Appliance recommendations
It all begins with an idea.
Appliance recommendations:
I am in no way affiliated with any of these brands and have not even signed a warranty contract with them. These are simply the opinions/observations of a technician with 20+ years on the job.
A universal note- Units with more secondary functions tend to have higher repair rates and higher average cost of repair. I always recommend that the replacement decision be started with deciding what buttons you will actually press and which functions you actually need. Don’t pay for added features because “It’s nice to have that option”.
Dishwasher: Bosch
Bosch has similar quality to high end brands like Miele, Asko, and Cove but starts at a much lower price tag (competitive with poor quality machines).
Washer: Speed Queen or GE
Speed Queen is considered the most reliable washer in the servicer sphere. They also have the best warranty.
GE is a good second option at a more affordable price.
Dryer: No specific brand
Dryers are the simplest appliances in their basic functions. Because of this (and the fact that most people don’t make use of additional functions), my recommendation is that you buy the simplest dryer that has the options you need.
Range: DCS, Wolf, Thermador, Viking, GE
DCS, Wolf, Thermador,and Viking are boutique brands with a price tag to match but definitely worth it if you can afford them. GE is a more affordable option and their parent company also owns DCS, meaning they have access to some great engineers and design folks.
Microwave: Sharp
I’ve long been a fan of Sharp for microwaves and feel they make the most reliable units. However, many major brands are made by the same manufacturer so there isn’t much difference in quality. Again, just buy the simplest machine that suits your needs.
Refrigerator: GE or Bosch
Similar lifespan. The Bosch does have a higher price tag generally and a slightly longer life, but in a dollars/year comparison they seem to be in the same class
Final note-
Many brands haven’t been mentioned here for various reasons. In some cases, the brand has a horrible reputation among servicers (Google “washer explodes” to see who I’m talking about here).
In other cases, the brand may simply have a price tag that is inaccessible to the vast majority of us. Brands like LaCanche, La Cornue, Sub-Zero, and several others are absolutely fantastic machines, however, not many of us want to pay $10,000-20,000 for a single machine. While I love these brands and will happily repair them for you, they simply aren’t feasible as a recommendation for a majority of households.
Any further questions can be answered with a phone call! 402-802-6643