To be fair, while we have tended to buy German (mainly Bosch) for all our refurbs. For our new build we'll set up a subscription to Which and use their guidance. May try and buy most units in the UK (better prices), possibly from a big supplier in Huddersfield (no connection!).

How much are you looking to spend? Lowest lifetime cost is probably to buy the cheapest possible stuff you can and replace it every few years but most of us on here aren't comfortable with that approach.

Most brands are actually owned by a few large companies with the brands used to target different types of customers with different willingness to spend

Bosch, Siemens, Neff and Gaggenau are the same company and share a lot of parts. Bosch are usually cheapest. Neff normally sold through kitchen shops rather than high street. Gaggenau adds a very fancy case and doubles the price.

Electrolux apparently own over 50 brand names. Among the more well known ones are AEG, Tricity Bendix, Zanussi.

Miele stuff still appears to be much better made than most other companies but comes with a price tag to match. The 'bottom of the range' Miele models look good value for money and some come with 5 or even 10 year (some are time limited offers) parts and labour warranty (though out of warranty Miele apparently insist on you using their expensive tied repair network and charge a lot for parts).

http://www.iseappliances.co.uk/ only sell washer, dryer and dishwasher but come with 10 year parts and labour guarantee. Miele level pricing though - around £1000.

John Lewis are competitive for price and usually offer warranty longer than the manufacturers own. Their own brand goods looked to be high quality when I saw them last.

If you want built-in/integrated you'll pay more for the same model from the same manufacturer than if you have freestanding and built in fridges/freezers tend to be very small inside.

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Victorianeco</cite>buying a £2000 Miele washing machine when I could buy 5 x £400 Bosch ones for instance.</blockquote>

Maybe not, but might be worth buying a £1000 Miele - my sister in law is using a Miele dishwasher that is over 20 years old. It's had few replacement parts but gets daily use from a family of 5.

In my last house our appliances were about 8 years old when we sold. The AEG built in dishwasher had required a new circuit board fairly early on it's life and we'd had to disassemble it a number of times to unclog/repair. It was a piece of junk - crappy plastic parts with no strength anywhere. Built in Bosch washing machine was showing signs of being on the way out as well. There were only 2 of us so it's not like this stuff got hammered.

I'd concur with others regarding Miele build quality, plus their after sales is excellent. On a couple of occasions I've had vacuum cleaners serviced and everything is just a phone call away, they arrange collection, the lot.
Their appliances are expensive but many years ago while living in Germany I was told that they are the streets ahead of the competition on any appliance that requires water for it's function. I've had several of their appliances, and others over the years, and for me the good advice still stands.

We love our Bosch WTW84560GB Condenser tumble dryer with heat pump, it seem that it is not on the market anymore, but they have lots of other models with heat pumps.

Apart from cheap running costs, it has a large drum with a light, nice controls and clear display so it very easy to use. The only issue is that there is no way to connect the condenser output to a drain.

For fridges and freezers, the best energy performers are Liebherr.

But don't forget that their purpose is to extend the life of the contents, which are much more valuable than the cost of energy. Fridges should be kept at no more than 3-4 deg C and when buying always check the thickness of the insulation.

Dishwashers - a model with a hot feed capability will beat the pants off the rest in terms of running cost and CO2, provided the hot dead leg is less than 3 litres. Regardless of the temperature setting, the final rinse is normally carried out at 65 deg C.

Our 10 year old Indesit can take 60 deg C supply and our dead leg is 2.5 litres.

It uses 8 litres per fill, 16 litres per cycle total. Only the first 2.5 litres is 'unheated' and even that is 10 deg C warmer than mains water. Because we have solar thermal hot water available 8 months of the year, the running costs are minimal.

I would agree with Bosch and Miele for washing machines, but don't forget the extraction efficiency (not the same as spin speed as the drum diameter is a key factor) as this will mean less drying.

