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Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
At least MSE they say it is a trick you could try, not an absolute right, but that’s not what the complaining customer will tell the retailer!
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
Tougher, yes, but were Hotpoint dryers built before 2004 really much safer than those now being recalled? I went to an 18 year old Hotpoint TL62 today (with the rectangular heater cover) and extracted a thick “doughnut” of dust that had accumulated inside the rear seal, almost reaching the heater cavity. My customer had bought it from a second hand appliance dealer only a couple of years ago.
johnnyj and Andy jones will be reassured to know that I followed Hotpoint’s guidelines and renewed both heater thermostats on this machine rather than using the reset hole, even though the underlying cause of the trip was a failing motor capacitor (down from 7 to 2.7 microfarads).
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
I agree with Tim on this. Traditionally, Hotpoint issued non-resettable cut-outs, but for the last 5 years or so, they have fitted resettable cut-outs, like most other manufacturers. These are perfectly safe to reset, provided the cause of the trip is rectified.
Most often the cause is poor airflow (in which case the airways must be cleared) or weak motor capacitor (which must be tested with a capacitance meter). To blindly swap out the heater stats without identifying the cause – that in my view is potentially dangerous.
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
There is nothing dangerous with resetting the cut-out. That is what the pin hole is for! Nearly all dryer manufacturers fit reset buttons to make it easier, and in the case of Crosslee, provide a button so the customer can do it themselves!
Obviously the machine must be checked over carefully, whether or not the cut-out has been renewed, otherwise a recall is more than likely.
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
I am sure some people are tempted to commit arson…with all the scaremongering around…in the hope of achieving compensation or free renovation. I’m not suggesting for a moment that applies to Tim’s customer, of course.
Tim’s right, the heater carries on without air flow if the motor stops, usually because the motor capacitor is weak, but this usually causes the heater cut-out to trip. I didn’t think belt failure would be an issue, as the motor keeps the air flowing, but I guess it could actually be worse, as the cut-outs don’t activate and the heat could be concentrated on a single item at the back of the drum.
Another fault I have come across is failure of the 50:50 reversing timer, so that the motor runs one way, then is stationary during the reversing phase.
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
It must have been an uncomfortable interview for Maurizio Pettorini, since he was MD of Indesit UK & Ireland prior to being appointed as MD Whirlpool UK and so should have been fully aware of the fire risk prior to Whirlpool’s takeover last year.
I imagine his job security is in question given this issue is likely to have a significant impact on Whirlpool’s reputation and profitability in the UK.
Re: Double take
There’s a compact waste assembly behind the machine, which looks to take up a depth of about 6 inches. They’ve obviously cheated a bit by using a slim 40cm depth washing machine in the photo.
Re: Whirlpool to do a recall on Hotpoint dryers
1. I’d wager less than 5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}.
2. To claim to be unaware of the safety alert, which has by now been very widely publicised, would likely count for nothing in any legal case. Sellers are required by law to keep abreast of any safety issues affecting the products they sell.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-liability-and-safety-law
Re: just when you think you had seen it all !!
Maybe they discovered the space above the hob was too narrow, and having an existing ventilation duct at high level, they decided to put it there. A reasonable compromise for a tiny kitchen, maybe, although I bet the grease filter doesn’t get changed too often.
Re: February 2016 Conference
Alice is a TV presenter. I don’t think she is best qualified to advise on this complex issue. I certainly don’t want the fact Indesit offer cheap drum repairs highlighted on national TV.
Indesit’s pricing structure is based on swings and roundabouts. On some jobs (eg heater change) they are quids in, on others (bearing change) they make a loss. They know how much the average repair costs, and base their fixed fee on that. They do this so they can collect money up front, and it enables easy bolt on of “Repair and Protect”, with the commission and repeat business that generates.
The body that potentially could do something about unfair parts pricing is the Competition and Markets Authority. However, they may not be that interested, as they have to prioritise their resources on those areas of unfair competition they feel are most harmful to the consumer.
Anyone can register a complaint to the CMA here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tell-the-cma-about-a-competition-or-market-problem
The category most relevant is probably “Businesses abusing their ‘dominant position'”.
Re: mobile credit/debit card machines….
I bought an Ingenico terminal from 123 Send several years ago at the end of the initial rental period and pay them £9.95 per month for a roaming SIM card (linked to T-mobile, Orange, Vodaphone and O2 networks). I process payments through Worldpay (formerly Streamline), but 123 Send also deal with many other merchant account providers.
Unless you have a high volume of transactions, the newer Smartphone based terminals probably work out cheaper, but they are no good for me as they don’t work with my Windows phone. Reliance on a single mobile network and the lack of a receipt printer are other limitations.
Re: At what point does one walk out on a job…..
I find integrated dishwashers are often quicker to work on than freestanding as there are fewer panels to remove, certainly for BSH and Electrolux group machines where the feet adjust easily from the front.
Re: At what point does one walk out on a job…..
It doesn’t particularly bother me as I charge for my time and if it takes longer as a result of their efforts they end up paying more. Usually, it’s just a matter of replacing panels, which is easy enough to do, although if they’ve tampered with a load of wiring terminals, I guess that could be a bit of a nightmare to sort out.
It’s annoying when they suggest they’ve saved you some time by removing panels for you, when they didn’t need removing in the first place. But they must surely feel some remorse as they watch you carefully undo their efforts before tackling the job in hand.
The worst I can remember was a customer who had tried to fit a new belt to an old Hotpoint vented tumble dryer, but somehow ended up with the fan jammed inside the back panel instead of outside. No wonder he couldn’t quite get all panels lined up right!
