Nov 26, 2004 02:24 PM
20104 Views
(Updated Nov 26, 2004 02:24 PM)
Hi,
We'd owned a TVS (now Whirlpool) fully automatic machine for the past seven years, and seeing that the ''service engineers'' are crooks, we opted to go for a new one.
The IFB Elena was the way to go, mainly coz it was backed by IFB, it was within our budget (cost us about 13.5k), and was of a tumble wash type. Similar washing machines of other brands cost at least 17-18k.
Elena does the job. A totally no frills washing machine, that uses very less water and detergent (than our ealier top loading one), and is very easy to operate.
It comes with just three switches: 1. Wash level selector 2. Hot/Cold switch 3. Power switch. And you are ready to go.
I definitely saw a major improvement in our wash quality over our previous machine, in which we had to pre-soak our clothes in hot water to get the same wash quality.
We have been using Tide (after experimenting with other brands) with quite satisfactory results.
That's about its wash capability.
Now lets talk about its shortfalls.
If your wash load is on the higher side, clothes come out dripping wet. The spin cycle is simply inadequate. What I think happens is heavy clothes on the periphery prevent the inner clothes from getting spun dry. We never had this problem in our top loader.
Woe befall if your machine stands on a floor that isn't accurately level. We have called the service guys at least 8 - 9 times within the last year ( we bought in in Oct 2003), because if the machine gets off-leveled.. the drum starts making noise like its going to explode! The whole machine seems as if its going to jump off the balcony.
I think it makes use of a pretty serious counter balance, that needs to be horizontal. At each time the problem got resolved by using the levelling screws to
level out the machine. But the way it jumps around, you have to call those guys once 2 months!
The service is very prompt, either that, or they know our house very well (due to the frequent visits)!.
