My UK (please note locals) Hotpoint Washer/Dryer is on the fritz…

[stricklybojack]

.
which apparently to old Minnesotans like my parents…is to say she’s not working at all.

So ya, I have been here in country all of a couple of months and I am already up against an appliance snafu.
Short back story, we recently moved to the old country (my wife was born and raised here) and bought our first house. A nice place in a smallish “market town” in the “South Hams” region of England.
My tools along with all our goods that didn’t get sold off or given away are in a port near London…finally.
But they will languish there until whatever quarantine and paperwork process concludes and free them to be delivered unto me (us) out west here in Devon.

I digress, but I know you guys like the backstory cause when I don’t include one I get crickets. Ok fine, my aim is to please as I am in a bit of a sticky wicket don’t ya know.
The machine you see in the pics above will not turn on no matter how many times I kick it!
Lol, not really…but as you can perhaps deduce I have current to the door switch but none to the control board where the power switch is located…hmm. (Thank you kind extremely kind well equipped neighbour for the voltage detector).
There is a junction box as power comes into the unit from the power cord at the rear, but that’s as far as it gets unless it is headed to the door switch of course.
I was doing a load and noticed all the leds had gone out. I knew something was up cause it has a series of indicators to tell you what part of the wash cycle you are in at any given time.
The load finished normally however, but every since the machine is kaput.
I suspect the board, but it’s hard tellin’ not knowing’.

Help me Obi-Wan, you are my only hope!

[this post was last edited: 9/8/2021-13:55]

 

[ozzie908]

@stricklybojak

I am going to take a punt on the board may have a burnt track on it, Also have you checked the door switch is working as these burn out due to having the heater load going through them.

You may find a burnt track on the board just by careful removal and good eyesight

Sorry not much help these blessed machines with boards in are a curse and Hotpoint/Indesit all being owned by whirlpool don't get any better sadly.

Austin

 

[iej]

A relatively modern, electronic, but budget machine with what is very likely to be a zapped control board.

 

There's really very little you can do other than to replace the control panel.

They're usually one piece, with no user serviceable parts.

 

If you are going to tackle it yourself, take photographs of exactly how the existing one is connected before doing anything and, obviously ensure the plug is fully removed from the socket outlet, don't just switch it off.

 

It's nuts, but that's built in obsolescence for ya!

 

Just bear in mind that the machines are unusually shallow for their load capacity. There aren't a whole lot of options other than another Hotpoint Washer Dryer to replace them, unless you want it sticking out way beyond the countertop.

 

In general with higher end machines sold in this market, as the drum capacity increases, the machine gets deeper back-to-front (often quite substantially)

 

Your, what I assume is a dishwasher, looks deeper though, so you might get a different machine to fit in and be inline.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
New thought,
please recommend a new machine to replace the Hotpoint:

under £400 delivered…
Counter depth about 61ish cm or less,
9kg+,
any color,

I know nada about Uk/euro washers except no Hotpoint…lol.
So far I have found what is linked below, £340 with coupon applied.

It is quiet and otherwise fits my criteria. LMK your thoughts, I am open to ideas!

https://ao.com/product/wfge90141vm-hisense-washing-machine-white-82829-1.aspx

 

[henene4]

A lot they ask for

Talk them out of the 9kg requirement.
EU load size labeling is kind of useless. A 9kg machine can have drums anywhere from 1.9cuft to 2.4cuft.
Going by depth is much more accurate there actually...

Their old machine should have a 1.9cuft drum.
Given EU dryer sizes, drums much larger than 2.1cuft don't make much sense anyways.
If they use their dryer a lot, talk them into getting a higher spin speed rather than a larger drum.

The machine you linked is made by Gorenje.
I would advise against them. Performance is OK, longer cycle times, and they are even lower on the quality ladder IMO.
Drum size is the same as the old Hotpoint they had.

They excluded Hotpoint, but at that price point, they are one of the few options:
https://ao.com/product/nswa963cwwukn-hotpoint-washing-machine-white-77019-1.aspx

Cycle time is reasonable with the right selection, drum size is on the larger end.
Quality is about the same as the old Hotpoint they had.

