My New Hotpoint Aqualtis 1200rpm

[robm]

Well, after my AEG 2200 died and blew our electrics, I decided to get a new toy. I've already got a Miele so wanted something more gimmicky. I decided on the Aqualtis (thanks Chris for your recommendation), which I got for £281 including delivery. Generally, I'm very pleased with it.

Pros

Very quiet, even on top speed.
Large drum doesn't crease clothes so much
Uses lots of water
Lots of fun programmes, including a shirts program which does cause less creasing.
Fun to watch (different drum rhythms) and nice styling.

Cons

Like my other Hotpoint does faff a bit on distribution.
No rinse hold, which I personally use frequently

I've decided to use this machine for Shirts and bedding and my Miele for the heavy cottons washes. Here are some pics.

 

[robm]

Here is the drum

 

[robm]

Finally with the door open, excuse the floor it's an outbuilding, my kitchen is a bit more pristine than that LOL!

 

[lavamat_jon]

Rob, congratulations on the machine! I have to say, reliability concerns put aside from what I've read of these machines on the board I've become more and more intrigued with them! Whilst I do like the solid, engineered & constant action of the Miele cycles, I like Hotpoint's (or Ariston's should we say) efforts of creating interesting but thorough wash actions. Dare I ask for any videos? .

I still think it's a shame Hotpoint have gone this way as a company but I won't start another washer politics war LOL. And to be honest, they could be worse machines and not use water or have cool wash rhythms .

Congratulations anyway!

Take care,

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

BTW - apart from price what made you go for the 1200 model rather than any of the other models? Just interested to hear

Jon

 

[newwave1]

Very nice rob,
I hope you enjoy it! Let us know your impressions after a few loads!

Darren

 

[robm]

Hi Jon and Darren, thanks for your comments.

I've really enjoyed this weekend, getting this machine sorted. I don't know I would recommend it for a main machine as I don't know how reliable it will be in the long term, however, it seems quite well made and sturdy. The Miele will always be the main man. I will probably use the Aqualtis for Shirts, duvets and bedding (because of the large drum). For all my heavy cottons I will use the Miele.

I've actually done a film of both machines working next to each other. The problem is I have a VHS camcorder and don't know how to get the film onto the computer and then onto youtube. I can record it to a DVD but then when I try to copy these files the format doesn't match. This is something I will need to look into.

The main reason I bought the 1200 model was because the others didn't have the wash intensity button. Also cost was a factor as this was a second machine.

Rob

 

[chrisbsuk]

Best Cycles....

hey rob, the two most "entertaining" cycles are the duvet cycle and the wool cycle.
The duvet cycle fills with a little water, tumbles slowly for the first five or six minutes, then goes straight up to distribute speed to really get the duvets/comforters etc clean. it does this seven or eight times during the wash phase. It is much more fun if you add extra water - i start the cycle on the silk wash, which fills up half way above the door, then pause the machine and move the dial to duvets. Perfection! The rinse spins during this are pretty long, and the final spin is done in several stages.
The wool cycle simply fills up, then the drum roates in one direction, at distribution speed for the whole cycle - i.e. the drum does not stop until after the final spin - again far more interesting if you add extra water!!

 

[chrisbsuk]

Ps......

I do get out now and again.....!!

 

[robm]

Thanks Chris

Hi Chris, thanks for that, will definately have to try that out. I haven't used those programmes yet. Did you see my note about the pump? You can certainly hear the pump over the motor although, with side by side testing mine was no noisier than the Miele. Your pump does sound loud on youtube. However, I know the sound can be distorted.

Rob

 

[chrisbsuk]

hey rob,
yea i did see your note,thankyou- i might call them at some stage - in the mean time i will take the filter out and see if anything is caught in it!!

 

[oxydolfan1]

Very impressive looking machine!

I wish you much enjoyment with it....

 

[MrX]

Be careful that you don't damage the motor. I topped up a Tricity-Bendix washer dryer during its cotton wash cycle and it clearly wasn't designed to cope with the extra water in the drum at its normal wash agitation speed. There was a strong smell of electrical burn after a few mins, thankfully it didn't do any permanent damage! It seemed to put too much strain on the motor.

 

[robm]

Thanks for your message Oxydolfan1. It really is a lot of fun.

MRX I will bear this in mind. I don't expect this machine to last as long as the Miele, but hopefully more than a few years LOL.

Rob

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hotpoint!!

Hi Rob

Looks like a fine pressie for yourself, I the sturdiness of this machine, and it does have a lot of different features, love the hiding dispenser and the door / n hinges do seem sturdy...the programming seems easy as well...does this have the "advance to Next Stage" feature that earlier machines had??

Looking forward to the vids

Cheers, Mike

 

[robm]

Hi Mike

Unfortunately, this machine does not have the advance feature. Not something I use a lot but nice to have.

To do vids I need a way of converting VOB files into MPG ones.

Rob

 

[arrrooohhh]

Aqualtis now in Australia

Wearing Ariston badges of course.

I must say that the photo's of the machine I have seen so far havent made that much of an impression on me, having seen it for real in stores I am very impressed indeed! It feels really nice the door opens and closes nicely and the drum opening is huge!

There are three models one 1000rpm, 1200rpm and 1400rpm with the built in pedestal and 4 memory programs. Why arent more makers making taller front loaders it is really impressive IMO and in the Australian market it would be a real selling feature.

It has been predicted that front loaders will outsell top loaders for the first time this year. What I find most interesting about that is while in the American market they have specifically built larger machines to appeal to that market in Australia we are buying European style models, although manufacturers are now sourcing them from Asia rather than Europe for our market.