Washing bricks is very noisy!! (Hotpoint WMA32 Aquarius)

Member Name: Kara l

Product:	Hotpoint WMA32 Aquarius
Date:	03/06/01 (1833 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of useful features, washes well

Disadvantages: problem with the ball bearings!

I bought this machine last November, when my old and trusted one had finally had enough. (It was not a Hotpoint.)
The new Hotpoint machine arrived two days after I bought it and I was looking forward to using my new machine. I had previously owned a reconditioned Hotpoint machine and was looking forward to reliability with a new Hotpoint one. I also had loads of washing stacking up as there are 5 of us and clean clothes were becoming scarce!

I had lots of features to play with, the capacity to take a heavier load appealed to me, this machine can take up to 5.5kg, which is more than most other machines, which take around 3kg. It also has a time saver option, which reduces the time quite dramatically, on an Acrylics wash using the time saver option means the wash only takes about 15 mins. There is also a super rinse suitable for my husbands work clothes, gentle action and a ‘One’ option for washing just one item of clothing. An option that is not likely to ever be used in this household.
It has variable spin speed, not sure how useful that is, because the different programs seem to set their own spin speed.
The machine has 15 different washing programs. Which include all the usual ones plus a hand wash program, which I find extremely useful as it means I don’t have to do the hand washing.
The machine also has two automatic features, which are an unbalanced load warning. I’ve not seen any indication of this, so I assume all my loads to be balanced. And a feature to automatically save time and money, by adjusting the water level in each to load, to match the weight of clothes put in.

The instructions that came with the machine are very clearly laid out, and each part of the machine’s functions are described without any unfamiliar terminology.
There is also a section on how to clean your machine, which should help to keep it in working order.
One paragraph did make me wonder though. It stated u
nder Warnings, “Do not allow children to play with or tamper with the controls”
That is not such an easy task when you are a mother of three under 4yrs. Change the way the dials work, rather than expecting an overworked mother to watch her children intently at all times. The controls of this machine are easily turned by my 2yr olds. The last machine had a different and harder to turn dial which a 2yr old could not turn!
And just in case you are wondering, there is an automatic door lock on the machine.
The machine did wash and spin clothes really well, the dirty white sock test, gave very pleasing results!
I find that I have to clean the dispenser draw daily though, if not the softener part becomes very blocked.

Sadly 3 months after I started to use my machine, I had to call the engineer out. Anyone visiting our house thought I washing house bricks in the washer, because the noise it made was so loud!
Apparently it is a faulty batch of ball bearings in the machine according to the engineer, so I was quite happy for him to replace the inside of my machine.
All was well for a short while, but again 3 months on, and the bricks have re-entered my washing machine, so at the moment I am awaiting another visit, so I will update this op when I know what Hotpoint are going to do.

I do like this machine, but only if Hotpoint can rectify the problem with the ball bearings I am having. So if you are considering one of these, you might be wise to wait a while until Hotpoint have got their act together with this particular machine.
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The Next Chapter
I was visited by the engineer again last Tuesday, and he very kindly replaced the circuit board on my machine.
He could not find any fault with it and so did this to be on the "safe" side.
I was not convinced he had fixed the problem but anything for a quiet life!!

Two washes later.....
Th
e clanking noise is back, but not nearly as loud and also there is a loud buzzing noise.
I don't think I was believed last time, so I ran round like a headless chicken and set up my video camera. ( A desperate woman takes desperate measures!!)
I taped my machine, and will do so again.
Unfortunately this new buzzing problem does not occur on every wash so I thought I had better gather some evidence before my personal Hotpoint engineer returns.

Again I got a quick and efficent response from the Hotpoint service team, so I have no complaints there. I think I am just unlucky (or going insane!)

Summary: