US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2015
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 565
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
Very old infrastructure and lack of investment is catching up with NJ unfortunately.
I used to live near Hoboken and they had terrible problems with ancient water mains bursting all the time and flooding the streets. Many towns have very old cast iron gas mains that leak, PSE&G is finally proactively replacing them.
I used to live near Hoboken and they had terrible problems with ancient water mains bursting all the time and flooding the streets. Many towns have very old cast iron gas mains that leak, PSE&G is finally proactively replacing them.
#17
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
As I said on the other thread in the MBTUK forum - not just the electrics but the water and outlet connections will have to be considered. I also don't know what difference water pressure you can expect between your UK and USA residences and if machines are set up to cope with it. Also, hard <-> soft water?
Given the amount of work you may need to do to reconfigure a UK utility room to take US washer and driers, I would just buy some decent Miele machines with the money instead. Our last Miele washer was 30 years old when it became economically non-viable to repair - it was a hand-me down from my mother-in-law to my husband so had moved around a bit too. My husband baulked at the prices of new Miele machines, but was persuaded to a Bosch. (my parents have a Bosch that is approaching 20 years old and it does a wash every day - heaven forbid a piece of dirty laundry is allowed to rest more than a few hours in the basket - but they live in a very soft water area)
Given the amount of work you may need to do to reconfigure a UK utility room to take US washer and driers, I would just buy some decent Miele machines with the money instead. Our last Miele washer was 30 years old when it became economically non-viable to repair - it was a hand-me down from my mother-in-law to my husband so had moved around a bit too. My husband baulked at the prices of new Miele machines, but was persuaded to a Bosch. (my parents have a Bosch that is approaching 20 years old and it does a wash every day - heaven forbid a piece of dirty laundry is allowed to rest more than a few hours in the basket - but they live in a very soft water area)
#18
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
As I said on the other thread in the MBTUK forum - not just the electrics but the water and outlet connections will have to be considered. I also don't know what difference water pressure you can expect between your UK and USA residences and if machines are set up to cope with it. Also, hard <-> soft water? ….
If the OP is determined to find an appliance of the size of a US washer, then they should look at Miele commercial washer, …. and prepare to pay through the nose.
#19
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
Probably not going to get it serviced in the UK should it break. Time for Craigslist I'm thinking.
#20
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
Out of interest are these front loaders or top loaders?
#23
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
Retail washing machines are cheaper in the UK. If you want to pay US prices for a washer and dryer look at something like https://domuslaundryequipment.co.uk/washing-machines/
#24
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
A possibility, in regards to the various voltage issues, is that with all these brands being international these days it may just be that they make one core piece of technology and then 'adapt' it to the various countries they sell in using jumpers, taps, etc. So it might just be that you can flip a jumper or two on a circuit board to achieve the move. Finding out how to do this could be a challenge, though! It's certainly true of modern electronics - these days all 'power adapters' (bricks) are 100-240 rated; it's just cheaper to make 'one size fits all' (and supports international travel). However, making one 'heavy duty' appliance for multiple voltages is probably not practical due to differences in current draw - wire thicknesses, etc.
This site may be of use: https://www.110220volts.com/washer-5star.html ... seems to focus on the international trafficking of appliances! Also - https://www.220-electronics.com/volt...ing-guide.html
If you can't live without your US-style washer/dryer, what about your US fridge? I can't conceive how anyone can survive in the UK with the microscopic devices found in the average kitchen there, even allowing for the fact that ice-cold beverages are not the norm!
This site may be of use: https://www.110220volts.com/washer-5star.html ... seems to focus on the international trafficking of appliances! Also - https://www.220-electronics.com/volt...ing-guide.html
If you can't live without your US-style washer/dryer, what about your US fridge? I can't conceive how anyone can survive in the UK with the microscopic devices found in the average kitchen there, even allowing for the fact that ice-cold beverages are not the norm!
#25
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
I know more about hairdressing and appliances than I ever intended...
#26
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
A possibility, in regards to the various voltage issues, is that with all these brands being international these days it may just be that they make one core piece of technology and then 'adapt' it to the various countries they sell in using jumpers, taps, etc. So it might just be that you can flip a jumper or two on a circuit board to achieve the move. Finding out how to do this could be a challenge, though! It's certainly true of modern electronics - these days all 'power adapters' (bricks) are 100-240 rated; it's just cheaper to make 'one size fits all' (and supports international travel). However, making one 'heavy duty' appliance for multiple voltages is probably not practical due to differences in current draw - wire thicknesses, etc.
This site may be of use: https://www.110220volts.com/washer-5star.html ... seems to focus on the international trafficking of appliances! Also - https://www.220-electronics.com/volt...ing-guide.html
If you can't live without your US-style washer/dryer, what about your US fridge? I can't conceive how anyone can survive in the UK with the microscopic devices found in the average kitchen there, even allowing for the fact that ice-cold beverages are not the norm!
This site may be of use: https://www.110220volts.com/washer-5star.html ... seems to focus on the international trafficking of appliances! Also - https://www.220-electronics.com/volt...ing-guide.html
If you can't live without your US-style washer/dryer, what about your US fridge? I can't conceive how anyone can survive in the UK with the microscopic devices found in the average kitchen there, even allowing for the fact that ice-cold beverages are not the norm!
#27
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
#28
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
This one is power cut safe rated for 32 hours. https://www.zanussi.co.uk/kitchen/co...zer/zfc631wap/ looking at the product specification sheet. I very much doubt many of the US freezers are good for 48 hours. Many have very thin walls and not good efficiency.
This freezer is rated at 40 hours, so in the UK the manufacturers give ratings. https://sparkworld.co.uk/cooling/fre...chest-freezers
This freezer is rated at 40 hours, so in the UK the manufacturers give ratings. https://sparkworld.co.uk/cooling/fre...chest-freezers
Last edited by mrken30; Apr 21st 2019 at 4:53 am.
#29
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
This one is power cut safe rated for 32 hours. https://www.zanussi.co.uk/kitchen/co...zer/zfc631wap/ looking at the product specification sheet. I very much doubt many of the US freezers are good for 48 hours. Many have very thin walls and not good efficiency.
ETA - I do see the reference to 40 hours in the other link you provided. But it doesn't seem to be a formal standard, just a claim by the vendor.
Last edited by Steerpike; Apr 21st 2019 at 5:08 am.
#30
Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
32 hours is listed in the product information sheet pdf