A washing machine breakdown is always a nuisance. But if the bearing fails, then this is not so scary. Because it can be replaced. And it won't cost much. And if the user has repaired something at least once in his life, then he can replace it himself. But only if he has a washing machine with a collapsible drum. What kind of drum is this and in what machines is it? We will try to answer these questions and provide a list of the most popular machines with these drums.
A bit of theory
At the moment, manufacturers produce two types of washing machines. With a collapsible drum and without it. What does it mean? To answer this question, consider the design of a conventional washer. Inside it is the well-known drum for all of us, in which we put things for washing. But he himself is covered with a special casing,which can be made of either plastic or stainless steel. Moreover, the choice of material is based on the speed of rotation of the drum during the spin cycle. The higher it is, the stronger the material. So. The collapsible drum of the washing machine (Indesit, for example, old models) is assembled from two parts and bolted together. Among them are those that are responsible for the tightness of the structure. At the back of this casing is the bearing, which often fails and needs to be changed from time to time.
But in washing machines with a non-separable drum, everything is much worse. There it has a solid structure and consists of a single piece of plastic or metal. Such a drum cannot be disassembled. And it is not the bearing itself that will have to be changed, but the entire casing along with the drum. And this is completely different money. Currently, washing machines with a collapsible drum are still found among new models. And if you have a device at least five years old, then we can safely say that it is likely that a collapsible drum is installed there. And there will be no problems with the repair.
Why are machines made with one-piece casings
Washing machines with a collapsible drum have become rare for two reasons. Firstly, it is easier and cheaper for manufacturers to cast a one-piece casing than to create two halves separately, produce bolts for them and check the finished casing for tightness. This takes a lot of time and a lot of money. Secondly, producers are interested in increasing profits. And much more profitable to sellthe drum as a whole with the casing and all the stuffing than individual components (including bearings). However, the leading brands are by no means fools. They motivate this by the fact that, in general, repairs will be easier and cheaper. However, no one believes this. And rightly so. Since repairs are only more expensive. But it's easier. It can't be taken away.
Modern machines with collapsible drum. Manufacturers
And now let's see which of the manufacturers still produces washing machines with a collapsible drum. The list will not be very long, as most brands have switched to new technology. And they do not care that the owners of these washers will spend more money on repairs. They only care about profit. So, here are the brands that still produce washing machines with a collapsible drum.
- "Atlant". The Belarusian manufacturer still remains true to its principles. All machines that leave the assembly line of the factory have a collapsible casing design.
- LG. Here the drums are also collapsible. But the bearing cannot be changed separately. Only together with the entire back. But that's not bad either. Still cheaper than changing the casing with the drum.
- Samsung. The Korean manufacturer has both one and the other models. So when choosing a particular washing machine, you need to be very careful.
- Electrolux. The situation is the same as with Samsung. Only a few models have a collapsible drum.
- AEG. All the same. Onlysome models.
- Gorenije. Also only some models.
- Siemens and Bosch. The Germans are there. Only some models. The rest with non-separable drums.
This is the current situation on the washing machine market. Of course, everything is not so scary, and if you wish, you can find a suitable machine. We'll even show you how to do it. But first, let's look at brands that have completely abandoned collapsible drums and only produce models with a one-piece casing.
Modern machines with non-separable drum. Manufacturers
In the previous chapter, we considered washing machines with a collapsible drum. Marks turned out to be not so small. And now let's talk about those manufacturers who deliberately simplified production and shamelessly began to pull money from customers. There will be approximately the same number of companies on the list. Here. See for yourself.
- Indesit.
- Ariston.
- Candy.
- Whirlpool.
- ARDO.
- BEKO.
Well, everything is clear with "Indesit" and "Ariston". But why did "Candy" go the same way? Or "VEKO"? We will never know the answers to these questions. So if you were planning to find a Kandy washing machine with a collapsible drum on the market, you can forget about it. The manufacturer began to work exclusively with solid casings. And such machines can already come across exclusively old models. As sad as it is.
How to identify a collapsible drum machine?
This is a very interesting question that almost all those who want to buy a new washing machine ask themselves. There are several ways. But only one is 100%. However, we will consider them all so that users can choose the right one. The fact is that the operating instructions for the washing machine or its data sheet do not indicate what type of drum is there. The only way to find out is by visual inspection. There are several ways.
- Ask the store clerk to remove the top cover of the washing machine. The material of the drum and its design can be easily considered. Only the seller is likely to respond with a polite refusal. There is no point in asking him. He doesn't know anything about what he's selling.
- Second option: slightly tilt the car to the side. Its bottom is usually not closed by anything. And in this way, you can consider the design features of the casing and drum.
- Check with a washing machine repairman. He knows from his line of work which brands still have collapsible drums.
These simple ways will help you choose the right washing machine so that you don't spend too much on repairs in the future.
Conclusion
So, we tried to answer the question of what are washing machines with a collapsible drum. Now you all know about these devices and are able to make the right choice.
