Does Limescale really damage washing machines?

[Surefire]

Well does it?

Personally I think its just an advertising ploy to sell a product that is largely unecessary. Being an electrical engineer I cant see how a bit of limescale on a heating element will stop it from working. If you dont belive me just look at the element in your kettle.

Opinions anyone.

 

[breezer]

ity does actually. it tkes more energy to heat the water since it now has insulation, it can also cause the element to overheat

 

[Surefire]

Hmm, not entirely convinced that a thin layer of limescale would make that much difference. Still I suppose it's possible.

 

[breezer]

i used to fix hp m/c as i said, the heater gets covered in limescale, causing the element to overheat, i forgot to mention the hp elements have a non restable cut out

think about it, you are cold, what do yoy do? put on another laye.

still, i dont care if you believe it or not, not my problem what you believe

 

[Surefire]

 

[TexMex]

Yes they do work but this raises another question. What is the more economic. Taking those tablets or replacing the spare parts that will inevitably fail. When I replaced a heating element in my Zanussi WM some years back, I was tempted. But doing some quick maths showed that the spare parts were comming out cheaper than the ongoing cost of the tablets.

The machine itself had been a wedding present from my in-laws. Since I'm just coming up to my silver wedding aniversary, it had been in service over 20 years. Totting up the cost of ALL the spares that I had ever replaced on it (A few Heating elements, the odd couple of pumps, Door seal, main bearings, spider) still came to a fraction of the price of 20 years supply of the tablets. Interestingly I never, once, needed to replace ANY of the rubber hoses. (even though the TV service engineer rips one apart to make some kind of point)

It may have been a different matter, had I paid someone else for all those repairs, but I suppose I'm just a tight a*se.

Unfortunately we finally abandoned the Zanussi, when we inheritted a brand new Hotpoint Washer/dryer. I suspect that this is going to be less reliable, less practical and more expensive to maintain. Oh well that's progress I suppose.

 

[breezer]

we inheritted a brand new Hotpoint Washer/dryer.

take it outside now and shoot it, you will be doing yourself a favour

 

[big-all]

the answer to your question must mainly depend on how hard your water is
where i am my kettle is virtualy fir free over 5 years although it was accidently turned on dry 2 years ago which shed what little calcium was present

 

[bathjobby]

Being an electrical engineer I cant see how a bit of limescale on a heating element will stop it from working

Uummmm.

 

[Igorian]

(even though the TV service engineer rips one apart to make some kind of point)

Probably wondering why he can't get a picture.

 

[Diyisfun]

Im in a hard water area, Have had washing machines for 40 years, never had an element go YET. (Oh should I have said that)

 

[Surefire]

I suppose the only way to really find out is if quite a few washing machine repair engineers read this and post there findings.

I've repaired a few of my own and freinds washing machines but have never found any failures due to limescale, maybe if I repair a few more I might find some.

 

[breezer]

I suppose the only way to really find out is if quite a few washing machine repair engineers read this and post there findings

that'll be me then.

(edited before the mod saw it, shhhhh)

 

[Surefire]

Yes there's one, any more?