Brand

Appliances in LA LA LANDGreat Deals on New Appliances in the Heart of LA LA LANDIt's a colorful, award winning movie about making it in LA, but there are many other true stories about finding your way in La La Land. If you're looking for new appliances, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center is LA from beginning to end.Our locations are in Studio City and Calabasas, so we're definitely LA. With humble beginnings in the LA area, UAKC is now one of the leading retailers of appliances and decorative plumbing fixtures in the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, UAKC is also a successful national appliance internet sales business headquartered in LA. Think about it: LA owned and based, 2 LA retail locations. LA warehouse and national internet sales operated from LA. We are proud to be part of LA LA LAND. When you shop and buy from Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center you're not only spending your money here, but your money stays here and helps support not only our LA business, but our LA sales, administrative, delivery, and installation staff. Our ownership and employees spend their money, raise their families, attend the schools, and places of worship here, and your money stays here and goes back into the LA economy.Compare this to the big chains, the no service home improvement operations, who base their businesses in the East. They may employee staff here, but their operations and profits wind up back East. UAKC features the 3 big name brands:

Is it time for a new dishwasher?Houzz has published its 2017 Kitchen Trends Survey. For homeowners planning kitchen renovations, dishwashers are the most likely to be first on the list for replacement. It really isn't a big surprise considering all the changes in dishwashers over the years. Here are the top trends in dishwashers in our view.Sani-CycleHomeowners are increasingly concerned with sanitation, particularly in the kitchen. Some new dishwashers have sani-cycles that are certified by the NSF which requires that the water is heated to 155 degrees fahrenheit and kept there for a certain amount of time. This feature can be particularly important when someone in the home is sick, or if there is a baby to care for.Energy and Water SavingsWhile dishwasher manufacturers are all keen on having the EnergyStar label, some dishwashers are more energy efficient than others. They work with smaller highly efficient motors that run quieter (and longer) to get dishes clean while running at whisper quiet sound levels.In addition, though dishwashers may have long run times, they actually use far less water. That's one reason why they are more energy efficient because a big part of a dishwashers energy usage is the cost of heating the water.QuietToday's open kitchens make it critical that dishwashers run quietly, and appliance manufacturers tout their "whisper-quiet" dishwashers. In my opinion, to be considered quiet, a dishwasher would have to operate at a decibel rating in the 40's. The really quiet dishwashers are often in the low 40's with a

What is a Smart Appliance?When the first oven that had a temperature control on its oven came out, I'm sure that it was called a smart oven. Similarly, the first refrigerator that defrosted itself, was considered a smart refrigerator. But imagine this: You're baking cookies, and the oven reaches 350 degrees. You hate it when the kitchen heats up, but what can you do? Your new Jenn-Air® wall oven with Nest connectivity, will communicate with the furnace to drop the temperature a few degrees to compensate for that extra heat from your oven.Now, that's a smart appliance. It's just one of the many connectivity features available in appliances these days. There are a host of new appliances with smart features from top brands now available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.Smart Jenn-Air Appliances at UAKCWe're only touching on one brand here, but the professionals at UAKC receive regular updates from the appliance manufacturers and can give you the direction you need to make your own smart decisions on today's smart appliances. Here's a brief introduction to the new connected wall ovens from Jenn-Air:More and more appliance buyers are enjoying the incredible conveniences and luxuries that smart homes and products like the Nest Learning Thermostat add to their lifestyle. They love the way Nest already connects their home to security devices and cameras, and they'll love the idea of Nest working in the kitchen too.Larger than before, this new Jenn-Air® single wall oven offers 5.0 cubic feet of oven capacity and

