My favorite coil-top range

is the GE JBP35 (Sears item # 6617), available in white, black, bisque and stainless. Here's why...

The high density 6-pass large coil & 5-pass small coil GE Plug-In Calrod® Heating Elements for more even heat distribution, more dense than any other manufacturer, and they connect using solid chromed connectors rather than curved aluminum; porcelain coated drip-pans that you can put into the self-cleaning oven; hidden oven heating element for easy cleanup, and more.

It was also rated the highest among coil ranges.

Fridge door clearance

Something to think about...

Remember to take into account whether the door can open far enough. To ensure proper ventilation for your refrigerator, allow for 1/2" (1.25 cm) space on each side and at the top.

When installing your refrigerator next to a fixed wall, leave 2-3" minimum on that side to allow for the door to swing open. If your refrigerator has an ice maker, allow extra space at the back for the water line connections.

Fridges in the 24-29 cubic foot range are typically 35.75 inches wide by 68.75 inches high. Your available space should be at least 36 inches wide by 70 inches high. 21 to 23 cubic footers are typically 33 inches wide by 66 to 69 inches high. 18 cubic footers are anywhere from 28 to 30 inches wide by 65 to 68 inches high. Measure your available space carefully.

If one side is against a wall, don't forget to leave an extra 2 inches of room for the handle.

NOTE:
It is recommended that you do not install the refrigerator near an oven, radiator, or other heat source. Do not install in a location where the temperature will fall below 55°F or above 95°F.

Get paid to upgrade

Turning in that old refrigerator or freezer in your garage can save you up to $100 a year on your energy bill. Plus, APS or SRP will haul it away for free, recycle it under the RAD program, and send you a $30 rebate.

Or, let Sears haul it away and recycle it under the RAD program when they deliver your new one. Sears charges an extra $10 to provide this added convenience.

As part of the RAD program, partners recover ozone-depleting chemicals from old refrigerators and freezers.



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My kitchen picks for a tight budget

Not entry level, not high-end. Just good features for your dollar.  Click here to view them at their current sale prices. 

Kenmore 1346 - nylon racks, sanitary cycle, UltraWash system

This product is available through a Sears distributor.To purchase this product please visit our International Distributors page

Quick View

Kenmore 9421 - hidden bake element for easy cleanup, coil top, warming drawer

This product is available through a Sears distributor.To purchase this product please visit our International Distributors page

Quick View

Kenmore 9433 - hidden bake element for easy cleanup, 6/9" dual element, glass top

This product is available through a Sears distributor.To purchase this product please visit our International Distributors page

Quick View

Kenmore 5942 - a 25cf side-by-side "Recommended" by a leading consumer magazine.

This product is available through a Sears distributor.To purchase this product please visit our International Distributors page

Quick View

Kenmore 8004 - two-line display for clear instructions

This product is available through a Sears distributor.To purchase this product please visit our International Distributors page

Who makes Kenmore?

That is a frequent question. The best explanation can be found here: http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/sears.shtml

Any printing on the front of the appliance (eg. "Series 90", "Kenmore Coldspot", etc.) is not the model number. Serial numbers are useless when trying to find parts. Kenmore model numbers have three digits, a dot (or period), and five to eight more digits. Example: 106.58906802. The numbers may be separated by white space, but will be on the same level.

Side-by-side Refrigerator model number 106.58906802
Takes Kenmore filter number 9030 or Whirlpool filter 4396710

Canister vacuum. Model number is 116.27915701
Takes bag Type Q/50557 or Type C/50558

Dryer. Sears item number is 62741.
Model number is 110.96274100

A laundry unit. Model number is 110.91278100. Sears item number is 2781.

In the top example, the 106 indicates this is a refrigerator manufactured by Whirlpool for Kenmore, the Sears item number is 58906, and on modern machines, the 802 indicates the series within the production run and can give clues as to which plant made it and in which part of the year. Sometimes they make changes within a model run. Your model number is NOT just 106, etc. The model number is the whole thing!

The Sears item number, the number that is on your receipt, is just the 58906 portion of the model number. In refrigeration, the first digit (5) indicates a Kenmore side-by-side. The second digit (8) indicates model introduction year 2008. You can see by the manufacture date on the label that this fridge was built in November 2009 even though the model was introduced in 2008. Some appliances have a very long production run. The fifth digit (6) is color code for UltraSatin.


Please don't ask the question, "Well, can't you look it up?" The answer is no. Maintaining documentation of product you own is your responsibility, no one else's. There is a web site that can help you maintain documentation: managemylife.com.


I can't tell you how many people come in with their owner's manual and ask me which part they need. When I open the owner's manual to the page where the owner was supposed to write in his/her model number, it is blank. This is usually found on page 2 of the owner's manual, and is a strong indication that the owner has never even bothered to read it. There is a reason it is called the owner's manual, and not the somebody-else's manual.


