Types of Refrigeration

Back in the ancient days, I was the trainer for the new salespeople (to be)...

Third Lesson: Do not use industry terms. This is a rule I violate every day on the ole blog...until today.

Let start with the many types of refrigeration. We have 130+ on display, so lets look at a few.

Top Mount: Fridge on bottom, freezer on top

Advantage: Inexpensive, great selection for smaller spaces
Disadvantage: Stooping for vegetables, fruits, nothing over 21 cubic feet
Best Brands: Frigidaire, GE

Bottom Mount: Fridge on top, freezer on bottom

Advantages: No stooping for fruits/veg, larger sizes available
Disadvantages: Stooping for ice cream, pricier than the top mount
Best Brands: GE, Amana

French Door: Side by side top with bottom freezer

Advantages: Its cool...face it, French is also great in an island scheme, because there is not one wide door
Disadvantages: Pricier than a bottom freezer

Side By Side: Refrigerator on right freezer on left

Advantages: Organized storage, more freezer space(which can also be a disadvantage), smaller doors are better for islands
Disadvantages: Poor lateral storage, not enough refrigeration
Best Brands: Frigidaire, Bosch and GE

Shallow Depth: Can be any of the top configurations, only with the depth being 24 inches plus the door.

Advantages: Looks great in a kitchen
Disadvantages: Pricier with less cubic footage

Professional: Compressor on the top, shallow depth, multiple configurations

Advantage: Impressive
Disadvantage: Impressive price
Best Brands: SubZero, Liehberr, Thermador

Integrated: Fits seamlessly inside a cabinet, cleanest look

Advantage: Freedom to place components where you wish...really the best look with expensive cabinetry
Disadvantage: Most money per cubic foot
Best Brands: Bosch, Thermador

Whirlpool is Maytag for $500 Less

The goal of this blog has been to promote energy efficiency, eliminate misconceptions and to offer an unbiased opinion about appliances and lighting.

Which inevitably brings to the enigma known as Whirlpool. Their problems really started with the purchase of Maytag. So they added the names Maytag, JennAir, Amana into their brand portfolio. In their defense, most experts would have been in shock at how desperate Maytag become in just a few short years.

So the decision had to be effected. Would Whirlpool keep the brands unique and independent with their own features and benefits or would they streamline the brands under one platform and just throw different logos on the same machine.

They chose the latter and have been disappointed just like GM with their lineup of the same cars with different logos...For consumers, it is an opportunity.

Two exact laundry pairs...with $500 difference in price...



Hint...buy the Whirlpool.

What happened To Amana?

Really, what happened to this company? 20 years ago, Amana dominated the premium refrigeration market and were actually the first to manufacturer counter depth products.

Of course, they were owned by Raytheon, who naturally is significantly invested in defense. So there were effectively bisected and sold. Goodman Holding bought their air conditioning products, and a rapidly deteriorating Maytag company acquired the appliance division.

Maytag was then acquired by Whirlpool, and Amana has been largely ignored until now. There seems to be a pervasive logic during a recession: Sell it for whatever you can.

With rebates, Amana once again becomes interesting (at least for now.)

How To Buy Appliances

670 plus posts and finally I am on point:


1. Rebates: Its all about rebates these days. in the old days, it was Magic Chef who started it, Frigidaire expanded and now brands like GE, Bosch and KitchenAid have rolled out programs. Rebates can save you almost 1/3 the purchase price. Watch the web, ask a trusted salesperson and review manufacturers websites...They change monthly

2. OEMs: Fancy term for the same product labelled several times. KitchenAid, Amana, Maytag, Whirlpool and JennAir have the same refrigerator. Buy the least expensive. In laundry, this could save $200-300

3. Features: What do you really need? I love the top of the line cooking products with power burners, convection and second oven, but only if the client will use it. The difference between a KitchenAid dishwasher at $600 and $1300...buttons, cycles...aka features

4. Service: Hate to say it, but the chances of a product being repaired by the manufacturer is remote at best. Find the retailer or independent who can fix increasingly intricate products

5. Social: In the old days, you would ask your friends and peers about a prospective company. Now you can check Yelp, Angieslist and CutySearch for hundreds of reviews

Amana Vs Maytag

Bottom freezers are popular. Simple reason: No bending for fruits and veggies.



But you see the Amana and Maytag, and you want to make the right decision. You check Consumers Report and the results are(and should be inconclusive)



Its the same product: Maytag has an icemaker, Amana does not. In some cases, there could be 5 brand names for the same exact item

More Shallow Depth Ideas

Shallow depth refrigerators are desirable in a kitchen, because the sides do not protrude. Thus the kitchen looks more linear and more attractive. SubZero pioneered the pro niche in the 60s and 70s, and were followed by GE Monogram, KitchenAid and Thermador. Later, Amana decided to manufacture the regular shallow depth product and were followed(and beaten up by) GE Profile, KitchenAid and JennAir.

