/dramatic - Washing machine dies in a cloud of smoke!

[Caspar]

Unfortunately, my washing machine died yesterday...in literally a cloud of smoke! We heard a LOUD banging noise and when we went to investigate the strange new noise from the W/M you could see a boom of smoke!

My situation is that we bought the machine from dixons 4.5 years ago. We bought insurance cover at the time which covered upto and inc the 3rd year,(added 2 years to manu cover). So there's no chance in getting it repaired under cover.

So my question is were we too hasty in just nipping out and buying a new one and not looking to get this one fixed?

You see, and no offence to anyone in the trade but I simply don't trust peeps fixing stuff, esp which including callout fees and strange peeps in my house! (Hmm, are they casing the house I ask myself )

..also, there's the concern of the parts costs on top of labour costs. A new motor something like £150 I've heard??? So getting this one fixed could cost £200!

So, we decided to buy new, with a new manu guarantee. Housepoint, or whatever they are called (big name just forget it's name! (good marketing that! )) were having a weekend deal on machine and we saw the one we wanted. Over the road Dixons had the same machine for £499.99 ..which is the latest generation of the one that just broke. Housepoint were doing the same machine for £399.99 (Hotpoint Ultima WG645 1600 spin) ...and they were the 1400 spin for £299.99 ...so we bought that one!

So two questions, were we too hasty in getting a new one and not trusting someone fixing our current one (and who would fix it?)

And, we paid £10 to Housepoint to remove our current w/m. Could I sell this current machine somewhere...esp if it's only a drum or motor that's blown? seems bloody silly to pay someone to take it away and allow them to refit it and sell it for £££!

Thoughts?

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Caspar

Unfortunately, my washing machine died yesterday...in literally a cloud of smoke! We heard a LOUD banging noise and when we went to investigate the strange new noise from the W/M you could see a boom of smoke!

My situation is that we bought the machine from dixons 4.5 years ago. We bought insurance cover at the time which covered upto and inc the 3rd year,(added 2 years to manu cover). So there's no chance in getting it repaired under cover.

So my question is were we too hasty in just nipping out and buying a new one and not looking to get this one fixed?

You see, and no offence to anyone in the trade but I simply don't trust peeps fixing stuff, esp which including callout fees and strange peeps in my house! (Hmm, are they casing the house I ask myself )

..also, there's the concern of the parts costs on top of labour costs. A new motor something like £150 I've heard??? So getting this one fixed could cost £200!

So, we decided to buy new, with a new manu guarantee. Housepoint, or whatever they are called (big name just forget it's name! (good marketing that! )) were having a weekend deal on machine and we saw the one we wanted. Over the road Dixons had the same machine for £499.99 ..which is the latest generation of the one that just broke. Housepoint were doing the same machine for £399.99 (Hotpoint Ultima WG645 1600 spin) ...and they were the 1400 spin for £299.99 ...so we bought that one!

So two questions, were we too hasty in getting a new one and not trusting someone fixing our current one (and who would fix it?)

Not at all. Considering you can buy new machines now for less than £200 with at least a years guarantee, what's the point in saving fifty quid???

And, we paid £10 to Housepoint to remove our current w/m. Could I sell this current machine somewhere...esp if it's only a drum or motor that's blown? seems bloody silly to pay someone to take it away and allow them to refit it and sell it for £££!

Thoughts?

I wouldn't have thought so. Then again, I wouldn't buy a working second hand machine, let alone a broken one...

[handyman]

Originally Posted by orangebird

Not at all. Considering you can buy new machines now for less than £200 with at least a years guarantee, what's the point in saving fifty quid???

But why buy a substandard £200 washer that wont last 4.5 years when a simple repair on your good one would give you better performance and reliability?

I'm sure casper could have got IADOM over to repair it of could have asked on the forum and I would have given him info on how to fix it. I could have been a wire thats rubbed and worn through the protective cover and gone bang which would be a 50p DIY repair.

Also if you call a local SH washing machine place they will no doubt have picked it up and GAVE you £10 or possibly more.
HM

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Caspar

You see, and no offence to anyone in the trade but I simply don't trust peeps fixing stuff, esp which including callout fees and strange peeps in my house! (Hmm, are they casing the house I ask myself )

I can't wait for Iadom to catch up with this thread ...

[Jules]

Depends how much you use it eg do you have kids etc

[SMHarman]

A big noisey bang and a cloud of smoke - sounds like the concrete block disintegrated.

[Paul]

Could always get the back off for a look, it could be something obvious (concrete block, motor, dead hamster on electric wiring etc) and you might be able to get it put right very easily.

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by whyme38

Depends how much you use it eg do you have kids etc

..yep a 5 month old...at the mo she only have (as you can imagine) a few smalls..but now that she has [just] started eating solid food she needs changing after every meal!!!...messy pig! so the existing 1 day wash will quickly turn into 2 a day
__________________

Originally Posted by Paul

Could always get the back off for a look, it could be something obvious (concrete block, motor, dead hamster on electric wiring etc) and you might be able to get it put right very easily.

TBh, I wouldn't have a clue what to look for! any clues.....like will there be a sign saying "I am broken!"

[Jules]

In that case I would have also gone for a new one

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

A big noisey bang and a cloud of smoke - sounds like the concrete block disintegrated.

Why is there concrete in a washing machine!???

[Jules]

To weight the drum it is standard practise

[Caspar]

Also, what's the average life of a washing machine...i.e. how long have you had yours? We paid £500 4.5 years ago...which seems expensive to me Will I be replacing this in another 4/5 years?

I thought 10 years was the magic number when it comes to home repairs?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Caspar

Why is there concrete in a washing machine!???

To stop it from bouncing all over the kitchen...

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Caspar

Why is there concrete in a washing machine!???

To stop it walking across your kitchen every time it does a spin cycle.

[Angua]

Last washing machine I had repaired cost £45 including parts 18 months ago. It was a reconditioned Servis we had already had for 3 years. It might be worth finding out at your local second hand place which machines they will take (if they will take a particular sort it usually means they are fairly easy to maintain and problem free).

You should also find out what your local council charges to take stuff away (ours would have only charged £6 for up to 4 items, I was quoted £30 to take away our old tumble dryer via the manufacturers.