US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Hi All,

Further to my previous post, we have decided to relocate back to UK from sunny California. It's been three years and we think this will never be 'home' in that sense for a variety of reasons. (Happy to share them incase anyone is interested).

So now I'm in busy planning mode with regards how best I can use the container we are shipping back to UK. I have to say that living in America has opened my eyes to the amazing washing machines and dryers they have here. I feel like all these years in UK, I was living on Mars when it comes to the laundry world ! Our clothes have never looked better and don't even get me started on the benefits of not having to iron out the creases my UK dryer used to get into our clothes! So after this little love note to American laundry gadgets, its obvious its on the top of my list to carry back to UK and install them there. The thought of going back to my washer dryer at home in UK is frankly depressing right now.

So the questions I have are -
- Has anyone does this? If yes, how does it work with the differences in voltage system, water usage etc ? For example - can I just use a voltage convertor to get it working ?
- If anyone has tried this, what, if any, are the issues they faced?
- Lastly - what brands would you suggest? I find that even the brands available in UK (like LG and Samsung) perform differently and so much better in the US. I honestly haven't tried the big top loading american machines (except when we rent Air B&Bs etc), but if anyone thinks they are more efficient or better to carry back, I'd be keen to hear from them. I'm also thinking ongoing maintenance and breakdown support which is likely to be absent in the UK for some of these brands, in which case, durability is a hugely important aspect.

Will truly appreciate thoughts and suggestions from all the long term Brit Expats and gadget gurus.

Thanks in advance !

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Correction - Has anyone DONE this

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

First check if they can take variable voltage.
I wouldn't be bothered.

You're probably better asking this in the' back to the UK forum'. since de facto most here are either staying here or on the way here.

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Thanks ! Have posted it there now.

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Well that's the standard response to quesrions about moving electrical appliances in ether direction across the Atlantic, however US dryers work on 240V anyway, so the question is "how easy it is to wire an appliance wired for 240V two phase power to run on 240V single phase power.in the UK"? I suspect that it isn't difficult, but I am not a qualified electrican.

I am skeptical that a US washer could be easily rewired to run on 240V, so I would guess it would need a transformer, further adding to the space taken up by laundry appliances and the supporting installation.

Matters of power aside, US appliances would have to be exiled to the garage in almost all houses in the UK, unless perhaps if you live in a manor house or Victorian rectory, because of their sheer size, not to mention the weight of a US washing machine - many modern ones now weigh well over 200lb! :blink:

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Thanks Pulaski ! I'd appreciate if I can continue this thread here since its been deleted from moving back to UK forum as a duplicate.
We have a utility area with its own door outside (definitely NOT a manor house though :D) so can manage the size and space bit - although you make a good point about the weight. Any thoughts on the brands you would recommend with regards maintenance etc?

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Yes please: I have the same feeling and would love to know your reasons. Perhaps post it on the moving back forum because someone might close the thread/delete for being off topic etc if you go off on a tangent here :blah:

So true! I adore my top of the range/load sensing washer and gas dryer (brand new when I moved in - thanks landlord!). So huge and white and shiny and efficient!

In fact, I made a long list of pros/cons about staying and leaving and one of the top three cons about leaving was that I'd miss my washer/dryer. Appalling really. I wouldn't consider taking them back with me though. I'll just wave them goodbye and go back to barely washed and crispy clothes force dried on the radiator etc.

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

I'd forgotten that, that a US dryer basically runs off 120V for its switches and controls, like most other things in the US, but has two 120V connections which allows the motor to be wired with a 240V supply. In other words you cannot just connect the machine to a single phase 240V supply. Worse, this also means that you cannot even run it using a transformer, because the UK mains is a single 240V phase, and with a transformer you'd only have a single 120V phase when you need two 120V phases for a US dryer.

@Ddsrph If your mains is 110V I suggest you contact the power company to have them diagnose the problem, because mains in the US is 120V. :nod:

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

I have a multimeter which I use to test for a live connection and it consistently measures at 120V +/- 1V, in two states, several houses, and actually three different multimeters. I also Googled to check and found only references to US mains being 120V, no mention of 110V or 115V, though I have seen and heard both used occasionally.

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

Might invalidate home insurance too...

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

I have a UPS under my desk which displays the incoming voltage and I've noticed it vary from 117V all the way up to 130V. Just within tolerance I believe but 130V is pushing it! 121V right now though.

The power grid here is pretty ropey, so much so that we've had a natural gas powered standby generator installed.

Re: US Washer and Dryer worth carrying back to UK?
 

I hear that even by US standard, NJ power is rough and spikey. …. I guess that comes with being the first in the world with the technology. :lol: