The Straight Scoop on Buying the Best Cooktop for Your Kitchen

Making the jump to a cooktop combined with a separate wall oven is a great choice whether you are installing a couple of upgrades or doing a full remodel of your kitchen. This alternative to the traditional all-in-one range provides two immediate benefits; the convenience of working with an oven that doesn’t require you to work at knee level and the extra cabinet space that can be located beneath the cooktop to store bulky cookware.

Here is the straight cooktop scoop on what to look for as well as what to buy as the best option for your kitchen:

* Pricing – Plan for the combination of a cooktop with a wall oven to be more expensive than a single range. Prices for the cooktop will likely start around $300 for a basic version and range upward to around $2500 for high-end models.
* Sizing – The most cost efficient way to size your cooktop is buy one that fits the existing cutout on the countertop to eliminate the need for altering granite or the other materials that compose your countertop.
* The existing power source – This will, in all likelihood, be the deciding factor in whether you go with a gas or electric cooktop unless you’re comfortable with the cost of implementing a power source that isn’t present in your current kitchen configuration.
* The cooktop surface and the number of burners – The basic cooktop models will start with 4 standard gas or electric coil burners and move up in cost to glass, then seamless grates, and, at the top of the line, induction burners that use magnetic technology to heat quickly, conserve energy, and then offer fast cleaning with ceramic surfaces. 5 burner and bridge burner cooktops start at the mid-range of cooktop pricing.
* Control styles – Gas cooktops have yet to go beyond control knobs even at the highest end but electric versions can offer more variety once you approach mid-range pricing. The variety of controls includes digital readouts and touch screen operation. An added benefit of these models is that the absence of knobs makes cleanup easier.
* How exhaust will be vented – If overhead venting isn’t an option, electric cooktops can be purchased with a downdraft systems that aren’t as strong as traditional venting but can still reduce smoke and other cooking residuals.

Make sure to budget for the added expense of a cooktop with a separate wall unit as the components and the installation will be more costly than a traditional range. That being said, your new cooktop and oven can deliver bunch of great benefits that will have you cooking like a pro.

Optimizing the Performance of Your Energy Star Clothes Washer

ENERGY STAR appliances get their ratings by meeting benchmarks for operating efficiency and energy savings. While these appliances are designed for efficiency in everyday use, you can optimize the performance of, and maximize the savings from your ENERGY STAR washing machine by following these tips:

* Run your washer with full loads as often as possible – While sensors and settings can be used to make adjustments for smaller loads, clothes washers deliver maximum savings when full wash loads are run, resulting in a lower number of wash cycles per week.

* Don’t automatically assume that every load requires hot water – Depending on the stains, dirt or grime that you’re trying to get out of your clothes, in most cases you’ll be able to get the same results from running cycles with warm or cold water. The one exception would be the necessity of using hot water to remove oily stains. Keep in mind that using hot water will eat up about 90% of the energy used for a wash load while warm water uses about 50% less energy. Using cold water means that energy will only be used to operate the machinery, which maximizes your savings.

* Use the spin cycle – The spin cycle removes moisture from the clothes using centrifugal force. Longer and faster spin cycles will remove more moisture, which will reduce the length of the drying cycle.

* Use the recommended type of detergent – If you have a front loading washer, High Efficiency detergents which generate a lower amount of soap suds are recommended. Going with traditional detergents produces a higher than desired level of suds, which will reduce washing efficiency and may lead to mechanical issues down the line.

* Leave the door to your front loading washer open after completing a wash load – Unlike top loading washers, front loading necessitates a water-tight seal to prevent leakage. While a tightly sealed door is necessary to keep water in the basin during a wash, it will also trap moisture left behind if the door is shut once the wash is completed. This trapped moisture can be seen as condensation on the glass of the door and can lead to moldy and/or mildewy odors. If you smell these odors when opening your washer door, run a cycle without a wash load using about 8 ounces of bleach to remove them. Instead, leave the door open slightly after a wash load to allow residual moisture to evaporate.

Running your ENERGY STAR washing machine at its highest level of efficiency can save energy, time and money on both wash loads and drying loads. What you do with that extra time and money is up to you.

East Coast Appliance Announces the Arrival of the New Frigidaire Top Load HE Laundry

East Coast Appliance is pleased to announce the arrival of the new Frigidaire top load HE Laundry appliances. Packed with features that deliver cleaner wash loads, extra convenience, and big energy savings, the Frigidaire High Efficiency washers arrive as a solid choice for households of all sizes. With the Top Load High Efficiency washers, Frigidaire continues to build its reputation for consistently adding innovations, upgrades, and features each time they introduce new generation of appliances.

The most recent features added to Frigidaire’s High Efficiency washers include:

• Immersion Care – For delicates and items requiring a gentler wash cycle, Immersion Care technology eases water and detergent through clothes and offers a gentle spin cycle for a complete clean that protects the wash load.
• WaterFall Wash Technology – This feature works in concert with Immersion Care technology to soak and distribute detergent evenly through the wash basin to ensure cleaner wash loads.
• The Fits-More wash basin – The expanded wash basin allows for bigger wash loads to get laundry done faster.
• Vibration controls – The new Frigidaire top load laundry appliances are equipped with vibration sensors to prevent wash loads from becoming unbalanced to provide a quiet wash cycle every time. Additionally, the SilentDesign feature runs every wash cycle on these washers with a 20% noise reduction from normal levels.
• ENERGY STAR certification – Many of the Frigidaire High Efficiency washers are ENRGY STAR certified, with average energy savings of 33% compared to non-certified washers.

East Coast Appliance got its start in 1988 and has grown to become the largest dealer of appliances and electronics in the state of Virginia by offering highly competitive prices and legendary service to its customers. On the arrival of the new Frigidaire washing machines Rob Nicholson, president and owner of East Coast Appliance & Electronics said, “The Frigidaire line is an important part of our product mix and the new high efficiency washers are a great addition for East Coast Appliance and our customers.”

East Coast Appliance & Electronics has five locations in the state of Virginia, with 3 in Virginia Beach and one each in Chesapeake, and Newport News.

As the largest appliance and electronics dealer in the state of Virginia, East Coast Appliance & Electronics offers all the household names and major brands across all categories of appliances and electronics at every day low prices. For more information, visit http://eastcoastappliance.com/index.html

Press release distributed by Gervais Group. See original press release at https://www.gervaisgroupllc.com/newsroom.html

East Coast Appliance Announces the Addition of Samsung Appliances to its Product Lineup

East Coast Appliance is pleased to announce the addition of Samsung Appliances to its already extensive product lineup. The new products from Samsung add another household name to East Coast Appliance’s robust inventory, which already includes brand names such as General Electric, Frigidaire, LG, Bosch, Jenn-Air and more.

The new Samsung appliances at East Coast Appliance include:

• Refrigerators – Samsung’s line of refrigerators, many of which meet ENERGY STAR requirements, come with numerous features including a system that separates humid and dry airflows to keep refrigerated food fresher while preventing freezer burn, rapid cooling, and enhanced storage capacity. These refrigerators also come in a variety of sizes and styles to complement any kitchen design.
• Samsung washers – Many of Samsung’s washers are ENERGY STAR qualified and are loaded with features that add speed, provide convenience and deliver cleaner wash loads. Samsung’s washers are built with powerful jets that shorten the wash cycle while removing dirt, grime, grass stains and more. Added convenience arrives with the Touch Screen LCD washer that comes with a smart phone app that allows remote control of the washer from almost anywhere.
• Samsung Dryers – Like their washers, Samsung also offers a dryer with a Touch Screen LCD that allows remote monitoring and control. Dryers come with up to 14 different dry cycle options so that loads get done in the most efficient manner possible.
• Samsung ranges – East Coast Appliance has added Samsung’s freestanding gas ranges as well as smooth-top electric ranges. Both offer convection cooking, options offering flexibility on the cooktop, and convenient self-cleaning features.

East Coast Appliance was founded in 1988 and now operates in 5 locations in Virginia, making it the largest dealer of appliances and electronics in the state. “We are very excited to add Samsung to our extensive line of brand name appliances.” said Rob Nicholson, president and owner of East Coast Appliance & Electronics. He added, “As always, these new products will be offered at our everyday low prices and backed by our great customer service team.”

East Coast Appliance & Electronics has retail locations in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News, Virginia. The company also operates a Builders Direct store and a Service and Parts store in Virginia Beach.

As the largest appliance and electronics dealer in the state of Virginia, East Coast Appliance & Electronics offers all the major brands across all categories of appliances and electronics. For more information, visit http://eastcoastappliance.com/index.html

Press release distributed by Gervais Group. See original press release at https://www.gervaisgroupllc.com/newsroom.html  

East Coast Appliance and Electronics’ Witchduck Builder Store Announces Major Renovations in the Works

East Coast Appliance and Electronics is pleased to announce major renovations that are in the works for its Witchduck Builder Store. The renovation plan also includes moving the store down the street to its new address: 117 South Witchduck Rd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462. The move to the new location will also nearly triple the size of the sales floor from the current 2500 square feet to 7000 square feet. The move and renovations are expected to be completed by January 1st, 2013.

Renovations at the Builder Direct store include:

•       15 vignettes featuring refrigerators, dishwashers, cook tops and wall ovens in a variety of configurations, designs and styles – Each vignette will be created with kitchen appliances from name brands including Fisher and Paykel, GE Monogram, Viking, and more.
• A Manhattan warehouse look and feel – The new design will feature the open architecture of a Manhattan warehouse with raw finishes and an industrial affect.
• An expanded inventory facilitated by the near tripling of the square footage of the sales floor.

The Builder Direct store, an offshoot from the East Coast Appliance and Electronics superstores, caters to architects, builders, and general contractors with personal service committed to providing the best solutions for any type of kitchen or electronics configuration. The services and solutions include professional deliveries of electronics and appliances, as well as flawless installation. These customized solutions and services also come with low price guarantees backed by East Coast Appliance and Electronics.

