Washing Machine faulty at 3.5 years old

Forums › Off topic › Washing Machine faulty at 3.5 years old

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

29107 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10222

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1801038 14-Jun-2017 18:14

I have never put any cleaning product thru my front loader on auckland north shore water and not seen any crap build up in the machine. Usually doing 40 degrees washes almost all the time. Sometimes doing towels on a cooler one.

Richard rich.ms

alasta

6891 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3365

Trusted

Subscriber

#1801099 14-Jun-2017 20:03

richms:

I have never put any cleaning product thru my front loader on auckland north shore water and not seen any crap build up in the machine. Usually doing 40 degrees washes almost all the time. Sometimes doing towels on a cooler one.

Me neither, and I've had mine for five years. I just periodically clean the drain filter and wipe a bit of scum off the inside of the door.

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1801105 14-Jun-2017 20:11

So as it stands, I have followed all their cleaning instruction, first 3x with epsom salts, then purchased the ceraclen and followed another set of instructions, yet the machine is still producing scum deposits of some sort, and therefore rendering the machine to such that it does not do what is intended........

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#1801261 15-Jun-2017 09:10

marej:

So as it stands, I have followed all their cleaning instruction, first 3x with epsom salts, then purchased the ceraclen and followed another set of instructions, yet the machine is still producing scum deposits of some sort, and therefore rendering the machine to such that it does not do what is intended........

You probably wont like this - but it looks a lot like a problem we had around 2 years ago.

F&P top loader
Around 10 years old
Never had this issue before
Machine was getting very light use at the time - only being used at the weekend
Never used fabric softner
Lukewarm wash cycles

Started getting little flecks of crap on the washing - looked 'organic' - upon looking closely it looked a bit like the sort of stuff you might get in stagnant water. It looked exactly like your picture.

Ended up filling the tub with water and adding litres of bleach. Tried leaving the machine soaking with litres of white vinegar added to the water. Tried filling the tub with hot water and washing soda. All of these worked for a couple of washes - but it came back after a week or so.

The only thing that got rid of it was a couple of overnight cycles of ceraclean with full hot water.

I imagine that perhaps a front loader is even harder to 'clense' as the water (potentially containing bacterial growth) would get flicked into places you cant fill and soak.

I could be wrong - but I suspect it isnt a fault with the machine as such and Bosch is probably correct. You need to run several cycles of ceraclean to try and kill the growth.

The fact it was ok a couple of times after the initial cleaning indicates you have something growing in your machine.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

SepticSceptic

2263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 779

Trusted

#1801271 15-Jun-2017 09:33

Are you using cold water only, or a hot or warm wash ?

You may have scud building up in your hot water tank, or in the pipes.

Do you have in-line gauze filters where the washing machine connects to the water supply ? They are usually in the threaded connector where it connects to the water supply. May pay to check those to see if there is any evidence of build up.

http://www.berhams.co.uk/uploads/main/w.png.ashx?width=350&height=500&scale=both&bgcolor=FFFFFF

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1801274 15-Jun-2017 09:39

SepticSceptic:

Are you using cold water only, or a hot or warm wash ?

You may have scud building up in your hot water tank, or in the pipes.

Do you have in-line gauze filters where the washing machine connects to the water supply ? They are usually in the threaded connector where it connects to the water supply. May pay to check those to see if there is any evidence of build up.

http://www.berhams.co.uk/uploads/main/w.png.ashx?width=350&height=500&scale=both&bgcolor=FFFFFF

I regularly use 90 degree washes, and generally wash cycles at 30 degrees. An applicance representative for Bosch from Able appliances has been out and said he didnt know what was wrong. Would have thought he would have checked those things.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1801276 15-Jun-2017 09:42

robjg63:

marej:

So as it stands, I have followed all their cleaning instruction, first 3x with epsom salts, then purchased the ceraclen and followed another set of instructions, yet the machine is still producing scum deposits of some sort, and therefore rendering the machine to such that it does not do what is intended........