Tumble dryers, especially the vented type, are the spawn of the devil. If you have to have one, it has to be a condensing heat pump model. In our house, of course, we have a vented model with an SWMBO controller, complete with faulty logic circuitry. It will have to go (the dryer, that is) but replacement will be expensive, other things have priority.

An unvented tumble dryers within the thermal space of the house is not a problem provided it is only used when you can’t dry outside. Being able to get back from holiday and have 3 loads of washing dry and read to go away before my wife is back at work, is worth anything, as otherwise she will not stop running round like a headless chicken.

It helps greatly if the washing machine has a very effective spin, a lot of our cloths come out of our washer very close to being dry.

Could I buy this Liebehrr and repair cheaply??
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Integrated-Liebherr-Fridge-Freezer-/201197950926?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Fridges_Freezers&hash=item2ed85517ce

Hi,

Our local white good repair man only stocks LG washing machines. I wasn't aware of them but there is no belt and has an integrated drum motor. He swears by them, £350 for 8Kg model.

He fixed our old whirlpool one (I replaced the brushes but it was still earthing) when he cleaned it out. When it finally goes we will get one. Worth a look.

Andrew

Posted By: VictorianecoCould I buy this Liebehrr and repair cheaply??
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Integrated-Liebherr-Fridge-Freezer-/201197950926?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Fridges_Freezers&hash=item2ed85517ce" rel="nofollow" >http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Integrated-Liebherr-Fridge-Freezer-/201197950926?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Fridges_Freezers&hash=item2ed85517ce

This is an old model, don't touch with a bargepole.
The latest Liebherr fridges have 65mm PUR and 80mm in the freezers. The photo looks like 35/40 for the Fridge and 65 for the freezer.

The old model will also have a less efficient compressor. Buy new.

Posted By: GaryBThe latest Liebherr fridges have 65mm PUR and 80mm in the freezers

Which has the impact of meaning the same external size of appliance has a '*lot* less internal volume. Worth paying some attention to - don't just think 'we had a 1800mm high fridge freezer last time, that's what we need again'.

Liebherr make Miele's fridges and freezers.

The Asian manufacturers only recently seem to have started pushing their kitchen appliances in the UK but LG and Panasonic both look good.

Is there a way to compare double ovens and hobs?

I don't see anything that allows an easy comparison, like the energy efficiency ratings, any suggestions?

Posted By: WeeBeastieOne thing to be aware of if shopping in JL: I had a repair man out to look at a washer-dryer that I bought there and he pointed out that one of the shop floor salesmen is a Bosch/Neff rep so will push those brands. Disclaimer: this has not been verified!

I'll verify that. At least they seem to have branded shirts for the company they are plugging and are upfront.

I have a Liebherr fridge and its been faultless.

I have had Miele washing machines and they've been great. The performance is good. I previously had washer dryer. Good for a flat but you can only dry half a load at a time, so if you want to wash a full load, you need to take out half after the wash.

With a condenser dryer, you can use the water in your steam iron - less limescale.

I've just killed my Miele vac by hoovering the plaster dust on some work recently carried out. :-(

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Victorianeco</cite>Hollybush I've already posted a link to energy efficiency site</blockquote>

Thanks - but Sust-it doesn't cover hobs or double ovens

<blockquote><cite>Posted By: HollyBush</cite><blockquote><cite>Posted By: Victorianeco</cite>Hollybush I've already posted a link to energy efficiency site</blockquote>

Thanks - but Sust-it doesn't cover hobs or double ovens<img src="/forum114/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/sad.gif" alt="" title=""></img></blockquote>

You won't find energy ratings for hobs, but the following page may help a little in making a comparison, although you may have to check the cost per unit from your potential suppliers:

http://www.confusedaboutenergy.co.uk/index.php/buying-household-appliances/cookers#.VEX2BrCDRpU

Just remember to factor in service costs for gas appliances if they are under consideration.