Washing Machine Energy Standards

All washing machines sold in the European Union have to have an EU Energy Label which must be clearly visible on the appliance. The EU Energy Label rates the Energy Efficiency of the washing machine and this is indicated by a letter (A through to G) as well as a colour associated with the letter. A is the most energy efficient on a sliding scale to G which is the least efficient. This is also indicated by the colour scale, with A being darkest green, through to D which is yellow, through to G which is red.

The Energy Efficiency rating should be clearly stated by the manufacturer in brochures, leaflets and marketing literature, whether printed or on the internet.

The energy rating for a washing machine is calculated on all machines using a standard cycle, so that each machine is tested according to the same rigorous criteria.

Most washing machines on the market now are either A or B energy rated. Many manufacturers class their machines as more efficient than A rated, for example A-20% or A++, both of which indicate that the appliance is 20% more energy efficient than an A rated machine.

A typical energy label will indicate, apart from the overall Energy Rating, the following information:

1. Total energy consumption per cycle in kWh per cycle
2. The washing rating (A to G)
3. The spin drying rating (A to G)
4. The maximum spin speed in revolutions per minute
5. The total capacity in KG that the machine can handle in one cycle
6. Water consumption per cycle (litres)
7. Noise level in decibels for both washing and spinning

Washing Machine Guarantees

All washing machines carry a manufacturer's guarantee of some sort although these can vary widely between the manufacturers, and even between ranges or models from a manufacturer. Many manufacturers offer a free of charge extended guarantee if the purchaser registers their details either on-line, by post or by telephone.

Examples of guarantees offered for washing machines currently on the market include:

Bosch offers a standard guarantee for 12 months covering labour, material and transportation. However this can be extended for an additional 12 months if the purchaser registers by post, on-line or by completing and returning the guarantee card.

Hotpoint offers a 12 month parts and labour warranty. They extend this to 5 years parts only if the purchase registers their appliance and if the spare parts are fitted by a Hotpoint engineer.

Siemens offers 2 year parts and labour guarantee for call-out parts and labour as standard. They currently offer certain models of machine with a 5 year guarantee under a special time-limited offer which may not be applicable in the future.

Hoover has a standard 12 months guarantee, but all washing machines must be registered with them to qualify (this can be done on-line).

LG - the LG UK website states that their warranty period differs by product and that each model should be checked separately. A cross-check of their washing machines indicates that most of them are covered for 24 months as standard (commercial use excluded) for labour and parts. Those machines with a Direct Drive Motor are covered for 10 years for the motor only.

Whirlpool. The warranty period of the washing machines on the Whirlpool UK website was not clear. Some of their machines are guaranteed for light or full commercial use.

Indesit offers a standard 12 months guarantee parts and labour warranty. This can be extended to 5 year parts only on registration of the product and if Indesit's own engineers are used.

Neff offers a 12 month guarantee as standard, extendable to 24 months parts and labour if the product is registered with them within 30 days, by phone or on-line.

Candy - their standard warranty terms are 12 months parts and labour, with 5 years parts warranty on registration and if using a Candy engineer.

On top of these standard guarantee periods, most manufacturers and retailers also offer an extended guarantee through a third party insurer for an additional fee.

Many manufacturers insist that only original spare parts are used and to use generic spare parts may invalidate the warranty.

Washing Machine Installation

It is recommended that you call in an expert to install your new washing machine. Many retailers will be able to arrange this for you as a chargeable service.

However some people do prefer to install the appliance themselves, which is a fairly straight-forward task, as long as the plumbing and pipes are already there.

If you are installing the machine yourself, there will be detailed instructions in with the machine, but you should note the following:

• Make sure that all packaging is removed, including the packaging inside the machine. If this is not done, the machine will not work and there is a high danger of damage.
• If the floor is not even, make sure that a suitable piece of board is well secured with screws to the floor, to minimise vibration and noise.

