Getting ready for your new appliances

I’ve always felt that getting new appliances was a little like waking up on Christmas morning to a room full of bright, shiny new toys. After struggling with a refrigerator that’s too small, a dishwasher that doesn’t wash dishes, or a range that only heats up on half the cooktop, having new appliances is exciting because it means an end to kitchen stress and frustration.

But before your new appliances arrive, you have to get ready for them, and that includes figuring out everything from how big the space you’re bringing them into is, what type of power or gas hookups you’ll need, and whether or not you’re going to need help installing them.

Here are a few tips to help you get ready for your new appliances.

Measuring your space for new appliances

If you’ve already ordered a new refrigerator, range, dishwasher, or washer and dryer, you probably have already measured your kitchen or laundry room for size. In case you haven’t, now is a good time to check the width, height, and depth of each allocated space for your appliances. That way you’ll have no unpleasant surprises when it comes time to install your new appliance.

If you don’t feel as though you’ll get the right measurements, don’t worry: Best Buy will come in and do an estimate/pre-measure for you, and they will can confirm that your space is ready for your new appliances.

Check water and gas connections

If you purchased a new refrigerator with a water dispenser or ice maker, you’re going to want to make sure you can hook it up. Having a water line installed behind your fridge is something you’ll need to do before your new appliance is delivered, so be sure to contact a plumber or ask Best Buy have that set up.

The same preparation is required for a gas range. If you’ve always had electric and you’re switching to gas, you’ll need to have your gas line connected prior to your range delivery.

Dishwashers also require water connections and electrical. Because a dishwasher’s power is hardwired straight into a power source, this is an appliance you’ll need assistance connecting.

For a washer and dryer, you’ll need a standard set of water hook ups and a dryer vent. These should be in place before you bring in your laundry set so you can plug in and use them right away.

One note about installing a new washer and dryer: if you opt not to have someone come in and set up your washer for you, be aware that there are shipping bolts that hold the washing machine drum in place. You’ll need to remove those bolts for it to work the first time you use it, otherwise you’ll hear a very loud banging and you’ll have no idea why your new washing machine is making such a racket.

I found this out first hand when I purchased a new washing machine last summer and I couldn’t have it installed because it was in storage for a few months. When I finally did install it, I had no idea about the shipping bolts until I tried to use it.

Check the size of your entryway

While you may have measured your kitchen and laundry room for the size of your appliances, you may not have measured the size of your doorway. It’s important to know that measurement, because that’s how the delivery people will be bringing in your new appliance.

There’s been many a homeowner who considered plugging in a new refrigerator and leaving it wedged in the front door because it was stuck, so make sure you know which door will work for the delivery people.

Stairs are also a consideration when it comes to delivering large appliances. If your stairway isn’t wide enough or you have a low ceiling, you may have trouble getting a refrigerator or washer and dryer inside.

It’s Delivery Day!

Delivery day is pretty exciting, and there are a few ways you can prepare your home for your new appliances.

Make sure your driveway, parking space, and entry way is clean and clear. Ensure that all of your appliance connections are ready to go, and if you have pets, you should put them in a kennel or away from the delivery area for their safety.

Someone over the age of 18 will have to be present for the delivery, and be sure to be home during your delivery window or you’ll have to reschedule.

Delivery and installation: two seperate appointments

Delivery people deliver appliances, but they won’t install your appliances. That’s why you’ll have to have two separate appointments: one for delivery and one for installation.

Best Buy offers a wide variety of installation services including range, microwave, cooktop and oven installations, refrigerator installations, dishwasher installations, and washer and dryer installations. Once you’ve had your appliances delivered, the installation team will come in and unpack your new appliance, connect it, and make sure everything is running smoothly. That way all you’ll have to do is sit back and enjoy using your new appliances.

Recycling your older appliances

What goes in must come out, and that’s never truer than when you’re installing a new appliance. If you’ve sold your old appliances or you’re giving them away to a friend or family member, you’ve got an easy job ahead of you. But if you have no plan to remove your old appliances, you might want to look into Best Buy’s appliance recycling.

Having been in this situation, I cannot say enough how handy it is to have someone come in, take your old appliance away, and you never have to look at again.

I had to remove the old appliances from the home we renovated before we could tear down the walls, and I can testify to how back breaking it is to haul a refrigerator, range, and washer and dryer out of your home, put it into a truck, and take it to the transfer station for recycling.

What to do after delivery and installation of your new appliances

This is the best part of getting new appliances. Once you have your appliances delivered and installed, all you have to do is sit back and admire your new refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and washer/dryer pair.

Just like a new car, new appliances are a thing of joy and beauty, and no one will judge you if you just sit and watch your new machine wash your clothes or open and close the refrigerator door a few times. I certainly did, and I still get a kick out of how bright, shiny, and incredibly efficient my new appliances are.

if you’re ready to experience a brand new kitchen or laundry room, take a look at all of the appliances Best Buy has right now.

For more resources on major appliances, check out Best Buy Canada’s major appliance help hub.