Appliance Buying Guide: Ranges

Article From HouseLogic.com


By: Douglas Trattner


Published: January 15, 2010


When deciding on a new range, here's what you'll need to know about features, style, price, and performance.

Most ranges do a fine job of boiling water, baking cookies, and roasting the holiday bird. The major distinguishing factor will be whether the one you buy does so using gas or electricity. In general, a gas range with electronic ignition (instead of a gas-fired pilot light) can cost up to 50% less to operate than an electric model, depending on the price of utilities in your area.

Because there's very little difference in energy consumption among ranges, these appliances aren't required to bear EnergyGuide labels, nor are they included in the Energy Star program. Other than by fuel type, homeowners typically select ranges based on budget, ease of cleaning, appearance, and performance.



Cost range: $350-$2,000 and up



Likely additional costs: Delivery, installation, haul away, gas line hookup, or electrical outlet installation if none exists



Average life span: 11-15 years



Gas or electric: "When a customer comes in for a new range, the first question I always ask is 'Gas or electric?'" says Lenny Kaminski, sales manager at B & B Appliances, an 85-year-old retailer in Cleveland. Typically, it's the home rather than the homeowner that will make this decision. Buyers who have a natural gas line in the kitchen will inevitably purchase a gas-powered range, while those without choose electric.



The one major exception is when a kitchen is undergoing a major remodel, allowing a homeowner to switch to gas with relative ease (assuming the house has a main line). Electric ranges typically require a dedicated 220-volt outlet.



Size: The standard width of a residential range is 30 inches. Those boasting side-by-side ovens and high-end "commercial-style" models can extend to 36, 40, and even 48 inches wide. However, smaller 20- and 24-inch models are available for kitchens short on space. The oven compartment on a standard-size range is 5 cubic feet, large enough to cook a 30-pound turkey.



Ease of cleaning: All but the least expensive electric ranges now feature smooth, ceramic glass cooktop designs rather than traditional coil burners, making them easy to clean. The jump from entry-level coil-burner electric ranges to those with smooth tops is roughly $150. Sealed-burner designs are present on almost all gas ranges and are relatively easy to clean.



Self-cleaning ovens are standard, appearing in models starting as low as $350.



Convection: One of the first major upgrades a buyer often makes, says Kaminski, is choosing an electric or gas range with convection heat. With convection, an internal fan circulates the hot air throughout the oven compartment, improving heat distribution and generally reducing cook times. Many home and professional cooks swear by the technology. Customers can count on spending an additional $200 to get the feature.



Burner quantity and type: The standard quantity of burners on a typical range is four, but buyers need not stop there. Stepping up to a mid-range gas or electric stove often comes with an additional fifth burner. Depending on the make and model, that burner could be an ultra-low "melting" burner or a centrally placed oval burner that accommodates griddle pans.



Likewise, a "bridge" burner is a smaller element located between two larger ones that, when on, creates one large heating element ideal for griddles and roasting pans. Five-burner ranges generally start around $800.



Burner performance: "BTUs absolutely affect performance, with some of the higher-powered burners boiling a pot of water in half the time of standard one," says Kaminski. Both electric and gas burners have gotten more powerful over the years, offering increased performance at a relatively modest extra charge.



While 9,000 BTUs is standard, so-called "power" burners can climb up to 15,000 BTUs. Conversely, ultra-low "simmer" burners prevent stove-top scorching thanks to their scaled-back BTU output. Expect to pay around $200 extra for these well-equipped appliances.



Going pro: Avid home cooks--or those who follow current trends--often prefer the look and feel of a commercial-style range. Like the restaurant appliances they emulate, these residential versions boast ultra-high-powered burners, multiple large-capacity ovens, and convenient grill/griddle inserts.



Homeowners should expect to pay between $4,000 for a 30-inch unit up to $10,000 for a top-of-the-line 48-inch model. Likely additional expenses will include the installation of an equally high-powered exhaust hood and possibly some enhanced structural support.



Warming drawer or extra oven: Many contemporary ranges replace the conventional lower-level storage drawer with either a smaller second oven or a warming drawer. A variable-temperature warming drawer is ideal for keeping prepared food hot or warming chilly dinner plates. Expect models with this feature to start in the $1,000 range.



Second ovens, even the smaller ones that take the place of the storage drawer, can be very useful when cooking multiple items. Though shorter than the main compartment, the additional oven easily accommodates casseroles, cookie sheets, and platters. Configurations are available that position the smaller oven above or below the main compartment. Models start at $1,200.



Additional useful features: Temperature probes that monitor the progress of cooking items ensure the turkey will never again be overcooked and dry. Unfortunately, the technology doesn't appear on many models under $1,300. Battery-powered countertop probes, in contrast, sell for only $30. Smooth-glide oven racks, porcelain-coated racks and grates, and halogen lighting all make the cooking process less of a chore. The question is whether the additional hundred dollars each is worth it.



Expected maintenance/repairs: Oven bulbs will need to be changed periodically. Coil-style electric burners often fail, but they're easily replaced for around $30. Glow coils that ignite gas ovens can fail, requiring a $50 part plus labor. More costly is a cracked glass top on a smooth-top electric range, which can cost $250 to replace. Electric control panels, while reasonably reliable, can cost up to $250 plus labor to repair.



