One Clanger And His Screwdriver
Feb. 26th, 2007 09:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
major_clangerWhen Co-Op Electrical say that their delivery window is 7am to noon, they mean it. Guess when our new washing machine turned up? Installing it was fun too; it is of course exactly the same shape and size as the old one, but it must be half as heavy again (allegedly, this is Miele building it solidly to begin with, rather than ballasting it with bits of concrete like most other manufacturers). It certainly washes and spins much more quietly and smoothly, so hopefully it won't shake itself to bits or rust from the inside out like the old Indesit we had. And if it does, Miele are currently offering a ten-year warranty, which went a long way towards settling the choice of machine for us.
Shamed by the competition, our tumble dryer is acting up a bit, although the fault is a lot simpler and easier to fix than corroded innards: the door won't shut properly. This is obviously not an unusual fault for Whirlpool as googling on the model number plus 'spares' brings up plenty of links to replacement latch mechanisms, one of which is now on its way to us (so the stepladder can be relieved from being leant against the door to keep it shut). If only they made it out of metal it might not break every couple of years... this being the second replacement for our dryer.
Finally, the local electrical suppliers - it is handy living next to an industrial estate full of builders' merchants - rang to say that the matchbox-sized widget I'd ordered had arrived. Not much to look at, but its the Important Bit that drives a low-energy light bulb, and the one behind one of our ceiling lights went phut last year. I investigated at the time to find out why just swapping the bulb didn't work, only to find after removing the fitting that there was a box behind it with some distinctly fused-looking electronics inside. All fixed now, although I have just learned the hard way after buying some spare bulbs that there is a difference between G24q1 and G24q2 bulb bases. Ah, for the days when it was Bayonet or Edison Screw.
Other Jobs Jobbed: the spare bedroom is no longer strewn with assorted combat kit and all my ex-Iraq stuff is safely tucked away into kit bags; some of my piles of old magazines are selling on eBay; and (although this is not my doing) the builders have finished fixing the leaky balcony and the resulting damp patch in the lounge ceiling. Next: Operation Book Sort.
Shamed by the competition, our tumble dryer is acting up a bit, although the fault is a lot simpler and easier to fix than corroded innards: the door won't shut properly. This is obviously not an unusual fault for Whirlpool as googling on the model number plus 'spares' brings up plenty of links to replacement latch mechanisms, one of which is now on its way to us (so the stepladder can be relieved from being leant against the door to keep it shut). If only they made it out of metal it might not break every couple of years... this being the second replacement for our dryer.
Finally, the local electrical suppliers - it is handy living next to an industrial estate full of builders' merchants - rang to say that the matchbox-sized widget I'd ordered had arrived. Not much to look at, but its the Important Bit that drives a low-energy light bulb, and the one behind one of our ceiling lights went phut last year. I investigated at the time to find out why just swapping the bulb didn't work, only to find after removing the fitting that there was a box behind it with some distinctly fused-looking electronics inside. All fixed now, although I have just learned the hard way after buying some spare bulbs that there is a difference between G24q1 and G24q2 bulb bases. Ah, for the days when it was Bayonet or Edison Screw.
Other Jobs Jobbed: the spare bedroom is no longer strewn with assorted combat kit and all my ex-Iraq stuff is safely tucked away into kit bags; some of my piles of old magazines are selling on eBay; and (although this is not my doing) the builders have finished fixing the leaky balcony and the resulting damp patch in the lounge ceiling. Next: Operation Book Sort.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 09:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 09:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 09:26 am (UTC)On sustainability grounds, I went for a machine that was highly-rated for economy; the Miele is supposed to be smart enough to assess how much water it needs to use (and thus heat) to wash each load. Also, having a ten-year warranty makes it more likely that the machine will last that long without needing to be replaced. I am in favour of repairing where it is practical to do so, e.g. the dryer and the light fitting!
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 09:27 am (UTC)Divvi
Date: 2007-02-27 09:39 am (UTC)We did well with repairing our old Ariston washing machine twice before it finally died, but that was only 10 years life in total.
Re: Divvi
Date: 2007-02-27 10:14 am (UTC)Co-op Dividend.
Co-op Dividend is not awarded on any purchases made through www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk.
Did you buy direct from a shop?
Re: Divvi
Date: 2007-02-27 10:33 am (UTC)