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Ask HN: Any resources for finding non-smart appliances?

155 points everyone | 6 comments | 07 Jul 25 10:44 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom

My washing machine broke down. I need a replacement. I must avoid getting a "smart" one though. Are there any lists of products that arent "smart" so I can know which models are viable options to buy? Or other resources? I'm based in Ireland.
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baq ◴[07 Jul 25 11:20 UTC] No.44489071[source]▶
I’ve got an Electrolux (AEG) since 2015 and it recently needed its heating element replaced because I never bothered to use any water softeners. It took the serviceman 10 minutes and cost less than 100 euros.

I also have friends with Samsung washing machines. Let’s just say get an AEG.

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1. robin_reala ◴[07 Jul 25 11:30 UTC] No.44489161[source]▶
My Samsung dryer needed a heating element replaced. It cost €450 (~80% of the original purchase price) and involved replacing basically half the machine. I’ll be actively avoiding Samsung in the future.
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2. bdavisx ◴[07 Jul 25 13:33 UTC] No.44490237[source]▶
That's an insane amount - how old is the dryer?

I've replaced two heating elements in my ~9 year old Samsung dryer, I think the heating elements were less than 50 USD. I did the labor myself so I don't know how much that would have been - you do have to take the dryer apart, but it doesn't take very long if you have experience, 15-20 minutes or less.

I would not recommend Samsung - I've had to take that dryer apart more than 10 times to replace/fix things, I can't imagine how much it would have cost me if I couldn't do it myself. The only plus there is now I can literally break it down and put it back together very quickly when I need to fix it.

Luckily the Samsung washer has been fine.

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3. robin_reala ◴[07 Jul 25 13:50 UTC] No.44490369[source]▶
The heating elements were buried deep in the machine and would have involved many hours of labour to take it apart; it took long enough to strip it down to the point where I realised how complex it was going to be to get any further. Machine was bought in late 2021, but was unfortunately out of guarantee by a couple of months when it broke. I’m happy to tear stuff down (spent yesterday unsticking the fan on a vacuum cleaner) but that was too much for me.
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4. sizzle ◴[08 Jul 25 10:30 UTC] No.44498724[source]▶
This is why you’ll have to pry my 20 year old gas burning whirlpool dryer from my dead hands.

I replace a squeaky drum wheel ~$20 and a drum pulley belt kit ~$40 and this dryer is flawless. It can bake my towels if I want or run low heat for delicates.

My parents Samsung is constantly on the fritz and their home warranty company keeps replacing parts or the whole unit over the years.

5. sizzle ◴[08 Jul 25 10:33 UTC] No.44498737{3}[source]▶
So what did you end up doing to fix it? My old whirlpool dryer is bulletproof and easy to repair.
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6. robin_reala ◴[08 Jul 25 11:55 UTC] No.44499158{4}[source]▶
Paid to get the entire bottom half of the inside of the machine replaced. It was that, or spending weeks trying to debug the problem with non-existant parts, or buy a new one.