Douglas Trattner has covered household appliances and home improvement for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, DIYNetworks, and HGTV.com. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he's upgraded almost every household appliance. After lengthy deliberation, he recently replaced an aging top-load washing machine with an energy-efficient front-load unit.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen

Article From Houselogic.com

By: Douglas Trattner

Published: August 28, 2009

Maintain your large kitchen appliances is part of a smart home energy efficiency plan.
Spending less money on utility bills doesn't mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances-up to about $120 annually-without sacrificing convenience.

REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER

Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that definitely includes the fridge. Because it cycles on and off all day, every day, the refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in the home save for the HVAC systems. The average refrigerator costs about $90 per year to operate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that a few simple adjustments can trim roughly $38 to $45 off those utility bills.

1. Adjust the thermostat. By setting the thermostat colder than it needs to be, you might increase your fridge's energy consumption by as much as 25% on average. Adjust the refrigerator so that it stays in the 37-40 degrees F range. For the freezer, shoot for between 0-5 degrees F. You could save up to $22 per year. If your model doesn't display the current temps, invest in two appliance thermometers (one for the fridge, one for the freezer). They cost roughly $3-$20 apiece at online retailers.

2. Clean the coils. As dust accumulates on the condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the fridge, it restricts cool-air flow and forces the unit to work harder and longer than necessary. Every six months, vacuum away the dust that accumulates on the mechanism. Also, check to see that there is at least a 3-inch clearance at the rear of the fridge for proper ventilation. This routine maintenance can trim up to 5% off the unit's operating cost, says energy savings expert Michael Bluejay, saving you about $4.50 a year.

3. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers are a nice convenience, to be sure, but it turns out the mechanisms are energy hogs. An automatic ice maker can increase a refrigerator's energy consumption by 14% to 20%, according to Energy Star. By switching off the ice maker and using trays, you can save about $12 to $18 off your annual electricity bill. Most units require little more than a lift of the sensor arm to switch them off. To reclaim the space remove the entire unit, a simple DIY job on many models.

4. Unplug the "beer fridge." Many homes have an extra fridge that runs year round even though it's used sparingly. Worse, these fridges tend to be older, more inefficient models. By consolidating the contents to the main fridge and unplugging the additional unit, you eliminate the entire operating cost of a fridge. The second-best solution is to make sure the extra fridge remains three-quarters full at all times. The mass helps maintain steady internal temps and lets the fridge recover more quickly after the door is opened and closed, according to the California Energy Commission.

OVENS AND RANGES

"Green" cooking all comes down to proper time and space management. By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can painlessly save a few dollars a year.

5. Cut the power early. As anybody who's ever bumped a burner on an electric stove can attest, those heating elements stay hot long after they've been switched off. Put that residual heat to work by shutting off the burner several minutes before the end of the cook time. The same technique can be applied to the oven. The savings can add up to a couple bucks every month.

6. Match the burner to pan. When a small pan is placed on a big burner you can practically see the money disappearing into thin air. By matching the burner to the pan, electricity won't be squandered heating the kitchen rather than the food. The reverse is true, too. A small burner will take considerably longer to heat a large pan than would an appropriately sized burner. For gas stoves, don't let the flames lick the sides of the pot. Follow these tips and watch the utility bills shrink by a few dollars a month.

7. Do away with preheating. You can save about $2 a month by not preheating your oven (20 cents per hour to operate electric oven; eliminate 20 30-minute preheats a month). Many cooks agree that the practice is wholly unnecessary for all but a few recipes, namely baking breads and cakes. This approach may add a few minutes to the overall cooking time, but it eliminates all that wait time on the front end.

DISHWASHER

As with washing machines, most of a dishwasher's energy needs go to heating the water. Still, says Lane Burt, an energy policy analyst with The Natural Resources Defense Council, a 10-year-old dishwasher can be made nearly as efficient as a newer model simply by knowing when and how to run it. Follow a few simple tips, and you can reduce your annual utility costs by roughly $35-$54.

8. Manage the load. Most dishwashers use the same amount of water and energy whether they're run full or half-full. You can cut your operating costs by one-third or one-half by running the machine only when it's full. It costs about $54 to run a pre-2000 model dishwasher per year, based on government data. Proper load management can save up to $27 each year.

9. Activate energy-saving features. A dishwasher's heated dry cycle can add 15% to 50% to the appliance's operating cost. Most machines allow the feature to be switched off (or not turned on), which can save $8-$27 per year, assuming an operating cost of $54 annually. If your dishwasher doesn't have that flexibility, simply turn the appliance off after the final rinse and open the door.

10. Use the machine. Many homeowners believe they can save water and energy by hand washing dishes. The truth is that a dishwasher requires less than one-third the water it would take to do those same dishes in the sink. By running the machine (when full), you can cut down the operating time of the hot water heater, your home's largest energy hog. Not only will you save a buck per month, you won't have to do the dishes.

Douglas Trattner has covered household appliances and home improvement for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he's upgraded almost every household appliance. After lengthy deliberation, he recently replaced an aging top-load washing machine with an energy-efficient front-load unit.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R).

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.