Buying a Washing Machine

Originally Posted by andy 1

thats some going handyman.
didn't you ever get any where the inner ball races had smashed to pieces and the outer race was a pig to get out.

Thats almost what happened to ours, except the bearings dropped out. I did get a bearing kit from hotpopint to fix it however on dismantling it i managed the get the inner ball race off but the outter ball race was pressed into the nylon outer drum and i couldnt get it out

[iadom]

Originally Posted by andy 1

as an ex domestic appliance engineer and my experience with hotpoint appliances,i hope youv'e taken out the extended warranty because your gonna need it.
most of my calls where to hotpoint appliances

By something called the law of averages that is to be expected, Hotpoint and Hoover did until recently sell over 60% of the washing machines sold in this country.
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Originally Posted by handyman

On a older 95 series hotpoint a full main bearing and seal job was about 20 mins, replacing the full tub would add around 20 mins max to take off the suspension and hoses and put a new tub in. (time might seem low but I design and had machined my own bearing removal tool that popped them out in seconds ;-) )

I cannot answer for the new ones that require the full tub taking out and replacing but I imagine this would be 30 mins max.

Bearing change approx 25 to 30 mins on 95 series, but only if the bearings had not collapsed. Drum change, 1 hour if everything goes to plan, remember that not only do you have to change the hoses and suspension but the motor and brackets, both upper and lower concrete balance weight. pressure chamber etc, plus if you are doing the job correctly do a full leak test.
Replacing the drum on the new WMA model range etc takes about 90 mins, again assuming all goes to plan. It is possible to change the bearings on these but I have had mixed results.
There has been a longstanding bearing problem on these machines ( by a strange coincidence, Bosch also suffered in exactly the same way ) the problem was due to the sealing arrangement. This has been altered and bearing failure is now not as prevalent.

Hotpoints labour charge is now a minimum of £89.00 but they have set maximum charges for drum changes etc, so time is imaterial.

Anyone who buys an extended warrenty is a fool. If you have £150 to spare put it in a bank account so that you get the interest and not the dealer.
The staff are on around 30% commission to sell the damned things, that should tell you all you need to know. Extended warrenties are one of the only 'insurance' products known were the premium is more than twice the average risk.

But then I only have just over 37 years experience, so what do I know.

[greencreeper]

When you buy an extended warranty, you're not buying insurance cover for parts and/or labour - you're buying peace of mind. That's a much more difficult thing to put a price tag on.

Depending on the appliance, I usually take out a parts warranty, at least. Some appliances, such as fridges, if they don't breakdown inside a year, they're likely to last until you need a new one.

[handyman]

Originally Posted by andy 1

thats some going handyman.
didn't you ever get any where the inner ball races had smashed to pieces and the outer race was a pig to get out.

Yes but we had a tool adapted from the hotpoint kit, which was 2 halves that went into the race outer then a socket extention in the middle and a solid whack from a 1 kilo mallet and out it popped ;-)

[cookie_365]

So can anyone in the know recommend a washer dryer for light use for less than £350 ?


Me thinking of Indesit but not sure at the mo

[Chimaera]

Well I wouldn't get another washer/dryer! Sorry to be so pessimistic, but every time mine went wrong the various engineers always said (without prompting!) that the combined models were always more trouble than the seperate items. I've tried to make do with just a washing machine since my combo packed up totally, I've now decided to re-arrange my tiny kitchen again to accommodate a tumble dryer (last time was to fit in the dishwasher - yes I am a lazy cow!) Could you have the two machines stacked instead of a combined one?

[iadom]

Originally Posted by cookie_365

So can anyone in the know recommend a washer dryer for light use for less than £350 ?


Me thinking of Indesit but not sure at the mo

I have never been a fan of standard sized washer dryers, too much crammed in the same cabinet, the same motor and pump running throughout the washing & drying cycle causing greater wear and tear.
Definately not for a family, however if you are only going to give it light use, ie; 4 to 5 loads a week then you would possibly get away with an Indesit machine. As their parent company Merloni now control Hotpoint the Indesit machines come with the same 5 years parts G/tee that the Hotpoint brand has had for almost 25 years. This also makes spares availability much better.

One thing to remember is that although you can wash a full load in a washer dryer you can only wash & dry a half load.

As Chim says, if you can in any way fit both a washer & dryer then I would always advise you to spend the extra for the reliability and time saving of separate machines.

Originally Posted by greencreeper

they're likely to last until you need a new one.

have a degree in stating the obvious
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Originally Posted by Chimaera

(last time was to fit in the dishwasher - yes I am a lazy cow!)

You make him sleep in the kitchen

[iadom]

Originally Posted by gary_580

have a degree in stating the obvious
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nice one, its like the women who say to me, " it always breaks down when I am using it"

[Chimaera]

Originally Posted by gary_580

You make him sleep in the kitchen

Well it's an improvement from the dog kennel?

[greencreeper]

Originally Posted by gary_580

have a degree in stating the obvious

Nope

Since when did your other half buy stuff because it needed replacing? Primary reasons for purchasing new stuff are (a) therapy; (b) new decor; (c) seeing next door with a Comet van.

[cookie_365]

Ta for the replies

Originally Posted by Chimaera

Could you have the two machines stacked instead of a combined one?

Nope, upstairs flat - floor won't take it. Of course, the floor might not take a combination machine either. But that's a risk I'm sure my downstairs neighbours'll be happy to take. !

And the kitchen's too small for separates. Can hardly get in through the door as it is

Originally Posted by iadom

if you are only going to give it light use, ie; 4 to 5 loads a week then you would possibly get away with an Indesit machine

That'll be about the level of use I'll need. And if it breaks down, well, it's an excuse to go and buy a shiny new machine (I'm the credit card generation .... )

I think I'll go for Indesit then - now to find someone who'll deliver upstairs !

[Chimaera]

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Nope

Since when did your other half buy stuff because it needed replacing? Primary reasons for purchasing new stuff are (a) therapy; (b) new decor; (c) seeing next door with a Comet van.

Well I only buy stuff when I need it - mainly cos I have to pay for it myself......
And speaking of which, I'm looking at buying a tumble dryer - the one I like seems to come in many disguises!! It's known as the Indesit IS70C, the Proline TDC7A and the Hotpoint CDT00T among others! It may not be a Miele but I can afford it (whichever badge I decide on) so has anyone got any horror stories about it (other than it's an Indesit / Proline / Hotpoint?)

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by cookie_365

Ta for the replies

Nope, upstairs flat - floor won't take it. Of course, the floor might not take a combination machine either. But that's a risk I'm sure my downstairs neighbours'll be happy to take. !

And the kitchen's too small for separates. Can hardly get in through the door as it is

Does a pair really add that much weight? Dryers weigh very little (condenser dryers may weigh more).

[iadom]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Does a pair really add that much weight? Dryers weigh very little (condenser dryers may weigh more).

As a rough guide, current Hotpoint model weights
Washing machine.65.5 kg
Tumble dryer (vented) 35 kg
Tumble dryer (condensor) 41.2 kg
Washer dryer 66.5 kg