Curto's Appliances – Westchester County NY: 1-800-966-2878

Yes.

However, if you have panels on the 500-series they won’t fit.

Also the 500-series were 83″ tall. The new Bi-Series ships at 84″ in height. However there is a grille accessory that can change the height into 83″. Make sure to ask for this.

In an effort to give a vital boost to the appliance industry, the Govt. will be instituting a cash for clunkers program for home appliances, much as they did for the automotive industry. While timing for the program hasn’t been finalized yet, I’ve heard that it could be instituted by the end of the year. The Government has already allotted $300 million in taxpayer money to finance the program. The early details are that consumers will receive $200 towards high-efficiency upgrades for appliances such as washers, refrigerators, dishwashers and air conditioners. As more details emerge, Curto’s will be covering it and of course offering the program to our loyal customers.

Wolf Dual Fuel Range at Curto's

Many of my Wolf appliance customers in Westchester County and beyond ask what are the best methods to clean Wolf kitchen appliances such as the cooktops, wall ovens and ranges. Curto’s Appliances has compiled a tip list to help you clean and protect these significant kitchen investments. Let it roll….

General Rule: When cleaning stainless steel, always wipe or clean in the direction of the grain.

Burner Rings:
- Soap & Water, Towel dry, make sure to blow out the holes.
- Do not use abrasives as they may remove paint

Porcelain coated grates, pressed steel tops, gas oven interiors and oven racks:
- Use soap & water and towel dry to avoid streaking
- Fume Free Easy Off – use for difficult cooked on food products which is great for ovens and can be used on any of the above in “worst case scenarios”.
- Also use mild abrasive cleaners like Soft Scrub Orange, Bon Ami, or Bar Keepers

Griddle Surfaces:
- While surface is warm, poor water on so that it bubbles, akin to a deglazing pan. Use a spatula to scrape off burnt-on food that now bubbles up.
- For stubborn stains you can use a Green Scotchbride pad with a cleanser like Barkeepers Friend or Bon Ami. AVOID PRODUCTS WITH BLEACH.
- Once the Wolf appliance product is clean spray or wipe on oil to protect surface from oxidation. If you get an orange color, this is rust and should be wiped/scrubbed off with a fine grade steel wool.
- Vinegar can be helpful for the removal of stains and discoloring of the griddle surface.

TOMORROW…Part 2 – How to Clean Wolf Appliance Stainless Surfaces and Wall Oven Interiors

…or at least one of the main differences is that Wolf (and SubZero) will test EVERY SINGLE product that rolls out of their factory. That’s right…every one. Tested by a human…for hours. Sometimes as long as 24-48 hours.

So when people complain about prices or about turnaround time, you have to take into consideration that Wolf Appliances and SubZero have separated themselves from the pack (no pun intended) due to their quality control.

I mean, when was the last time you heard about doors or handles falling off of SubZero’s?

The bottom line is that it takes a bit longer to churn out quality, and you won’t find better quality than what they’re producing at the Wolf/SubZero factory in Wisconsin.

Editors Note: Not that Wolf doesn’t have it’s manufacturing glitches. But when it does, they call a mea culpa immediately and get the recall info out asap. That’s service.

Wolf 48\

I was handed literature drawing a comparison between a new Bosch 800 series refrigerator and a KitchenAid Architect II model. I wasn’t going to post this in light of the alleged faulty information that Bosch passed along for their 800 series dishwashers, but I opted to run it since these are fact and not subject to tests.

Bosch and KitchenAid have frequently competed against one another when it came to dishwashers. Now both offer full kitchen suites in different lines so the battle has been taken across the entire kitchen. Here’s a rundown as to why Bosch thinks their new 800-Series refrigeration is hands-down better than a similar offering from KitchenAid.

Models compared are a Bosch B22CS80SNS and a KitchenAid KSCK25FVSS.

Bosch 800-Series offers the following (and the KitchenAid doesn’t):
- Dual evaporator
- Air filtration
- Long Door Design
- Hidden Water Filter
- EasyLift Shelves
- Full Extension Drawers
- Color matched LCD dispenser

Here’s a peak at the Bosch Linea fridges:

I can’t say that people have been jumping to drop huge $$’s on built-in refrigerators over the last 9 months. No shocker there.

A far cry from a few years ago, when customers already had their credit cards out when it was time to look at the built-ins. Now, when I bring Curto’s customers from Westchester County, New York City or Fairfield County ’round to the Sub-Zero appliances display, after hearing what the prices are, most people nowadays ask “Why should I spend that much on appliances?”.

Sub-Zero Pro48 Refrigerator available at Curto's Appliances

I think that the Sub-Zero offerings are worth their price, so here is a quick rundown of the top reasons to buy a Sub-Zero refrigerator, especially in the light of their release of the new feature-laden Built-In series.

1. THE BRAND – It’s also the most recognized quality refrigeration brand and still is the strongest statement to make if you are gunning for a high-end kitchen (and looking for home resale value)

2. MADE IN THE USA – Every product that roles out of the factory in Wisconsin is quality checked by a human being and tested for a minimum of 5 hours, some for 24 hours or longer.

