Checking the washing machine upon purchase

A full check of the washing machine involves connecting the equipment to the house utilities, diagnosing the process of adding and draining water, drum rotation, serviceability of the control panel, etc. But such manipulations with the device cannot be done in the store, and even after delivery, it will not be possible to set up the unit for operation Simply, the courier will not wait for your signature on the delivery and acceptance certificate for about an hour. But this does not mean that you need to sign for it blindly, without even trying to carry out a basic inspection of the washing machine.

You should definitely check your new washing machine upon purchase and delivery. The main method will be visual diagnosis. The buyer, upon receiving the equipment at the store’s pick-up point, or upon delivery, must inspect the device from all sides, touch the buttons, body, etc. The organoleptic method will immediately identify defects that the service center may later call non-warranty.

External inspection and shipping fasteners

The appearance of the machine, the presence of chips, dents, and scratches on the body are of great importance. If there are such defects, and in large quantities, it is better not to purchase the equipment. Having carried out an inspection and found no visible flaws, you need to proceed to checking the transportation bolts.

Transport bolts must be installed; if there are no fasteners, do not accept the goods under any circumstances.

Do not listen to the explanations of specialists who claim that the bolts were removed as part of a free promotion to make the installation process easier for the buyer. This is an outright lie. Transport fasteners must be in place, since only they prevent damage to the tank and drum when moving the washing machine.

The number of fasteners that must be present can be found in the instructions for any washing machine. The user manual will list the standard number of bolts, their location and how to remove the elements after delivery to the buyer.

The screws that ensure the safety of equipment during transportation must be tightened completely and evenly, but not at an angle. Therefore, if you saw that the bolt was deviated from the center, it means that the machine was subjected to a strong impact, as a result of which the tank moved to the side. Of course, most likely, the displacement of the tank will not affect the performance of the washing machine, but when buying new equipment, you should not take risks. If the tank is plastic, then the impact may cause cracks to form on the surface, which will lead to emergency leaks while using the machine.

Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to transport bolts during delivery. Examine each fastener; there should be no marks or scratches around them. If there are marks, the bolts have probably already been removed. It is better to refuse such a copy of the washing machine, because the machine may have been repaired.

Pay attention to the legs

Any model of automatic washing machine is equipped with four legs with locknuts. Inspect each of them. The legs must be smooth, without defects. There should also be no dents or chips on the corner of the case, near the base.

Disadvantages of this kind arise when the equipment hits the floor, which could occur when loading or unloading the machine. Deformed legs of the machine will not allow the unit to be leveled, which will lead to poor washing quality, imbalance in the drum, excessive noise produced by the device, breakdown of counterweights, etc..

Inspecting the dispenser

The powder receptacle is located in any machine. The dispenser must be filled with detergent, conditioner, rinse aid and other ingredients. The tray is removable, this ensures easy cleaning of the element. In some models you need to press a button to remove it, in others you need to forcefully pull the powder receptacle towards you.

Inspect the tray for damage. Also, be sure to look into the hole where the tray was removed from, and smell what it smells like from there. Normally, there should be a slightly perceptible smell of plastic or dampness coming from inside. When there is a clear smell of detergent coming from the hole, it is very likely that the machine has been used, and, therefore, it is better to refuse such a purchase, of course, in that situation, if you obviously do not make the purchase with your own hands.

Studying the drain and inlet hose

Hoses for connecting to communications should also be inspected. The drain pipe attached to the back wall of the washing machine and connected to the pump for pumping waste liquid out of the tank requires special attention. The water drainage hose is made of thin polymer, so it is easily damaged. Try not to miss a single defect on the corrugated surface of the drain pipe.

The inlet hose is not pre-connected by the manufacturer, but is supplied complete with the equipment - either in a separate package or in the washing drum. You can inspect the element in bright light by holding the hose to a light source or to a window.You need to look for any damage, even the smallest cracks and fractures. The filling pipe will be under constant pressure during operation, so a missed defect can lead to a rupture of the hose and the release of water into the room.

Let's look into the hatch

An important element of every washing machine is the drum. It is in its cavity that the loaded laundry is washed. On the surface of the drum you will see a large number of holes that serve to ensure the circulation of liquid inside. These cavities are obtained after pressing. The outer boundaries of the holes are torn and very sharp. In some cases, when pressing, it may turn out that the sharp edge is not hidden inside, but sticks out, and will be in direct contact with the clothes being washed. As a result of such “contact”, things will undoubtedly become unusable. It is important to pay attention during delivery to the absence of such manufacturing defects.

Also, metal “burrs” may be located in the welding area of ​​the front and rear parts of the tank. This will definitely affect the quality of the laundry being cleaned. Checking the drum is very simple - take nylon tights and run them over the entire surface. Delicate fabric will catch on any “edge”. If there is no snag, then no damage will be caused to the items being washed.

Checking the module, motor and pump

You can partially check used equipment, as well as new cars, without connecting the devices to the water supply and sewerage. Therefore, basic diagnostics will be available both in the sales area and when the washing machine is delivered by courier.

If the washing machine was delivered to the buyer’s apartment in winter, then it is prohibited to immediately plug in the device; it is necessary to allow the equipment to “warm up.”

Each washing machine model has a standard “Spin” program in its memory. This option does not require connecting the washing machine to the house utilities, but only connecting the power cord to the electrical network. If you start the mode, the drain pump will start working, and at the same time the drum will rotate at the set speed. By turning on “Spin” the user will make sure that:

• the pump is functioning properly;
• the control panel is working;
• the car does not vibrate or “bounce” at high speeds;
• the drum is well “balanced”.

This type of diagnostic may not be liked by store managers or the delivery person. However, the buyer has every right to start the equipment before signing the goods acceptance certificate or transferring money to the cash register. Therefore, do not be afraid to launch the “Spin” program.

It is imperative to check used equipment for proper operation of the motor and drain pump. Since usually, in this case, after the transfer of money, the seller does not bear any responsibility to the buyer. If you purchase new equipment, such breakdowns are covered by the warranty. However, diagnosing equipment “from the store” in this way will still not be superfluous.

When buying secondhand, it is better to go to the seller and inspect the car on the spot, because often the equipment has not yet been disconnected from the water supply and sewerage. In this case, it is possible to check all the functions of the washing machine: water supply to the tank, serviceability of the control panel, quick drainage of waste liquid, operation at high speeds during spinning, etc.

After purchasing a machine from a hardware store, do not delay using the device. It is advisable to start using the machine as soon as possible.Moreover, it is recommended to test the unit as much as possible and “run” the wash in almost all provided modes. Such measures will help to quickly identify factory defects and promptly transfer the washing machine to a service center.

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