Now there are a number of alternatives from an endless number of companies. Unfortunately they tend to be somewhat expensive starting at $1600 as well as only fitting a 36 inch or over cabinet.





Fisher-Paykel and Blomberg manufacture smaller widths, and are decent alternatives to traditional shallow depth products.

ACs

I used to love the AC business. There were great brands like Sharp, Panasonic, Emerson(way back), Amana and Friedrich. They were all good and now they are all gone. The whole industry packed up and moved to China. Friedrich bought the Panasonic tooling, which was and probably is the best air conditioner.

So now you have very little real choice amongst Energystar units.


You can, however, still size it wrong. Oversizing an AC will actually freeze the unit and cause it to malfunction. That is the biggest problem in ACs.


I once designed a chart to assist people in choosing the optimum unit for their room. Remember each room is different: Exposure to sun, windows, shade and size are all important. In other words a third floor apartment is different from a garden or basement level.

The $119 KitchenAid Dishwasher

You are the CEO of Whirlpool in 2003, and you just bought your biggest rival, Maytag. By all appearances, this is a great deal. You have acquired great names in Maytag, JennAir and Amana, and it finally affords a relationship with Home Depot as well as more in roads with Lowes and Sears....


Unfortunately, a good deal is also contingent on timing. Acquisition in the middle of an economic downturn is a recipe for financial ruin....So what do you do?

You panic. Then fund your distribution channel directly and indirectly, so we have manufacturers, national buying groups and regional chapters all funding the same products....Which is great for the consumer


After 4(so far) rebates, you can buy this KitchenAid dishwasher for $119 in black or white as long as you buy 2 other pieces for $399 or greater (or $219 with just 1 other piece through March.)


Have a look:



Now the math:

Cost of the unit $569

Less:
Local Warehouse 50
MVP National Buying Group 100
Northeast Office 300

Rebate Total 450

After Rebate $119








This is a $600 dishwasher

The Best and Worst(Repair)

No pictures today(I have an arsenal for the remainder of the week), but a pretty valuable post for appliance shoppers. In 2006, Yale completed 15,000 service calls under warranty.

As I have posted previously, there are also very similar products available. Thus, service records can be similar as controls are outsourced, and the same products can be packaged with multiple labels. Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and Amana have an identical refrigerator with...an identical service record.


However, with such a large database, you can also see deviation between good and ..not so good. We will look at both.

The Best: Miele

Not surprising at all. When you manufacture the product and outsource nothing you can expect quality(or somebody will be fired). This company is so fanatical that all customer complaints are logged in New Jersey. The problem is then traced by serial number to the factory, the line and the people responsible. Imagine that.
Of course, without cheaper outsourcing(and the strength of the Euro versus the dollar), Miele is also expensive.


Not So Good: LG

First, I like this company. LG has become a major force in the appliance industry almost overnight as a brand. The product is innovative and stylish, but this result is hardly surprising as well. If the goal is to sell as much as possible quickly, then invariably product quality and customer satisfaction will suffer. Typically fast growing companies will outstrip their support capabilities(like parts, customer service, technical support, warehousing and logistics), and this is the case. You should still consider LG as a brand, but just find out if there is a repair agent in your local area.

Buy This or That...Electric Stoves

The readership of the Yale Blog is not a vocal bunch. From the analytics of this weeks "renovate for less" columns, the topic seems to be popular (until I hear otherwise)...

So let us continue




You are looking at a GE Profile range, and yes this is a good product. Aesthetically pleasing with two ovens, convection, 4 large burners and another warming burner, this range is well featured. Then again, at $1749, it should be...so why not try a....




A Frigidaire Gallery Professional range PLEFMZ99: Its the same 2 ovens(just reversed), convection and similar burner configuration. This range actually has the best simmer control of any cooking product except for induction. It can actually lower the burner by 3.5% per turn, not just high, medium and low. It is a great price at just over $1200, but $1200 is still almost double the average of a range purchase in the US...So how about a.....




Amana...Stainless steel, good burners, big oven...Forget the bun just give me the burger. No buns at just over $650, but a good price.

For more info about electric cooking take a look at our Electric Cooking Buyers Guide, packed with info on features, brands and trends.

Bottom Freezer

Lets look at two popular refrigerators, Amana and Maytag...What are the differences?












