I’ve got an Electrolux (AEG) since 2015 and it recently needed its heating element replaced because I never bothered to use any water softeners. It took the serviceman 10 minutes and cost less than 100 euros.

I also have friends with Samsung washing machines. Let’s just say get an AEG.

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robin_reala 6 days ago | parent | next [-]

My Samsung dryer needed a heating element replaced. It cost €450 (~80% of the original purchase price) and involved replacing basically half the machine. I’ll be actively avoiding Samsung in the future.

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bdavisx 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

That's an insane amount - how old is the dryer?

I've replaced two heating elements in my ~9 year old Samsung dryer, I think the heating elements were less than 50 USD. I did the labor myself so I don't know how much that would have been - you do have to take the dryer apart, but it doesn't take very long if you have experience, 15-20 minutes or less.

I would not recommend Samsung - I've had to take that dryer apart more than 10 times to replace/fix things, I can't imagine how much it would have cost me if I couldn't do it myself. The only plus there is now I can literally break it down and put it back together very quickly when I need to fix it.

Luckily the Samsung washer has been fine.

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robin_reala 5 days ago | parent [-]

The heating elements were buried deep in the machine and would have involved many hours of labour to take it apart; it took long enough to strip it down to the point where I realised how complex it was going to be to get any further. Machine was bought in late 2021, but was unfortunately out of guarantee by a couple of months when it broke. I’m happy to tear stuff down (spent yesterday unsticking the fan on a vacuum cleaner) but that was too much for me.

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sizzle 5 days ago | parent [-]

So what did you end up doing to fix it? My old whirlpool dryer is bulletproof and easy to repair.

	▲	robin_reala 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		Paid to get the entire bottom half of the inside of the machine replaced. It was that, or spending weeks trying to debug the problem with non-existant parts, or buy a new one.

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sizzle 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

This is why you’ll have to pry my 20 year old gas burning whirlpool dryer from my dead hands.

I replace a squeaky drum wheel ~$20 and a drum pulley belt kit ~$40 and this dryer is flawless. It can bake my towels if I want or run low heat for delicates.

My parents Samsung is constantly on the fritz and their home warranty company keeps replacing parts or the whole unit over the years.

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rsynnott 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I have an Electrolux whose heating element gave out after six months. Fortunately well within the warranty period; repair guy mentioned that it was a known issue. Eight years later it's still going strong, so...