Smart appliances are still very much a part of the kitchen conversation. However, the enthusiasm has cooled.
Today, many homeowners and kitchen designers have become skeptical and are proceeding with caution to recommend/purchase.
With all the advances in smart appliances for the kitchen, it feels like we are getting closer to living like the Jetsons. Technology just keeps getting smarter.
As smart technology continues to evolve and more homeowners are living with smart appliances, we’ve updated this article to reflect how kitchen designers and homeowners are thinking about smart appliances today.
A few years ago, Wi-fi-connected features felt exciting and new. Today, many homeowners and kitchen designers are more cautious than curious. The idea of downloading yet another app, relying on cloud-based features or wondering whether today’s “smart” technology will still be supported in five or ten years has made people resistant and skeptical.
There’s no denying the benefits of smart appliances: energy efficiency, automatic problem detection and time saving features. While certain functions—like remote oven control or maintenance alerts—can be genuinely useful, buyers are increasingly selective.
However, as more homeowners live with smart appliances, the downsides are becoming more evident:
- They cost more—so are they worth it?
- Do they still function when the internet goes down?
- Will they still work when technology moves on?
Do Homeowners Really Want Smart Appliances?
Are homeowners really asking for smart appliances—or are manufacturers trying to convince them that they need them? Are smart appliances something consumers actually want—or something the appliance industry wants consumers to want?
Judging by the comments whenever smart appliances come up on social media, manufacturers may be more enthusiastic about connected kitchens than consumers are.
There seems to be two categories of objections about the value of smart appliances.
The generational objection: “Why in God’s name does my refrigerator need Wi-Fi?” If you’ve successfully operated a refrigerator for 50 years without an app, the supposed improvement can seem ridiculous.
The technology objection: “I don’t want another device that needs an account, an app, software updates, a password and troubleshooting.” That one crosses generations. Plenty of younger, tech-savvy people are actively hostile to unnecessary connectivity — particularly when it introduces privacy concerns or creates another potential failure point.
The industry can become very excited about a feature that consumers don’t necessarily perceive as a benefit worth paying for.
People often care less about the actual feature than about what that feature does for them.
How Long Do Smart Appliances Last?
Questions every potential customer asks are:
- compared to traditional appliances, how long do smart appliances typically last?
- Are they worth the extra cost?
- What is the value/cost ratio?
According to an industry expert: Smart appliances typically have a lifespan of 10-15 years. However, their “smart” functions may become obsolete after 5-7 years because software support has ended or technology has moved on. Traditional appliances often continue working for 15-20 years. That refrigerator in your garage that belonged to your parents? Still working just fine since the year 2000.
Kitchen Designers Aren't Sure About Smart Appliances
Homeowners are not the only group not eager to jump on the smart home bandwagon. Kitchen designers are not enthusiastic either.
As kitchen designers, you are expected to be experts on every aspect of the kitchens you create. It is challenging enough to keep up to date with design trends and ever-changing appliance models.
Can you in good conscious recommend smart appliances to your clients? This appliance is going into a kitchen that’s supposed to last 15–20 years. What happens when the manufacturer stops supporting the software in six?
The Experts Have Concerns about Smart Appliances and Privacy
There’s also growing concern around privacy and data collection. Consumer Reports has raised questions about how much data smart appliances collect, how that information is used, and whether consumers fully understand what they’re agreeing to.
Do you know Kim Komando? In addition to impressive tech-related credentials, she is a HUGE advocate for privacy on the internet. Here’s what she has to say about smart appliances.
It’s no secret our devices spy on us. The shocker is that it goes way beyond smartphones and laptops. That smart fridge just might be tracking your eating habits and selling them to advertisers.
The research group Which? discovered many popular household appliances and gadgets share private information with tech giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook and TikTok. These companies take far more data than they need for the device to function correctly.
Which? researchers found the Google Nest suite of products, which includes everything from doorbell cameras to heating control systems, gathers a “huge amount” of location information.
LG collects the most data of all washing machine brands, including precise location and phone contacts.
Kim’s parting advice? Your data is worth a whole lot of money. It’s up to you to protect it.
Still Want to Recommend that Smart Fridge?
Do you remember how excited everyone was when the first smart appliances appeared at KBIS? A refrigerator with a camera built into the door? An oven you could control from your smart phone while you were still in the office?
It was a brave new world.
Ten years or so later, we’ve learned a lot of the pros and cons of smart appliances. Not only are they expensve, now we find out they are spying on us and sending information about our location, spending habits, eating habits and shopping habits. Goodness knows what else they’re spying on. So caveat emptor, as the saying goes. Is having a dishwasher that “tells” you when you’re almost out of detergent worth having your privacy compromised?
FAQs About Smart Appliances
Q. Are homeowners asking for smart appliances?
A. Not necessarily. While smart features receive plenty of attention from appliance manufacturers and the design press, that doesn’t mean homeowners are actively requesting them. We asked one of our cabinet dealers whether customers routinely ask about smart appliances, and his answer was no. For many homeowners, reliability, price, appearance and useful features still matter more than whether an appliance connects to an app.
Q. What warranty information is available for smart appliances?
A. The online info related to warranty coverage applies to typical appliance protection, usually 1 year parts and labor. Information about software updates and support for the software going forward is more difficult to pin down. They say they provide updates, and they probably do, but when will they say “oh we’re updating the technology and yours won’t be supported anymore.”
Q. Do people think smart appliances are a good idea?
A. Depends where you look or who you talk to. On social media, the comments seem to indicate that people do not want an appliance that requires an app and a password. They just want it to work as it’s supposed to.
At Bob Aungst Cabinet Sales, we work with kitchen dealers and designers and design-build remodelers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland to help them plan cabinetry for real homes and real lifestyles.