How To Choose A Pot Rack For Your Kitchen

I debated whether to rack my cookware for along time. Searched for the right rack for my little space. Racks are helpful to keep your kitchen and your cookware collection organized. A pot rack is a great storage solution for both small and large kitchens. It keeps pots that are too big for a standard cupboard out of the way, and can actually be a great decorative item for the kitchen.

rack is a great storage solution for both small and large kitchens

Copper pots and pans are my favorite. I love the way they are displayed on the brick wall with the linear racks - gorgeous & functional! Pots and pans take up a lot of space, but when you're removing upper cabinets or other essential kitchen fixtures in favor of a place to hang items that collect dust and grease, it's defeating the purpose of having plenty of kitchen storage.

Glass Cooktops Vs. Coil Element Burners

Glass Top or coil element? – One of the most common questions is “Do I want a glass top or coil top range?” The answer for the most part is usually that a glass top range is recommended for easier cleanup, faster heating, etc. Coil for tenants, glass for yourself. Better yet, Viking gas counter top with a griddle. :) :)

Glass cooktops typically cost $400 to $1,200 more than coiled cooktops. If you have some flex in your budget, look at both glass and coil options. If funds are tight, shop for a coil-burner stove, available in both gas and electric models. Electric coil and glass/ceramic cooking surfaces have some significant differences in handling, daily use and cleaning.

Fagor VFA78S 30-Inch Beveled Ceramic Glass Radiant Cooktop. This is a good stovetop. I like the versatility of the burner configurations.

Depending on the demands of your lifestyle and your style preferences, one may suit your kitchen better than the other. However, many people aren’t aware that there are some minor restrictions in regards to the type of cookware that can be used with them.  It is recommended that you use stainless steel flat bottom cookware and avoid using cast iron or glass, as those two items can potentially scratch or damage your cooktop.

Kitchen Range Buying Guide

Today's ranges offer a wealth of options when it comes to functionality, finishes, size, and oven capacity. Gas or electric ranges can give you fine performance. Dual-fuel ranges combine a gas cooktop with an electric oven. An induction-style range, the most energy-efficient stovetop, employs an electro-magnet below a ceramic surface that transfers heat to pots and pans.

Freestanding ranges for the most part are more economical to purchase than any other type of cooking range.

Dual-fuel ranges combine a gas stovetop with an electric oven. Electric smoothtop ranges sell the most overall and are tops in performance and value. Ranges vary in width from 24 to 60 inches, with professional-type stoves in the 36- to 60-inch range being the most expensive. Models include slide-in and freestanding gas and electric ranges that sport four gas burners or four electric coil elements. You'll also find ranges equipped with high-power and low-simmer burners and convection ovens and smooth-top electric ranges in this price range.

Find the Right Microwave Oven for Your Kitchen

We hope that this buying guide will give you all of the information you need to be comfortable in your shopping and, ultimately, your purchase. Worry gone are the days when Oven came in two options: a gas stove with a gas oven attached or an electric stove with an electric oven attached. Ranges combine a cooktop and oven into a single kitchen appliance. Other primary differences will include the types of burners, manual versus self-clean oven, convection baking, and any number of additional features.

A comprehensive buying guide to make selecting that oven a more pleasant and worry-free experience.

In the classic range setup, the cooktop and oven are combined as one appliance, most often a 30-inch appliance with four burners above an oven. Choosing a stove was pretty simple in your parents' day. A freestanding upright cooker in white enamel of course. If you had the gas on, you'd buy a gas cooker, otherwise it was electric.

Choosing between a freestanding cooker or cooktop/wall oven is still the most basic decision, but now you can also consider an array of features and options: wok burners, fish burners, BBQ grills, teppanyaki plates, multiple ovens, self-cleaning, dual-fuel systems, and even deep-fryers and spit roasting.

How to Pick the Perfect Snow Blower

How to pick out the snow blower that's perfect on your needs

Spend less time shoveling snow and more time inside where it's warm with the help of a snow blower. Buy a snow blower now before they sell out. Demand is high after last winter's many snow storms. It’s not too early to start shopping for a snow blower. The stores are stocked with a fresh supply after last year’s rough winter when many retailers sold out.

Choosing the best snowblower for your needs is somewhat dependent on the area you need to clear, but it’s also determined by the type of snow you typically remove.

A snowblower should be considered differently than a lawnmower or other similar pieces of power equipment. If there's a problem with your mower, no big deal, just mow the grass next week after you get it fixed. Things don't quite work out that way when there's a foot of snow on the ground and you need to go to work the next day.

There's no way I'd buy a single-stage snow blower. I had one several years ago and literally gave it away before its second season. They work pretty well from 6", or less, of light powdery snow, but for any more than that or wet, heavy snow, you really need/want a two-stage blower. If you live in an area that receives moderate to heavy snowfall, you'll want one of these snow throwers to help you quickly clear walkways, driveways and more.

Indoor air quality and Air Purifiers

Would you buy an Air Purifier to improve indoor air quality in your home? Do you know the difference between Ionic air purifier and standard HEPA type? It takes more than an air conditioner to make sure the conditions in your air are ideal. Create a cleaner, fresher and healthier environment for your family with our ventilators, UV lamps, humidifiers and air purifiers.

Would you buy an Air Purifier to improve indoor air quality in your home?

Indoor Air Quality: Air Cleaners. Indoor air pollutants are unwanted, sometimes harmful materials in the air. For us the most important aspects for choosing a unit are efficiency, time between maintenance (cleaning etc.) and of course overall cost. Probably in that order although they were all way quite heavily in the decision.

Fixing or Replacing Kitchen Faucets

Moved into new house to discover the kitchen and bar faucets could use some maintenance, if possible, or to be replaced. We're having a hard time finding a manual and parts for the faucets, and so may need to replace. The aerator screens on each faucet are almost falling out, and spray button the kitchen faucet is broken. The lever is also a little funny, like it needs to be tightened (it kinda flops around, but doesn't leak). It seems like these should be cheap and easy fixes if we could find parts. Help?

You have to take the handle off to get at the meat of the problem. It's probably worn gaskets inside that you can't see. I'd opt for spending a couple of bucks on replacement parts and try to fix it yourself. If no luck there, then go ahead and replace it.

We don't know who makes good faucets though, and there are so many makers! We're not looking to be penny wise and pound foolish, but we don't know the difference between a Kohler and a Grohe, or a Hansgrohe, which is apparently a different company. We want to buy quality that will last years and will be easy to find parts for. Is Grohe good? Is Kohler cheap? Can you get parts for a Moen? We really have no idea. Can you tell us?