Before buying a washing machine, buyers wonder which tank material is better, stainless steel or plastic. This parameter is really important. And a lot will depend on his choice. Based on sales results, most buyers still prefer stainless steel. And many brands, for example, Bosch, Indesit, Siemens, Electrolux, produce a fairly large number of models with this parameter. Let's take a closer look at why consumers make this choice, and which models are sold most often.
Bosch washing machine
Why is a stainless steel tank preferable?
Most automatic cars today have a tank made of plastic. This technique is cheaper, lighter, and operates almost silently. In addition, plastic has good thermal insulation, so the machine consumes less electricity. However, despite these advantages, many users are happy to overpay for stainless steel.
Why are buyers willing to overpay? Machines with a stainless steel tank have many advantages - such machines are more reliable and durable. The plastic may crack from a strong impact. The walls of such a tank are easily pierced by a bra wire or other sharp object that gets inside. Steel is a very durable material and is not susceptible to such damage.
Typically, the service life of automatic machines with a stainless steel tank is longer than that of equipment with a plastic tank.
If we talk about the disadvantages of cars with a metal tank, they are as follows:
- increased noise. Steel is not able to absorb vibrations;
- high price. Stainless steel is more expensive than plastic, so the final cost of the washing machine increases;
- increased consumption of kilowatts. The thermal insulation of such machines is less than that of equipment with a plastic tank, so energy consumption is increased.
If the reliability of the washing machine comes first for you, you can turn a blind eye to the shortcomings. Let's present a rating of the most popular automatic machines with a stainless steel tank. Let us describe the characteristics of each model.
Why choose our online store and how to purchase?
Our store website provides reliable information about the equipment. We cooperate with manufacturers without intermediaries, so the cost of drums is not as high as in regular stores.
Each product is described in detail, has technical characteristics and an image. There is a comparison function for selected products.
Placing an order and purchasing will not take much time. You can use the “buy in one click” button. If any difficulties or problems arise, you can order a call from our employee.
Delivery of equipment is carried out to every region of Russia, you can track the movement of goods. We will also provide post-warranty service and repairs if necessary.
LG Steam F4M5VS6S
The first place in the ranking is occupied by an automatic machine from a South Korean brand. This is a stylish machine in a silver case, equipped with a spacious drum for 9 kg of laundry. The front panel has a digital display that displays all the necessary information about the stages of the cycle.
LG Steam F4M5VS6S is equipped with an inverter motor, which, together with a stainless steel tank, provides the machine with the longest possible service life.
Main characteristics of the automatic washing machine:
- maximum permissible load – 9 kg in the “Cotton” mode;
- width, depth and height – 60, 56 and 85 cm, respectively;
- maximum spin – 1400 rpm;
- 14 special programs for cleaning things;
- noise level – up to 74 dB during spin cycle (which corresponds to the performance of machines with a plastic tank);
- energy saving class – “A”;
- The tank is made of stainless steel.
The unique TrueSteam technology is gentle on any fabric, destroying up to 99.9% of allergens and germs on clothing, bedding and children's toys. Thanks to the AddWash function, the user will have the opportunity to reload forgotten items into the drum after starting the wash.
The LG brand machine also has a compartment for liquid powder, which is very convenient if you are used to washing with gels. Thanks to the “SmartDiagnosis” mobile diagnostics function, the machine can independently detect failures in the system and notify the user about breakdowns.
The cost of a washing machine with a metal tank, a steam generator, an inverter motor and a luxurious software “filling” is about 36 thousand rubles. This is a good price for such a multifunctional washing machine. Therefore, many buyers choose the LG model.
Characteristics of honeycomb drums
To answer your second question – what is the difference between a honeycomb drum and a regular one – let’s clarify one important point. The honeycomb drum is a patented development of Miele. In this regard, other brands of washing machines are not equipped with it. The manufacturer claims that the drum it offers is more gentle on laundry, helps reduce electrical energy costs and has a longer service life.
In a washing machine, the inner surface of the laundry container contains hexagonal holes that resemble a honeycomb. Due to their concave structure, during the washing process a small film of water is formed between the laundry and the drum, which helps protect clothes during washing. In addition, there are no welded components in the interior (the most vulnerable points). Accordingly, the service life becomes significantly longer.
Naturally, parts made of high-quality stainless steel are a more reliable solution compared to plastic counterparts of any type. However, can you appreciate the hundred-year uninterrupted operation of the tank? We believe that this is the case when we can talk about “excessive quality”. When choosing a washing machine, focus primarily on its technical characteristics, choosing the model that will completely suit you. And only then look at the materials from which its tank is made.
