cook two different foods at separate, discrete temperatures, and  2) the ability to cook a small meal using the smaller, faster heating and more efficient, oven cavity.  The disadvantage:  You will be sacrificing your storage drawer, which may or may not be important to you.

The above should give you an idea of what's available on a modern range. 

Which range is the "right" range for you?  That depends of course.  Two of the most common factors are usually 1) budget), and 2) how much you see yourself using some of these nicer features (such as the speed and flavor retention of a convection oven.)  

When starting a discussion with my customers, I like to ask, semi tongue-in-cheek,  "Do you like to cook, or do you have to cook?"   If cooking is a dreaded chore, and you have no plans to take up gourmet cooking as a hobby, then some of those higher-level features found on pricier models may not be of use to you - in which case it may make sense to save a few $$ and get a more basic model.   If on the other hand, you look forward to preparing delicious meals, then we would love to show you models that offer options to make your experience even more enjoyable!

Note:  Often that slightly higher priced stove isn't necessarily better built; it may simply have more features!  Your salesperson can elaborate on this as you're shopping.

And, please, enjoy the shopping process!  We at Manny's pride ourselves in listening to you, and assisting you in finding that "Right" stove that best fits your needs and wants.

If you have any questions, you can reach out and speak to any of our professional staff in any of our thirteen (welcome to the family Portland Electric!!) locations.  You can find addresses and phone numbers on the front page of our site, just to the left of the "Manny's Blog" tag you just clicked on.)

Finally... Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Welcome Portland Appliance to the Manny's Team!!

We at Manny's would like to welcome Portland Electric and its customers to the Manny's Appliances team as our thirteenth store!

Since 1952, Portland Electric has been providing excellent service to its customers in the Middletown area, first at their original Main St. location, and then since 2007 at their current location on High St.

Move forward to 2025 however, and the owners decided it was time to move on.  They reached out to Manny's, another family owned appliance business (albeit a little bit bigger) with local roots and a similar commitment to excellent customer service.  (If you'd like, see our Facebook announcement below:)

https://www.facebook.com/MannysAppliancesNE/posts/something-exciting-is-happening-in-portland-ctportland-electric-is-now-part-of-t/1224512833027696/

Now, we know that Portland Electric has an excellent reputation and a VERY loyal following.  We appreciate that, and we are going to strive to continue that tradition of excellence as we transform the store into a Manny's.

As I said, we are a locally owned business.  We are definitely not one of those Big Box stores!!  We've built our repuation in the Western Mass. area as the "go to" for major appliances, and we are committed to providing that high standard of customer service to the Middletown area.

What's going to be different, you may ask?

Well, frankly, very little!

You'll find most of the employees and sales professionals you're used to dealing with will still be there to help you out.

Just like PE, we provide service and repair. We have our own technicians - no dealing with manufacturer's 800 numbers and infinite voice mail mazes.

We provide quick delivery turnaround, including basic setup and removal of your old appliance.  We also offer professional installation service for purchases such as dishwasher, over-range microwaves, etc.

We are part of the New England Appliance Group, a buying group that services nearly 140 independent retailers in the Northeast corridor.   Our prices will be at least competitive, and often aggressive as we strive to earn and keep your business!

So what's going to be different?

Again, very little!  

The biggest difference: The name change. 

And while you may have to make a phone call to our delivery or service department (just one!) instead of talking to someone over a counter, you will still be talking to a Manny's employee who is committed to bringing you the awesome customer service you've come to expect.

So, being a little bit bigger, but still far from a "Big Box" store, what advantages can we bring to your table?

Just as with PE, we are appliance specialists.  If you have an unusual situation (such as a non-standard oven or fridge opening, or perhaps one of those ancient 27" wide coil-top drop-in ranges), the very knowledgeable employees in Middletown will now be able to call upon fellow specialists with additional decades of expertise.  Personally, I've been selling appliance since the mid 90's, but sometimes I still reach out to coworkers in other Manny's and brainstorm to figure out a customer's dilemma.

NEAG warehouse in Franklin MA

Not only does Manny's, like Portland Electric, belong to the New England Appliance Group (as do almost all independent retailers in the northeast), but we also have our own inventory.  Since we now are thirteen stores strong, we have two warehouses of our own. 