Another option is a Beko.
https://ao.com/product/wey96052w-beko-washing-machine-white-76555-1.aspx

This is the 9kg version with a similar drum to the Hotpoint option, but it is 64cm deep (so an inch standing over).
Quality is surprisingly good for the price.
Performance is great and good set of time saver options and cycles.

The same machine basically in 8kg then fits depth wise:
https://ao.com/product/wer860541w-beko-washing-machine-white-76550-1.aspx

All machines so far have been 1600rpm.
A slightly lower end machine with 10kg and 1400rpm can be had as cheap as 250£:
https://ao.com/product/wtk104151w-beko-washing-machine-white-80429-1.aspx
(That's 64cm deep aswell.)

For Beko, the 59cm deep machines have a 60-ish liter drum.
The current Hotpoint and the Hisense you linked were 54l.
The 9/10kg machines by Beko and Hotpoint both should have 70l drums.

Haier is on the same level quality wise as all options so far.
But this machine has a DirectDrive motor, usually reserved for much higher end machines. Really quiet machines!
Quick cycles, great load sensing (basically absent at that price point).
Huge drum and fits depth wise.

https://ao.com/product/hw100b1439n-haier-washing-machine-white-78838-1.aspx

If they don't want Hotpoint, as Hotpoint is owned by Whirlpool, brands they have to avoid are:
Indesit, Whirlpool, Bauknecht and Hotpoint.
These all use the same washer architecture.

And if they want to go cheap, rather go really cheap and get an extended warranty on top.
Makes a lot more sense at that price point then one thinks!

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Alright Henrik!
That’s what I need a the low down on the washer market over here across the pond.

One question, is Ebac a good idea?
Is it like the Speed Queen of the Uk? I might spend more if quality is actually available at a higher price point, instead of just more “features”.[this post was last edited: 9/8/2021-14:42]

 

[henene4]

Ebac machines use a lot of bought in components.
So kinda.
The drums are or at least were sourced from Hotpoint, so that's that.
But they offer a pretty long warranty, so that's a plus!

But price wise, if they are willing to spend the 80£ over budget, this Bosch is as good as it gets in terms of value.
https://ao.com/product/wau28t64gb-bosch-serie-6-washing-machine-white-79568-1.aspx

The drum is right in the sweetspot.
Not to large for dryers, not so large it leads to long balancing, but still large enough for basically anything.
Very good programming, nice and quiet. Very reasonable quality. Cheap and easy to get parts.
You might want to check a site like idealo for price comparison to get it a little closer to their budget.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Hmm, how does that Bosch compare to this LG?

https://ao.com/product/f4v709stse-lg-v7-washing-machine-silver-77527-1.aspx

 

[henene4]

LGs quality is decent. Wouldn't dare to say as good as Bosch, but not horrific either.

But given the Bosch is cheaper and if it is about quality, the Bosch would be my preference.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
How about Harier?

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/washing-machines/haier-i-pro-series-7-hw100-b14979s-10-kg-1400-spin-washing-machine-graphite-10212178-pdt.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istFeedId=2f489429-2329-4fcd-941a-a

 

[iej]

As washer-dryers go, I would go with the biggest drum machine you can fit into the space.

Miele is great but very expensive and their washer-dryers are quite small.
Bosch & Siemens are essentially the same machines.
Electrolux / AEG is fairly good.
LG gets good reviews.

Those Hotpoint washer dryers are cheaper end of market but they do actually have one very well in my experience of them.

Ideally, if you can fit a dryer somewhere, get separates.

 

[gizmo]

Have you tried the door switch on the Hotpoint? With your test probe you should be able to tell if the fault is door switch or main board. If the "live" wire extends only to the door switch, and beyond the door switch the probe doesn't light up, then the fault is the door switch (others chip in if I'm wrong). If you can trace a live wire from the door switch to the main board, then it is a main board fault by my reasoning.

