Vancouver Island guides
Appliances, starting with what keeps wine cold
Our appliance guides start with Silhouette by Danby wine coolers and beverage centres, carried at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores. Call either store for our best price. They cover built-in against freestanding, one zone or two, and the temperatures each kind holds. More will follow as the rest of the appliance range comes onto the site. Duncan won't keep carrying appliances.
53Silhouette listings
Start here
Where to start
Each one carries its own numbers and says where they come from.
Questions Islanders ask
Short answers, and the guide behind each
Should a wine cooler be built-in or freestanding?
A built-in unit breathes through a front vent under its door, which lets it sit flush between cabinets, and every Silhouette unit we list can be built in. A freestanding unit has to breathe on every side. Danby's manual for one of its freestanding coolers asks for 5 inches behind, beside and above it, and says building it into a counter can make it malfunction. Which suits your space is in wine coolers, built-in vs freestanding.
Every guide
Every appliance guide
57 guides, alphabetical. Every guide in this hub is one click away.
Air fry in oven: how range and wall oven air fry modes workAre smart appliances worth it? What the apps do, what they cost and who they suitBest refrigerator brand in Canada: what the reliability data shows, and the warranty behind each nameBest time to buy appliances in Canada: Black Friday, long weekends, promotion end dates and when not to waitBlack stainless steel vs stainless steel: the coating, scratches, matching brands and the price gapBuilt-in refrigerators: what built-in means, KitchenAid side-by-sides, installation and pricesCan you put aluminum foil in the microwave? What four makers say, and what else stays outCan you wash shoes in the washing machine? What Nike, adidas, New Balance and Allbirds sayChest freezer vs upright freezer: real kWh, prices, outages and garage ratingsConvection oven vs regular oven: how the fan cooks, when to switch it off, and turkey timesDishwasher not draining? Causes and fixes from the filter to the drain pumpDishwasher pods vs powder: what makers say, soft Island water and homes on septicDo I need a range hood? Gas, electric, ducted or ductless, and how many CFMDouble oven vs single oven: capacity, cost and fit on the IslandDowndraft range or range hood: how downdraft venting works, and where it falls shortEnerGuide label: how to read it, what the kWh costs in BC, and where ENERGY STAR fitsFreezer organization for chest, upright and fridge freezers, with storage timesGas vs electric stove: how each cooks, what it costs to run on the Island, and what it needs installedHow long do appliances last? Lifespans by appliance, the 50/50 repair rule and a maintenance checklistHow long does a dishwasher run? Normal, heavy, quick and eco cycle times from five makers' manualsHow to blanch vegetables for freezing: times by vegetable, ice bath, packing and storageHow to clean a dishwasher: the filter, spray arms, vinegar and what KitchenAid saysHow to clean a glass top stove: scraper angles, burnt sugar, cleaners and cracks, from the makers' own pagesHow to clean a microwave inside and outHow to clean a refrigerator inside and out: shelves, mould, coils, water filters and the ice makerHow to clean an oven: self-clean, AquaLift, steam, baking soda and oven cleaner, by the makers' rulesHow to clean stainless steel appliances without streaks, finish by finishHow to clean washing machine filters: the drain pump, the inlet screens and the lint trapHow to load a dishwasher: each rack, the cutlery basket and what stays outHow to organize a fridge: shelf by shelf, crisper settings, cheese and small fridgesHow to remove dog hair from clothes: before the wash, in the washer and in the dryerHow to remove stains from clothes: a stain by stain guide with water temperaturesHow to use a meat temperature probe: where it goes, how oven probes work and Health Canada's safe temperaturesHow to whiten clothes: chlorine or oxygen bleach, bluing, water temperature and washer cyclesInduction vs electric stove: speed, pans, safety, wiring and what each costs on the IslandKitchen appliances list: the major, optional and small appliances, their standard widths and what each costs on the IslandKitchen cleaning checklist: daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal jobs, with Health Canada's food-safety rulesKitchen layout ideas: galley, L, U, island and peninsula plans, with the spacing each one needsLaundry room ideas for Island homes: layouts, clearances, venting and the machines that fitOver the range microwave dimensions: width, height, depth and the space it needs above the stovePanel ready appliances: what they are, what they cost and how they fitPlastic vs stainless steel dishwasher tub: drying, noise, stains and the price gapQuietest dishwasher: what dBA means, and Merit's dishwashers ranked from 38 dBA upSlide-in vs freestanding range: controls, countertops, cutouts and priceStove burner not working: coil, glass top, induction and gas checksTop load vs front load washer: water, spin speed, mould, height and price, with the washers we list on the IslandTypes of microwaves: countertop, over the range, built-in and drawer, with what each costsTypes of refrigerators: top freezer, bottom freezer, side-by-side, French door and more, with real kWh and Island pricesWall oven vs range: price, bending, cabinets and BC permits, with our Island listingsWashing machine shaking: why it happens and how to stop it, from shipping bolts to the floorWhat is a dual fuel range? Gas burners, an electric oven, and what it takes to install oneWhat is a steam oven? Full steam, combi-steam and steam-assist ovens, what they cook and what they costWhat temperature should a fridge be? 4 °C, the freezer at -18 °C, and how to check yoursWho makes Silhouette wine coolers? Danby, its five lines, our 16 models and Island serviceWhy does my dishwasher smell? Sour food, sewage, wet dog, burning plastic and the new-machine smellWhy is my food freezing in my refrigerator? The causes in order, the fixes, and fridges for a cold garageWine cooler vs beverage centre: temperatures, one zone or two, built-in or freestanding, and where each can live
Visit
Four showrooms on the Island
Nanaimo
3230 Norwell Dr, Nanaimo, BC V9T 1X5
Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday
Call (250) 756-1153Campbell River
1300 A Homewood Rd, Campbell River, BC V9W 3N7
Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday
Call (250) 286-0868Port Alberni
2935 Third Ave, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2A6
Mon to Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm, closed Sunday
Call (250) 724-6644Take your time. Nobody is going to follow you around the showroom. Measure the space at home and come back when you are ready.