Thinking Small (small appliances) at UAKCDeluxe 24" Appliances Now Available in SouCalUniversal Appliance and Kitchen Center has long been known for having the best selection of major appliances in all Southern California. That selection has been growing with all the new European sized 60cm. wide appliances that have been launched in the U.S. (60cm. is approximately 24 inches).For decades the standard size for U.S. ranges, cooktops, ovens, and hoods has been 30", and most single family homes today include 30" wide base and upper cabinets. However, for various reasons, there are large numbers of housing units in Southern California that have 24" wall and base cabinets that need 24" wide appliances. All the popular U.S. brand 30" wide ovens, ranges, and vent hoods won't fit in these cabinets, so only basic 24" apartment models have been available. That's all in the past, as new products are now available for 24" cabinets at a variety of price points and with a variety of features. For example, here is a new Bertazzoni stainless steel 24" wide gas range, a nice upgrade from a U.S. standard model. If you're looking for a full suite of built-in appliances in this category, you might start with Bosch, a European appliance manufacturer with a great reputation. Bosch is a premium brand, that has great quality, and at a price below the luxury category. Miele is also a European brand with a good selection of European size (60 cm) wide appliances.

Sorting out AppliancesChoosing the right washing machineWhen you're choosing a new washing machine several factors come in to play, and effect our decision. Here are a few of them.Size:You need a machine big enough to do the job. Tub size can matter, but remember that front load machines will hold more than equivalent sized top load machine, and sorting and frequency of washing need to be factored in when selecting tub size.Cost:Everyone has a budget. Appliances can seem expensive, but think about the life span and how often you use your washer.Features:There are an abundance of features on today's washing machines. Make sure to take advantage of this, and don't buy a stripped down machine. I remember hearing about a customer who insisted on the most basic washer available, and later complained that it lacked a permanent press cycle.Brands:Brands DO make a difference, and it's easy to get confused. For example, the Whirlpool Corporation owns and manufactures several appliance brands, eg. Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air. However, that does not mean that these brands are the same. For example, Whirlpool laundry products are high quality and hugely popular. Even though Maytag washers and dryers are made by Whirlpool Corp, there are significant differences between Maytag and Whirlpool. Maytag has many heavy duty, commercial parts, that are absent on the Whirlpool as well as a longer warranty and a higher price. You may need advice in choosing between the Whirlpool and the Maytag and weighing the value of heavy duty

Deciding on a new appliance.UAKC can help you make the right decision.Recently, I wanted to buy an additional monitor for my office computer setup. I shopped around, and knew the prices, features, and sizes that would work for me. Yet, I agonized endlessly over this model or that, and I just couldn't decide. Suddenly, it struck me that I spent less time deciding over a new car that costs tens of thousands than over an inexpensive electronic device that cost only a few hundred dollars. Why was I spending all this time debating back and forth over something that cost so little?This is called paralysis by analysis. To one degree or another, we all have it. If you need a new refrigerator, a washer and dryer, or even an entire suite of kitchen appliances, you don't want to make a mistake....but, you also don't want to needlessly deny yourself these new appliances just because of your paralysis by analysis syndrome.Here's a suggestion: Call or visit Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. I've know these folks for a long time (long before I began writing these blogs). They won't waste your time. They are very knowledgeable. Tell them what your situation is, and in no time at all they'll make a few recommendations. They'll try to match your requests for brand, quality level, pricing, etc. with the best overall choices that fit your needs.With their large selection of brands, and great pricing you really won't need to be shopping around. You can

Save Two Ways on Viking Appliances at UAKCViking is the brand that introduced and popularized commercial restaurant-style appliances for the home. Today, Viking is part of Middleby, a large corporation that is a leader in commercial appliances for restaurants and large enterprises. Middleby has brought their technology, their acumen, and their resources to Viking with a steady stream of high quality, dependable appliances made with commercial features and quality, but designed to accommodate consumer needs.At Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, our skilled sales associates are fully trained in all the latest features and benefits of Viking appliances. Today, you have a unique opportunity to save on Viking by beating the pending price increase and at the same time taking advantage of their current money-saving offers.Bad News and Good NewsBad NewsThe bad news is that Viking has announced a price increase of as much as 7% on May 1st, 2016.Good NewsIf you act now you can beat the price increase and save up to 7% on Viking appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.But wait there's more!More Good NewsThe more good news is that you can save even more on Viking appliances with their special offers which include a free dishwasher and/or a free professional range hood.Call or visit a Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center showroom today to get Viking appliances at the lowest price available plus maximize your savings with Viking's YOU COOK, WE CLEAN SALES EVENT! 