Washing Machine Disposal and Recycling

When purchasing a new washing machine, many retailers and manufacturers offer a disposal service for your old machine. This service is usually chargeable and they will often only handle washing machines that have been disconnected, however this is probably the easiest way to dispose of your old appliance.

Another way to dispose of your old washing machine is to take it to a local recycling centre, which will take the old appliance free of charge, however you usually need to be able to transport it there yourself, although some do offer chargeable collection facilities. If you are unsure of where your nearest local facility is, please visit www.recyclenow.com for further information.

Alternatively your local council can arrange to collect the washing machine, although there may be a charge in some areas.

For more information on disposal and recycling of appliances and to apply for a special collection of large items, including washing machines, you can visit this link to the U.K. government public service website.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/WhereYouLive/Streetcleaninglitterandillegaldumping/DG_10015935

There are also private waste management companies who can arrange for the collection of your old washing machine for a fee, but this may well be more expensive than using the local council. It is also important to ensure that any private company follows WEEE regulations for disposal of items.

If the washing machine is still in working order, you may wish to free-cycle it rather than disposing of it. Many local newspapers offer a free-cycle facility and there are also websites such as www.freecycle.org where you can list your appliance.

Washing Machine Repairs & Spare Parts

Firstly it is necessary to check whether the machine is still covered under guarantee or not. If it is still within the guarantee period then you should consult your guarantee documentation and follow any special procedures to claim the guarantee. If you act outside of the guarantee terms and conditions, for example calling in a repair company which is not authorised under the guarantee, this may not be covered and may indeed invalidate the guarantee and you may end up having to pay for the repair work yourself.

If the machine is not covered by the guarantee, you will need to find a company who will be able to repair your machine. Many manufacturers have a network of trained engineers and detailed information on their website, including:

Bosch - their network of engineers are employed and trained by Bosch themselves and you can book an engineer on-line or by telephone. Prices are stated on their website including their 'Repair Time+' which is a fixed price for labour and call out, regardless of how long the repair takes, and also their 'Repair Care Plan' which is a monthly fee per year.

Hotpoint - you can register your new washing machine on-line and also download user manuals from the site. You can also book a service call on-line for washing machines covered by the guarantee or by telephone for those which are no longer covered. All engineers booked through their site or by telephone directly with Hotpoint are trained by Hotpoint and the charges for a fixed price repair are clearly set out on the Hotpoint UK website. Repairs are guaranteed for 90 days and an interest free payment option is offered for repairs. There is also basic trouble shooting advice on the website such as how to unblock a washing machine pump which may avoid costly repairs. For self-repairs or accessories, official spare parts can be purchased on-line.

Siemens - full instructions are given on their UK website on how to book an authorised engineer visit. This can be done on-line or by telephone and feedback regarding a previous visit can also be done on-line. Repairs, which are guaranteed for 12 months, can be done under a fixed price for call-out and labour (but not including spare parts) or a monthly fee under the 'Siemens repair Care Plan'. Original spare parts and accessories can be purchased on-line.

Hoover - they encourage the use of their on-line 'Problem Solving Guide' before an engineer is called out. Call outs can be booked on-line or by phone for machines still under guarantee and those that are out of warranty. Pricing is clearly stated on the website and there is also the option of spreading payments. Spare parts can be identified and purchased on-line through the official Hoover UK site. There is a notice on their website that Comet customers should contact Comet direct.

LG - those in need of an engineer visit should call or email the LG support centre to discuss the possible options but there is no pricing indication of repair costs for washing machines not covered by warranty. If the machine is still under warranty then a claim can be submitted on-line. Repairs can also be tracked on-line. Spare parts purchases are redirected to their authorised distributor Nedis.

Whirlpool - engineer visits cannot be booked on-line, but there are details of the central telephone number together with working hours on their UK website. There is a clear pricing plan for repairs on their site, including a one off fee or a monthly fee to spread the cost. There is a link to purchase spares from their authorised distributor 4Whirlpool.

