Whirlpool

Buying a Whirlpool Washing Machine

Whirlpool as a Manufacturer

Whirlpool is now one of the world's leading suppliers of home appliances, with annual sales of some £7 billion, 68,000 staff, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. With bold innovations and designs in washing machines and other domestic electrical products, customers in some 170 countries around the globe now trust Whirlpool to make their lives easier.

Washing Machine Noise Levels

If your washing machine lives in the garage or the utility room then you are probably not going to be too concerned with noise levels. If, however, your machine is in the kitchen and you use that room or an adjoining room as one of your main living areas, then quietness will certainly be a consideration.  Most manufacturers provide some sort of noise level information. As you might expect, as a general rule the more expensive the machine is, the more silent it is. However, some of the cheaper machines are surprisingly quiet. If noise is an issue, be sure to check that the machine of your choice has at least a reasonably low noise level.  Also bear in mind that the faster the machine spins, the more noise it is likely to generate. There is therefore a trade-off between spin speed and noise. As a rule of thumb, a machine yielding around 70 db or lower on the main spin programme can be regarded as a quiet one.

Other Key Features and Things to Consider

Types of Washing Machine

There are two principal types of washing machine - front loading and top loading. The front loader is by far the most common and is therefore generally cheaper. Front loaders usually fit well into most modern kitchen designs. Top loaders usually offer narrower dimensions and are suited to applications where space is a constraint.

Manufacturers Guarantee

All washing machine manufacturers provide a twelve month parts and labour guarantee. Some washing machines also come with extended guarantees but these may require you to use their own engineers at a higher cost than independent engineers.

Ease of Use

Although many washing machines seem to have a bewildering array of functions, in reality all perform the same basic functions if you ignore some of the more advanced options. If your objective is simplicity, it is generally sound advice to look at models in the lower end of the price range. Fewer options means that there is less to go wrong!

Efficiency Rating

With many people now focused upon environmental impact, manufacturers are heavily emphasising energy saving features. These sometimes make the machines somewhat more complicated and prone to error. It is probably sensible to consider a middle of the road energy rating.

Load

For a full sized washing machine, a 4kg load should be regarded as small and a 6kg load should be regarded as large.

Reliability and Longevity

Whirlpool has worked hard to establish a reputation for reliability. Consider that although there are cheaper machines out there, they may not have the Whirlpool longevity or may require far more engineer call-outs.

Washing Machine Sizing

The vast majority of standard front loading automatic machines are 60cm wide. If your space mandates something narrower, have a look at at a top-loader. Height-wise, most front loaders are 85cm high but there are minor variations - be sure that you have measured the space accurately! Depths also vary.

Spin Speed

Spin speeds range from some 800rpm up to around 1600rpm. Most people go for machines around 1000rpm. Bear in mind that the faster your machine is the more quickly it will potentially wear out.

Wash Times

This really doesn't matter too much to most buyers. As you might expect, the washing machines with the longest cycle times tend to be those that have 'A' energy ratings - these use less energy to heat but this requires a longer wash time. Many machines have a 'quick wash' cycle or 'timesaver' function to speed up the standard wash. A 1000 spin model with a roughly average energy rating will take approximately 1.5 hours at 60 degrees depending of course on the temperature of your hot water feed.