East Coast Appliance and Builder Direct can guarantee these low prices based on the company’s buying power as well as its membership in the Nationwide Marketing Group. Nationwide’s membership is comprised of over 3000 independent store owners selling appliances, furniture, electronics and installation services with combined revenues of over $12 billion. The accumulated buying power of the members inside this group leads to low unit pricing on appliances and electronics that puts East Coast Appliance and Builder Direct in a position where those low prices can be passed on and guaranteed to its customers.

“The new Builder Direct Store will be a great extension of East Coast Appliance and Electronics’ commitment to providing the best prices, products and services”, said Rob Nicholson, president and owner of East Coast Appliance & Electronics. He added, “We are very excited about being able to offer our commercial customers continued exceptional service, an expanded inventory, and everyday low prices at our new location.”

In addition to the Builder Direct store in Virginia Beach, East Coast Appliance & Electronics operates superstores in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News, Virginia. The company also offers parts and service through a separate location in Virginia Beach.


East Coast Appliance & Electronics is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics operation in Virginia, offering all the major appliance and electronics brands. For more information on the Builder Direct store, visit: http://eastcoastappliance.com/index.html

Press release distributed by Gervais Group. See original press release at https://www.gervaisgroupllc.com/newsroom.html

Electrolux Dealers See the Future of Cooking

Electrolux dealers are excited about induction technology because it represents the next generation in cooking. Induction cooking employs high frequency electromagnets and sophisticated electronics to generate a magnetic field on the cooktop of a range. When a magnetic pot or pan is placed on top of the electromagnetic field, energy is transferred from the magnet to the pot/pan, which then heats the metal of the cookware. Heating of the cookware then cooks the food held inside. Increasing or decreasing the power of the magnetic field can then control the level of heat transferred into the cookware.

This dynamic presents many benefits including:

• Induction cooking is more responsive than gas or electric because of the capability to instantaneous adjust the heating level. Water boils faster and heat can be reduced more quickly as well. In fact, water can be brought to a boil in 90 seconds.
• Induction cooking provides a more efficient transfer of energy than gas or electrical heating elements, which can save both time and energy.
• Being able to control heating with electromagnetic energy means that cooking temperatures can be set precisely.
• The cooktop stays cool – Because heat is transferred directly from the electromagnets to the cookware, the cooktop stays cool. This can reduce accidental burns and make cleaning easier.
• Flexibility - Sensors automatically detect magnetic cookware that is placed on the cooktop and then activate the induction field, which can be adjusted to any sized cookware.

One issue that could be seen as a disadvantage of induction cooking is that at present, the only cookware that can be used must be a metal, such as iron, that responds to a magnetic field. Non-ferrous cookware like aluminum simply does not work on induction cooktops. This issue is mitigated by the fact that most cookware lines have plenty of products that will work on induction cooktops. Additionally, as induction cooking gains popularity, expect even more cookware options to become available over time.

Electrolux dealers know that the many benefits of induction cooking, including precision temperature selection, rapid heating, and savings in time and energy make induction cooktops a solid choice for any kitchen. For more information, visit: http://eastcoastappliance.com/index.html

Whirlpool Top Load Washers: Easy on the Environment

The new line of Whirlpool top load washers are designed to be gentle on clothes and the environment while delivering wash loads that are cleaner than ever. Built with a new suite of upgrades and intelligent technological innovations, these washers have been engineered to offer the highest levels of convenience as well as savings of time, energy and money. While these benefits are being realized, the new Whirlpool top load washers, known as the Cabrio line, also run a gentle yet extremely efficient wash cycle.

Powered by “6th Sense” technology, savings start before the wash load is started with “Precision Dispense”, which measures the size of the wash load and then determines the best levels for water, detergent, softeners, and other washing additives. In addition to using less water, this feature also ensures that wash items are not exposed to higher levels of detergent, bleach, etc. than is necessary. To provide the cleanest wash possible, washing begins with a jet spray of water and detergent that penetrates stains early in the cycle to ensure their removal.
 
Additional savings are realized with Whirlpool’s H2Low system, which maximizes cleaning with lower water usage than competing washers.

The Eco Boost feature maintains water temperatures throughout the wash cycle, which saves energy and keeps wash items from being exposed to excessive water temperatures.

To remove bacteria and allergens such as bacteria, dust, pollen, etc., Whirlpool top load washers are certified by the Nation Sanitation Foundation (NSF). The certification from the NSF recognizes the fact that Whirlpool wash loads are run at hot enough temperatures for time frames that are just long enough to remove allergens, resulting wash items that are far cleaner than those done non-NSF certified washing machines.

To run Whirlpool top load washers at the quietest level possible, a suspension system has been incorporated into these machines that decreases noise from vibration, even with loads where balancing is an issue.  

To maximize savings in the laundry room, these washers can be combined with Whirlpool’s Cabrio line of high efficiency dryers. According to estimates, this pairing can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the machines. For more information on Whirlpool top load washers, visit: http://eastcoastappliance.com/index.html