Indesit - they encourage users to try to resolve problems before calling an engineer with their 'Solve it Yourself' section. Spare parts can be purchased on-line as can engineer visits. There is a clear pricing structure for repairs not covered by the guarantee.

Neff - their authorised sister company BSH Appliance Care is responsible for the service and call outs can be booked on-line, by phone or by email. Feedback can also be given on-line on previous engineer visits. Prices for service calls are clearly stated on their website, as a one off charge or a monthly plan to spread the cost. Spares can be purchased on-line but they do recommend that they are only fitted by qualified engineers.

Candy - call-outs to machines still on warranty and out of warranty can be booked on-line. A clear pricing structure is on their website for repairs, with a sliding scale of charges according to the age of the machine. Payments can be spread into instalments. Spares cannot be ordered on-line but they can be ordered by phone or an enquiry made using their on-line form.

General note: The monthly service plans advertised on many of the manufacturer's websites seem to be very similar to extended warranties and most attract an interest charge.

The advantages in using a manufacturer-approved engineer are that they are trained and authorised by the manufacturer and only use original spare parts. However, the call out and repair charges may in some cases be more expensive than a local repair company and they may not cover the more remote areas of the country. If you do choose to use the services of a local repair company for whatever reason, make sure that you look for a reputable company - word of mouth from family and friends is always a good place to start.

Some points to look out for in local washing machine repair companies are:

• Check the call out charge and subsequent charge per hour.
• Most companies charge extra for weekends or out of hours calls, so it will usually end up less expensive to repair the machine if you are able to wait until working hours.
• Some companies charge a fixed price per job which may be preferable.
• Not all repair companies are able to service all brands of washing machine, so check that the company is experienced with your particular brand of machine.
• Check if the work is guaranteed and how long it is guaranteed for.

It is not advisable to try to repair the washing machine yourself, especially if the machine is still covered under guarantee, as this may invalidate any warranty. However if you do need to buy spare parts or accessories, most manufacturers either give advice on their sites where original spares can be purchased or sell them on-line themselves.

Advice and Tips for Use of Your Washing Machine

• Before washing, it is strongly advised to sort your clothes into different types.
• Sort between dark coloured and light coloured clothing/whites to avoid the dye running into lighter garments. If you only have a small load and it is not practical to separate items, there are special cloths ('Dye Grabbers') available from some household retailers which absorb any loose dye in the wash and can be used for up to 30 washes. These can be very effective but should be used with care.
• Sort between garment types, for example delicate items or woollens which may need to be washed on a special cycle to avoid damage or shrinkage.
• Sort between items that need to be washed at different temperatures. However, if the clothes or items are only lightly soiled it is recommended that you wash them at a low temperature and on a shorter cycle to save energy and water. You are unlikely to notice the difference in the quality of the washing.
• All items should be marked with a label containing the laundry care symbols. This indicates whether an item can be washed or not, the maximum temperature it can be washed at and what type of cycle should be used. Remember that the temperature indicated is the maximum and if the item is only lightly soiled or just needs to be refreshed, always go for a lower temperature.
• If the care label indicates that a garment needs a specialist treatment, such as dry cleaning, never attempt to wash the item yourself as this will probably damage or shrink the item.
• Always try to wash a full load in one cycle to avoid wasting energy. However do not overfill the drum as this can lead to poor performance and even damage to the clothes and/or machine. Many manufacturers recommend leaving a gap of about 10 cm between the clothes and the top of the machine drum.
• Make sure that the spin dry setting is high enough to remove excess water from the garments. This will mean that clothes take less time to dry naturally or in the tumble dryer.
• Consider using your washing machine at night or at off-peak periods as many electricity companies offer cheaper rates at this time. Some washing machines have a time-delay switch which makes this more convenient.
• The washing machine filters and pumps need to be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure optimal performance - check the operating manual for details on how to do this.