Which brands produce washing machines with a collapsible tank: 8 brands

One of the most common failures in washing machines is bearing wear. Many users prefer washing machines with a collapsible tank (RB) – bearings can be replaced in them easily, without requiring a lot of time and money. Find out which brands produce such devices.

Collapsible and non-collapsible

For experienced users and those who understand the design of washing machines, the design of the tank is one of the key criteria when choosing an automatic washing machine (CMA). Any technique has a limited resource, and washing machines are no exception. In some cases, repairs prolong the life of washing machines, in others it is easier to buy a new device. Let’s get to the heart of the matter first.

Tank and drum – what’s the difference?

The main thing is not to confuse the concepts, otherwise you can buy something completely different from what you wanted. It is often said “plastic drum”, and this is incorrect, since the drum is always made of stainless steel. But the tanks can be made of stainless steel and plastic – it is this part of the machine that interests us now.

We distinguish concepts. A tank is a metal or plastic container into which water is drawn. It is motionless, and inside it is a moving part – a drum. In the latter, water enters through the smallest holes.

The fixed tank is of two types:

1. Non-separable (solid). With this design, repair as such is not provided by the manufacturer. But there are craftsmen who undertake to change the bearings by cutting the tank. Such repairs are laborious, take a lot of time and effort. It is easier to change the washer than to spend money on complex repairs that do not guarantee successful operation. Many manufacturers believe that one-piece construction is more reliable, and therefore preferable. If a breakdown occurs, then the entire assembly is replaced. It’s not cheap, but it guarantees normal operation. But unauthorized sawing can end in failure – it is very difficult then to ensure the tightness of the structure.

2. Collapsible. With this design, the problem is solved simply – the tank is easily disassembled, the bearings are changed, and the machine works safely for several more years. It consists of a front and rear forecastle, bolted together. Foreheads fit snugly to each other, ensuring the tightness of the structure. To disassemble the element into two forecastles, it is enough to unscrew the bolts. After that change the bearings.

Both options are repairable, but in the second case, repairs are cheaper. If the design is non-separable, you have to buy a new tank, and this is not economically feasible.

List of manufacturers of SMA with a collapsible tank

Most models released 50-10 years ago had collapsible tanks. Today, preference is given to a non-separable option – almost all brands are gradually switching to one-piece cast structures. Finding SMAs with collapsible tanks is becoming increasingly difficult.

Overview of brands producing SMA with RB:

• ATLANT (“Atlant”). A Belarusian trademark that produces narrow and full-sized washing machines in a low price range – from 12 to 500 rubles. Their inexpensive, but high-quality models are designed for a simple consumer who is not used to throwing cars around: if something breaks, you can fix it.
• LG. A well-known Korean brand that produces front washers in a wide price range – from 18 to 000 rubles. LG is one of the brands that represents the best SMAs on the market, economical, functional, saturated with modern technologies. True, there is a hitch with the replacement of bearings. Although the tank unscrews into forecastles, it is impossible to change the bearings. To compensate for disappointment, a cheap replacement of the rear forecastle helps – it is produced by certified centers.
• TIME. A German brand that produces CMA is not lower than the middle class. The price range is 32–000 rubles. The range includes vertical and front modifications, including built-in ones.
• Samsung. The Korean manufacturer Samsung is famous for innovation. Many of its models are controlled from a smartphone. On the Russian market, it represents models from 16 to 000 rubles.

• Electrolux This Swedish brand represents devices of all types – Electrolux has frontal and vertical, narrow and full-size, built-in and free-standing AGRs. The lower price threshold is 20 rubles, the upper one is 000 rubles.
• Gorenje. A Slovenian company that, in addition to conventional vertical and frontal machines, also has washing machines with an additional tank – they can work without connecting to a water supply. The cost is from 16 to 000 rubles.
• Siemens. Among the products of this German brand there are front-end devices for 20 and 000 rubles each. There are many modifications of narrow and full-size versions in the assortment. There are also built-in models.
• Haier. A large Chinese manufacturer that produces devices in all price segments – from 20 to 000. Haier offers side-loading CMAs. Unusual modification – with two drums.

Which manufacturers do not disassemble the tank, a list of brands:

• Indesit (“Indesit”). Italy.
• Ariston (“Ariston”). Italy.
• Beko (“Beko”). Turkey.
• Candy (“Candy”). Italy.
• Zanussi (“Zanussi”). Italy.
• Whirlpool (“Whirlpool”). USA.
• ARDO (“Ardo”). Italy.

Both options are found in Bosch brand washers. CMA series WAA have a non-separable version, WAE – a collapsible version. The Bosch WLG washing machine is represented by two types of models. When buying Bosch, you should be especially careful if the issue of internal structure is important to the buyer.

How to find out – in which models you can change the bearings?

Manufacturers do not advertise information about the design features of washers. Yes, and most consumers are “in the subject” only after the appearance of a problem – when the bearings “fly”.

After looking at the documentation and characteristics of the machine you like, you can easily find out what kind of load it has, how many revolutions it gives out on the spin cycle, what programs and modes it has. You will be clearly told about its advantages and silent about the shortcomings. But neither the manufacturer nor the sellers like to talk about the “insides” of the SMA. The topic of “collapsible-non-collapsible” is directly related to the issue of repair, but why should a buyer choosing CMA think about breakdowns at the time of purchase?

You will have to search for the answer to the question posed on your own. Recommended course of action:

1. Ask consultants. But this is not ideal. Firstly, managers of trade pavilions often do not themselves know the design intricacies of household appliances. Secondly, the seller can simply make a mistake, so you can not 100% trust the information received from him.
2. Ask the masters who repair SMAs of different brands – they are more familiar with the inner content than others. But even here there may be a puncture – perhaps the master met with modifications of a certain brand and they had RB, and you will come across another model – with a non-separable version.
3. The best option is to verify the design solution personally by making a visual inspection. In a word, you need to look inside the device and look at the element you are interested in.

Conclusions

Summing up:

• The same brand can produce modifications with different tanks. Find out which variant a particular SMA has, by any method available to you – a question, a consultation, an examination, etc.
• In 2018, manufacturers preferred SMAs with non-separable containers. This trend will continue in 2019 as the future belongs to monolithic tanks made of high-strength polymers. Non-separable polymer construction is the most profitable option. In terms of strength, they may be inferior to stainless steel, but they are economical and, subject to the rules of operation, can serve as long as their metal counterparts.
• Despite the dominance of non-separable tanks and all their advantages – strength, durability, economy, collapsible versions continue to be a success. This will last as long as the replacement of a non-separable element costs 50% or more of the cost of the washing machine.

If you are looking to extend the life of your future washing machine by replacing bearings, look for a model with a tank that can be disassembled. Otherwise, bearing failure will cost you half the cost of the machine or you will have to change it altogether.