Sep 20, 2005 10:24 AM
36134 Views
(Updated Sep 20, 2005 10:24 AM)
Hi,
Thanks for reading mine, as ranjran's review highlighted alreay enough about advantages of Front loading (FL) machines.
Not to repeat of what is already said about FL machines, I would like to highlight something more specific to IFB Elena which is a FL machine.
First of all, lets not debate whether or not IFB a truly FL machine manufacturer, that too from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. IFB is the one and only, reliable manufacturer for FL machines.
Advantages of IFB FL (Elena model) over others (FL/TL)
a) SS304 drum with no noise
b) White powder coated metallic body on the outside/inside white highly polished surface finish to give brilliant white executive look on the outside. Good colour combs of grey and drak grey/blue for the panel
c) No electronic keys/keypad. I bet, most of the Top loading (TL) machines come with Electronic/Fuzzy electronic controls and believe me out of 100% cases in TL machines where repair & mainternance (R&M) is spent, 80% would be in changing the electric panel is gets water drenched. Also it costs you 30% of the machine cost. Funny, isnt it? Why don't we avoid getting bogged down by using simple mechanical push buttons and mechanical timers, which is exactly what IFB Elena offers. Though IFB also goes mad providing electronic controls on their high end models.
d) Pumped out water drain- By this I mean all other machines (especially TL) drains by gravity, i.e. the drain pipe is tucked vertical. After wash, you release the drain pipe in your bathroom to release water. But did you ever think, in order to create some drain outlet at the bottom, the manufacturer have to leave some bottom clearance to allow for welding of the drain outlet. That ''bottom clearance water pool'' remains in the machine for ever. What is the result? Users of TL know it. The bottom rusts and gives away, badly. Where's in all IFB FL machines, there is a special drain pump which pumps till the last drop of water is sucked and forced out of the machine. Those who own IFB's can hear ''droooch..drooch..droch..drch...'' after each spinning cycle. Thats the drain pump saying ''Don't worry, I would expel each & every drop of water''. Rate me if I am right.
e) 5 Kg capacity (IFB Elena) in FL is still more voluminous than that of a TL. How? Becuase a TL can't sustain any additional weight (means if you put heavier clothes, like jeans you cannot count more clothes being put). Whereas in an FL, weight is not being checked by the machine, you have to fill 80% of the volume of the drum. You are counting definitely more number of ''jeans kind of'' clothes. In short, at this point, if you wash heavier clothes more, FL would make you run lesser times than a TL.
f) A 5 Kg FL from IFB (Elena) is the cheapest and the best of all FL ranges from Whirlpool or LG or anyone else. It costed me mere Rs. 13700, compared to whopping 20's and 30's of LG or anyone else of same capacities and with more troublesome features.
g) Some wrote about ''troublesome service'' and I read about customer pains also from IFB users. Frankly, I bought my machine in Dec 2004 and till date, I have never had to call any service. Except to replace a plastic cap which is provided for an occasional removal of trapped dirt and refuge in the strainer of outlet. This cap threads were causing leak at the bottom. It was replaced '' I n s t a n t l y'' the same day of informing.
Disadvantages
a) You have to bend down to load clothes. Helps you excercise though a little. Asks to practice bowin down, making you more tuned/used to respecting others :-)
b) Needs a lot of water. A lot. It takes in water 3 times and throws out 3 times. Which is also about 3 times more than TL machine.
1st- while it starts wetting the clothes
2nd- while it starts rinsing the washed clothes
3rd- before spinning
c) Most of the FL are very expensive (except a few low end models from IFB)
I hope this review helps you to decide something.
I am sure, such a review would have helped me a lot before I bought my IFB Elena, as I spent almost a day everywhere before I could decide on anything.
If it did to you, do rate this review and write me on AMRESH@GMX.NET