Actually, it is the same refrigerator. Well almost the same, Maytag has a factory installed icemaker and is $150 higher. I could post 30 similar entries of the same product with different labels. A smart consumer can save some serious money by buying the less expensive label

French Door Refrigeration

But what makes this refrigerator, French?


Perhaps because the doors "kiss" together? With all due respect to French culture, one may ask why that is French.






A french door refrigerator is essentially a bottom freezer with a side by side refrigerator top. Its an advantage in an kitchen with an island since the refrigerator door is cut in an half. Thus, you have more space without opening a big door(as shown above)


This type of refrigeration is amongst the most popular selling products in the industry


Here are the favs:

JennAir, KitchenAid, Amana and Whirlpool: The same refrigerator for 4 brands is a good choice for larger units and shallow depth.






LG: LG was an early adopter of french door refrigeration. They have a wide variety of products including the only unit designed for a 30 inch cabinet






GE: GE refrigerators were manufactured by LG until this year. GE actually invested in something other than a jet engine. Technologically, it is an interesting product with LED lighting on the inside and a very cool icemaker on the outside

Sales Tax Rebate For Estar Appliances

From December 1 to December 15, Yale will be rebating the sales tax on all Estar washers, dishwashers and refrigerators from Miele, Whirlpool, Maytag, JennAir, Frigidaire, GE, Amana, Bosch and Electrolux.


You are probably thinking this is a gimmick. Appliance shopping, however, is pretty easy. Compare the model numbers with the prices and that constitutes your buying decision. Its a little different here, because we also do not charge for delivery, removal or even range and dryer cords. We also service what we sell, which is a rarity in this industry. So for the next 2 weeks, when you compare, Yale will be another 5% cheaper.


We actually do believe in Green and EnergyStar products in general. The Yale Green Project started in June of 2006, and we are one of the 12 Green award winners from the City of Boston. The reality is simple. In the age of rising fuel and water bills, energy saving appliances will save an average family significant amounts of money over the lifetime of the unit. Also, we can conserve resources at the same time.



BTW, this is the Yale Blog. Its a deliberately honest column about the pitfalls of buying appliances and lighting. You can search by date or product category and yes we do take requests.



Happy Holidays,


Steve

How to...Buy a Gas Range

This first stove post will cover the basics. I will show the exactly the differences between the basic, better and best ranges. To simplify, I chose Frigidaire as a product line. I could have chose GE or Maytag, because the "step up" features are the same. Certain lines like Bosch and KitchenAid do not manufacture a lower priced range. Others like Whirlpool and Amana do not have a more upscale product. Regardless, the comparative features are the same.
Lets Look:


The Frigidaire FGF368. This is the base self cleaning with a 14,000 BTU power burner and oven with a storage drawer. Frigidaire will also manufacture this same model sporatically with convection Model number FGF375. This same range type is also available as the GLGF 376. The only difference is the right front burner is 16,000 BTU. BTW, a BTU or British Thermal Unit is a of measure for heat.






The next logical step is their Gallery series GLGF388. This unit has stainless handles instead of black. The right front burner remains 16,000, but now you have a fifth burner.






The PLGF397 is a new range. Instead of a fifth burner you have a griddle or oblong shaped design. Also intead of a storage drawer, you have have a warming drawer. I love this feature(well maybe not love), beacuse its great for warming and refreshing without dehydrating foods. Think about. When is a family ever at the table together? Now you can serve anytime without microwaving. Buying just a warming drawer alone costs $700-1200. This range sells for around $1200.






The PLGF96 is Frigidaires' best range. Curiously, it has 5 burners instead of the griddle burner, but instead of just a warming drawer you now have a second functional oven






So really the differences are: Convection, BTU output, 5 burner or griddle burner, warming drawer or second oven

Whats in the Name?

There are four major appliance companies in the industry plus a few aspirants. Often times, a manufacturer will produce the identical product under several different labels. With rebates, it is possible for a $200-400 price disparity on the same product. This information can save money when purchasing new appliances...Take a look

Bottom Mount Refrigeration:
Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana andWhirlpool
LG and GE

Top Mount refrigeration
Amana and Maytag
GE and Hotpoint

Dishwashers
Siemens and Bosch
Thermador and Bosch
Uppper Maytag models and JennAir

Gas Stoves
Siemens and Bosch
Amana, JennAir and Maytag

Electric Stoves
JennAir, Maytag and Amana
GE and Hotpoint(basic models only)

Wine coolers
Marvel and Viking

Wall ovens
Monogram, Profile and GE...A few features different, but inherently the same

Pro Refrigeration
Thermador(not freedom) and KitchenAid
Thermador Freedom and Gaggenau