Sometimes that extra inventory can be a lifesaver!  Just yesterday for example, one of my customers wanted a particular model washer to match their existing dryer.  The machine was on backorder from the manufacturer until early December.  I checked our other stores to see whether we had one in stock, and I discovered we had one in our Greenfield store's backroom.  One phone call, and Ouila! that washer now belonged to my customer!

Rebates!  Manufacturers often add rebates on certain appliances, these days usually on purchases of two or more same-branded appliances (let's face it, GE isn't going to give you a rebate on a Maytag range!).  Well, one of the big perks of belonging to the NEAG (affectionately referred by us at Manny's as "The Group") is the ability to offer exclusive-to-independent-retailers rebates that coincide with the manufacturers.  This means that (just as you might have experienced with PE) we have access to a second rebate that may as much as double your overall rebate amount.   

Note:  These rebates are usually larger during heavy promotional periods such as Black Friday (which is really "Black November" these days!) So if you're going to be needing appliances soon, be sure to visit us and take advantage of these extra bonuses!

In short: 

We at Manny's are very excited to be taking the reins from Portland Electric.  We are committed to making the transition for their customers as "seamless" as possible.

If you have any questions (or concerns) please reach out to me at the email address below, or give the Portland store a call (or even better, stop in!).  We want to make sure you're not disappointed!

Built-ins, ovens, and cooktops - oh my!!

A couple of years ago my wife and I were contemplating redoing our kitchen.  

One of the first Big Decisions we encountered in the planning phase concerned the layout out of the kitchen:  Do we go with a traditional range, or should we spend a little more and enjoy the convenience of a cooktop and separate wall oven?  As every home is different, there's no black-and-white answer to this question; (I'll expand on that in a bit down below.)

First of all, a few general points about built-ins (I am using the description "built ins" covers both wall ovens and cooktops):

Frigidaire Professional series wall ovens

1. Nearly all wall ovens are electric.   In other words, even if your range or cooktop is gas, assume the wall oven is going to be electric powered.  Why?  Over the decades, the general opinion among chefs has been that an electric oven will maintain temperature more evenly than a gas model.  Gas models have certainly improved over time, and generally perform very well.  Having said that, you will be hard pressed to find a gas wall oven still in production.
2. Wall ovens normally don't need to have exhaust vents (as opposed to a range, where a hood is at the very least recommended - see my last blog below)  These ovens employ what I will call, for lack of a better word, a catalytic device that consumes almost all the smoke, and most of the heat.  This feature is part of the reason wall ovens cost as much, or more, than a corresponding range. Which brings me to...
3. Expect to pay more for a wall oven and cooktop vs. a traditional range with oven and cooking surface combined into one appliance.  Built-ins, especially the wall ovens, are more expensive to manufacture than a range. Also, pretty much any appliance that has features geared to making it more aesthetically pleasing (such as a shallow refrigerator or a backless range) always has a higher price tag attached.

Fridgidaire 30" Professional cooktop

So, let's go back to a potential remodel.  If you're contemplating a move to built-ins, these are the major points you should consider:

If you have a good-sized kitchen, built-ins can be a great way to allow you to spread out the prep work by allowing two or more people to work at the same time without bumping into each other.  While some older kitchens have a built in oven and cooktop, the ovens are almost always smaller (often as narrow as 24" vs. the modern standard 30" wide units).  Modern houses, with open floor plans and kitchens designed to be the house's focal point and not just a utilitarian prep room, often can benefit from the added work space and general flow of built in pieces.

You will have more size options to choose from.  Cooktops normally are available in 30" or 36" widths (compared to ranges that are always 30" wide except for a few specialty exceptions), and some models are available in a professional sized 48" width.  Wall ovens are normally 30" wide, although many can be ordered in the "older" 27" width size.   A couple of models are still available in the old 24" width that was prominent in the 40s to early 60s.

You can choose between single wall ovens (normally about 30" tall, 30" wide) or a double oven (normally about 51" wide.)  You can also purchase a single wall oven with microwave oven on top (either as one piece, or two separate pieces.

Just as with ranges, extra options and features (convection or air-fry capabilities for example) are available.  Yes, you will pay a little more for these features.  A discussion with one of our sales professional can help you determine which of these available features best fit your needs and lifestyle - we don't want you to spend extra for bonus features you aren't going to use!!)

Frigidaire Professional 36" gas cooktop

Some of the downsides:

A cooktop and oven will almost always cost you more, considerably more in some situations, then an equally featured one-piece range. 

