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

155 points everyone | 2 comments | 07 Jul 25 10:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.568s | source

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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msgodel ◴[07 Jul 25 11:02 UTC] No.44488928[source]▶
Tempted to just buy a golfcart motor and some nesting buckets to build the thing myself. It's not a terribly complex device.
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bambax ◴[07 Jul 25 11:14 UTC] No.44489009[source]▶
Laundry machines are indeed extremely simple, and I remember my grandmother had one that could be hand operated.

Wahing machines for dishes are much more complex and have many more points of failure.

replies(1): >>44489017 #
msgodel ◴[07 Jul 25 11:15 UTC] No.44489017[source]▶
Dish washers are even simpler, I'm confident I could build one if I wanted it but since I'm single I just wash my five dishes by hand.
replies(1): >>44489119 #
rvnx ◴[07 Jul 25 11:26 UTC] No.44489119[source]▶
In the US, a dishwasher costs ~$900 with install and lasts ~10 years (not even considering electricity costs). Hiring a disabled person legally at $1.75 for half an hour per week costs the same $910 over 10 years. Same price, but one supports a machine; the other supports a human being. Why fund metal and smart Wi-Fi appliances when you can empower someone’s life?
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1. jacknews ◴[07 Jul 25 12:07 UTC] No.44489495[source]▶
> with install

You just connect a couple of hoses and power, surely? And I'll bet the install fee eats a huge percentage of that price.

replies(1): >>44495029 #
2. toast0 ◴[07 Jul 25 21:50 UTC] No.44495029[source]▶
I recently replaced a dishwasher, and while the old one just had a cable to plug in, the new one needed some power box, so I had to mount that, and the existing holes for cables and hoses weren't big enough, so I needed to enlarge those. Not a big problem for me, I'm handy, but a lot of people aren't comfortable making holes in things. Physically moving the machines wasn't that hard, but I have plenty of dollies and what not.

I was lucky and someone was interested in the old one to try to fix it, or to swap parts and make their current one look nicer, so I didn't have to haul the other one away to the dump, but that's something the installer will typically do.