Appliance Buying Guides

At iElectronics.com, our goal is to ensure that there is an easy answer to any question you might have about appliances or electronics. Read on to see some tips about buying appliances and what you might want from a particular appliance.

Cooktops

• Types of Cooktops

• Electric Cooktop – Less expensive, uses electricity as its power source. Usually comes in two basic designs:
• Coil Element – Heats the surface with coiled metal
• Smooth Top – Easy to clean, contemporary appearance
• Gas Cooktop – A gas hookup is needed in the kitchen before installing. Heats up quicker than the electric cooktop. Comes in two styles:
• Open Burner – Wide opening cooktop for the burner
• Closed Burner – Has recessed burners below the surface of the cooktop

Garbage Disposals

• Types of Garbage Disposals

• Continuous Feed – This type turns on and off with the power switch
• Batch Feed – Turns on and off with the disposal lid is engaged

Grills

• Types of Grills

• Gas Grill
• Natural Gas – Connected to a gas line in your house for more continuous flow of gas that never runs out
• Liquid Propane – More easily moved around as they are not connected to a gas line, but instead use propane tanks
• Charcoal – Food is generally more flavorful, but harder to cook properly due to lack of even heat

Dryers

• Types of Dryers

• Gas – More energy-efficient, requires gas hookup in laundry area
• Electric – Slightly less expensive, requires 240 volt outlet in your laundry area
• Laundry Center – One unit with dryer stacked atop washing machine; less capacity but good for saving space

Dishwashers

• Types of Dishwashers

• Built-in – Typically placed under the counter with pull out racks and drop down doors
• Compact – Much like built-in models but smaller; ideal for smaller households and RVs
• Drawer – Installed under the counter top and pulled out just like any other drawer; often two levels
• Portable – Can be next to or on top of a countertop; generally hooks up to kitchen faucet for water

Mattresses

• Mattress Components

• Upholstery Layers – Mattresses can have from 3-9 lays of upholstery
• Innerspring Coil – The base of the mattress, not to be confused with the boxspring
• Boxspring – The foundation of the mattress, this is the lower half of the mattress set and absorbs shock from the mattress

Microwaves

• Types of Microwaves

• Counter Top – The most common type of microwave, these are placed on the kitchen counter and come in a variety of sizes and power levels
• Built-In – Built-in microwaves mount underneath cabinets and countertops to save on counter space; often designed as part of a kitchen package but can be purchased separately
• Over-the-Range – Built-in microwaves placed over the range; as a bonus, they act as ventilation for the range
• Drawer – The latest model is just like it sounds, and can be pulled out for access
• Speedcook – Adds additional features like browning, broiling, convection cooking, and grilling

Ovens

• Types of Ovens

• Gas Oven – The standard oven for kitchens using gas as the main power source; come in single and double configurations and use open flame burners to provide heat
• Electric Oven – Standard in many kitchens that use electricity instead of gas; available in single and double configurations, and use two heating elements, one at the top of the oven and one at the bottom, to provide heat
• Convection Oven – Preferred by professional cooks, convection ovens use fans to circulate hot air around food for fast and even cooking; some even have a third heating element in the rear, around the fan

Ranges

• Types of Ranges

• Electric Range – Electricity is used as the power source for this combination of cooktop and oven. There are two basic designs:
• Coil Element – Using coiled metal to heat the surface
• Smooth Glass Surface – Great for cleaning and a modern look
• Gas Range – This combination of cooktop and oven requires a gas hookup in the kitchen and is available in two types:
• Open Burner
• Closed Burner
• Dual Fuel Range – Uses both fuel types, gas and electric, to heat up quickly like gas ranges and cook evenly like electric ranges

Refrigerators

• Types of Refrigerators

• Top Mount – These refrigerators have the freezer compartment at eye level, above the refrigerator compartment; this is generally the most affordable and best-selling type of refrigerator
• Side by Side – These refrigerators place the freezer and refrigerator compartments side-by-side; the narrow doors are ideal for smaller kitchen
• Bottom Mount – The freezer is located at the bottom instead; ideal for energy saving and for families that use the refrigerator compartment more often than the freezer compartment
• French Door – On these the freezer compartment is placed underneath the side by side refrigerator component

Trash Compactors

• Trash Compactor Force Options

• 2000 lbs ram force
• 2300 ram force
• 5000 lbs ram force

Ventilation Systems

• Ventilation System Components

• Hood Canopy – must be properly sized using four dimensions:
• Holding Capacity
• Overlap
• Projection
• Mounting Height
• Blower System
• Ducting

Washing Machines

• Types of Washing Machines

• Top Load -  The standard design for washing machines, with the washer door on top of the machine; often less expensive than front load washing machines
• Front Load – With this type the door is in front and the clothes tumble much as they would in a dryer
• Laundry Center – This is a unit where the washer is on the bottom with the dryer stacked on top; ideal for smaller spaces