Any resources for finding non-smart appliances?
My washing machine broke down. I need a replacement. I must avoid getting a "smart" one though. Are there any lists of products that arent "smart" so I can know which models are viable options to buy? Or other resources? I'm based in Ireland.
Part of the issue I found is that it's their lowest quality + shortest warranty models that are 'dumb'.
I (UK) bought this (https://ao.com/product/wnc25410gb-bosch-series-8-idos-washer...) Bosch one a few months ago and it is perfectly usable without enabling any of the smart capabilities though. I haven't connected mine to wi-fi at all.
Tempted to just buy a golfcart motor and some nesting buckets to build the thing myself. It's not a terribly complex device.
Try searching Reddit, I just found some lists. I’ve given up and instead just don’t allow things on my network. My “smart” TV begs me to see the network but I just use a Roku instead. I fear it’s come to this where we have to circumvent our own devices desperate need for connectivity.
Great tip for finding/filtering no/minimal-BS appliances is to download their user manuals and check how they actually work instead of their marketing phrases.
Do you mean no networking capabilities? My Zug is modern and advanced (even intelligent?) but no networking. Super expensive though.
My kingdom for a reliable 40yo washing machine and dryer.
So tired of replacing my appliances every 4 years
We need a better word than non-smart.
Maybe “sans iot enshittification”?
Not useful for Ireland, but I really like my local habitat for humanity thrift store for perfectly serviceable used or recovered building materials and appliances.
Maybe search for a model prior to the iot insanity wars?
I bought Whirlpool washer/dryer combo, washer is top load, both non-smart, I think it was like $600ish for both from HomeDepot. "Smart" really isn't as innovative as like improving product longevity, reducing lint clog, safety, etc. I used a smart fridge once, it won't dispense water without updating to the latest firmware. I was just glad it wasn't in my house.
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.
Most appliances like washing machines are "smart-optional" at most, and can just be used as a regular appliance if you don't want all the "smart" stuff. There are also many without any "smart" features. It's different for TVs and such, but for household appliances all of this is not really a big deal.
Is this so hard in your locale? When I browse the top three recommended washing machines on a popular Dutch appliances seller, only the third (Samsung) actually has some app functionality. The other two (Bosch, AEG) are just normal washing machines.
(The division there is currently 64 with app, 43 without. The models without appear to score higher in the reviews.)
"Smart" and "Intelligent" could have multiple meanings here. Sometimes a washer that uses a dirt sensor is labeled smart. In US I've found anything above the lowest end has wifi capability, unfortunately. My $100 printer had some suspicious notes about sending data to google (!!!). I never connect any of these gadgets to wifi.
The current one may be repairable! Repairing it would satisfy the requirement and be probably much cheaper.
What is the problem exactly?
(Or, buy a used one from a reputable brand.)
Repair your current device? If that is really not possible get a "smart" one and dumb it down - don't allow any network access or - if it insists on being connected or you want to get some use out of its "smart" functions - put it on a separate network which has no access to the internet. Of and when I'm "forced" to get a new "smart" piece of equipment this is what I do if I can not change the firmware on the thing to something under my own control. I never let any "smart" device access the internet because of a host of reasons ranging from security and privacy to the risks of the thing "upgrading" itself without my approval.
Smart also comes with bugs!
I have a washing machine without wifi fortunately. It has this steam function where you can set it to steam your clothing regularly at the end of the wash cycle, in case you forget to take them out in time.
Half the time if i turn that on it takes the button press to stop but does not unlock the door :)
I have to run an extra dry cycle manually to get at my laundry. Which kind of defeats the point of the 'fire and forget' option.
Do you want brand new? Reason I ask is there's typically resale appliance stores that have good quality non smart devices.
I bought a speed queen which is more geared to commercial usage, but you can buy without coin slots. Has two knobs and one button!
BTW, if you want to partially "smartify" your nice, dumb machine, using a Tasmota-enabled power socket which is capable of measuring the current in order to create yourself a notification system for when the washing machine is done, or when the microwave stopped cooking, can be a good solution.
It's easy finding dumb washing machines. I'd bet that most of the current washing machines on the market are dumb.
Used appliance store? We have those where I am
Our stove insists it can't implement several advertised features unless we let it at our wifi and "enable" the features. Fukdat, a stove does not need to be a network citizen, it needs to bake cookies. For me.
Then again, maybe I could hack it to host a Mastodon instance or run Doom.
Doom might be dangerous, though.
The BuyItForLife subreddit is a good source for products that are high quality, repairable, and built to last.
It's not exclusively aimed at non-smart stuff, but there tends to be a pretty strong overlap between the two - so it might be worth taking a look at.
Search for commercial appliances not consumer. Thats the most straightforward.
Consumer Reports has "WiFi" as a feature column in its product listings for washing mashines and dishwashers. So you can filter or sort on that column.
You probably have to subscribe to be able to do so, but I'd never buy a major appliance without reading the Consumer Reports rating.
Get any decent consumer grade firewall, assign static IP to appliance, block all traffic. Done.
One option is buying second-hand. Seniors are likely to have a goldmine of sturdy, repairable, dumb appliances just sitting at home like it's no big deal.
Ireland is small, you basically have Curry's or DID to choose from as a retail vendor. Just go on their websites and find a cheap model without smarts. The more expensive models don't wash any cleaner I reckon and it's often them who come with smarts baked in.
Commercial suppliers.
No motel microwave is “smart”. No commercial kitchen is going to have the line cooks installing “apps”.
BUT BE AWARE that commercial items have different requirements and tradeoffs! You need to research them before buying. Some may matter to you, some may be a safety issue, some may be technically or actually illegal to run at home.
For example, commercial ovens may look similar to your home oven, but have zero insulation anywhere and NOT be designed to be installed next to anything except solid metal.
But commercial and used commercial can be great. You can still get zero smarts devices, like microwaves with literally no computers in them, just a timer dial.
You can also import many from the USA, but you’d have to check power requirements very carefully. Commercial equipment is often available in 240v in the USA but it may not be self-switching.
But be aware that commercial dishwashers work - but even if you don’t get a massive Hobart machine that they’re designed for speed, not energy efficiency or silent operation.
Just don't give it access to the internet and you're set, no?