HIBERG WQ4-712 W
Another decent washing machine from the mid-price segment. The cost of the model produced in China varies from 27 to 32 thousand rubles. The machine is very economical, it is assigned the highest energy saving class “A+++”; the device “eats” about 220 kW per year.
Main technical characteristics of HIBERG WQ4-712 W:
- maximum load – 7 kg;
- collector engine;
- 12 washing modes;
- drum self-cleaning function;
- dimensions: 60*51*85 cm;
- warranty period – 2 years;
- maximum spin – at speeds up to 1200 rpm.
The machine is equipped with a timer that allows you to set any convenient time to start the wash. For example, give the machine a “command” to start the cycle at 5 am, so that when you wake up, the laundry in the drum is already clean and ready to dry.
There are functions to block the control panel from accidental pressing. Intelligence can also control the level of foam and prevent the drum from becoming unbalanced. Special programs include washing sportswear, shoes, and children's clothes. The noise level emitted by the equipment during spinning is up to 74 dB.
Which drum is good for washing?
E. Suzdaleva, Mabe: most “easy ironing” and anti-crease programs are based on the fact that a large amount of water is used during rinsing, and after the spin stage the drum continues to rotate slowly. Thus, the laundry does not curl and bunch up, but is distributed more evenly and does not wrinkle too much.
The simplest way to prevent wrinkles is to stop rinsing. This function allows you to remove the laundry from the machine before the spin phase or postpone this phase - while remaining in the water, the laundry will not wrinkle.
K. Burmistrov, Ardo: the main requirement for a drum is the absence of sharp edges and burrs. Currently, this condition is met for the vast majority of models.
The main load in this case falls on the electronic control unit: it is it that determines at what speed and in which direction the drum needs to rotate or, conversely, when it needs to stop.
A. Uzhgintsev, Miele: the honeycomb of our drum has a diameter of only 2.1 mm and is made not by drilling, but by stamping. When spinning, even at the highest speeds, the laundry does not penetrate beyond the drum and is not damaged. The edges of the holes are always smooth. Therefore, the Miele honeycomb drum allows you to wash items even with the “hand wash” symbol.
An interesting fact: Miele is the world's largest consumer of... hosiery products. Women's tights are known to tear at the slightest contact with an uneven surface, which led to the choice of this delicate material for testing the quality of the Miele honeycomb drum.
Each of our drums undergoes a “tights test”: a lady’s stocking is passed over the entire surface of the drum, and if at least one puff is formed, the drum is rejected.
A. Myshkina, Candy: the “light ironing” mode significantly reduces the number of wrinkles after washing. Candy washing machines use the following “crease-free” mode technology: the temperature gradually decreases during the cycle and such cooling prevents thermal “creases” on the fabric. And the slow rotation of the drum - at the final phase of washing - straightens the fabric.
When choosing the “delicate wash” and “hand wash” programs, water remains in the drum at the end of the cycle - this is insurance in case the laundry lies in the drum for a long time after washing. Water is needed to prevent dry creases from forming on clothes. To complete the wash, you need to press the button, drain the water and be sure to take out clean and soft laundry.
You can’t get around direct drive on a “crooked goat”? “BT”: This often happens: a technology is first considered ineffective, and then a company comes along, brings it to fruition and begins to position it as the best of all possible alternatives.
This was the case, for example, with wet hair removal, which was considered unhygienic for a long time, but has become a real trend in recent years. Doesn't the same story repeat itself with direct drive washing machines?
A. Uzhgintsev, Miele : let’s clarify what consumer benefits this technology provides. Typically they claim to be extremely quiet and durable.
Yes, direct drive is somewhat quieter because there are fewer rotating parts. However, in a modern washing machine, the drive mechanism is not the main source of noise.
A much greater noise effect is produced by the vibration that occurs at high speeds, as well as associated causes - for example, the metallic clanging of buttons or rivets on the drum hatch. Such sound is not related to the design of the drive and must be eliminated in some other way.
Therefore, Miele machines have a special service: the “Especially Quiet” function, an imbalance elimination button, noise and vibration isolation and other technological features.
Why, for example, does eliminating imbalance noticeably reduce extraneous noise? The reason is simple: the center of gravity of wet laundry, coupled with water, at some point begins to deviate greatly from the axis of rotation of the drum. If this displacement is not eliminated, the car begins to vibrate and bounce out of the blue, emitting an unpleasant hum.
This technological cause of noise has been eliminated in almost all modern machines - with the help of special sensors that constantly monitor and correct the imbalance, correctly redistributing the laundry in the drum.
Now about the second advantage of direct drive - durability.
So far, “not too many hours flown” to trump durability. There is simply no experience of long-term operation of such machines yet.