You probably wont like this - but it looks a lot like a problem we had around 2 years ago.

F&P top loader
Around 10 years old
Never had this issue before
Machine was getting very light use at the time - only being used at the weekend
Never used fabric softner
Lukewarm wash cycles
Started getting little flecks of crap on the washing - looked 'organic' - upon looking closely it looked a bit like the sort of stuff you might get in stagnant water. It looked exactly like your picture.

Ended up filling the tub with water and adding litres of bleach. Tried leaving the machine soaking with litres of white vinegar added to the water. Tried filling the tub with hot water and washing soda. All of these worked for a couple of washes - but it came back after a week or so.

The only thing that got rid of it was a couple of overnight cycles of ceraclean with full hot water.

I imagine that perhaps a front loader is even harder to 'clense' as the water (potentially containing bacterial growth) would get flicked into places you cant fill and soak.

I could be wrong - but I suspect it isnt a fault with the machine as such and Bosch is probably correct. You need to run several cycles of ceraclean to try and kill the growth.

The fact it was ok a couple of times after the initial cleaning indicates you have something growing in your machine.

Have no issue with that, but thats not what they are saying - rather leaving it open ended. Is it two times, three times - there has to be a cuttoff. First they gave me this epsom salt recipe and had the nerve to tell me that I should have been doing it once a month which is not in the user guide. Then they said buy the ceraclen and if that didnt work, they would take the machine away.

Now it hasnt worked and they are just saying keep doing it. If its just that I need to keep doing it, I am happy but would like to know at what point to stop.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#1801283 15-Jun-2017 10:03

Well as mentioned above - we had it happen - I had never seen it before (and have actively used washing machines for 35 years).

It was a little difficult to get rid of - but did happen in the end.

The problem was/is not the washing machine per se, but a combination of environmental issues (I believe your problem is pretty much the same as ours was).

Never mind that it doesnt say in the manual to run some epsom salts through the machine - most people dont have this problem so its not normally required - you have an infection in your washing machine (think of it like that). You havent given it a long enough dose of 'antibiotics' to kill it off completely.

If ceraclean worked once for a short period then you were on the right track - the cost of 3 or 4 packs of ceraclean is trivial compared to the amount of time and anguish you are investing in this. And using the ceraclean is a fill and leave overnight process - so its not difficult to do. Try several times in a row - I am sure you will sort it out.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1805650 23-Jun-2017 13:26

An actual Bosch technician came and has taken away the machine. He said there is something in it like a ball of hair - does this sound reasonable.

I did another ceraclen, but no outcome, still scruddy washing.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#1805661 23-Jun-2017 13:43

Will be interesting what they say. Looked to be organic.

I suppose hair with detergent sludge and a bit of moisture etc could be a nice little environment to produce some sort of growth.

Let them have a go at it and see what happens.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

rb99

3508 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1830

Lifetime subscriber

#1809457 30-Jun-2017 10:44

marej:

An actual Bosch technician came and has taken away the machine. He said there is something in it like a ball of hair - does this sound reasonable.

I did another ceraclen, but no outcome, still scruddy washing.

This is probably a dumb question, but would you recommend Bosch washing machines. Think our Bosch machine has had it after maybe 12+ years and might have to fork out for something over the weekend. Ours has been very good till now and its not a bad innings. Despite your issues with your machine do you actually regret buying it ?

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1809565 30-Jun-2017 12:40

rb99:

marej:

An actual Bosch technician came and has taken away the machine. He said there is something in it like a ball of hair - does this sound reasonable.I did another ceraclen, but no outcome, still scruddy washing.

This is probably a dumb question, but would you recommend Bosch washing machines. Think our Bosch machine has had it after maybe 12+ years and might have to fork out for something over the weekend. Ours has been very good till now and its not a bad innings. Despite your issues with your machine do you actually regret buying it ?

