These questions cover subjects related to buying a new washing machine

 

What do the new eco energy labels mean?

I wouldn't get too obsessed with the energy labels. If you only compare washing machines using these labels you may make a poor choice. It's quite possible for an A rated washing machine to be very unreliable, and basically rubbish, but a B or C rated washing machine could be much more reliable and therefore more economical to run overall.

These labels are only a very small part of the big picture. There's little point buying a cheap washing machine that may break down continuously and need replacing after just a few years whilst ignoring a much more reliable one because it didn't have as high a rating. Rubbish washing machines can easily get A ratings, which don't take account of reliability, build quality or longevity.

Many budget and mid-priced washing machines these days appear to achieve the A rating by picking a particular wash program, and basically making it wash much longer than it used to. People aren't realising that many of the new washing machines are taking a ridiculous amount of time to wash on some common wash programs. This can lead to people using many of the options that cut down the wash times and to select lower temperatures in order to speed wash times up, with the potential consequences of sludge and grease building up inside the washing machine causing nasty smells and shortening the life of the washing machine. [ Related advice: Causes of grease, slime and black mould inside washing machine ]

Further information: Washerhelp's in-depth analysis of What do the new energy labels mean? | Are energy labels on Washing Machines misleading?

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Are all new washing machines the same size?

The majority of UK washing machines are roughly 850mm high, and 595 - 600mm wide. They can vary much more on depth though, which is usually less critical because a washing machine that's deeper than average will still fit in the space, it will just stick out a bit more. ( Watch out for bulky washing machine and dryer designs preventing doors and drawers in kitchen opening )

Most budget and mid-priced washing machines should be the same dimensions give or take a few millimetres. Most UK households install a washing machine under a work surface in a fitted kitchen. If a washing machine's size deviates from the standard size then they will lose sales. More expensive, quality machines are aimed more at the kind of people who have separate laundry rooms. If one of these washing machines is slightly bigger, it won't matter because they will normally be freestanding.

Always check the measurements, especially if the space available for it is not generous. Don't overlook the depth of a new washing machine, which can cause problems in kitchens where a door or drawer opens just in front of the washer. The main things to watch for are control panels, buttons, doors and control knobs that stick out much more than your previous machine did, which may prevent a drawer from sliding out, or a cupboard door from opening.

• Very small washing machines Small washing machines (mini / portable) washing machines (Forum topic)
• Compare washing machine sizes Do you want a "normal" sized washing machine but only have a certain amount of space to fit it in? Compare washing machines by width Compare washing machine sizes (using Kelkoo)
• Washing machines are too big - I need a small washing machine (Blog article)
• Washing machine less than 59.5 cm wide? (Blog article: No easy answers though)

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Do all new washing machines use the same pipes and plumbing?

Yes. You will get new fill hoses with your washing machine but the existing fill hoses will still fit. Some fill hoses supplied with a new washing machine may have filters built into the ends, whereas your previous ones may not. Also, a quality washing machine may come with anti flood fill hoses, which are better than normal hoses. Unless you have had extra long fill hoses ( washing machine fill hoses ) installed because normal sized hoses won't reach it is better to replace the old ones. Hoses don't last forever so it makes sense to use the new hoses supplied with the new washing machine.

Buy washing machine fill hoses including extra long hoses (at 4Washerhelp)

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Should I buy an extended warranty / guarantee?

Billions of pounds have been made selling extended warranties. They have been so profitable that companies have been putting great pressure on their salesmen to sell them. This has resulted in an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading. These days most consumer advice seems to have turned against extended warranties and advise against buying them but prices should be more competitive now because of the investigation.

Personally, I virtually never take out any extended guarantees because I prefer to look at the big picture. I believe that over a lifetime of buying any particular product, I will pay out far less if I just deal with repairs that arise as opposed to paying out year after year regardless of whether the product breaks down or not. I've always felt this way, and research I've come across backs this view up as statistically, a new washing machine isn't likely to break down enough to make buying the extended warranty financially viable (for the average consumer).

