Hello all, I just had a Fisher & Paykel heat pump dryer die after 6-7 years, which was a very costly at the time of purchase.
Has anyone else had similar experiences with heat pump dryers? I would have expected at least 10-15 years life on it. And we only used it only rainy days.
the motor on it died, had a repair man come and have a look. $700 to fix + his time.
I'm confused.
F&P says:
You also receive an additional EIGHT YEAR parts only Manufacturer’s Warranty on your Direct Drive motor. This additional 8-year Manufacturer’s Warranty commences on the day following the expiry of the 2-year Manufacturer’s Warranty and excludes the motor controller and labour. Fisher & Paykel will repair (as to parts) or, at its option, replace any Direct Drive motor (but not the motor controller) which is found to be defective within this additional Manufacturer’s Warranty period. You will be responsible for any labour costs.
https://www.fisherpaykel.com/au/help-and-support/warranty-information#SmartDrive™motorwarranty
Speak to your retailler, and follow the acl route.
OP has heat pump clothes dryer, not a washing machine.
@Baysew: OK, sorry missed that.
People sometimes bag LG, but their warranty (below) seems superior in this instance and "includes in" Dryers as follows:
LG will repair the Direct Drive Motor which in LG's opinion needs repair because of a manufacturing or materials defect appearing and notified to LG within a further EIGHT (8) YEARS from expiration of the Original Warranty. The Direct Drive Motor Warranty covers supply of parts only. You must pay the costs of the Authorised Service Centre.
I feel sorry for the OP if they had been looking at units side by side and might have thought if one company had 8 on Direct Drive, they both do. Certainly if the prices were both at that premium point, one might be misled.
@holdenmg: This is all very interesting. Thanks.
I have 4yo LG washer & drier ($1480). The drier has been a clunky for a while, but now it's not possible to run without it sounding/looking like a car crash. Dead. Kinda allows me to move the drum by hand.
Back in the day, I'd repair anything/everything. But now I'm that guy with 100 unfinished projects. And no budget to replace.
Maybe warranty?? I was gonna maybe pursue a general washer/drier repair person. But I'll contact LG.
@Ulysses31: The aluminium spider at the back of the drum has corroded and broken. Not easily repaired.
@JIMB0: Argh! I can still hear/remember the sounds, and your description would make sense. A rhythmic clunk, like… a flogged-out gear.
I can't remember how/why, but I found some roller wheels on ebay, I thought would be the cause/fix. That's feeling WAY off, now.
In a previous life, I was a fitter & turner. But that history & spare time is aging like milk.
mine died after 1.5 years. refrigerant leak. they didnt want to repair it. got a new one for free under warranty.
not long
moving parts, tumbling weight, heat, water
certainly not a recipe for longevity
Unless you're describing exercise
What does my love life have to do with it?
Fun, while it lasts.
I would be pushing for it to be fixed under consumer law. The motor in mine went a couple of years in, the bearings went recently and we had to pay for those.
Clothes dryers
Life expectancy: 10–11 years
Cheaper to replace:
8.5–9 years (heat pump dryer)
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/consumer-rights-and-advic…
Although I mentioned above, I spent $1400 on recommended LG… dead after 4 years (almost to the week)
What did F&P say.
I'd say around 6-7 is a fair lifespan.
My last 2 washing machines failed around the 7 year mark, bearings and then motor tend to give out. I thought that was pretty fair given the rough conditions it's put through.
As for 10-15 years out of a heavily used appliance? yeahnahhhh, no washing machines/dryers in this day and age are engineered to last that long.
Apparently my dryer is from 2009, still in perfect condition
If you never use it then easily 50 years
Depends.. how much cloth are we talkin?
I have a clothes line. Still working after 15 years!
I also have a condenser dryer that's kicking it after 8 years, so maybe a condenser dryer?
Our first F&P heat pump dryer failed within the 2 yr warranty. It was replaced with a new unit which failed just after the warranty expired. They were both used lightly in a 2person household. Threw it away and bought a Beko at half the price and a five year warranty. Superb unit.
Fisher Paykel is now Chinese. Says it all.
Thought F&P was owned by the Americans now?
These things are generally rubbish, just like the heat pump hot water systems. They almost never last long enough to save enough electricity to make it worthwhile.
I will never buy another F&P. Our second F&P fridge failed after 7 years, looks like a gas leak from the symptoms and corrosion! F&P use to be good when made in NZ like our first one which was still going strong after 15 years, but now not so. Old fridges use to last 20 to 50 years but with the new inferior gases, all the extra electronic paraphernalia and origin of manufacture they don't. I expect the same applies to heat pumps.
yeah i am starting to see that F&P are no longer considered good quality. Am going to start looking at other brands.
If it's out of warranty, then get a new one?
BuT MY CoNSuMEr RiGhTs
Never repair stuff?
What is it doing for you to claim it is dead? Lots of these 'self cleaning' units need to be pulled apart and cleaned.