What to Look for When Buying a Washing Machine
We repair washing machines every day, so we see which ones last and which ones we are back at within a couple of years. A buying guide from someone who fixes them reads a bit differently to one from a showroom. Here is what we would weigh up.
Front loader or top loader
Front loaders wash more gently, spin faster so clothes come out drier, and use far less water. CHOICE puts a front loader at up to 70 per cent less water than a top loader of the same size. Top loaders are cheaper up front, quicker on a cycle, and easier on the back because you are not bending down to load them.
The trade-off we see in the repair van: top loaders have fewer parts to go wrong, while front loaders have the door boot seal and drum bearings that eventually need attention. Neither is wrong. It depends on your laundry and your budget.
Be honest about capacity
Bigger is not automatically better. An 8 to 9 kg machine suits most families. Buy well over what you need and you either run half-empty loads, which wastes water and power, or you wait to fill it and the wash sits damp in the basket. Match the drum to how much washing you actually do in a week.
Read the star ratings
Every machine sold here carries two labels. The energy rating label shows how much power it uses, and the water rating label shows water use, both scored out of stars. More stars costs a bit more up front and pays it back on the bills over a machine that runs for ten years. Compare the two labels side by side, because a machine can rate well on one and poorly on the other.
Think about whether it can be repaired
This is the part a showroom will not raise. Some machines are built so the whole thing is throwaway once a common part fails, and some brands are slow or dear on spare parts. Before you buy, it is worth knowing that parts for your brand are easy to get in Australia.
As a rule the mainstream brands we handle, Bosch, LG, Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux and the like, stay well supported for parts years down the track. You can see the brands we repair if you want a sense of what is well serviced locally.
Brands we see lasting
We will not pretend any brand never breaks, because they all do eventually. That said, the machines we tend to see reach ten years and beyond are the mid-range models from the established brands, rather than the cheapest thing on the floor or the most gadget-laden. A longer parts warranty is usually a sign the maker backs the machine, and simpler models with less electronics give less to go wrong.
Whatever you buy, a bit of upkeep makes it last, and we cover that in keeping a washing machine in good nick. If your current machine is playing up and you are weighing a washing machine repair against a new one, book a repair or call 02 4229 3777 and we will give you a straight answer.