Even my central heating has no cover although I acknowledge I may have difficulties finding a repairer or face a very big bill one day. Central heating cover costs nearly £200 a year, that's £2000 every 10 years. I am not going to need to spend any where near £2000 every 10 years for repairs. If it was cheaper to take out an extended warranty then they wouldn't exist as no one could make money from them. Basically I believe you take out extended warranties not to save money, but to save the stress and inconvenience of unexpected bills, or so that you don't have the hassle of finding someone to fix it (or if you believe you are so unlucky it will always break down). So if these things are important to you then you may be happier taking an extended warranty out.

Some washing machines like Hoover or Hotpoint  come with a free 5 year parts guarantee. This would cover you for any major parts in the first 5 years (although you still have to pay expensive labour charges - see I have a 5 year parts guarantee - should I use it? ) Many sales people don't tell you about the 5-year parts guarantee because it will lessen the chance of an extended warranty sale. Instead, some may concern you with exaggerated reliability concerns and quote the most expensive costs for repairs (quoting manufacturer repair prices instead of much lower independent prices).

Summary: The odds are in the consumer's favour that if they don't buy an extended warranty for their washing machine they will not lose out financially over the lifetime of the washing machine. However, there are many thousands of people who are glad they took out an extended warranty because they did have a lot of problems, or one incident that made it worth while.

If your washing machine isn't very reliable it may well break down far more than "average" although this will be reflected in the actual price of the warranty. (I also believe most people would be better spending the money that an extended warranty costs on buying a better quality washing machine in the first place). At the end of the day it's a gamble, a bet. You are betting your washing machine will break down enough times to leave you the winner and they are accepting that bet knowing the odds are in their favour but accepting that some punters will win.

If you can financially cope with unexpected bills, or even buying a new washing machine if an expensive repair occurs, then in the long run it's pretty likely to be cheaper to pay for any repairs as they come. But, if you aren't usually prepared to cope with unexpected bills (not a saver or just don't have the money to put aside) or you simply want the peace of mind, you might prefer to pay up for the cover.

Note: If you buy a cheap washing machine, or one that is not too reliable, you may still find that an extended warranty won't save you quite as you'd expect. Many washing machines (over 5 years old) covered on extended warranties are being scrapped by the insurers because they are "beyond economic repair" leaving you forced to buy a new one. To be fair, they will contribute towards the cost, but depending on the age you may still need to find between 50% and 70% of the replacement cost yourself - Washing machines are expensive to repair but are extended warranties the answer?

Which? Research appears to commonly find that the odds are heavily in your favour of it being cheaper to pay for repairs over the first 5 years of a washing machine's life, than to buy an extended warranty. Which? regularly look into the pros and cons of extended warranties and have been instrumental in getting the government to investigate miss-selling and overpricing recently. They currently have an 1 month Online Trial offer of their site where you can immediately research online.

Alternatives to extended warranties?

You could buy a washing machine that has a free (or built-in) extended guarantee. This is better as you are not buying a washing machine from one source and insuring it through a separate source. Some examples of this are -

• Bosch usually give a 2 year guarantee
• John Lewis give a 2 year guarantee on all washing machines and their own John lewis brand have a 3 year guarantee
• Siemens often have a 5 year guarantee
• Miele often give a 2, 5, or even 10 year guarantee

Additional notes: One important difference between an extended warranty and a washing machine with an extra (above 12 months) guarantee is that some extended warranties also include accidental damage cover. This could cover you for extra incidents that you may want. If you want accidental damage cover, either use your contents insurance (if you have accidental damage cover) or take out a warranty that includes it. It's possible that some extended warranties could cover even user faults such as leaving money in pockets and puncturing a hole in the outer tub though many will not.

Related: Think before you buy an extended warranty (Government advice)

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• Other questions answered in part 2 -
• How to install a new washing machine
• Should I buy a cold fill washing machine or hot and cold fill?

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