Owning your own home

Really happy with our Samsung. It lives out in the garage, can't say I've noticed it being overly loud,

Ha, I was working in the hoover call centre back then booking out the engineers, it was my Saturday job all throughout my GCSEs and A levels and it was an absolute shit show. The same parts always broke but none of the engineers would carry any parts. 90% of the calls were just people shouting at us because an engineer had turned up, knew instantly what was wrong said he didn't have the part and would have to order it which would always take 2 to 4 weeks.

That makes sense - double call out fee back to the warranty repair company.

Was really happy with my Beko machine from AO at the last flat (5 years of no hassle service) so went Beko again for our current washer and drier, I think it was £800 or so for both. Might go a bit shinier if we redo the kitchen/utility room. Washer is supposed to be able to be "connected", but haven't arsed to work it out yet. Glad to hear @Soul's experience of heat pumps as I went for the Beko heat pump version to try and not burn up all the lecky in Croydon. 1600 spin on the washer means that the drier runs for at most half of the time it starts thinking each setting is going to take.

These ones?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roshield-Rat-Traps-Professional-Control/dp/B01NB0IQ24

I am slightly surprised to hear positive words on Beko. I have only experienced them in rental flats and mentally had them in the same category of awful as Indesit.

I had a Beko washing machine and fridge freezer in my old place. Worked fine for 11 years. Washing machine was a bit feature light with the cycles being a bit long and I had to replace the buttons at one point (which was easy enough to do) but generally they were fine.

Could be a QC thing, but like I said, our machine in the flat was totally fine. For a just off the bottom of budget option, they have exceeded my expectations. YMMV, of course, but then you have the AO guarantee to fall back on. And if you want no quibble replacement, you can buy extended warranty from them for less than a tenner a month (I didn't). Same for the current fridge freezer. About the same external dimensions as our last one but seemingly well roomier inside. Even has some snake oil feature that cycles different colour light in the veg drawer to keep things fresher for longer.

that doesn't really matter for me as they're in the garage

It lives out in the garage, can't say I've noticed it being overly loud

So many garage boast posts :P

@Soul according to the sticker on yours it has a ten year warranty!

Ha - I've got a garage, don't you know.

I never noticed the sticker. That's interesting considering the page on ao.com lists it as a 5yr manufacturer warranty.

We got these ones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roshield-External-Snap-Trap-Control/dp/B00XL3P51C/ref=sr_1_22?dchild=1&keywords=rat+traps&qid=1613470888&s=outdoors&sr=1-22

Killed 4 of them so far, just put a dod of peanut butter in it.

I am slightly surprised to hear positive words on Beko.

Yeah. Beko, Hoover and Whirlpool (who own Hotpoint/Indesit) have got a bit of a reputation so I'd avoid them for that reason - not a big fan of firey death.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/02/revealed-the-brands-linked-to-the-most-appliance-fires/
https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/18/whirlpool-agrees-payout-victims-tower-block-fire-started-tumble-dryer-11926865/
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/11/wiring-in-hotpoint-fridge-freezer-blamed-for-grenfell-tower-fire/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4446798/Faulty-Beko-fridge-freezer-sparked-fire-killed-man.html
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/freak-beko-tumble-dryer-fire-3183698

I don't want to worry you @stevo_com - I'm sure if you have smoke alarms and an escape route if the worst did happen you'd be fine. Ultimately we're probably all more at risk from phone chargers etc. than from our appliances.

Just googled a few of the other manufacturers being discussed here, and I didn't find one that did not have reports of fires.

The fridge freezer fire was due to a fault in a model made from 2000-2006 and the tumble drier one, even the owners didn't point the finger at Beko.

As you say, there are many other things far riskier with less thought given to their dangers. The cats' water fountain will probably kill me quicker.

I have multiple smoke alarms and don't run the washer or drier at night.

Also, whatever you do buy, register your warranty so you can be notified of recalls.

The 10 years is only for the the Digital Inverter Motor.

Samsung offers a 5yr warranty themselves if product registered within 90 days of purchase, so AO are marketing someone else's offer.

My view is that if a £500 washing machine that is used for 7 loads per week, lasts for 5 years then that is absolutely terrific value. Think about the other shit in your life that costs a lot more than that and has nowhere near the convenience factor of a washing machine.

Has anyone bought an integrated washer/dryer recently?

It seems one can spend £500 or £1100 and I’m struggling to see where the added value is at the higher price point...

Anecdotal but I hear they are not great. Best to get separate devices. Of course if you don’t have the room it’s better than nowt.

Good to know. Mine are registered.

I think the tumble dryer for me was £700 but that's still £0.50p per use for 5 loads a week for 5 years. Works for me.

Feel slightly sick. Before and mid point. Waiting for After

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Amazing. Take your mind off it by stripping the wallpaper?

That reminds me. Does anyone have a personal recommendation for a glazer in Hackney area who can replace a cracked double glazed unit. It's a wired door panel so the will have to be made and fitted by them. It's not an emergency repair, been like that for at least 9 years.

Any recommendations for an electrician in En5 to replace my antique fuse wire board with something modern?

There's enough of that to do!

Bought a Bosch (this one) about a year ago - albeit in Poland, where it cost half the price new (!!) ...ikea kitchen also worked out about 40% cheaper for the same thing compared to over here... an interesting phenomenon, which I can now complain about as I'm back in the UK.

Only good things to say about it, even if I can't really give a proper long-term review.

It seems one can spend £500 or £1100 and I’m struggling to see where the added value is at the higher price point...

The £1100 one will connect to your wifi... for some reason

Love it, thank you. Good idea on housing them in a box too, I don't want to hurt any foxes or dogs or what have you.