Built ins generally require professional (and in some cases licensed) installation, which will be an added cost.  Even if you have an oven or cooktop now, there's no guarantee the cutout in the cabinet or countertop will match EXACTLY, so slight modifications will be needed.
(Note - GE is the exception to the above.  They are the one company that has taken great pains to keep the physical dimensions of their wall ovens and cooktop the same over the years and decades!)

I hope this gives you an overview of the pros and cons.  If you are considering replacing your current built-in, or contemplating a remodel and upgrade, please reach out to the sales professionals in any of our twelve (psssst! soon to be thirteen!!!) showrooms.  We'll be happy to help you plan your kitchen and guide you throughout the process!

Do I really need an exhaust hood for my kithcn?

That's a great question!  I get asked this question, usually as part of a planned kitchen remodel or new home build, While we always recommend a vent hood, The short answer is "No. Actually, you don't."

But, having said that, always check with your town to see whether they require an exhaust hood.

Exhaust hoods serve three functions:  

1. They remove grease and smoke generated by cooking out of the house.
2. They also remove some of the heat that cooking generates.
3. Finally, they serve as a cooking light or night light.

As a homeowner, you have a variety of options when it comes to venting:

• You can get a traditional hood that can be mounted under a cabinet or extend with a duct into the ceiling.  
• You can mount an "over-the-range" microwave over your stove or cooktop.
• Depending on the setup of your kitchen, you might consider a downdraft setup, where a motor pulls the heat and grease through a duct out of the kitchen.
• And, yes, while I don't recommend it, you can simply not use a hood.  (Frequently apartments either have no exhaust hood, or a very basic model.  These are often set to recirculate, and barely do a better job than no hood at all.)
• 
  

I'll start with the most common setup, the traditional wall mounted hood.

What should you expect?

Basic but decent models run in the $200 range.  As you move your way up in price, you can expect better air movement (measured in CFM - "Cubic Feet per Minute"), nicer lighting, more fan speed options, a wider capture area (the area inside the hood that filters and exhausts the grease and heat.  Some models offer a delay timer so the hood will shut off several minutes after you're done cooking and presumably sitting down enjoying your meal), a heat sentry system to kick the hood on if the area underneath is getting too hot.  A handful also are remote-capable, an important feature in ADA approved kitchens (or simply because a customer likes the idea of a "connected" home!"

You may also notice that when shopping for a hood you will encounter different brands (Broan, Zephyr, XO to name a few) compared to the rest of your kitchen.  Even if you have, say, a Frigidaire or GE kitchen, it's very common to pair one of these dedicated ventilation companies over your range or cooktop.

A couple of thoughts and cautions here:

1. "Make up air":  If the CFM of your hood exceeds 400, your town may require a makeup air system in your kitchen.  Just what does a makeup do, and why?   This link answers both questions quite throroughly:
2. When possible, duct out!  Get the heat and grease out of the kitchen! 
3. Our experience has shown that a ductless, recirculating hood with grease filter, is not nearly as effective as a ducted exhaust system. I've even heard opinions as negative as "don't even bother.' (this was from one of our product reps).

My personal opinion:  recirculating is better than no hood at all, but is no match for a properly ducted exhaust hood.

Next, the Over-the range microwave/hood combo:

This is a very popular option, and may well be the "right" option in a smaller kitchen.  By mounting the microwave over the stove you free up valuable counter and prep space.  The OTR micro will provide lighting options just as a traditional hood, and also will come with a digital clock and timer (in case you need another time clock in your kitchen!).  They also can be setup to recirculate just like a regular hood.

As opposed to dedicated exhaust vents, these units are available in most of our kitchen brands.  I've noticed over the years that most people want to match the brand of their range and micro so that handles, fonts, finish, etc. will look the same.

The downsides:  The exhaust will perform adequately, but not quite as thoroughly as a traditional hood.  The main reason is the capture area: an OTR micro will have one or two relatively small grease filters underneath; they simply can't collect as much smoke and grease as a dedicated hood that has full-width filters.  Still, again especially if you don't have an oversized kitchen, these units will do an adequate to good job, and at an affordable price.

Finally, we look at downdraft systems:

First of all, these can look very cool, and can give your kitchen a little more "wow" factor - especially the pop-up units that can be placed behind cooktops (not behind a range however - be aware!).

