The Record Homescape 10-03-2019 | Page 4

4H ❚ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
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HOMESCAPE / ADVERTISING SECTION
Kitchens: Trending Europe
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Bertazzoni and Liebherr, for
example, actually cost less than
many of the American-made
appliances,” he advises. “Price-
wise, Miele will be in line with
premium American brands, such
as Sub Zero/Wolf and Dacor. In
general, prices are competitive,
depending on the category.”
Adds Vijayan, “Americans are
always buying European applianc-
es, because they are recognized
as the leaders in so many areas.
Some of the European companies
like Miele, Bosch and Asko all but
dominate the dishwasher industry
and are synonymous with quality,
as are companies such Gaggenau
and again Miele for their high-
efficiency ovens. The European
companies have made huge
inroads into the energy-efficiency,
acoustics, and thermal-engineer-
ing aspects of appliances.”
Cioletti notes, “Europe is very
green when it comes to their
appliance design and the products
offered. In fact, many European
ovens are not self-cleaning,
says Vijayan. “The new acces-
sories are widely popular as they
help us organize our cabinets bet-
ter, and the new built-in lighting
inside drawers and cabinets is a
home run.”
And just when you thought
nickel and chrome finishes were
“all that,” say hello again to brass.
“Satin-finish and un-lacquered
brass are making a comeback,”
according to Lawless. “Brass
adds warmth to the grays and
whites that are so popular.
Brass also pops against trendy
navy-blue cabinets.” And at the
sink, pull-down faucets, which
first emerged on the American
market via high-end European
manufacturers, such as German
Dornbracht, Hansgrohe,
and Rohl, as well as the Swiss
company KWC, are a hands-down
favorite with her customers.
These faucets are available from
many American manufacturers
now, as well.
APPLIANCE WISE
Says Vijayan, “European
engineering has always been in
the forefront, driving us to sleeker
kitchen appliances. And it has
made appliances more compatible
with ‘our’ on-the-go lifestyle with
timer functions, smart technol-
ogy, Sabbath modes, and so forth.
We also see more and more peo-
ple buying built-in coffee makers,
speed ovens and steam ovens,
which were totally alien to the
American market in the past.”
John Cioletti, President and
CEO of Reno’s Appliances,
in Paterson, adds, “Many of
European appliances have style
and finish offerings not avail-
able with most American-made
items. For example, Cioletti cites
France’s La Cornue Chateau
ranges, which boast 190 color
choices. It’s an option for the
luxury market and priced accord-
ingly. But, as Cioletti notes, not all
European appliances come with a
higher price tag.
“It depends on the brand.
Sleek stone counter and island surface provides plenty of food prep
and serving area in this kitchen designed by Ulrich Inc., Ridgewood.
so they will by nature use less
energy.”
There is no special installa-
tion requirements for installing
a European appliance. And size-
wise, most are comparable to
their American counterparts.
When you’re considering one of
these appliances, do your home-
work. “As with any purchase, the
consumer should make every
effort to see, feel, and touch the
appliance before buying,” Cioletti
advises. “Things made for the
European market and brought
to the States can sometimes feel
lighter-duty than American-made
units. Oven racks, refrigerator
interiors, grates, knobs, and burn-
ers, for instance, differ between
manufacturers. It’s also good
to know, to be sold in the USA,
there has to be a Service Network
in place.”
So, if you’re contemplating
a kitchen remodel or a new-build,
let the Old World present you with
a new world of possibilities.
Home Heating: Install a programmable thermostat
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1H
said Acosta. “Our techs work
with tablets that have all of the
customer’s information and his-
tory in front of them.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Forced air heating systems,
the kind with ductwork, have fil-
ters that prevent dust and other
impurities from damaging the sys-
tems. Change the filters based on
the system manufacturer instruc-
tions, usually about every three
months.
Make sure that heating vents
and radiators are not blocked by
furniture or drapes. Vacuum the
face of the vents to remove dust.
While you are getting the house
ready for winter, it is a good time
to make sure ducts are sealed and
insulated and that home insula-
tion levels are what they should
be, especially in the attic. Check
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
A programmable thermostat can increase heating efficiency in a home.
the Insulation Institute (insula-
tioninstitute.org) for recommen-
dations. And apply weather-strip-
ping around windows and doors.
Another strategy for getting
the most from your heating sys-
tem is to use a programmable
thermostat. You can program the
thermostat to deliver different
levels of heat at different times of
the day. For example, if the house
is empty all day, you can set the
thermostat to drop the tempera-
ture a few degrees and then raise
the temperature when people
come home in the evening.
“Some people don’t like the
programmable thermostats
because they don’t know how to
use them properly,” said Acosta.
“But many newer high-efficiency
heating units come with program-
mable thermostats because the
two need to communicate with
one another to get the highest
efficiency possible.”
High-efficiency heaters have
multiple stage burners. Some-
times the furnace can operate at
a low-firing rate, which uses less
gas than when the furnace is full
on. That saves energy and money.
But it is possible to go over-
board when using a programmable
thermostat. “Try not to have more
than a five-degree differential
between the low and high setting
on the thermostat,” said Bolkema.
“If you want the system to make
up more than five degrees, it
becomes counterproductive.
You will consume more energy
trying to make up anything over
five degrees than the energy you
saved by putting it back more
than five degrees.”
TIME FOR A
NEW SYSTEM?
There may come a time
when sinking money into heat-
ing systems repairs does not
make sense. In fact, a system
that breaks down often is one of
the signs that it may be time to
replace the unit. Age is another.
Even if the system still works, but it
is 15-plus years old it may be time
to consider a change. “Sometimes
the parts to make repairs become
obsolete,” said Acosta.
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