When getting your kitchen remodeled there are many things to consider – such as how high end you want to go, what types of finishes, and what style. However, the first thing that must be done is deciding if you want new appliance or if you want to keep your current set. Typical kitchen appliances include the fridge, dishwasher, microwave, and stove. Before you go into a remodel, it’s important to first decide whether or not you’re going to get new appliance. If you do, you must have them picked out before the remodel begins so that the cabinets and drawers can be built around them properly using their measurements.
First – Do I even NEED to buy new appliances?
Need and want are two very different things. If you’re asking yourself if you absolutely NEED to buy new appliances, the answer typically lies in how your current appliances are functioning and how far they are into their typical lifespans. Sears professionals claim that refrigerators and stovetops can last up to seventeen years while dishwashers can function for up to twelve. Ovens can function for around fifteen years, and microwave lifespans really depend on which model you purchase.
Take some time to figure out how old your appliances are. If you think they’re going to fail on you due to prolonged use, it might be a good idea to replace them during a remodel as measurements will already be done. Replacing old appliances during a remodel is easier and more efficient than doing so after the work has been done.
If you’re asking yourself if you WANT new appliances, consider the following: Kitchen appliances will last a long time and can be expensive initially. However, if you’re going for your dream look during a kitchen remodel, getting new appliances can drastically change the look and feel of a space. If you have room in your budget to spend more on new appliances, it may be a good idea to do so. New appliances will also offer new and convenient features that can improve the safety of the unit as well as provide handy new settings that can save you time and headache. They can complete the look of your kitchen while also making your life easier.
Unless you’re in dire need of replacement appliances, buying new equipment is a personal choice.
Factors to consider when buying new appliances:
There are many different things you need to consider when buying new appliances. One big one is cost. As it is with any product, appliances can come in many, many different price points. Establishing a specific appliance budget may be a good idea to help you narrow down which appliances you can afford. If you’re a huge foodie or a chef and spend a lot of time cooking, splurging a bit on higher end professional models might be a good investment. Having a large budget for appliances might be a bad idea if you don’t plan on using the kitchen as much or don’t care for professional grade equipment. Keep your budget in mind if you’re going for affordability when picking appliances. If you don’t, you will find yourself over spending on them and reducing the amount you can spend on the rest of your kitchen remodel.
Another important consideration to make is size. An efficient kitchen requires enough space for people to move around without bumping into each other or getting in each other’s way. Having too big of appliances can eat away at already scarce space in a smaller kitchen. Try to visualize and plan out the layout of your kitchen when choosing appliances so you know how much space you’re left with after everything is installed.
It will help you notice any traffic issues that might otherwise go unnoticed until everything is already purchased and installed. By then it will be too late to do much about it, so always plan things out before you purchase! For example: Say you buy a large refrigerator that barely fits into a space below your cabinets. You’re glad you found a large one that still squeezes into your kitchen. However, after installation you realize that when you open the fridge door, it completely blocks the space people would need to walk through to reach other areas of the kitchen. Now it’s too late to switch appliances now that everything is already installed. As you can see, thorough planning is a must when choosing your kitchen appliances.
Appliance-Specific Considerations When Purchasing New
Cooktops:
Cooktops fall into three different categories: gas, electric, and induction. Each one has benefits as well as drawbacks. If you’re trying to keep things as affordable as possible, electric stoves with coils are going to be the best value. However, they take a while to get hot. Gas will heat things much quicker, but will require a gas line into your home, which is expensive to install if there isn’t a pre-existing connection. If you want the fastest heating possible, induction will be your best friend. It offers the fastest heating possible and will bring water to boil in the least amount of time compared to any other cooktop option.
Ease of cleaning is big factor to consider when choosing a cooktop. Smooth surface electric and induction stoves are easy to clean as they don’t require the removal of anything to reach all cooktop surfaces. They have a flat, smooth surface that makes cleaning them a breeze.
One big consideration to consider with induction cooktops is that it will require specially made pots and pans for it to function correctly. If you’re turned off by the idea of having to purchase all new pans, then induction may not be your cup of tea.
When it comes to price, induction will be the most expensive while gas will be in the middle. Electric stoves with coils are the cheapest option for a stove if you want the most affordable choice.
Ovens:
There are two types of ovens: convection and conventional. A convection oven has a fan within it to blow the hot air around to create even cooking temperatures in the oven. A conventional oven lacks this fan and will be hotter in some areas compared to others depending on the location in the oven. Convection ovens will cook food more quickly, but are not ideal when it comes to baking.
If you want the best of both worlds, you can get both by purchasing one of each that are stackable or will sit side by side in an oven station. This is probably something a chef or extreme cooking enthusiast would consider, but if you want the most options, having both types of ovens can be useful!
Refrigerators:
Typical refrigerators are slid into place for installation and stick out a full six or seven inches from the end of the counter. It is possible to have a built in fridge if you want something to look more in place, but this option is much more costly. A more cost efficient option is to get a fridge that is built to look like a built in model but still installs like a traditional fridge.
The most important factor to purchasing a new refrigerator is the number of compressors and the size of them in the unit. Have one compressor working both the freezer side as well and the fridge side won’t be able to keep foods as fresh for as long, but is a cheaper choice. Having a compressor for both functions of a refrigerator is more expensive but will be a good investment if you buy a lot of fresh groceries that need to be kept fresh for long periods of time.
Door configuration and freezer placement are also big considerations when getting a new unit. You may want to look up images of various fridge models to get an idea of what configuration you enjoy the most, both visually and functionally.
Finally consider the water purification, ice maker, and other features the fridge might offer that you think you would like. Many refrigerators now have water purification systems built in as well as an icemaker. Take the time to find what you like and need in your refrigerator before purchasing.
Microwaves:
Microwaves will always be a big space consumer, but luckily, they are incredibly useful and make our lives much easier. You can choose between free standing, built in models, and over cooktop models. The choice is purely preferential. Microwaves can have different max power levels, with more powerful microwaves able to heat faster and hotter than lower power level models. They can also double as convection ovens! Not only that, but an over cooktop microwave can also double as a vent hood! As you can see, there are many choices available, so choose wisely if you decide to buy a new model.
Final Notes:
Remember! It is critical you decide what to do about your kitchen appliances BEFORE any work begins. That way your contractor and manufacturer know the measurements of the appliances and can build your cabinets, counters, and other larger pieces around them properly. If you’re doing the work yourself, still pick out your appliances first if you plan on replacing your current equipment so you know what size everything will be before you begin work. Not doing so can cause sizing issues with your cabinets and spaces reserved for the appliances if the measurements are inaccurate, and the appliances with either not fit correctly, or there will be large, unsightly gaps.
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