Jargon Buster
Laundry
Condenser dryers collect moisture whilst in use, which is then deposited into a container integrated into the appliance itself. The user can then empty the container when required. This has the added benefit of flexibility when installing into your home, thanks to no external venting requirements.
A vented tumble dryer is a dryer that physically vents out the water/moisture from the machine to the outside of a property. The machines do this by using a long, flexible hose that connects to the tumble dryer and vents the moisture to the outside of your home. This usually happens through a small vent or grill.
The Anti-Crease function helps to reduce wrinkling in your clothes. So if you’re not a fan of doing the ironing this feature is for you! The drum will periodically rotate after drying to help prevent it from becoming wrinkled after drying as well.
The amount of laundry a washing machine or tumble dryer can take is calculated based on the weight in kg of dry items that can be put into the drum. Please remember it is not advised to fill the full capacity of the drum as this will affect the performance of the machine if overfilled. Tumble dryers usually need more spear space in the drum compared to a washing machine as it requires additional airflow.
Appliances with a half load feature can automatically detect how full the drum i. this can help to reduce energy usage and is great for improving the efficiency of the appliance.
A steam function uses a combination of steam and water to clean fabrics. The steam can help to remove wrinkles, make detergent work more efficiently.
Sensor Dry technology is a feature that measures the humidity in the drum. It will automatically adjust the drying time to the level of dryness you have selected.
Variable spin speed Lets you vary the spin speed to protect delicate items.
This feature lets you easily change the temperature of your wash. Lower temperatures can reduce running costs and preserve the colour of your clothing.
i-DOS detects the degree of soiling. The dosing system i-DOS automatically detects the degree of soiling and sets the precise amount of detergent that is required. i-DOS considers the water hardness. The optimum dosing also depends on the water hardness in your home.
Dishwashers
Compact dishwashers (also known as space saver dishwashers ) are smaller than the traditional 24-inch size. These dishwashers usually measure 18 inches. You can also opt for a single drawer dishwasher with 24-inch width and 17-inch height.
A fully-integrated dishwasher control panel is located inside the top of the door. When you shut the door, you won’t see the controls at all.
A semi-integrated dishwasher has a slightly shorter kitchen cabinet door attached to the front, leaving a strip exposed at the top. This is where the control panel and appliance handle are located. You do not have to have the door open to operate a semi-integrated dishwasher.
Slimline dishwashers are around 15cm thinner than the average full-sized model making them perfect for those that are short on space. They typically wash between 80 and 100 items of crockery and cutlery.
Cutlery baskets have a ‘stand and stuff’ approach to organising dirty utensils, while a cutlery tray provides specific sections for all your spoons, forks, knives and any other utensils. Both cutlery trays and baskets are adjustable, although inside door baskets are usually fixed.
Most dishwashers now have an eco mode that can save water and energy by washing dishes in a more efficient way.
The half-load setting means you only need to fill either the top or bottom basket of your dishwasher before running a cycle. During the cycle, the dishwasher will turn off the jets to the un-used dishwasher drawer. Making it more efficient.
The Sensor Cycle function automatically selects the right dishwasher wash and dry settings for your load, depending on temperature, soil level and load size, using only the amount of water and energy needed.
This function releases steam at the end of each cycle, leaving dishes completely dry.
The Sensor Cycle automatically selects the right dishwasher wash and dry settings for your load, depending on temperature, soil level and load size, using only the amount of water and energy needed. While higher temperatures provide a more intensive clean.
Hobs and Hoods
A ceramic hob is an electronically powered hob. It has heating ‘zones’ rather than the traditional burners you would find on a gas hob. They come in a variety of styles to suit any kitchen and represent an alternative to the traditional gas method of cooking.
Domino hobs get their name from the classic game of dominoes; this is because they look like one of the pieces. They typically have two burners or heat zones and come in a range of different styles; you can get a domino hob in ceramic, electric, gas or induction.
The antibacterial door seal prevents bacteria from forming and entering the fridge.
Gas-fueled burners produce an open flame, with pans supported by sturdy metal pan supports. This setup is favored by some for the authentic experience of "real flame" cooking.
An electric solid plate hob refers to a black sealed plate that heat and cool slowly. An electric solid hob has black sealed plates that heat and cool slowly.
LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, is a type of gas that has a far higher heating value than the usual mains gas and provides instant, controllable heat.
A venting hob is an induction or ceramic hob that features its own extractor to draw down steam, smoke and oil particles, set into the centre of its surface. This means that the hob doesn’t need to be paired with a separate extractor hood.
The hob is fitted with sensors that detect if a pan is not in position on a selected zone. Only when a pan is in the correct position will the magnetic field coils be activated. This is a unique feature of induction hobs, where power is applied only when pans are located.
