• Select the Right Stove & Oven

• Get the Perfect Refrigerator & Freezer

• Explore Washer & Dryer Options

• Choose a Dishwasher That Meets Your Needs

• Find Major Appliances on eBay

• Buy Major Appliances With Confidence

Select the Right Stove & Oven

Select the Right Stove & Oven

Find the right stove and oven to fit your lifestyle.

Stoves

First, determine whether you want a gas range (check to see if you have a gas line in your kitchen) or an electric range.

• Gas ranges: In general, gas ranges offer more precise temperature control than electric ranges. They also have no cool-down time, so you can cut the heat to a dish instantly without having to take it off the burner. Gas ranges can come with sealed ceramic burners that allow the easy cleaning of electric burners, while offering the control of gas. Some gas ranges come with specialty burners that allow you to do specific kinds of cooking. A sealed “simmer” burner will let you cook delicate ingredients like chocolate or sugars without a double boiler. Other “high output” burners can deliver a scorching 15,000 BTUs. This lets you boil water for pasta, heat oil for deep-frying, or any other task that requires a lot of heat, fast.

• Electric ranges: The sealed cooktops of electric ranges are easy to clean. Just spray and wipe, and any spills or mess are gone. Many burners on electric ranges are adjustable. These let you heat everything from a small saucepan to a large casserole dish with the right amount of heat. Some electric ranges also come with electric controls that can automatically turn off burners that have been left on accidentally, adjust the cooking elements to fit the size of the pan being used, and lock out a burner to prevent any accidental turn-ons.

Ovens

First, decide what oven size you need. Do you plan on having an extra-large turkey at Thanksgiving? Will you be baking lots of cakes and pastries? If so, then you’ll probably need a larger oven.

An oven with a larger looped cooking element will provide more even heat that is useful in baking. Some baking elements are hidden beneath the floor of the oven cavity, making it easier to clean the bottom of the oven.

Electronic touch controls make it easier to program precise temperatures, and many come with extra features like a cook timer and a cooking lockout. High- and low-broil features let you cook thick meats without charring the exterior.

Convection ovens circulate hot air around the food, drastically reducing the cooking times, sometimes up to 25%. Convection ovens often have a convection fan to further increase effectiveness.

Some ovens come with a self-cleaning feature that superheats the oven, turning any spills into ash that can easily be wiped up.

Viking, Thermador, Jenn Air, GE, and Wolf all make popular ovens and ranges.

Get the Perfect Refrigerator & Freezer

Get the Perfect Refrigerator & Freezer

The refrigerator is often the centerpiece of the kitchen, and for good reason — it stores your food. First, consider what capacity refrigerator best meets your needs. For example, do you live alone or do you have four children?

There are three different refrigerator/freezer configurations:

• Bottom-mounted refrigerator combos: Bottom-mounted combos have the freezer mounted below the refrigerator.

• Top-mounted refrigerator combos: Top-mounted combos have the freezer above the refrigerator.

• Side-by-side refrigerator combos: Side-by-side combos have the fridge and freezer next to each other. These may also be referred to as “French Door” refrigerators.

There are many other features you should consider when selecting your refrigerator:

• Adjustable shelving: Most refrigerators have adjustable shelving. With some, you have to take the shelf out and manually move it up or down a level. Some have a rail system and you can adjust the shelf-height by cranking a lever.

• In-door refreshment centers: Some refrigerators come with in-door refreshment centers that put commonly used items in a separate container that can be accessed through a smaller door in the front of the fridge. They save energy because the main door does not need to be opened every time.

• In-door ice and water dispenser: The most popular feature is the in-door ice and water dispenser. Most water and ice dispensers feature filtered water and cubed or crushed ice.

Select a stand-alone freezer

Stand-alone freezers are useful if you have a large quantity of frozen food that you don’t need constant access to. Be sure to determine the right capacity for your needs. Most stand-alone freezers are top-loading, also known as chest freezers, and have baskets to help organize their contents. Upright freezers, with more of a refrigerator look and feel, are also popular in the home.

Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Viking, GE, and Sub-Zero all make popular refrigerators and freezers.

Explore Washer & Dryer Options

Explore Washer & Dryer Options

The right washing machine can make a huge difference in your energy bills. Look for the Energy Star rating. This rating is determined by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states that the machine uses less water and less energy to do its job.

There are two main kinds of washers available: front-load and top-load.

• Front-load washers: Front-load washers can be stacked with a dryer to conserve space. They usually have a more effective, energy-saving spin dry feature, and generally use less water to wash clothes.

• Top-load washers: Top-load washers are the most common, come in a wide variety of models, and allow easier access to the washtub.

The tub material will be made of porcelain-covered metal, plastic, or stainless steel. Plastic and stainless steel tubs are the most durable and can last as long as the washer itself.

Remember to choose a washer capacity that fits your needs. One that is too large may waste energy, while one that is too small could necessitate extra loads. Also, consider a quieter model if your washer is near a living area.

Choose the right dryer

Many of the same considerations also apply to dryers. Noise level and capacity should be important concerns. Some dryers also come with sensors to keep from wasting energy when clothes have dried before the allotted time has expired.

A common option in dryers is the drying rack. This lets you place items on a rack instead of having them tumble inside the machine. This is great for drying shoes, since tumble drying them can damage the machine.

Maytag, Kenmore, and Whirlpool all make popular washers and dryers.

Consider a stackable laundry center

If you have limited space in the home or are looking for a laundry center style for your washer and dryer, you will also find washer & dryer combo sets on eBay, and sets that are designed to be stacked. This is when the dryer sits on top of the washer for easy loading and space saving.

Choose a Dishwasher That Meets Your Needs

Choose a Dishwasher That Meets Your Needs

Dishwashers can save you time, and many energy-efficient dishwashers actually use less water than washing by hand.

When choosing a dishwasher, check to see the size of the holes on the wash arms. The smaller the hole, the more scrubbing power it will bring to bear on your dishes.

Make sure the dishwasher has a setting for the kind of dishes you want to wash. There are cycles for just about every kind of cleaning. If you’re hoping that your dishwasher can scrub pots and pans, make sure it has more than just a delicate cycle.

Some dishwashers have sensors to detect how much cleaning your dishes need. If they’re very dirty, they’ll get the full treatment, but if they’re only slightly dirty, the machine will cut back on the cleaning to save water and energy.

GE, KitchenAid, and Maytag all make popular dishwashers.

Find Major Appliances on eBay

Find Major Appliances on eBay

Once you know what type of major appliance you want, go to the Home & Garden portal, click Major Appliances, and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Dishwashers, Ranges, Cooking Appliances , Refrigerators, Freezers, and more.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a washer dryer combo, type "washer dryer combo" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Major Appliances With Confidence

Buy Major Appliances With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.