Modern washing machines are considered expensive household appliances, and you need to be quite careful when purchasing them. It should be noted that it will not be possible to fully check the washing machine upon purchase, because for this it must be connected to the water supply network and sewerage system, which, of course, cannot be provided in the store. What do you do in such cases? It’s simple - they conduct a preliminary inspection of certain parameters.
What is recommended to see
To buy a quality unit, you need to perform a number of actions:
- inspect the washing mashine externally;
- check the availability of components;
- check the integrity of the legs, hoses, bolts, etc.;
- check the drum;
- turn on the “Spin” mode and check the operation of the washing machine;
- check whether the warranty documents are filled out correctly.
Naturally, your actions may cause dissatisfaction with the service staff, but it is better to go through all the verification steps in the store than to return the goods.
Visual inspection
It all starts with this, and you should act according to a certain scheme:
- First, a check is made for the absence of scratches, dents, deformed areas and other damage to the body part. If there are any, it means that the rules for transporting SMA were grossly violated. These deficiencies should be pointed out and the inspection completed;
- The serviceability of buttons and levers is checked. They should fire normally when pressed. To do this, it is advisable to turn on the machine to the network to make sure that all indicators are working;
- Let's move on to checking the loading hatch, which should open and close easily. The locking device must be in good working order, ensuring a tight closure;
- The rubber sealing elements are inspected. They must be intact, without cracks or other defects;
- fastenings are checked that should firmly hold the drum cover.
Checking the contents and documents
Take the instructions, which will indicate all the components for the machine. These include hoses, plugs, warranty document and operating instructions. It is very important that availability matches records exactly.
Documentation must be verified. Instructions for use must be detailed, in Russian. The warranty card checks the date of completion and year. The serial number of the washing device and model are also indicated here. Any violation in the execution of this document will be a prerequisite for refusal to service the machine.
If there are no problems with the documents, you can carry out further inspection.
Checking legs, hoses, bolts
It is best to start with the bolts that secure the drum during transportation. They are located on the back panel, installed in the right places and fixed.With their help, the tank is not subject to vibration and accidental damage. Any tilt of the bolts hints that the washing mashine was handled carelessly during transportation and the tank has moved out of its place. And if it is made of plastic, then, most likely, cracks have appeared on it. It is best to abandon such a washing mashine in time.
Let's move on to the legs of the SMA. There are four of them in total, and each one will have to be screwed in to make sure there are no defects. The installation process should go smoothly without any obstacles. Serviceable legs will ensure the evenness of the working body, which will affect its service life.
The hoses must be intact, and they will have to be inspected at least visually. In this case, pay attention to the fastenings so that the diameter of the hoses corresponds to their size. The drain hose, through which water is directed into the sewer pipe, is attached to the back wall of the washing machine and is already connected to the pump. Its structure is corrugated, the material used for manufacturing is distinguished by its thinness. The hose feels fragile to the touch and is highly likely to suffer damage from mechanical impacts. So this element of the machine will have to be checked thoroughly, because it is through it that most leaks occur.
The inlet hose has a denser structure. At its ends there are plastic nuts, with the help of which the hose is mounted to the water pipe and to the machine itself. All elements must be intact and free of chips and cracks. The nuts must be tightened without fail to check the condition of the threads and the tightness of the fit.
The washing powder tray must be completely dry and clean.You can even smell the item to make sure it hasn't been washed with chemicals.
How to check the engine and other important components
Please note that you will not check such a complex element in the store. But you are quite capable of an external inspection. In addition, you can verify that it is working properly by turning on the spin mode. Just before starting, make sure that the transport bolts are removed from their sockets. By the way, you can check the shock absorbers while rotating.
The drum is where dirty things are loaded. It is made of stainless metal, which ensures resistance to wear and the ability to contact water for a long time. Its surface has numerous small holes, as if knocked out from the inside.
The drum is checked as follows:
· its surface is first inspected to ensure that no chips or scratches are allowed on it;
· outwardly the drum resembles a grater, but there are known cases when the sharp edges of the holes were on the inside and not on the outside, which caused damage to the laundry. So it is recommended to check the surface for the presence of sharp protrusions;
· It happens that there are burrs and other damage at the joints of the drum walls. This can be checked with ordinary nylon tights. If you run them over the surface and do not catch on anything, then the unit can be purchased;
· the drum must be rotated by hand - the rotation should not be very easy, with a slight amount of tension. There should be no extraneous sounds or creaks. After rocking the assembly up and down, check the resulting gap, the presence of which will confirm wear of the bearings.
On the control panel, you need to pay attention to each key.They should be pressed easily, without sticking. If there is a display, connect the machine to the mains and check that all modes are displayed on the screen.
Carefully inspect the door, which should fit snugly to the body. The hinges should not sag, the lock locks tightly, and the latch fits into the hole easily.
By bending the edge of the rubber cuff, make sure that there is no moisture, mold or foreign objects.
You won't be able to check the pump at the time of purchase. But as soon as the machine is delivered home, it should be connected to the appropriate communications and a test wash should be carried out. By the way, at this moment you will have the opportunity to check the heating element responsible for heating the water.
Checking a used washing machine
There will most likely be no accompanying documentation for such a unit. But it is necessary to demand them. To make sure the washing mashine was not stolen. Checking the washing device itself is carried out in the same way as in the case of a new machine. If the unit is connected to the water supply. You can perform a full startup and check the operation of all main components. Also, carefully inspect the cabinet panels for rust.
Conclusion
Inspecting a washing machine is a rather complex and painstaking process, but it must be approached with full responsibility and must be completed. It will help to detect existing defects and damage that could subsequently affect the normal operation of the washing machine. The above steps should not be neglected, otherwise you may buy a product of poor quality.
In addition, as soon as the machine is delivered to your address, you must connect it and immediately perform the first wash, trying to test all functions to finally make sure that it is in full working order. If all checks are completed within fifteen days, there is every chance of returning the washing machine to the store if it turns out to be defective.
