Buying advice for new appliances

[shalu]

Hi there,

Stumbled on this site by accident and glad I did…about to buy our first home and need a new washing machine, dryer and fridge/freezer and are complete newbies. We want to get good quality appliances but have a moderate budget (i.e. approx £1,500 – £1,750 total) so please let us where we should be looking:

Washing Machine & Tumble Dryer: 2 people with 2/3 washes a week, normally around 2/3 full. Line dry most items and tumble dry socks, etc. Want something that will help with sensitive skin and can deal with very hard water. Tumble dryer, waiting to hear if there is already fittings for a vented machine but please suggest both types.

Refrigeration: tend to keep more fresh foods, but would like a 50:50 split or as close to that as possible. Don’t want a double style (american fridge) and it will be in the kitchen, which has underfloor heating but close to normal room temp most of the day. we would like space for wine bottles (approx 3-4).

Edit: Just read that you advise with cookers too. The previous owner installed an AGA S-Series Six-Four Dual Range Cooker which he is taking with him so we need something to fill this space (rather than get integrated units which we would have preferred). The AGA is too expensive and not suitable for us (we don’t want the constant heat), but we need something of a similar size that fits within a sub-£2k budget (or nearby). Need at least 4 gas hobs (one big enough for a wok) and 2 ovens (both fan assisted and at least one with grill capability). What’s the best route for us?

Sorry for the long post and many thanks for the help in advance!

[Martin]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Over to you Don, but don’t you just wish they just pop into your shop instead? 😉

[don]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Martin wrote:Over to you Don, but don’t you just wish they just pop into your shop instead? 😉

It would nice but judging by their IP address that is not going to happen 😉

Hi shalu

Just so I can get a better picture is the washer and dryer both freestanding appliances. What width is available for the fridge freezer.

What width also is the range cooker requirement. Is it to be all gas or dual fuel?

Don

[shalu]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Thanks Don.

Agreed, Exeter is a little far otherwise would have preferred to visit in person.

Both washer and dryer will be freestanding. On the fridge it has an open space for now so no width restrictions but have instructions to not get the double American fridge.

The aga was 984mm wide so something around that size. Dual fuel please – gas hobs with electric fan ovens.

[don]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Hi

I would look at the following 😀

Miele washing machine circa £600 great build, good lifespan and warranty. Downside, service is locked in and spares can be expensive.

If you are going to use a dryer only occasionally I personally go for a vented dryer like a White Knight. Good British product, easy to repair and value spare part prices.

Fridge freezer or separate fridge and freezer I would go for Liebherr, they are the best you can buy. Should be just enough in your budget to do it.

Range cookers, for your budget I would look at Rangemaster.

HTH 🙂

Don

[shalu]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Don,

Thank you very much!

For Miele, is there any particular model you would go for?

Agree with Liebherr and will do a bit more digging into the White Knight.

On the cooker, would it be worth upping our budget (we can if needed) if it’s going to make a massive difference in quality and reliability with another brand or is rangemaster a high quality product? I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews on these with some claiming it’s more about the looks than function while others swear by it as an alternative to AGA. Very confused at the moment!

[don]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Hi

Miele start with the WDA101 you can then go on from there 🙂

If you can increase your budget on the range then look at Brittania, Falcon and Mercury.

Don

[shalu]

Re: Buying advice for new appliances

Thanks Don, much appreciated – will get moving on the search and come back with the results/queries

[Author]

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