How to Buy a High End Dual Fuel Range

Since the heart of the home is the kitchen, you know the kitchen range, or cooker, is the most important appliance you can buy. Most consumers consult a kitchen designer or kitchen design consultant when getting ready to purchase a high end dual fuel range.

Once you have a direction in terms of style, you will have a way to figure out if you want a stainless steel, or enamel stove. Here are the questions to ask and an outline of ideas to consider when buying that gorgeous appliance, the dual fuel kitchen range.

Things You'll Need

• access to a computer
• no less than $5,000-and up

Instructions

1. Educate yourself about the differences between the high end ranges.

   The giant names in high end kitchen ranges (such as Wolf and Viking) are the first appliances many consumers will consider because these companies have fantastic ad agencies that publicize the appliances within certain geographic areas. These are both great companies that offer wonderful products.

   But Viking and Wolf and not the only game in town. There are ranges from France, Italy, and the good ol' USA which are beautiful, functional, and will enhance your pleasure factor while enhancing the value of your home.

   But you will have to be prepared to do your own research, because popular consumer reporting agencies normally do not provide comprehensive reviews on very high end ranges.

   Fortunately, almost all companies offer brochures on line. You can peruse the brochures, call the customer services centers, ask the questions. There are usually design centers in most large cities, where you can view the appliance in person. There, you can comparison shop. But this is only the beginning.

2. Decide what your budget is.

   When it comes to high end ranges, there is actually a mid-range price point, and that price point is around $7,000-$8,000. For this price there are a lot of options, from Wolf and Viking, but also Bertazzoli, Five Star, and La Cornufe.

   Super-luxury ranges, such as hand made French ranges (for example, La Cornue) cost a lot more than that, and are the Rolls Royces of kitchens, with features like flame broilers and French plates, often not affordable for less than $20,000 and above.

3. Learn the language of ranges.

   You'll have to learn about dual fuel, in which the top of the range is gas, and the ovens are electric. The reason that most people opt for dual fuel is because gas is best for searing and gives the cook better control on the stove, but electricity offers more precise temperatures for baking.

   You'll have to investigate and decide whether you prefer sealed or open burners.

   Do you crave multipurpose function in the form of ovens that offer convection or conventional ovens, super-hot 17,000 BTU burners, plus a tiny little flame for melting chocolate? It's a language you need to understand before choosing the appliance you'll be using and most likely enjoying for at least twenty years.

4. When it comes to kitchen ranges, beauty is more than skin deep.

   Although many dual fuel ranges in the lower price ranges are good workhorses and do the basic home cook's job, once you pay more, you get a lot more. For instance, at the low range of a big budget kitchen, an Electrolux self-cleaning range opens to a cobalt blue interior with racks that glide smoothly every time. For a few thousand dollars more, you can opt for a French enamel range in a color of your choice, with double multi-function ovens and interiors that come completely apart and clean in the sink or dishwasher.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit design center

• Call appliance repair centers for the appliance of your choice to get the company's ideas about reliability

• enquire about 'white glove' service and what this means for a high end kitchen appliance buyer