Washing machine...HELP!!!

[di]

I know I should really pop this in reccomendations or something...but I also havemy suspisions that not everyone looks in there...so sorry MODs...feel free to move(but please give me a little while!x)
To the point!My Beloved washing machine has sadly died!...we've had it for nearly seven years,so think maybe it's more sensible to buy a new one as opposed to getting this one fixed.
We also have a rather scarey tumble dryer,which only gets used in absolute emergencies...in the shed as no room indoors.
Now the question!...Has anyone got any horror stories about Washer/dryers?Looking at prices,they're not that much more to buy,but 50% of the people I've asked today say they would never buy because if something goes wrong with one your buggared.None of these peeps have ever had one though,so do I trust them or the peeps that say they're worth it?
Going to Comet later to have a nosey at them all.
What have you got & more importantly are you happy with it?
Thankyou kindly for listening!

P.S...Zazen...you know you have the powers to correct peeps spellings!...couldn't pop an "E" in my help could ya?xx

[coreopsis]

I have Indesit-if you pack it too tight it won't wash everything.
I used to have AEG-unfortunately I had to leave it behind-brilliant,washing quality is great,good spinning-seriously reduces tumble dryer and very economic in use(electricity and water).
Disadvantage-more expensive(but worth it)

[SarzWix]

Washer/dryers....
My mum had one... It wouldn't dry as big a load as it would wash. Was twice as slow at drying as a bog standard dryer as well... I wouldn't have one!

I did massive research when we needed a new washer and the ones which came out best for reliability AND price were Zanussi.

[zazen999]

I've had mine for 2 years and it is fine. Problem is these days, who knows who is going to go out of business, so even if it did go, there's a possibility that the warranty would be useless.

I use the drier only on urgent cold wet days when I need emergency clothes to be dried. Otherwise it's the radiators and the line.

[Hilary B]

Never had one, and always been hesitant about the idea because the wetness that gets left behind after it has washed surely has to be removed by the drying cycle, so it has to be less efficient than 2 separate ones... doesn't it? Shouldn't matter too much if use of tumble-dryer is occasional.
Have to admit that well over half our washing goes in the tumble dryer, because we are so rarely at home when the weather is fit for drying things, and if we are, that is when we wash the big things that won't fit in the dryer at all.
Now for the 'surveyor lecture'<g>
Drying clothes indoors (except in a tumble dryer with the damp air sent out of doors) is a serious source of condensation. Open the windows and let that damp air OUT. The fact that you have paid for the heat is not the point. The warmer the house, the more urgent the ventilation, and you can double that if using radiators to dry wet washing!

[di]

Looking pretty much the same as views from school...some love...others don't!...guess with most appliances it's almost down to luck as to whether you get the one bad one out of a hundred???I looked on the Comet reviews section,but to be honest,don't really trust that they don't put a few extra good to bad in?
By the looks of it,most complaints about them are concerning the efficiency of the dryer,but as I only use it in absolute emergencies anyway...(*thinking in my head!)...???
Cheers for your advice...I'm now off to Comet(without Andi,so won't be able to impulse buy...the card has his name on it!),hopefully I'll get some honest help from them.
Oh & many thanks to either Andrea or Sarah for the E!!!

[Hilary B]

Final bit of advice, get the info from Comet, then go buy it from Argos!!
Argos are pretty good, but often fail to tell you enough about the item for proper informed deision-making.

[jackie j]

Wouldnt get a washer drier had one ( was OH's when he moved in ) and with a family if you have loads of washing you cant do both. lol ( at the same time ) used one while on holiday having never used one no instructions lots of things shrunk. Cant dry much and takes an age.

[Rocketron]

As most have said, they are a waste of money unless you use them correctly. They will take a full load to wash but you have to take out 3/4's of the load for drying.

[percy charlie]

hi andy and di i have a friend who runs a washing machine and tumble dryer repair business, so picked his brains on your behalf and mine for future reference, heres what he said and hes a really honest guy of 67.
never buy a washer dryer point blank end of as there useless and un reliable.
depending on whats wrong a repair most likely will be cheaper, and most washers now are cold fill not hot and cold meaning they use more electric heating the water before washing.
dont buy a servis washer as they have gone bust and are not honoring warranties and the washing machines have had problems, so dont be tempted by any servis washer on sale,
less is more reliable go for appliances with as little digital controls as possible, the good old twist dial to setting and press on button type is best rather than digital controls.
if you go done the new route zanusi, whiteknight are good makes.
most common parts that go on any machine are bushers £30-40 fitted, motor recon £30-50 new £50-100 fitted and drum spindle at the back £60-75 fitted.

our washer recently broke its 14 year old and he put a motor in for us, in the past its also had bushers and a spindle, but keeps going, i have friends whos new washer lasted just past the warrenty but was un repairable, and most of what youve been told about washer dryers are true, everone i know thats had one has gone back to seperates, our white knight tumbler is also getting over a decade old and had one small repair cost about £12. most new appliances are built as good these days as everything is whated on the cheap by manufactors chasing profit, id try repair as your old machine will be better quality built. our 14 year old machine is running like a dream since the repair and where a household of 5 soon to be 6.

hope this is of help to you all the best pc

[HeyWayne]

We recently changed our old Hotpoint WM61 (I think) which we'd had for about 10 years. Faultless almost - had to have rubbers replaced a couple of times but worked faithfully pretty much the rest of the time. We replaced it because it was pretty uneconomical and with Bean on the way at the time we knew we'd be using it more frequently and would be more reliant on it. It also didn't spin very fast (600rpm) so washing would take longer to dry.

We opted for another Hotpoint - this time one of the Aqualtis ones - massive drum (7.5kg rather than the 4kg we had before), spin speen of 1600 rpm and far more energy efficient. The noisiest it gets is when filling with water - other than that it's hush quiet.

I worked a couple of years at Electrolux in the industrial laundry division and when there I bought the previous washer. At the time I asked what some of the engineers thought of washer dryers and they all pretty much echoed what percy has just said. Washers work more efficiently if there is a full load - whereas dryers need air to move around to aid drying - it's why washers have a standard 4kg drum and dryers have 6kg standard (from memory).

There are of course people who washer dryers are ideal for, and they will probably work really well for them, they just don't suit us.

Good luck in the hunt.

[Hazel at the Hill]

If you sign up to Which?online (for a £1!) you get 3 months free (don't forget to cancel if you don't want to continue) and for that you can not only study their comprehensive 'best buys' BUT ALSO they have the current cheapest prices linked so you know where to buy that model for the best price at the time.

[beaufontboy]

We have a hotpoint also, Blimen great, use the dryer when its raining outside, just goes and goes, would happily recommend to anyone

[percy charlie]

yes the engineer said definately not suitable for familys a single person they would do for but often struggle to get to the 2 year point before theyve had it.
i have an 1100 spin on my washer and would never have less than 1000 spin due to amount of washing i have to get done but always give towels nappies or heavy materials like jeans an extra spin especially if tumble drying saves electric as can reduce drying time 30-60 minutes

[Alice]

I have a Zanussi 1600 washer / dryer and it's been brilliant for me.
The washload is very big and it does it well.
It won't dry that load, the machine has to be emptied and dried in 2 loads.
But I hang my washing out and only use the tumbler when I have to.
Two machines in the space of one. Been great for me.
Couuld suit your needs Andi&Di.