To expect washing machines to last longer?

[damekindness]

I seem to go through washing machines every three years or so - granted it's used at least once a day every day. I've tried mid price and pricier options but they die at roughly the same rate. How long is a reasonable life to expect from my washing machine ?

They should last at least 6 years. Pay for one on your credit card next time and if it goes tits up before then you can raise a section 75 claim with them but it will take weeks all the while you'll be without a machine

Three years every day use doesn't sound too bad. That is the same as 10 years twice a week.

You say the machine has 'died' but can it be resuscitated? Perhaps the brushes need replacing

They should last longer than that. I have only just retired a Zanussi after 11 years - regular use in normal family life, hard water area. It was just reaching the "aircraft taking off level" noise among other things, so I stretched it out for another six months and replaced it just last week. Now I need to figure out how to drive the new one

Perhaps things will improve with the recent legislation to make things more repair-able rather than having to replace? Hmm...a flying pig you say? Ah well. In the meantime, yes, buy on credit card and keep all your documents, because it doesn't sound like yours are lasting long enough for them to be reasonably fit for purpose.

I agree that it could be something as simple (and cheap to fix) as the brushes needing replacing. I change the brushes approx every three years on mine, I've had it 15 years now.

Three years daily use would count as fit for purpose in my view.

That's about what happens with me as well. That's why I used AO and got the insurance.

Annoyingly the buggers lasted longer than they usually do.

My last machine was a Bosch and lasted 15 years with pretty my daily use. Three children growing up etc.

My current one is 4 years old and still going well so far. Also a Bosch and my fingers are crossed. It also still had almost daily use.

They should last longer than three years. Are you in a particularly hard water area? I am, but have a water softener so my appliances don't build up limescale.

Annoying. I’ve had mine for 12 years, used very heavily (3 under 3, now acres of filthy sports gear) and while it has wobbly moments it’s still going strong. We are mentally gearing up to replace it but no need yet. It’s a Miele one - mid range for them. Was £800 12 years ago so not cheap

I am in a hard water area and if perfectly honest not very good at doing all the descaling that's probably required

I realised that I as a bit of a miser I tend to stick to the Hoover/Indesit end of the market. Perhaps biting the bullet and saving up for the Bosch/Miele end could be prudent...but I'd be more gutted if I only got a few years from a pricy model

Our Miele is still going strong after 11 years of heavy use. We do have a water softener though. If anything went wrong with it I’d repair rather than replace.

I'm a bit scared of jinxing mine, but ours is in use at least once every day and is still going strong after 4 years. It's actually guaranteed for 5, so I'd be disappointed if one only lasted 3. Dishwashers OTOH only last about 5 minutes in this house, no idea why though!

Forgot to say that it's a Samsung

My machines usually lasts about 3-4 years. I do a load a day. I buy middle of the range ones.

Twenty-something years ours has been going. Pretty basic Hotpoint model, less to go wrong. It's had a couple of minor repairs over the years and our water is so hard you can carve your name in a glass of it.

When you have a problem with a washing machine are you even trying to get it fixed? There are independent washing machine engineers that specialise in repairs - if you go to a shop then they specialise in selling you new one, even if the problem is just a 40p set of carbon brushes or a £40 seal service kit.

They suggest these cheaper machines should last 5 years with ‘average use’. If you look at their T&Cs of ‘average use’ it’s wash twice a week! Sometimes you get lucky and they last longer. Usually it’s not worth the cost of repairing a machine compared with replacing them. Throwaway society.

If you want longetivity you need to go much higher up the market to something like a Miele which should last you 10 years but will obviously cost you more of an initial outlay but probably cost the same as you buying a new cheap one for £250-300 every couple of years.

3 years is rubbish. It's very bad for the environment if products are only built to last that long.

Not sure how long we've had our current machine, but I do know we bought it before moving 11 years ago. I'd guess that we've had it for around 13/14 years and it's still working perfectly. It was quite expensive though. It's an LG.

Our Miele one is 12. Having said that our Miele dishwasher was a lemon, M&S (who we bought it through) insisted Miele refund us.

During one of our many visits for the dishwasher, the engineer ran a diagnostic on the washing machine and said it was fine, but using a little too much detergent

Our last one lasted 8 years with moving around Europe with us. Used at least 5 times a week.

I had this argument with Bosch when mine broke down after 4 months I was told that normal use is once a week 🤣 and once daily use was classified as industrial use😱 and as such it wasn't under warranty!
I complained and eventually got a new machine.
God knows what they would call my normal 2-3 loads a day 🤔

Grundig machines are amazing, even better than the Bosch and AEG ones I've had.

how should you look after it?
run an empty hot wash?

Had my zanussi 12 years. I'd be seriously unimpressed with 3.

I’m on 4th washing machine since I moved into this house nearly 31 years ago - so seem to last 8-9 years

My Miele is 20 years old now and has had a lot of use - loads & loads of towels. It's still in perfect condition. But I don't overload it and I always mix the wash so I don't do a load of towels only. Two bath sheets & a king duvet cover is max.....