Washing machine service life - operation and durability

When purchasing household appliances, every buyer is interested in how long the washing machine will last. Naturally, you want to purchase a unit that will last for decades, but this rarely happens. However, you can find out which models work longer by studying offers from manufacturers, reading user reviews, and viewing statistics of repair service centers. Let's figure out together what the service life of a washing machine is.

What deadline does GOST set?

It is believed that the average working life of a washing machine is from twelve to fifteen years. Often the ability to work is measured in hours, and this figure reaches seven hundred.

As a rule, the service life is determined by testing a certain number of devices, then the average data is entered into the technical passport for the unit.

Manufacturer information

Quite often, unscrupulous manufacturers deliberately underestimate the average service life so that the consumer upgrades the washing device after about five to six years in order to increase the company’s revenue. It should be remembered that the operation of the washing machine mainly depends on the quality of the components, and not on the country in which the assembly was carried out.

But all manufacturers have a common opinion that operation is best determined by the hours that the washing machine is capable of working.

Operating period depending on manufacturer

There are many opinions about the extent to which the brand of a washing machine influences its service life. Some claim that the reliability of equipment does not change from the name of the company, and devices from Lg, Bosch or Atlant function the same - from seven to ten years. There is also a group of users who have established a direct dependence of the period of operation on the manufacturer.

We suggest you listen to the opinion of service company specialists, because only they know which washing machines break down more often and how long they had been in use before repairs. Based on their reviews, a certain rating of washing devices based on service life has been compiled:

Miele. They are considered reliable, and the quality of the German assembly has really been tested for a long time. Such a washing machine can operate for about two decades, and if the operating rules are followed, even three. True, the units of this company are quite expensive and belong to the “premium” class. They are rarely purchased, and accordingly, the number of calls to the service workshop is small;
Asko, Electrolux, Aeg. Such washing machines made in Austria or Switzerland are considered the most reliable; their service life reaches fourteen to twenty years. This equipment can compete well with the previous company, and it costs much less;
take third place German and French models - Bosch, Hansa, Siemens, Brandt And Kaiser. Their operation is designed for a period of ten to sixteen years;
manufacturers from Korea and Italy put on the market Samsung, Kandy, LG, Ariston, Indesit. The average service life of such devices does not exceed eight years;
Chinese and Turkish companies offer customers Beko, Lg, Samsung, operating smoothly for five to six years;
The list is completed by washing machines made in Russia - Candy, Zanussi, Vestel. As a rule, requests from owners of such devices to service workshops are received three years after the start of their operation. If such devices are assembled from original components, their service life increases to five years.

What affects the service life?

The lifespan of a washing machine depends on a number of factors. And an expensive model sometimes breaks down, requiring expensive repairs.

It is believed that operation is determined by the quality of spare parts and assembly of the device. If Miele uses only original elements and performs assembly manually, then the quality of the equipment is appropriate.

Each part of the unit has a different service life, so it is quite difficult to determine exactly how long the machine will remain operational. Electric motors are considered the most reliable in such devices, the guarantee for which is established by the manufacturer himself. But the water heating element, pump and shock-absorbing devices reach their established service life somewhat faster.

Operation is influenced by the created conditions.

Water hardness reduces the operating period of the heating element; foreign objects that get into the drum cause breakdowns of the drain pump, pipes and the drum itself.If the washing machine does not have protection against voltage surges in the electrical network, or there is no grounding, then breakdowns can occur much more often. Kandy devices are particularly sensitive in such matters.

A reasonable question arises: why do older washing mashine models last longer than more modern devices? The answer is hidden in transfer of production from the firm's country of origin to anotherto reduce overhead costs. For example, Bosch, Kandy, LG or Samsung are manufactured in China, Poland and Russia. The quality of parts and assembly of such units for washing clothes remain at an average level. Original components are not always used, which significantly reduces the final cost of the product. When purchasing such machines for a cost of twenty thousand rubles, no one will assure that they will be used for a long time and are of excellent quality. As a rule, such washing machines last no more than eight years, although the manufacturer indicates in the passport a different figure that significantly exceeds the specified period.

Useful tips for increasing service life

The operating period can be increased or shortened for any washing machine. Even if your unit is inexpensive and should work no more than five to eight years, this period can easily be increased by two to three years. To do this, use these helpful tips:

after each wash, the machine is disconnected from the electrical outlet;
during operation, you must follow the rules for using the machine for washing clothes;
the unit should be cleaned and washed regularly;
You should not overload the drum of the washing machine. 24-hour operation of the unit is also not recommended, it is necessary to take breaks;
for washing, choose high-quality powders;
check the contents with your pocket before loading things into the car;
It is necessary to install a filter to reduce the water hardness level. It is mounted both on the water supply system and on the machine itself. It is recommended to use a polyphosphate filter element. It envelops salts, softening the water and preventing scale formation;
You should control the weight of laundry loaded into the machine.

It is necessary to take care of the machine at the end of each washing process. It is imperative that the remaining water is drained, the drain filter is washed, the tray for washing powders and the rubber cuff are wiped.

Descaling should be done every two to three months, and if hot water is often used for washing, then the scale should be removed monthly.

Conclusion

So, on average, the operation of a modern washing machine lasts from ten to fifteen years. But if you organize proper care, this period increases to two dozen. True, the quality of parts and assembly of the unit play a role in this, and users prefer products from France, Germany and Sweden to Chinese models.

All washing machines differ in their service life, which varies from three to twenty years.

But as practice shows, on average, machines operate normally for a period of seven to ten years.