What is recommended to see
To buy a quality unit, you need to perform a number of actions:
- inspect the car externally;
- check the availability of components;
- check the integrity of the legs, hoses, bolts, etc.;
- check the drum;
- turn on the “Spin” mode and check the operation of the washing machine;
- check whether the warranty documents are filled out correctly.
Naturally, your actions may cause dissatisfaction with the service staff, but it is better to go through all the verification steps in the store than to return the goods.
Checking the heating element
One of the main parts in a washing machine is a tubular electric heater (TEH). Consists of a metal tube and a spiral in it. The tube is filled with a dielectric with high thermal conductivity. The heating element wears out due to constant heating and then cooling.
Checking the heating element
If there is a breakdown in the heater, then the water in the machine will not heat up. Then you need to dismantle the back wall of the machine and check the washing machine with a multimeter, examining the heating element for integrity. Now we disconnect the wires and check the heating element of the washing machine with a multimeter in resistance measurement mode at 200 Ohms. If the display shows the number 1 or close to 0, then the heating element is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Visual inspection
It all starts with this, and you should act according to a certain scheme:
- First, a check is made for the absence of scratches, dents, deformed areas and other damage to the body part. If there are any, it means that the rules for transporting SMA were grossly violated. These deficiencies should be pointed out and the inspection completed;
- The serviceability of buttons and levers is checked. They should fire normally when pressed. To do this, it is advisable to turn on the machine to the network to make sure that all indicators are working;
- Let's move on to checking the loading hatch, which should open and close easily. The locking device must be in good working order, ensuring a tight closure;
- The rubber sealing elements are inspected. They must be intact, without cracks or other defects;
- fastenings are checked that should firmly hold the drum cover.
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.
Checking the contents and documents
Take the instructions, which will indicate all the components for the machine. These include hoses, plugs, warranty document and operating instructions. It is very important that availability matches records exactly.
Documentation must be verified. Instructions for use must be detailed, in Russian. The warranty card checks the date of completion and year. The serial number of the washing device and model are also indicated here. Any violation in the execution of this document will be a prerequisite for refusal to service the machine.
If there are no problems with the documents, you can carry out further inspection.
Checking the pressure switch
An important element of any washing machine is a water level sensor or pressure switch; all machines have such a sensor, no matter the brand Electrolux, Samsung, Indesit, Zanussi, Ariston or Candy. A malfunction of the pressure switch is indicated by the fact that water has not filled into the tank, and the machine has started the washing mode, the water is standing in the drum, although the washing has ended, the rinsing mode has not turned on.
Pressostat in the washing machine
To check the sensor of the Indesit washing machine and other well-known manufacturers, you can use a multimeter to measure the conductivity. For a working pressure switch, it will change as the air pressure increases.
By following simple steps to check the functionality of the washing machine elements, you can avoid the unpleasant consequences of purchasing faulty household appliances and quickly find and fix the breakdown.
Checking legs, hoses, bolts
It is best to start with the bolts that secure the drum during transportation. They are located on the back panel, installed in the right places and fixed. With their help, the tank is not subject to vibration and accidental damage. Any tilt of the bolts hints that the car was handled carelessly during transportation and the tank has moved out of its place. And if it is made of plastic, then, most likely, cracks have appeared on it. It is best to abandon such a car in time.
Let's move on to the legs of the SMA. There are four of them in total, and each one will have to be screwed in to make sure there are no defects. The installation process should go smoothly without any obstacles. Serviceable legs will ensure the evenness of the working body, which will affect its service life.
The hoses must be intact, and they will have to be inspected at least visually. In this case, pay attention to the fastenings so that the diameter of the hoses corresponds to their size. The drain hose, through which water is directed into the sewer pipe, is attached to the back wall of the washing machine and is already connected to the pump. Its structure is corrugated, the material used for manufacturing is distinguished by its thinness. The hose feels fragile to the touch and is highly likely to suffer damage from mechanical impacts. So this element of the machine will have to be checked thoroughly, because it is through it that most leaks occur.
The inlet hose has a denser structure. At its ends there are plastic nuts, with the help of which the hose is mounted to the water pipe and to the machine itself. All elements must be intact and free of chips and cracks. The nuts must be tightened without fail to check the condition of the threads and the tightness of the fit.
The washing powder tray must be completely dry and clean. You can even smell the item to make sure it hasn't been washed with chemicals.