How do they perform? Well, not nearly as well as an overhead exhaust fan.  The fight against gravity takes a toll on how much heat and grease can be sucked out of your kitchen.  

If your cooking appliance is in a center island, then you might have no choice but to utilize a downdraft type setup. Note:  There are a handful of "island hoods" on the market. Be prepared to pay extra $$! - also you want to size an island hood 6" wider than the cooking unit (in other words, you would put a 36" island hood over a 30" range.)    

There are different size motors available, and on upper end setups you can even move the blower into the basement ("in-line"), or even up on your roof ("external blower, a popular option when a customer purchases a larger, pro type range which requires a larger and therefore noisier motor.)

Some final thoughts:

The price range of hoods varies from $100 (for one of those rectangular tapered units that I had in my first apartment back in the 80's - yes, they still make them!!), up to as much as $5000 for a 1200 CFM blower that you might need over a 48" pro range with a built in grill or griddle.  The typical price for an undercabinet hood runs between $250 and $400, while a chimney hood generally runs $700-1500.  Finally, an over-range microhood will cost between $250 and $600.

Also, be aware that the stronger the hood, the noisier the hood!  There simply isn't a way to insulate a hood's motor for noise reduction without reducing its effectiveness.  Don't be fooled by any list of "quietest hoods' you might run across if doing a Google search:  I tried that, and invariably the "quietest" hoods on the list were also the least powerful.  Hood all have two-four speed settings: if you want the hood to be quieter than simply adjust the power!

And finally, measure your overhead cabinets!! Let's make sure the hood you like will actually fit in your kitchen.  This is especially important if installing an OTR micro - these units are bulkier (there has to be enough space inside to allow you to nuke your food) and therefore extend down farther from the cabinet than a regular hood.

If you have any questions on ventilation options (and almost everybody does!!), you can reach out to any of the experienced, well trained sales professionals at any of our twelve showrooms.

Size Matters! (Sometimes)

Back in 2014 my wife and I were getting a realtor's tour of the house we eventually bought (and live in today.)  While checking out the kitchen, I looked at the cabinet installed over the past-its-prime, 90's era GE white top-freezer refrigerator  measuring 66 1/2" tall, 31 1/4", and mentioned in passing that upgrading to a more contemporary style refrigerator would be an issue as the 68" tall cabinet above the refrigerator was too low, and the width (32") was too narrow.  

My wife looked at me skeptically, and asked me something along the line of "Seriously?  You mean nothing will fit?"  To which I replied "No; no full size fridge will." 

(FYI: Years ago GE manufactured a 31 1/4" wide fridge; that width is no longer in production. The prior owners of the house apparently framed around the existing fridge instead of  specing out the normal 33" or 36" wide opening.)

This issue frequently arises in a lot of older homes. Today's refrigerators have grown in all three dimensions.  Most "full size" fridges, such as French Door or Side-by-Side style models, are built to squeeze into a 36" wide space, and are 68 1/2 to 69" inches tall.  There are exceptions of course, such as an upscale 84" tall built in Subzero or GE Monogram, but for purposes of this discussion I'm going to focus on the more common, for lack of a better word, Middle-Class kitchen.

So let's say you're planning on remodeling your kitchen, have decided you aren't going to compromise on your appliance choices, and will order, size, and install kitchen cabinets that accommodate the appliance suite and look that you want.  What should you be considering?

(Note:  I'm not going to get into style choices, etc.  I am going to provide some links to past blogs discussing design at the end of this blog.)

First, the refrigerator.

This is the piece that usually becomes the lynchpin of the kitchen suite.  If you've decided on a full sized, 21-30 cubic foot model, here's what you should be thinking about:

1) Modern kitchens usually provide 36" in width and 70-71" in height for a refrigerator.  This will accommodate the typical modern French-Door or SXS (side-by-side) and still have sufficient clearance for ventilation.  

2) BE SURE to leave 36" (or even a little more.)  If you have only, say, 35 1/4" in width, you'll have to downsize to a 33" wide model.  No one makes a 34-35"model.Why are 33" available, you may ask?  The simple reason is that 33" was the traditional width allotted for the older top-freezer models that were ubiquitous in 50-70's homes.  As the kitchen became larger, more open, and evolved from a working room to a gathering place, the 36" width became the norm.