3. IMPROVED LIGHTING SCHEME provides brighter, whiter light in fridge, crispers and freezers.

4. DUAL REFRIGERATION provides a shield against odor transfer and a 60-70% humidity level so foods don’t dry out

5. NEW AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM makes food last longer and eliminates odors, viruses bacteria and ethylene gas

6. FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED from 1955 through today

7. GREAT WARRANTY – 2 years parts and labor, 5 years on sealed system, 12-years parts on sealed system.

8. NEW MAX ICE FEATURE increases rate of production by 40%

9. ENERGY EFFICIENCY largest model (PRO48) uses less energy than a 100 Watt bulb

10. EXACT TEMP microprocessor keeps every compartment at +/- 1 degree

I just got my hands on this commercial which shows most of the new Bosch appliances that have been rolling out this summer. For up to he minute availability call Curto’s Appliances store at 1-800-966-2878 or email us at CurtosAppliances@aol.com.
The hot items seem to be the Bosch Linea refrigeration as well as the Bosch washers and dryers with AquaStop and MistCare technolgies. More to come…

Bosch Appliances has been rolling out a new line of kitchen appliances over the last few months: Linea refrigerators, dishwashers and a new line of washers and dryers. The new appliances have gradually been brought onto the Curto’s appliance showroom floor and the feedback from customers has been very positive.

I’ve found the new Bosch front loading washers to be interesting as this is the product category (along with dishwashers) which Bosch staked its name on. There has been a tremendous amount of competition in the front loading laundry category as brands like Whirlpool, GE Profile, Electrolux and LG have cut into Bosch’s perceived lead in the category, competing on both price and value metrics. So in the face of this competition, Bosch retooled the line of washers and introduced AquaStop technology.

AquaStop provides comprehensive leak protection by offering:

- A double-walled hose inside which prevents water from escaping
- A sensor which signals the tap to shut off water if hose is cracked
- A water detector in the base of the unit which shuts down the machine if it comes into contact with water

The MistCare technology is used in Bosch’s dryers to freshen laundry. It uses a nozzle to spray water into the drum and the cycle only takes 20 minutes. Is it true steam? No. But customer feedback has been good and the dryers don’t cost as much as traditional steam systems as found in the Electrolux or LG dryers.

Thermador Star Burner Alight

Recently I had a customer shopping for appliances from Fairfield County, Connecticut stop by the Curto’s appliance showroom. He was putting together a kitchen and had a great idea as to what he wanted, however there was a question regarding his choice of a cooktop. He had been sold on the Wolf CT36G/S, but after some online research, he started to drift towards the Thermador SGSX365FS. Why?

The patented Thermador Star Burners.

Thermador touts that the Star Burner system is the most efficient gas burner design in the marketplace.

It boasts:

- A single point ignition that reduces noise when igniting.
- Maximum BTU output of 18,000BTU/HR

Thermador states that the Star Burner’s shape creates a perimeter that is 56% longer and has more flame ports than a comparable round burner. So, what you get is a superior flame spread and reduced cold spot, which equates to faster and more even heating.

The Star Burner is a unique selling point for Thermador and as we continue to sell their products, consumers continue to give positive feedback on them. The one caveat is that when their simmer burner is set to the EXTRA LOW feature, which takes it to 275 BTU’s, it will make a clicking noise every minute. I have had a small number of customers complain about this. However, my view is that there aren’t many (if any) other burners in the marketplace that will allow you to go this low, so the click is worth it. Plus, you can take the regular Star Burners down to 350, so in effect they can act as your simmer burner without the noise.

Face of Thermador Wall Oven at Curto's Appliances

One of my clients in Scarsdale in Westchester County NY recently purchased high end kitchen appliances from Curto’s and opted to mix brands. The wall oven was a Thermador, the cooking range was from another high-end competitor.
I received a phone call from them 3 months after delivery and they stated that they loved the Thermador Professional Series oven and wished that they had purchased an entire Thermador kitchen because the other brands didn’t meet the performance of the Thermador. Another strong testament to the power of Thermador’s wall ovens. They are damn good pieces.

Thermador’s calling card is their wall ovens, and their Professional Series sets the standard for high end cooking appliances. The Thermador Professional Series Built-in Oven features:

- Speed Convection which reduces cooking time up to 30%
- The largest oven capacity at 4.7 cu ft.
- A heavy duty rotisserie which boasts a 12 lb capacity
- True convection cooking for quick and even results
- A superfast preheat which can heat up the oven in less than 7 minutes
- Fastest self-clean in the market (2 hours)
- Sturdy telescopic racks which glide smoothly on ball bearings – this means safe, easy access to your meals

The Thermador Professional Series Ovens are only available in 30″ wide varieties.

Prices range from $3999 for the 30″ single Deluxe to $5799 for the triple combination Micro/wall oven/warming drawer.