Engine check
Before you check the washing machine motor, you need to determine its type, specifically in your machine. There are three types of motor: asynchronous, commutator and inverter.
Washing machine motor diagram
The asynchronous type of motor was installed in early models from Bosh, Siemens, Ardo, and Candy. Due to its large dimensions and low performance, its use has almost ceased. The motor has a stator and a rotor.
Indesit, Ariston, Zannusi, Samsung, Veko, Electrolux are equipped with a commutator motor. This type of engine is more efficient and compact. The design is equipped with a stator, rotor, tachometer and two brushes.
Inverter or direct drive motor - directly attached to the drum, no belt required. The design is similar to asynchronous, but it is more powerful and smaller in size, stable for long-term use. The latest models of LG and Samsung machines are equipped with such a motor.
To check, you need to remove the front and rear panels of the machine body and pull out the motor. It may not be possible to check an asynchronous and inverter motor yourself. You can only check the winding of the rotor phases. The part that breaks most often is the Hall sensor. It's better to change this sensor.
Commutator motor - it’s easier to check this type of motor; it needs to be connected to a 220 Volt network; a heating element can be used as a stabilizer and fuse against voltage surges. The rotor, stator and heating element are connected in series into a single circuit. If the motor rotates, this is good, but when there is a load of laundry, the motor may not have the necessary power to rotate the drum and laundry.
Commutator motor from a washing machine
If the motor starts sparking when connected, this means that the electric brushes need to be changed. With prolonged use, they wear out and turn from long rectangles into small squares.
The lamellas may also peel off if a greatly increased current voltage passes through them, which indicates improper operation of the engine or improper operation of the washing machine.
Damage to the motor winding itself can be identified by visual inspection; if damage cannot be identified in this way, you can use a multimeter. It needs to be set to resistance measurement mode, then applied to different parts of the wire turns and the housing. Breaks will be immediately detected when the multimeter makes a sound.
How to check the engine and other important components
Please note that you will not check such a complex element in the store. But you are quite capable of an external inspection. In addition, you can verify that it is working properly by turning on the spin mode. Just before starting, make sure that the transport bolts are removed from their sockets. By the way, you can check the shock absorbers while rotating.
The drum is where dirty things are loaded. It is made of stainless metal, which ensures resistance to wear and the ability to contact water for a long time. Its surface has numerous small holes, as if knocked out from the inside.
The drum is checked as follows:
· its surface is first inspected to ensure that no chips or scratches are allowed on it;
· outwardly the drum resembles a grater, but there are cases when the sharp edges of the holes were on the inside and not on the outside, which caused damage to the laundry. So it is recommended to check the surface for the presence of sharp protrusions;
· It happens that there are burrs and other damage at the joints of the drum walls. This can be checked with ordinary nylon tights. If you run them over the surface and do not catch on anything, then the unit can be purchased;
· the drum must be rotated by hand - the rotation should not be very easy, with a slight amount of tension. There should be no extraneous sounds or creaks. After rocking the assembly up and down, check the resulting gap, the presence of which will confirm wear of the bearings.
On the control panel, you need to pay attention to each key. They should be pressed easily, without sticking. If there is a display, connect the machine to the mains and check that all modes are displayed on the screen.
Carefully inspect the door, which should fit snugly to the body. The hinges should not sag, the lock locks tightly, and the latch fits into the hole easily.
By bending the edge of the rubber cuff, make sure that there is no moisture, mold or foreign objects.
You won't be able to check the pump at the time of purchase. But as soon as the machine is delivered home, it should be connected to the appropriate communications and a test wash should be carried out. By the way, at this moment you will have the opportunity to check the heating element responsible for heating the water.
Checking the functionality of the machine before purchasing
In the store, even without a water connection, you can check whether the model you like works. Ask the seller to set the “Spin” program. This way you will see the operation of the rotating drum, the correct balancing, and the degree of vibration.
The loading hatch should close easily and tightly; make sure the fastening is secure and the rubber seals are intact.
Rotate and press all levers, joysticks and buttons. They should move smoothly, clearly, without extraneous sounds.
Check the filters for serviceability and cleanliness. Foreign odors and dirt indicate that the machine has already been used.
Things to check when purchasing:
- hoses for collecting and draining water;
- plugs for holes after unscrewing the transport bolts;
- a correctly completed warranty;
- instructions.
