Manufacturer

Fourth of July Bargains on the Products You WantSave Money at UAKC Without SacrificingThe Fourth of July Holiday is a great time to buy new appliances. Why? Manufacturers allocate extra promotional funds to attract buyers during traditional holiday sales periods. These offers are typically additive to other ongoing promotions. So, you save with the ongoing promotions, and you save again with the holiday sale promotion.Click on the banner below for a list of current manufacturer rebates at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center: It's possible that some of the short term promotions are not on the rebate list, so we recommend calling or visiting the UAKC showroom nearest you for an update.In addition to having the best prices possible, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has a complete selection of popular brands as well as the premium and luxury brands. Equally important, UAKC has experienced and well-trained sales associates who can help you with your purchase. This is a HUGE advantage. You get expert help, best selection, AND the lowest price. Compare this to the nice folks at the Big Box Home Improvement stores. The last time I visited there, a very nice fellow took me to the product aisle for the product I needed. The cheap version was $209. and the next better item was $229. So I asked him, "What's the difference?" He replied....wait for it..."Twenty dollars." I'm not kidding. So I said, "There must be some reason this one costs $20 more." And again, I'm not kidding, he started

What to look for in Smart AppliancesSmart Choices at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterWhat's a smart appliance?There's more than one definition, but for our purposes here we're going to say that a smart appliance has some degree of connectivity. It might be as simple as an app that notifies you if your refrigerator door has been left open for some period of time. Or it might be remotely pre-heating and cooking a roast from your smartphone. All of this may sound wonderful, but there are pros and cons.Is it safe?Some manufacturers, as well as UL (Underwriters Laboratory) have expressed views on limiting remote capabilities for certain products. For example, should a remote app for ovens allow consumers to put their ovens through a self-clean cycle while nobody is home? Even remotely operating a cooking appliance of any sort has some consumers wary. One manufacturer has a remote app that can be set to operate only by Bluetooth which gives the homeowner complete use of remotely operating the appliance only within the house.How much is the premium for Smart Appliances?The first refrigerator with a TV built into the door launched over a decade ago and retailed close to $10,000. It really had little functionality, and failed miserably. Today, Samsung has a Family Hub refrigerator with a 21" tall wi-fi enabled full-featured communications center in the door and cameras inside that can be viewed remotely eg. from the grocery store with the Samsung app. The Samsung Family Hub refrigerator retails for $5800.

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.

Memorial Day Sale on AppliancesCan You Save Money on Appliances During Memorial Day?Friends often ask me if they can really save money by buying appliances during sale events. The answer is yes, sometimes. First, assess your situation. Do you need new appliances? Will you be remodeling in the next year or so? Do you have appliances that are nearing the end of their normal lifecycle? Do you have a strong desire for a new appliance that you'd like to treat yourself to? Have you had a run of service calls on one or more appliances? Are your old appliances energy hogs? Could you justify all or part of the new appliance costs on energy savings?If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then you should definitely consider a visit or a call to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center during the big 2016 Memorial Day Sale period. Here's why:Appliance manufacturers choose to accumulate their promotional dollars, and use them two or three times a year, to get the most impact out of their funds. Memorial Day is one of those times. As a result, during this sale period, you can save money on many appliances by taking advantage of these short term offers, that you won't find during the rest of the year.The team at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

Where did the porcelain go? Back in the day, nearly all major appliances used porcelain somewhere. Dishwashers had porcelain tubs. Washers and dryers had porcelain tops and lids, and most washers had porcelain tubs. Early ranges used porcelain everywhere, and even today ranges use porcelain oven interiors and many have porcelain tops. Refrigerators evolved from porcelain inside and out (including crispers and liners) to now having no porcelain whatsoever. Porcelain finishes were desirable and manufacturers bragged about them.Making porcelain on steel appliance parts is a complex and expensive process. In addition, environmental issues exist not only at the manufacturing level, but also in disposing of appliances at the end of life. Therefore, over time manufacturers have greatly reduced the use of porcelain in appliances.Inexpensive dishwashers now have plastic tubs, and upscale models feature stainless steel interiors. Refrigerators have plastic crispers and interiors which also allow energy-saving foam-in-place insulation. While you might find washers and dryers with porcelain tops, many now feature a high gloss, durable, painted finish. Inside, very few washers have porcelain tubs. Inexpensive washers might have plastic tubs, while the premium models have tubs made of stainless steel. However, range ovens and built-in ovens still use primarily porcelain for their oven interiors.As a consumer, you should take note of the appliances you have that have porcelain finishes or interiors. When it comes time to dispose of these products, they'll need to be properly recycled. Check local or state regulations and find a certified recycling center for your appliance.