In addition, our engineers conducted laboratory tests: tests on the life of the direct drive showed a high probability of premature failure of the seal in the bearing, and this is fraught with oil leakage directly into the laundry drum.
The repair will not be cheap, since the entire tank with the drive will have to be replaced. The costs will be comparable to buying a new car.
Perhaps this problem will be resolved in the future. But direct drive technology is not yet advanced enough.
E. Suzdaleva, Mabe : direct drive certainly has its advantages over conventional belt drives - a more robust design and quiet operation. However, direct drive is more expensive to manufacture, which increases the cost of the washing machine.
And there is no escape from the repair problem. If, God forbid, the direct drive breaks down, the entire engine will have to be replaced, and with the tank to boot. And in engines with a conventional transmission, any part can be replaced individually. Most often this is a belt worn out from time to time; other breakdowns are very rare. Feel the difference!
So, our attitude towards direct drive is still ambiguous. We continue to work seriously to improve the drive system. If we can offer the consumer the best option and without extra costs, of course, we will do it right away.
A. Godina, Vestel : although the direct drive design is more compact, eliminates the weak link - the belt drive, ensures silence and reduces energy consumption, there is still a very big question how the direct drive motor will behave and how quickly it wears out due to vibration and friction.
V. Rozhkov, Atlant: the main problem of the widespread introduction of direct drive is a technology that requires the highest production standards in assembly, minimal deviations from characteristics and cosmic precision in parts. Otherwise - low reliability of the washing machine.
K. Burmistrov, Ardo : any company should invest in scientific and technical research, develop and improve.
As a rule, research is carried out in parallel in different directions. And if it is possible to create something new and actually improve the consumer properties of the product, rest assured that competitors will immediately take note of the innovation and will soon do something similar.
With direct drive, in my opinion, the situation is different. This is more of an advertising gimmick - like a square loading hatch or an inclined control panel.
I. Lavrentyev, Hansa : I agree. Direct drive technology is promoted for marketing purposes.
A. Myshkina, Candy : We use inverter motor technology, which has the same advantages as a direct drive motor and allows you to keep the washing machine compact.
The inverter motor saves up to 15 percent energy when washing, is silent, reliable and durable.
D. Serditov, BSH: Siemens washing machines also use an inverter motor - iQdrive. Thanks to the absence of brushes and precise electronic control, energy losses are truly reduced significantly.
The combination of high-precision sensors, the latest electronics and precise operation of the new iQdrive provide the best washing results, including trace-free stain removal, better rinsing results, and more gentle laundry care.
The absence of brushes in the iQdrive also significantly reduces internal friction, so the motor runs very quietly even during spinning. You can even wash it at night!
It is important to note that in the case of a standard drive, the drum and motor are parts of one system; they are attached to the tank; tension or sagging of the drive belt is simply excluded.
Asko W2084.W/1
The Asko brand washing machine closes the rating. Model W2084.W/1 takes the most careful care of things, easily washing even the most delicate fabrics. The intelligence has a half-load mode, in which the consumption of water and electricity is reduced by 2 times. Therefore, users do not have to accumulate dirty laundry - things can be washed as needed.
Among the technical advantages of Asko W2084.W/1 are:
- High performance brushless BLDC motor;
- Active Drum and stainless steel tank;
- ergonomic hatch door design. The manufacturer enlarged the opening for loading and unloading laundry and removed the sealing collar, installing a metal ring instead;
- Quattro damping system - the machine has 4 shock absorbers to fix the tank. Due to these elements, the stability of the housing is increased and the level of noise and vibration is reduced.
Key characteristics of the model:
- maximum capacity – 8 kg;
- energy efficiency class – “A+++”;
- maximum spin – 1400 rpm;
- 15 special washing programs;
- delay start timer for up to 24 hours;
- noise level – up to 75 dB
- dimensions: 59.5*58.5*85 cm.
AquaBlockSystem technology ensures the safest operation of equipment. Due to this, the machine is completely protected from leaks. In addition, it is possible to control excessive foam formation in the drum. The cost of the model is approximately 64 thousand rubles. Users note that the machine is well-assembled, runs quietly, and is capable of washing the most difficult stains. The chic software “filling” will allow you to choose the appropriate mode for any type of fabric.
Interesting:
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- Rating of economy class washing machines
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Stainless steel inertial drums presented in our online store
The range of drums for high-pressure hoses in our store will allow you to choose the best option. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to such characteristics as capacity, drum weight, operating pressure and temperature.
The drums are mounted either on the wall or on a special bracket. The bracket allows the drum to rotate in different directions, the rotation angle being 180 degrees.
All models on our site are presented by the popular and proven reliable manufacturer Ramex. Only high-quality materials that are resistant to moisture and can withstand high loads were used in production. The return spring operates very smoothly.