 

I remember the Fisher and Paykel smart drive service manual said that more than 50% of circuit boards replaced and returned for reconditioning were not faulty. Often what is assumed to be a board fault is some other cheap peripheral component. Door lock/switches on front loaders are notoriously unreliable. They are cheap, too. You can bypass the door switch to see if it then springs to life but you will need a circuit diagram to know which two of the three wires are the ones to join to bypass the switch. I used to have an LG on which I bypassed the door switch to keep it running - never replaced the switch till we flooded the laundry and kitchen because the door hadn't been closed properly.... lesson learned... only bypass the switch for diagnostic purposes, if that is the fault, REPLACE the switch.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
I will check the door switch today, although we always planned on replacing the washer as it is a bit too small for us. A 9(min) 10, or 11kg machine would be best. I agree with previous post, the biggest that will fit. Our FL SQ in America was about 3.35(?) cubic ft if I recall correctly and it was perfect.

Haier (pronounced “higher” btw) now owns GE, Fisher & Paykel, and a number of other names but is virtually unspoken of here on AW one way or another.



Found this interesting regarding how to compare drum sizes (which I am used to) to kg weight ratings (which I am not).[this post was last edited: 9/9/2021-03:32]

 

[henene4]

Haier

As I said, not great machines quality wise, but decent enough for the price and very quiet.

If the current machine is to small, don't get a washer dryer.
I think you have a separate dryer there anyway, right?

You can't compare the EU weight ratings to US drum volume ratings.

As I said, an EU manufacturer can put any load weight rating on any drum size machine as long as there is a way to somehow fit the test load in.
For example, we had dryers rated at 10kg that failed our consumer test magazines tests. With their 10kg test loads the loads expanded so much during drying that the doors just popped open. So while under lab conditions the drum could just about fit such a load, the drum still was the same 4cuft class drum you find on any EU dryer.

9kg machines can have drums as small as 1.9cuft (54l) like the Gorenje/Hisense, over drums 2.2cuf (63l) with Bosch up to 2.4cuft (70l) on some brands like the Hotpoint or Beko.
And as I said, your current machine has a 54l drum.

Realistic load sizes are 1kg for 10l. Keep in mind that EU machines can be filled more due to the longer cycle times.
At that ratio loads have enough room to tumble.
That makes 5.5kg, 6.5kg and about 7kg real load volume.

I have an 8kg Miele with a 64l drum.
I can fit 2 weeks worth of T-Shirts and underwear in one load. So you can fit about 8kg in a 64l drum, but results will be quite creased and rinsing might suffer on lesser performance machines.

An approximation I often use is that 5 normal T-Shirts weigh about 1kg and thus need about 10l of drum volume.

Depending on how many people you wash for and what clothing customs are in your family, that often gives an approximation on how much drum volume one actually needs.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Who makes Montpellier?
I also see Gundig, Zanussi, AEG, Hoover, Candy, and Sharp, all of which I am not familiar with, at least insofar as washing machines go.

montpellier-mw1045w-washing-machine-10kg

The Montpellier MW1045W is a 10kg washing machine with a contemporary aesthetic and easy to use features. The machine has a load capacity of 10kg and a 1500rpm spin speed, which is ideal for those larger loads.

www.montpellier-appliances.com

 

[henene4]

That's a Midea made machine.

Please stay away from Candy/Hoover.
That's the very lowest of quality IMO.

Grundig is the same as Beko, made by Arcelik (dunno if that is spelled correctly).

Zanussi and AEG are Electrolux brands.
Great performance, ok quality. Zanussi is the entry line ELux brand.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
LMK your thoughts…
I found a deal on this model:

https://www.aeg.co.uk/laundry/laundry/washing-machines/front-loader-washing-machine/l7fee845r/

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Went ahead and ordered the AEG seen above.
It is a scratch & dent I got for £369 delivered, tax included.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Chinese Haier owns Hoover Candy. These days I equate all three as 'Rubbish'.

Beko (Arcelik) owns Grundig (typically sold via Currys); Blomberg (via Euronics independents) and possibly also makes the odd washing machine for Smeg.

I had a look at Hotpoint's website to see if the Hotpoint washer-dryer was part of a recall. Apparently it is not. But I see that Hotpoint washing machines, tumble dryers, gas cookers and dishwashers are all subject to a recall in one form or another. It hardly inspires confidence in the brand.

Service Full

Hotpoint quality and affordable home appliances engineered to stand the test of time. View our range of washing machines, dryers, fridge freezers & more

www.hotpointservice.co.uk