Rather than bring your owners manual in, just take a digital picture of the item and the model number, like I did for this article.

Refrigerator ratings

     One benefit of my online subscription to a leading consumer magazine is the ability to narrow down choices to only their recommended choices, including the Whirlpool GS5VHAXWQ .
     It costs only $26/year. It sure helps narrow down the choices. Bear in mind that these reports take awhile to aggregate and, therefore, some models listed may no longer be in production. Also, new models on display may be too new to have been included in the ratings. Remember that overall score differences of three points or less are statistically meaningless. In the end, there are very few poor choices, so don't let somebody else tell you what you want.

Dishwashing

Automatic dishwasher detergents provide the chemical energy to help remove food soil from all types of cooking and serving items. Unlike hand dishwashing products, these must be very low to nonsudsing. Suds cushion the mechanical cleaning action of the water and result in suds overflow from the machine. In addition, automatic dishwasher detergents should inhibit foam that certain protein-containing foods, such as egg and milk, create. They must also soften water to prevent insoluble deposits, loosen and hold soil in suspension, leave items clean and grease-free so they rinse and dry without spots, and be safe for a wide variety of dishes, glassware, utensils, etc. Read more...

Sun City: 32-inch cooktops and 24-inch wall ovens

For those folks in the original Sun City with 32" cooktops in the galley style kitchen, there is only one manufacturer of built-in cooktop that is a direct fit replacement without requiring any modifications to your countertop or cabinetry: Frigidaire.  Click here for a comparison of those 32" cooktops that are available.

Luckily, there are more options available for your replacement 24" wall oven, the most attractive of which is the KitchenAid KEBC247VSS, a double-oven with convection baking and the KEBC147VSS, the single oven version.

Click here for important wall oven measurements. I have linked to a Kitchenaid diagram for this example--your chosen model may vary.

Click here for a list of all of the 24" single wall ovens available in white. If you see one you like, click it for more details, including the availablity of other colors.

Some of you may have a "drop-in" range. These are different from "slide-in" and "freestanding" ranges. Many people decide to change to a slide-in or freestanding range when the time comes for a new range, as they are usually less expensive or more feature-laden for the same price, and do not require a installation charge. Doing so, however, WILL entail some cabinet and electrical modification amounting to more than the $150 cost of installation.

Whirlpool refrigerators

I like Whirlpool, no doubt about it. So, today, I am going to put the spotlight on their refrigerators.

At 27 cu. ft., the ENERGY STAR® qualified Latitude™ refrigerator features the most refrigeration space available for fresh food. The MOST fresh food space available!* Includes deeper door bins and extra shelf space, while maintaining the same exterior dimensions. The In-Door-Ice® ice dispensing system moves the ice maker to the ceiling and ice storage bin to the door, creating room for an entire extra shelf within. Deeper door bins, crisper space and a hidden water filter also add to more usable refrigeration storage. The industry-first Measured Fill dispenses the exact amount of water in cups, liters or ounces.

See all of the Whirlpool brand fridges by clicking on their links below.

Whirlpool Bottom-freezer refrigerators.

Whirlpool Side-by-side refrigerators.

Whirlpool Top-freezer refrigerators.

See also the fantastic deal Kenmore-by-Whirlpool top-freezer models 6023 (no icemaker) or 7023 (ice maker included), available in white, black, bisque, and stainless steel. Whirlpool also make the Kenmore models 59422/9 (white/black) and 58943 (stainless only) side-by-sides, among others.

See more at the Whirlpool site: click here.

*Based on fresh food volume in french door refrigerators.

This dishwasher pre-wash method NOT recommended

Most dishwashers today do a good job of washing your dishes. Pre-washing them before putting them in the dishwasher is not necessary. In particular, the following video shows a method that can damage your dishwasher's door.

ADA-compliant appliances

Some people need appliances for their disabled family members.

GE has certified some of their appliances as "ADA Compliant"*.

Here is a link to GE ADA compliant appliances

*ADA qualified based on Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards

Read the fine print

I was looking to buy a television and, in doing my online research, this ad appeared over the Sony TV I was looking at...

Enticed, I clicked on the "See details and learn more >" button, which revealed the following text...

Excludes Samsung, Sony, and computers. 

So why tell me that I can save money or get a no interest credit loan when, indeed, I cannot? Only the marketing department knows the answer.

Let this be a lesson to us all. Do not read only the large print that the marketing department wants you to concentrate on. Read the fine print, too.

Also bear in mind that errors happen, as in the case of 612 month financing. This is obviously a mistake, and the store is under no obligation to honor it. A human or computer error obviously dropped a "/" (slash) between the 6 and 12: No Interest financing is offered for either 6 or 12 months, not 612 months.