Surely on some occasion you have heard that things are no longer manufactured as before. And to a certain extent, we have to recognize that it is true and that in a consumer society like the one we have, having to be up to date prevails above all, if not by choice then by necessity. It is the well-known obsolescence programmed so that many devices already come with an expiration date when they leave the factory.
The durability of the devices and appliances we buy is often in doubt and this is demonstrated by all types of studies, such as this one from the OCU, which has surveyed almost 70,000 users and has served to determine Which brand offers greater reliability in its appliances?.
The durability podium
The truth is that brands are more interested than ever in selling, and that doesn't fit too much with the reliability of a device. Many times we do not buy a product for pleasure and we do so out of necessity, when faced with a breakdown in which it is cheaper to get a new one than to fix the one we already have. Thank goodness that the right to repair has arrived to try to help us out.
The truth is that when buying a device, we are increasingly concerned about the prestige of the brand and the impression we have about the quality of the products it manufactures. And I mean quality encompassing aspects such as durability and guarantee of use that they offer over time.
A dishwasher, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a dryer… often represents a very important expense to be taken lightly, and that is why look at the mark behind themit is something that matters more and more.
With the aim of avoiding the feared limited obsolescence, the OCU has prepared a study on almost 70,000 people in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain in which it tries to clarify which brands manufacture products with greater durability. Among these factors, the frequency and importance of breakdowns is assessed.
In this study, they asked these users How long did your previous appliance last? and with all the data it has helped them to calculate the useful life offered by a device of a certain brand and thus select which ones offer greater durability in their products.
From this “survey” it appears that The brand that offers the longest duration is Miele, at least in washing machines and dryers, where it reaches 16 years on average. Behind them, Siemens, Zanussi, Balay, Fagor, Edesa and Ignis with 12 years and behind them Bosch, Electrolux, Hoover, Smeg, Teka, Candy, Indesit, Whirlpool, Daewoo and Hotpoint.
Miele does not fall short in the dishwasher, which have a duration of 15 years. Following them and offering 12 and 11 years brands such as Zanussi, Siemens, AEG, Bacuknecht, Balay, Bosch, Electrolux, Smeg or Brandt. And behind them, Teka, Fagor, Indesit, Whirlpool and Hotpoint.
General Electric wins in refrigerators, reaching 17 years old. The brand makes a wide difference to others and thus Zanussi, Miele, Baucknecht, Balay, Liebherr, Ignis, Siemens, Bosch, Teka, Edesa, AEG, Indesit, Fagor, Hoover, Smeg and Electrolux offer between 14 and 12 years. Below are Candy, Indesit, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, LG and Daewoo.
In dryers, Miele wins again, reaching 17 years old. Behind them are Siemens, Baucknecht, Hotpoint, Fagor and AEG with ranges ranging from 12 to 11 years, and behind them, with 10 years or less, Bosch, Zanussi, Whirpool, Indesit, Electrolux or Candy.
Along with the “durability” of the products, the study has served to Also determine which are the most common breakdowns depending on the type of appliance. In the case of refrigerators, the failures focus on the No Frost system, temperature control and door closing. Dryers have their heel in the drying system and the belts, while washing machines see how the most common breakdowns focus on the filter, the spin and the door. For their part, dishwashers often fail in the water circulation and drain system.
The truth is that when determining the durability of a device or appliance, It's fundamentalalong with the best or worst manufacturing quality, the use that we give to it. Or rather, good use. And the thing is that, for example, I am not going to offer the same useful life, a washing machine that, for example, is used once a week, as one that is used once a day.
An earlier version was published in 2023.
More information | OCU
In Xataka SmartHome | It is possible to save by using the dishwasher. The key is how we place things inside