3) Don't plan on placing the fridge in a corner if you can help it!  With only a few exceptions, most refrigerators today have deeper bins in the door that are useful for storing gallon containers etc., in an effort to maximize storage volume.  Deeper doors mean that the door swing will generally extend beyond the width of the refrigerator case, sometimes 3-5" more.  If you place your refrigerator in a corner, you will most likely be unable to open one of the doors fully.

4) Be aware that today's units tend to be deeper than older units.  Some refrigerators can be as much as 37 1/2" deep!  You'll want to be sure both that the fridge will fit through your doorways, and that you won't wind up regretting your behemoth of a 29 cubic foot refrigerator dominating your kitchen.

4a) Consider counter-depth refrigerators as an option!  There is a sub-category of refrigeration called "counter-depth".  These units have 24" cases, so only the door sticks out beyond a typical cabinet.  (And yes, they should really be called "counter-plus-the-door-depth", but "counter-depth" is so much easier to say.)  People sometimes buy this style for the aesthetics of a fridge not sticking out a foot or so beyond their cabinets. Sometimes a shallower unit is a necessity due to the layout of the kitchen.  Do note that you will pay a little bit more for a shallower refrigerator, and that these shallow units are only available in French door or SXS styles - no single door top or bottom units.

-Most of the time, as I said above, the refrigerator is the most challenging piece of the appliance suite.

Other appliances are more standardized and require less pre-planning as far as size is concerned.

Ranges:  These are normally 30" wide (actually 29 7/8" to fit a 30" space.)  Now, some specialty ranges are wider, 36 or 48" for some professional style ranges, or 20-24" for some apartment/cottage ranges, but standard ranges have always been built for a 30" opening; they were never, say, 28 or 31 inches.

Dishwashers:   24" is the norm with the exception of a handful of 18" wide units.  Just like ranges, these were never a little bit wider or narrower.  You do want to be aware of the cabinet opening height; once in a while we run into instances where a homeowner retiled their kitchen floor and raised the height.  This occasionally leads to the old dishwasher being "walled in" ( For some reason I always think of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" when I have this conversation!), and the new unit unable to squeeze into the shorter opening.  Different brands shrink to different heights, so consult one of our sales pros if you have a specific case.

Ventilation:  Three main options here:  

1. The over-the-range microwave combo provides adequate ventilation and frees up counter space by placing the microwave above the stove vs. on a counter.  Allow 30" in width for these (same as a range!)
2. Undercabinet hoods are also usually 30" wide, but some options in wider sizes (36" and 48"), as well as smaller 24" width hoods to go over apartment ranges, are also available.
3. Chimney hoods don't require an overhead cabinet for mounting purposes, and also come in the standard 30, 36, and 48" widths.  Chimney hoods certainly add style to your kitchen, but plan on spending more for a chimney hood than other categories.

The "finished product". A newly remodeled kitchen

I intentionally haven't covered built-in wall ovens (usually 30", but some older kitchens have only 27" or 24" in width), or drop-in cooktops (usually 30", but 36 and 48" units are also available.)  I also - again intentionally - have avoided delving into the intricacies of "professional" kitchen appliances such as 84" tall refrigerators and often larger ranges.  Perhaps I'll address these specialty categories in a future blog.

Meantime, please take advantage of our sales staff's expertise, and reach out to us in any of our twelve showrooms if you have any questions.  We are more than happy to help you plan your kitchen and select the right appliances for your vision!

For more info on the different choices in various appliance categories, take a look at my blog from April 12.   

For more background on the evolution of the modern kitchen, check out my March 25 entry.

Taking Care of Your New (or older) Appliance

Two or three times a year an icon will shine on my Prius's dashboard, reminding me that it's time to have the engine's oil changed.  Whereas once upon a time we were told to change our oil every 3,000 miles or so, today's engines wait until the oil needs to be changed, and then notifies you.  Pretty cool, yes?

As we work our way through the Twenty-First century (or the beginning of the Third Millenium if you have a wider perspective) so many recent technological breakthroughs are now taken for granted, without the "Wow!" factor they probably deserve.  Online shopping, Zoom meetings, streaming videos, texting vs. calling, ete.; we all now live in a very tech-assisted world.

So if my car can tell me when it's time to change the oil, why can't our appliances provide similar services?

Actually, we are starting to scratch the surface in a few instances. 