I do not regret buying it. The decision to buy that particular model was based on some online research/reviews etc, and that have a Bosch dishwasher that works very well.. That said, I would not by default buy another Bosch washing machine unless the research backed it up. I am pretty wound up with their service however during this debacle, so would consider that as well.

It has transpired that the bearings are gone, and they have to order a new drum from Germany, and I am wating to here if they will charge me and whether they will make good the $130 for the Able Technician. Their explanation for that so far has always been that there was no technical fault and therefore nothing to diagnose, so they have mucked me about for 3 months telling me how to clean the machine. Now it transpires that there was a technical fault.

I also got sick of the questioning around cold water use, fabric softener use, ie they said you should dilute fabric softener, yet in the user guide its says to use according to the manufactures instructions, but there seemed to be little understanding around those issues - rather their attitude was well these problems are very common and people 'just know'. I dont even use fabric softener but I found that pretty condescending.

Find out about after care service, google common problems with whatever model you chose. Thing you pay a lot for break, thats life, but will the manufacturer help you out in the event it does?- thats what you have to be assured of.

ajw

1968 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 369

#1809571 30-Jun-2017 12:43

marej:

rb99:

marej:

An actual Bosch technician came and has taken away the machine. He said there is something in it like a ball of hair - does this sound reasonable.I did another ceraclen, but no outcome, still scruddy washing.

This is probably a dumb question, but would you recommend Bosch washing machines. Think our Bosch machine has had it after maybe 12+ years and might have to fork out for something over the weekend. Ours has been very good till now and its not a bad innings. Despite your issues with your machine do you actually regret buying it ?

I do not regret buying it. The decision to buy that particular model was based on some online research/reviews etc, and that have a Bosch dishwasher that works very well.. That said, I would not by default buy another Bosch washing machine unless the research backed it up. I am pretty wound up with their service however during this debacle, so would consider that as well.

It has transpired that the bearings are gone, and they have to order a new drum from Germany, and I am wating to here if they will charge me and whether they will make good the $130 for the Able Technician. Their explanation for that so far has always been that there was no technical fault and therefore nothing to diagnose, so they have mucked me about for 3 months telling me how to clean the machine. Now it transpires that there was a technical fault.

I also got sick of the questioning around cold water use, fabric softener use, ie they said you should dilute fabric softener, yet in the user guide its says to use according to the manufactures instructions, but there seemed to be little understanding around those issues - rather their attitude was well these problems are very common and people 'just know'. I dont even use fabric softener but I found that pretty condescending.

Find out about after care service, google common problems with whatever model you chose. Thing you pay a lot for break, thats life, but will the manufacturer help you out in the event it does?- thats what you have to be assured of.

Have you read the washing machine reviews on this site.

http://www.productreview.com.au/c/washing-machines.html

rb99

3508 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1830

Lifetime subscriber

#1809580 30-Jun-2017 13:00

Hi, thanks for the feedback marej and ajw.

Have been looking at that site and am at the moment considering

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/lg-wd1408npw.html

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/bosch-logixx-waw28460au.html

http://www.productreview.com.au/p/samsung-ww85k5410ww-6410qx.html

from this page

http://www.productreview.com.au/c/front-loading-washing-machines.html

They seem to get generally good reviews without being too expensive. The cheapest at the moment is the LG $1100 at Smiths City followed by the Samsung at about $1400 from Heathcoates and the Bosch is $1800 at Harvey Norman.

Bit of a price premium for the Bosch, which I would favour anyway as our old one lasted so well, but after the bit of a run-a-round marej has been enjoying (on a 3.5 year old machine) maybe I'll just go for one of the cheaper ones.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

marej

186 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#1809618 30-Jun-2017 14:15

If looking at reviews, you need to take note of the ones that are reviewed after they have been used for a while. Most people write reviews within their first few months of ownership and of course everything is great. Say the warranty is 2 years - how will you feel if it broke after 2.5 years. How much the machine cost will have an impact.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9