Features of a direct drive in a washing machine

Content:

What is the difference in design
Pros of not having a belt drive
Cons of direct drive
Which drive to choose
How to Extend the Life of a Direct Drive Machine

The choice of a washing machine is a responsible occupation, because we want to buy the best one in terms of price-quality ratio. Direct-drive washing machines are a new addition to the home appliance store. What is it, what advantages do they have? Should you buy them or should you still give preference to the old proven designs? In this article, we will try to answer all these questions.

What is the difference in design

To clearly understand how one washing machine differs from another, let's first remember how a regular washing machine works. Such a unit has a traditional working drive through a belt. This means that a motor is located at the bottom of the housing, which drives the drum through a pulley and a drive belt. If you are at least a little familiar with the device of the car, then you will easily find the similarities.

A washing machine with a direct drive has a slightly different structure. Here the motor is "mounted" directly onto the drum. The belt and pulley in this design are absent altogether, and the engine and tank are a single unit. On the one hand, this gives a number of advantages, but on the other, it does not do without disadvantages, which also cannot be ignored.

Pros of not having a belt drive

First of all, the owners of such washing machine models do not need to worry that sooner or later the belt will break and it will have to be replaced. In traditional cars, this is one of the most common breakdowns.
Unlike machines with a belt principle of operation, straight-stroke washers are much better balanced. Therefore, they are much quieter and almost never jump around the bathroom when spinning.
Because the drum is less wobbly from side to side, things in machines with a direct drive device are less susceptible to damage. The quality of the wash increases slightly.
Due to the minimal presence of rubbing parts, the engine usually lasts longer and does not require special maintenance. In this regard, energy savings are slightly increased. However, the savings will not be big enough for you to notice.
In such machines, a special control system is installed that can independently determine the weight of the laundry, the rotation speed of the drum and the amount of water required for washing.
Direct-drive washing machines are capable of washing more items at a time than their "belt" counterparts. This is due to the presence of a powerful engine and more free space.
Extended warranty period. For example, the LG manufacturer gives a 10-year warranty on the engines of its washing machines.

Cons of direct drive

Is the direct drive really as good as they say about it? Or is the design still flawed?

The biggest disadvantage of such washers is that the motor is located in the immediate vicinity of the drum. If suddenly an oil seal leaks in the machine, the motor can fill with water.And this will end up with complete burnout. Since this situation is not recognized by the warranty, repairs will have to be done at your own expense. And since the motor in the washing machine is not only its heart, but also the most expensive part, in such a breakdown it will be easier to buy a new machine.
Another "disease" of direct drive washing machines is bearings. These elements are installed in such "laundresses" with a small gap, so they often fail. As you can imagine, replacing a bearing is not cheap.
Some models with direct drive have an increased noise level when taking in and draining water. This may be due to the quality and performance of the pumps.
Direct drive cars are often crammed with very "smart" and expensive electronics. So if one of these devices fails, the cost of repairs will also not please.
Due to the fact that the direct drive motor in the "washerwoman" is located directly behind the drum, and not below or on the side, such machines can have large dimensions.
And, perhaps, the most important drawback is their cost. Like any widely advertised new product, such units are unreasonably expensive.

Which drive to choose

Direct drive washing machines are a fairly new phenomenon in the home appliance market. So, it is rather difficult to assess the actual long-term duration of their work. Therefore, before buying, you need to consider all the nuances of the operation of direct-drive washers:

It can be asserted with almost 100% certainty that the service life of any equipment depends not so much on the type of drive, but on the quality of the assembly and components in general. If you have purchased a cheap, low quality unit, no direct drive will save you from additional costs.
If the trouble did happen and the machine still needs repair, then the cost of components for new developments is immeasurably higher than for traditional equipment. This is especially true for serious breakdowns.
On the one hand, direct drive machines seem to be quieter, but on the other hand, newer models of traditional "washing machines" do not make much more noise. So this difference can hardly be considered too significant to speak of any strong advantage.
The cost of a direct drive machine is more expensive than a belt one, but given the promised long service life, sooner or later it will pay off. But this will only happen if you handle it with the utmost care, and it does not break before the deadline.

How to Extend the Life of a Direct Drive Machine

As you know, a nuisance is often easier to prevent than to eliminate its consequences. This also applies to washing machines. If you know how to properly care for the "washing machine", and most importantly, do not be lazy to do it, the technique will serve you faithfully for many years:

For starters, do not neglect prevention. Even if nothing bothers you in the operation of the machine, every three to four years it is worth inviting a specialist who will examine your assistant, carry out preventive work, where you need to lubricate and tighten the connections, replace worn parts.
To avoid leakage to the engine, you need to change the oil seal in a timely manner. It is also better to entrust this procedure to a specialist.
The bearings also need to be replaced regularly. You should not bring them to the point where they crumble by themselves.
To protect an expensive electronic control system from sudden power surges, it is recommended to equip it with a separate outlet and protection against voltage surges. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but if, as a result of a power surge, the washer's brains burn out, repairs will cost a disproportionately large amount.
To protect the internal parts (heating elements) from scale and salt build-up, it is worth installing a special filter at the inlet. It will soften water and extend the life of your home assistant.

Now you know what a direct drive is in a washing machine and taking into account all the above conditions, you can choose the best option for yourself. It is worth approaching the issue responsibly and the direct drive washer will serve you faithfully for many years.

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