I bought our washer dryer there. No extended warranties. Both died after 18 & 20 months. Swore I'd never go back. But then came the kitchen renovation 9 years later. Found a 48" Thermador stainless fridge for 50% off. It had a small scratch on the front, and the handles were damaged due to it not fitting into someone's house. We agreed we could purchase the new handles so we bought the fridge, along with the 5 year protection plan--because it does include maintenance each year on this monster, and any labor and parts. It was very inexpensive. Also, this would allow us to have the handles installed for no additional charge. But here is where the story changes--we thought we could pick this up ourselves with the help of some neighbors-hahah. We changed our minds, and called Sears back and arranged for delivery. Somehow, they only sent 2 men to deliver this 656 lb fridge. After an hour or so, it was in my kitchen, even more scratched and with new dents. Eventually I struck a deal with the manager to have the skins replaced. He had me call the number for the service contract, I had someone come out, he took a look at it and told me he has NEVER worked on a Thermador. (So where did this fridge come from?). After putting the parts into "research", they have sent new handles, new doors (yep, the doors-not the skins--woops), and we are still waiting to have the skins sent to us. None of this is bothering us because we are still doing the renovation on the kitchen, and it truly is the nicest fridge I have ever seen. In the end, we will have a really nice fridge for 1/2 the price of what it would have cost. I'm just a little concerned about the repairman saying he has no experience (after 20+years in the business) with Thermador. He told ME to get the instructions from Thermador on replacing the handles, etc. Uh oh. I would highly suggest the plan they offer for service, etc. It really is more than just an extended warranty. Here's my fridge in the middle of construction:

Follow-up: The local guy called to tell me he couldn't come when promised. When I questioned why, he asked about the washer brand. When I said Kenmore, he told me he doesn't work on those and couldn't recommend anyone who did. (DH called this guy so I assumed they discussed brand already. Wrong.) Called Sears who said it would be 4 days until they could come. Too much time to wait without a washer with two small children so I opened the phone book and called the first repair ad I saw. The nice man there diagnosed over the phone that the washer needed a new rear bearing and that it would be cheaper to replace it. Sooooooooooo, bought new Whirlpool 9150 washer and dryer. Not what I wanted to do since we're starting big remodel this week and need the $, but what can you do?? Thanks all.

Getting a good normal wash in "warm" water is a bread and butter kind of cycle. Being a traditionalist, I define a "warm" wash as being 104F give or take. Being curious what a HE5t normal-warm would be (knowing it doesn't use the heater) I measured a couple of these cycles 8 to 10 minute after starting the machine. At this point in the cycle all the water that's going to enter the machine for the wash portion of the cycle has been added. Temperatures were measured in the 82F to 84F range. It is a major disappointment that ATC can't or wasn't programmed to get the fill temp at a real "warm" level. A previous test showed that choosing a "hot" normal wash actually gives you fill temp of 105F in one of my tests, so atleast in the winter you have another way of getting there. Here is some more data. Tried a cycle today that has some promise. It's a normal warm wash with steam treat. It fills with 92F water (somewhat higher than the normal cycle without steam treat) and heats the water to 103F and the heater is only on for about 15 minutes. Now that's starting to feel like a normal-warm wash. The cycle took a bit over an hour and a half (including the extra rinse) so that isn't too bad either. It also seems like the temperature of the fill water is about the same whether you choose steam treat-warm or hot (low to mid 90s F). It seems like the ability to choose steam treat with a target temp of warm in addition to hot or sanitary is a new capability. Now getting a real "hot" wash is another matter. A normal-steam treat-hot certainly get you there with maximum temps approaching 130F but it ends up being almost 2 hours in length with over an hour in the wash cycle alone. The heavy duty hot also kicked on the heater with a cycle length of a bit over 1.5 hours, but it only reached 110F which is a very coolish hot. Have to give Whitest-Whites hot a try. Based on previous data showing how long the heater was on in W-W, that may give the desired result.

I recently found a very desirable piece of land with a 1920 Sears Kit Home. I appreciate the detail and quality of the home but it is only 1400 s/f and sits very close to the road. It also has an addition on the front and side which covers where the front L shape porch used to be. I really want the land and plan to build our 4000 s/f dream home further back from the road. Does anyone know if there is a market for selling this home and then having the buyer relocate it (obviously within a short distance of where I live in central Ohio). Or possibly taking the home apart and selling the individual original pieces? Some of the home is original and some has been renovated in the 70's by the couple who still lives there and is selling. I should also mention that the land has some very specific deed restrictions which prevent breaking up the land and the city will not allow sewer and septic for both homes on the lot. Also, the home is the greenview: http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/images/1915-1920/1919_2015.jpg Please let me know. Thank you!!