Written on the floor

Appliance buying guides

Everything below comes out of running an appliance shop — the checks we do before a unit goes on the floor, the measurements people wish they'd taken, and the arithmetic behind repairing something versus replacing it. No affiliate links, no sponsored picks.

How to inspect a used appliance before you buy it

A practical, appliance-by-appliance checklist for inspecting a second-hand fridge, washer, dryer or stove — what to look at, what to listen for, and which faults are dealbreakers.

7 min read

Buying a used refrigerator: what actually matters

How to choose a second-hand refrigerator — configurations, sizing, what a compressor is telling you, running costs, and the faults that make a fridge not worth buying.

4 min read

Buying a used washer and dryer

Top-load versus front-load, gas versus electric dryers, stacking, venting, capacity and hookups — a practical guide to choosing second-hand laundry appliances.

4 min read

Measuring for an appliance: dimensions, clearances and doorways

Standard appliance dimensions, required clearances, and how to measure your delivery path so the appliance you buy actually fits through the door and into the space.

4 min read

Repair it or replace it? How to decide

Typical appliance lifespans, the cost rules that tell you when a repair is worth it, and which specific failures mean an appliance has reached the end of its economic life.

4 min read

Used, new, or scratch and dent: which should you buy?

An honest comparison of second-hand, scratch-and-dent, open-box and new appliances — what each category actually is, what it costs, and when each one is the right call.

4 min read

Got a question none of these answer?

We'd rather talk you out of the wrong appliance than sell you one. Call the shop, or read through the FAQ.