Save Money on Luxury Brands at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterIf you are building a new house or remodeling your kitchen, and are suffering from sticker shock on the cost of luxury appliances do not despair. Yes, famous name luxury brands can easily price some of us out of the market, but there are some options. Here are three ways that the folks at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) can help you get appliances you'll love at a price you can afford.1. Chose a different luxury brand.If price is a consideration (isn't it always?), don't limit yourself to the big names. There is a growing list of quality appliances in the luxury category that may fit your needs. Tell your appliance consultant at UAKC that you are willing to look at alternative brands if you can save money. For example, Bertazzoni is a brand that's been around in Europe for generations, but has just recently decided to export to the U.S. Check out this pro-style gas range that sells for half the price of some of the big name luxury brands.Bertazzoni Master Series MAS304GASXEFeatures 30" Pro-Style Gas Range 4 Sealed Aluminum Burners 18,000 BTU Burner 3.6 cu. ft. Convection Oven Full-Width Infrared Broiler2. Luxury Brand Name vs Luxury ProductYou may be able to purchase a luxury product that is not a luxury brand. For example, GE Monogram is the designated luxury brand of GE Appliances, and GE Monogram has a full-line of built-in refrigerators.

Get the Appliance Brand that Fits UAKC Has Great Selection and Low Prices If you are building a home or remodeling, you'll need to think about selecting the appliance brand that best suits your needs. Just like clothing or automobiles, appliance brands make a "statement" and the brand you select should be a good fit for the house you are building or the kitchen you are remodeling. At Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, (UAKC) the sales associates will help you select the appliances that are the right "fit" for you. Appliance brands can be categorized along dimensions such as price, lifestyle or even generational such as millenial, Gen X or Y, boomer, etc. To make it easy we combine and simplify along mass brands, premium, super premium, and luxury brands. Think of mass brands as including Frigidaire, GE, Maytag, and Whirlpool. Premium brands would include Bosch, GE Profile, GE Cafe, and KitchenAid. Among the super premium brands are Electrolux, Jenn-Air, and Thermador. Luxury brands include GE Monogram, Wolf Sub Zero, Gaggenau, Miele, and Viking. These are broad categories are there are no hard rules here so some appliance professionals will argue for example that Thermador could be included in the luxury category, and that Maytag laundry should be considered a premium brand. But you get the idea. These are ALL good respectable brands, but they are positioned by their companies with pricing and features to fit in certain niches. The reason it's important for consumers to have a general idea

Name brand appliances tell a story. Marketers use the term brand equity to describe the worth of a brand. Brands are built over time and firms invest millions in their brand image and reputation. A brand has meaning. It stands for something. A marketing executive once said, "A brand is a promise." When considering appliance brands, the brand tells a story. Major appliance manufacturers segment their brands to fit different buyers. For example, some brands are considered value brands. Value brands are built and priced to represent a value to entry level buyers who need performance at a price, i.e. good value on a tight budget. At the other extreme of the price spectrum are luxury and super luxury brands. These are the Cadillacs and Bentleys of the appliance industry and they carry a luxury cache' and a luxury price tag as well. In the middle are core or mass brands such as Whirlpool and GE that represent a wide range of choices and prices in the broad middle of the consumer market. Above the mass brands are premium brands that don't quite fit in the luxury category, but are a step up from the mass brands. Some marketers refine these brands even more adding for example, super premium brands, brands that are between premium and luxury. In any case, the story brands tell is related to the segment of the population that the brand is trying to represent. Customers sometimes self-select their own market category. Often demographics and income