Whether you’re new to home ownership or just now facing this project, there are some important tasks you’ll want to consider reasonably before deciding how you want to proceed. Will you hire a contractor? Hire a plumber? Do it yourself? There is no one method that will be best for everyone at every moment in history.
Check to make sure your appliances fit
Check to make sure your appliances fit. If there isn’t room for an appliance in your kitchen or bathroom, the installer will have to take it out and re-position it. This can cost hundreds of dollars in labor fees and can cause damage to walls and cabinets. Always measure before buying appliances to ensure they will fit where needed.
Make sure there’s a power outlet nearby, or get one installed
If your new refrigerator doesn’t have an electrical outlet near it, don’t try to run an extension cord across the kitchen floor or down your hallways. It’ll just look messy and may lead to tripping hazards. The best way to solve this problem is to have an electrician install an outlet inside the cabinet where your new appliance will go. For example, in our kitchen we replaced an old refrigerator with a new one that only had one door instead of two doors like our old one did; we had an electrician install an outlet inside the cabinet where we put our new fridge so that we didn’t have to run any extension cords across our kitchen floor or down our hallways.
If you’re installing a gas appliance, make sure the gas lines are connected
This is particularly important with natural gas because it’s odorless. If there is no smell of gas coming from your new appliance, call your local utility company right away to have them come out and check for leaks.
Make sure your appliance will work with your central air system and water heater
Your central air system is designed to heat and cool the entire house, so if you have one, make sure your new appliance will work with it. For example, if you have an old-style forced air furnace and want to install a high-efficiency unit, make sure the new unit’s blower fits in the same spot as the old one. The same goes for installing an electric water heater; if your old tankless water heater requires a 30-amp circuit, then so does any replacement model. This will help save energy because both systems operate more efficiently when they’re operating at full capacity.
Prepare for delivery by clearing out the room where you’re going to install your appliances
Prepare for delivery by clearing out the room where you’re going to install your appliances. This means removing any furniture or other items that could get damaged by the delivery process or might be in the way when installing your new appliances. If necessary, move them out of the room entirely and into a storage unit until after installation is complete.
If you want to save money on your electric bill and avoid the frustration of appliances not working in your home, pay attention to these tips from the pros. Understanding how each new appliance works is a great first step to take toward making it run efficiently in your home.
