Save on major appliances

Your refrigerator has stopped running. Your stove has shorted out. Your clothes dryer doesn't tumble anymore. Suddenly you're in the market for an appliance -- and you're in a hurry. Consider these tips for saving money on a replacement purchase.

1. Evaluate your needs. Buy appliances with features your family really requires. An icemaker is convenient, but it can add hundreds of dollars to the price -- not to mention the cost of changing your plumbing to make it work and the extra electricity it will use. Likewise, size matters. A small portable dishwasher is more practical for a couple than a built-in behemoth designed for heavy-duty family use, and it costs a lot less. And why buy an air conditioner with the power to cool your entire house when you really only need it in your bedroom? You'll save money on the purchase and use less electricity with a window unit.
2. Comparison shop. It pays to shop around. According to a 1999 Consumer Literacy Consortium report, you can save a hundred dollars or more on every major appliance purchase if you compare makes, models, features and prices on the telephone or the Internet before you buy.
   
   A good way to get started is to consult Consumer Reports, which charges $26 ($19 for Consumer Reports Magazine subscribers) yearly to access its ratings, or you can check the local library for a copy of the annual buying guide. You'll find reviews of appliances based on price, quality and performance. When you visit appliance stores, you'll be able to identify makes and models that have the combination of features you want at a price you can afford. Take a look at the manual of any appliance you're interested in buying -- in addition to telling you how the appliance operates, the manual will include information on any special care it needs.
   
   Once you've homed in on the make and model you want, price it in at least four stores. Don't be afraid to negotiate. Some stores will drop the price for large purchases -- but only if you ask.
   
   
3. Ask for extras. You may be able to get special features, free delivery or free installation, which could save you about $50, if you're prepared to buy quickly and have financing. A dealer may even be willing to dispose of your old appliance.
4. Wait for the right time of year. Many department stores drop their prices after Easter, the Fourth of July and Christmas. In addition, air conditioners tend to go on sale in February, March, August and September; stoves go on sale January through March or November; and refrigerators drop in price in January and June.
5. Be frugal. A new refrigerator with a scratch on the outside, a new dishwasher in last year's color, a stove that was a floor model or a refurbished washing machine -- all these could save you money. Bargains abound at appliance warehouses, in particular, but be careful: most of these stores sell items as is. So check your appliance carefully and make sure the warranty is good.
6. Take maintenance costs into consideration. A low purchase price is no bargain if repairs are frequent and expensive. Buy a product with a reputation for being reliable. Make sure it's easy to get parts and service for the brand, model and year you choose.
7. Go green. Older appliances, or appliances that do not operate efficiently, use more energy, which can cost you more in the long run. A new refrigerator, for instance, could save you $30 to $65 annually, because fridges made a decade ago consume about twice as much energy as those made today, according to ENERGY STAR.
   
   To learn how much energy an appliance will consume and what it will cost you every year, look on the appliance for a bright yellow label with black lettering. This EnergyGuide label is mandatory for any new refrigerator, freezer, water heater, dishwasher, clothes washer, room air conditioner, heat pump, furnace and boiler. You won't find it on kitchen ranges, microwave ovens, clothes dryers, on-demand water heaters, portable space heaters and lights, because there's no significant difference in energy use between models.
   
   Appliances that have the government's ENERGY STAR label are the most energy-efficient products on the market. These exceed federal efficiency standards typically by 13 to 20 percent -- sometimes as much as 110 percent. Among the appliances rated: gas and oil-fired furnaces and boilers, washing machines, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, central air conditioners, room air conditioners and air source heat pumps.
   
8. Consider buying refurbished. A large appliance like a refrigerator or a stove that's just one or two years old could have another decade of use in it. As with new appliances, shop carefully for a good-quality item.