For example, some dryers will notify you when the lint filter is clogged (I'll come back to the lint filter in a moment.) French Door and side-by-side refrigerators include a consumable water filter and turn on a panel light when it's time to change the water filter. (Truth be told, that light isn't as tech-oriented as my car's oil change icon - it's usually just a timer!)  Stoves and other appliances sometimes have Bluetooth capability which can tell you, for example, that your clothes are done washing or your oven is preheated.  And while we haven't reached the point where a computer or robot can put the lasagna in the oven, or move your clothes from washer to dryer, at least we can be told when it's time to get off the couch, put our phone down, and attend to our chore!

So, until the day when our appliances can completely take over these day-to-day necessary chores such as cooking and cleaning, we still have to occasionally attend to their care and maintenance ourselves.

I'm going to share some helpful hints on some of the more important things you can do to get the most out of your appliances.

First:  Cleaning your dishwasher trap.

(Full disclosure:  This chore is first on the list at my wife's, umm, "suggestion".)

The most important thing here is to actually clean the trap!! Older American dishwashers used what was essentially a mini-disposal to chop, grind, and flush out debris.  Today almost all dishwashers utilize a filter trap system which European-based models have used for decades.

It's really not that difficult:  It just takes a couple of minutes to perform this; I'll even save you the Google search:

Clean the filter under warm water to remove loose particles. If it's stained or has stuck-on debris, you can use mild dish soap and a brush or sponge to gently scrub the mesh filter for a thorough clean. This helps remove stubborn food particles and can even help get rid of hard water stains. 

As to the question "how often?", once every month is reccommended.  If the dishes start to feel gritty after washing, you may want to check and clean the filter sooner.  Personally, we clean ours at least twice a month.

Second:  Your dryer vent.

Talk to a fireman (or fireperson) and ask them about fires started by dirty lint filters.  Each person in this profession I've spoken with has a story, usually not a happy story, about house fires that can be traced back to a dirty, clogged, lint filter.

Please realize!  Lint is flammable! 

How often should you change your vent hose?  It depends.  At home my tube stretches out about 13' from dryer to the outside with a slow, gradual downward slope.  I change this hose completely every other year.  For a more common setup, one in which the tube is only a few feet long, you don't have to replace as often.

You should still clean your setup regularly; twice a year should be sufficient.  As to the "how to", I'll refer to Bob Vila's advice:

Here's the simple answer, courtesy of BobVila.com:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Detach the dryer vent hose from the wall.
3. Remove and clean the hose and vent cover.
4. Reattach the hose and clean the exterior vent.

Sounds simple, and pretty obvious, doesn't it?    For more elaborate instructions, I'm including this link:

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-dryer-vent/

One more thought regarding your dryer screen:  Do you use dryer sheets?  If so, they can leave a film which over time can restrict air flow.  Washing your filter occasionally with mild soap is an excellent preventive measure!  Also, speaking of dryer sheets, did you know you shouldn't use them when drying towels?  Prolonged use will reduce absorbency, as that film can coat the towel's surface.

Finally, I'll try to address the oft-asked question "David, my washer smells.  What can I do?".

The best solution to addressing smells that sometime (but less often  in the last decade or two) show up is to prevent that smell from originating!  Reduce your detergent volume - today's washers use half the water they did a generation a go, so cut your chemicals in half as well.  Leave the washer tub open when not in use.  While this is a "must" in front-load machines, I still leave the top of my top-loading Speed Queen open.

Now, I do realize that if your washer already has that moldy odor, then the above advice is akin to the cliche' "Shutting the barn door after the cows got out", or something like that.   Fortunately, there are ways to address this.  I'm going to refer to Mr. Appliance below; he offers a straightforward and useful procedure:

https://www.mrappliance.com/blog/2018/september/why-does-my-washing-machine-smell-bad-/#:~:text=For%20both%20top%2Dload%20and,washer%E2%80%9D%20cycle%20if%20it's%20available.

Just a final thought:  Many use-and-care manuals offer care-and-maintenance suggestions as well as troubleshooting ideas for various common problems.  Lost or thrown away your manual?  No problem.  Hop on Manny's website and type the model number of your appliance in the search box located at the top right corner of our front page  (or go onto the manufacturer's site if it's an older model and do the same.)  Almost all the product descriptions on our site include links to manuals, dimensions (more about that in a future blog!), EnergyGuides, etc.

I hope these suggestions help at least a few people.  If you have any questions about this or any other appliance-related issue feel free to reach out to the sales pros at any of our twelve locations!