The accelerator function allows you to select a power level and there is no set time like the booster function. On setting a power level the hob will use more power initially to bring the pan up to boil and then revert to the power level it was set at.
Unlike an electric stove, pan support is one of the indispensable accessories in the gas stove. It is placed on top of the gas hob and works to hold the cookware over the flames. Pan support. All of the gas stoves have this part. It tends to be moveable to clean easily.
Installed between wall units and concealed behind a door, it seamlessly extends the wall unit design. This is often an excellent solution for shorter wall unit runs.
Cookers and Ovens
There are double built-in models, which measure about 90cm high and are built-in at eye-level, and the smaller double built-under model, measuring 70cm high, which are built-in under the counter.
A built-under oven is designed to fit under your kitchen cabinet.
Built-in microwaves are simply microwaves that are built-in to a cabinet or fixed to the wall to keep out of the way and to free up more cooking space.
Conventional ovens, also called traditional, regular, thermal or radiant ovens, have heating elements that are typically located at the bottom and top of the oven.
Dual fuel refers to two types of heat in one range: gas heat on the stovetop and electric heat in the oven cavity.
An oven with a fan inside that circulates hot air so that the food cooks more evenly and more quickly.
A catalytic liner is when your oven is fitted with special catalytic liners inside the oven cavity. These liners are treated with special chemicals and materials which mean that they are fantastic at absorbing grease.
Easy-clean enamel are available on gas and electric ovens in mid and premium price ranges, and like stay-clean liners, are found on the sides and sometimes the roof and back of oven cavities. The liners are treated with a special material that absorbs grease.
Pyrolytic Self-Cleaning takes away the hassle and worry of having to manually scrub your oven clean using harsh detergents. With the simple press of a button, you can have a gleaming oven cavity in just over 1 hour.
Telescopic rails attach to the oven walls and are perfect for use with heavier items. They are fully extendable, which means it’s easier to check on cooking and get your food in and out. The rails click in and out of the oven easily and with rear bars, preventing tipping to avoid any hazardous situations, creating a safer kitchen environment.
The control panel is locked so that the appliance cannot be switched on. To switch it on, the one-time childproof lock must be deactivated. After the appliance is switched off, the control panel is no longer locked.
Refrigeration
A built-in fridge sits nicely behind a cupboard door for that modern and sleek look.
An American style fridge freezer is different to most common tall fridge freezers. They feature double doors that open from the middle outwards, rather than a single door and are usually much larger than an average-sized refrigerator.
The antibacterial door seal prevents bacteria from forming and entering the fridge.
Fast freezing is available on selected freestanding Fridge Freezers and Column Freezers. The fast freezing function brings the temperature of the compartment down when activated a few hours prior to usage, great for when you need to cool certain foods quickly to preserve the freshness and nutritional value.
No ice inside builds upon the walls, and you just do not need to do anything with the defrost. Automatic Defrost refers to the freezers with direct or fan-assisted cooling systems.
The reversible doors are useful for when you need your appliance to fit into a specific space, without compromising the ease of opening and closing your fridge freezer’s doors.
This special feature allows you to empty the refrigerator when you go away on holiday and save energy. It does not change the temperature of the freezer. It maintains the internal temperature.
Cooker Hoods
If you are installing your cooker hood to recirculate filtered air back into the kitchen, as opposed to ducting to the outside, you will need to fit charcoal filters to the extractor.
A canopy hood is a type of extractor fan. They’re designed to be fitted into things like a decorative canopy, chimney breast, wall units and so on. Instead of being an entire unit, it’s essentially just the extractor and light components from a regular cooker hood.
This style features a hood or canopy, which ultimately sucks in cooking odours, some moisture and grease via an internal fan. These then travel up through the flue or chimney. However, what happens next will depend on whether you need a ducted or recirculating option.
A downdraft extractor is a cooker hood that’s fitted flush into the kitchen countertop behind a hob. When in use, it rises out of the work surface about 30-40cm and extracts the air over the hob. Downdraft extractors are most commonly used on kitchen islands, although you can fit one in a run of cabinets.
Cooker hoods come with different extraction rates, which determine how quickly the air is changed in the kitchen. It’s recommended that your cooker hood should change the air around 10 times per hour.
Some visor hoods and built-in hoods have an extra section that can be extended when the cooker hood is in use. This makes the cooker hood less obtrusive in the kitchen, but gives a greater surface area to extract steam, smells and grease when you are cooking.
They can be integrated into the ceiling for a completely seamless look or suspended above the cooker to create a stylish focal point. Island hoods are designed to be viewed from any angle and do not have a flat back which you would get with a wall-mounted hood. Extractor hoods are a popular choice.