This could be a reset failure, failure to complete a programme, or an issue with door opening waiting time. If water is still in the drum this will prevent the door from opening. The appliance is leaking To get some more in-depth running costs, I used the figures stated on the EU energy label, which assume 220 washes per year. This let me break-down the stated energy and water consumption figures to give us an average cost per wash, using average electricity and water costs. Examining our stain strip, we have – left to right in the image below – red wine, vegetable oil, tomato sauce, orange juice and gravy, all left to dry into the fabric. At the end of the wash cycle, all the stains had effectively been removed, bar a circle of the tough red wine test and a faint mark left of the ketchup.

When on the spin, this washing machine has a noise level of 82 dB which is quite loud. As such, it will best be suited for a utility room or similar closed space where noise won’t echo through the property. There’s also a delay timer (in hours, from one to 24) and an options button that lets you select an extra rinse, the hygiene mode (for washes at 60ºC and above, this option maintains the same temperature throughout the entire wash), and an anti-crease easy-ironing mode. Basic as these controls are, they’re extremely simple to use and you shouldn’t need to turn to the manual too often. Next to the programme dial, you’ll see the Smart Touch area with a picture of a smartphone. This is to enable NFC-enabled smartphones to transmit a programme from the Candy Simpli Fi app to washing machine. Only, it isn’t all NFC smartphones, since iPhones currently aren’t supported and you can only use an Android handset.

Stain removal – Pretty good on the 30ºC wash, although the synthetic wash ended up folding the stain strip leaving a blob of ketchup behind.

KG Mode - Weighs the load during the first four minutes and adjusts the length of the programme and the water consumption accordingly Candy is an international brand. And provides an entire range of free-standing and built-in washing machines with some of the most advanced technology. The Candy Grando, for instance, has been developed to meet all laundry needs. Featuring a 9kg drum capacity, automatically adjust settings and special drum action for a deep clean. Functions are easy to use too, ensuring that you won’t have to stress over finding the right setting for your needs. The smart features also add to the energy savings that you can get with this device. Pros Features and programmes – Very basic controls, but they’re easy to use and there are wash programmes to cover most types of clothing. Variable Spin and Temperature - Allowing you to adjust the spin speed and temperature on all cycles to suit the loadOne noteworthy feature of this washing machine is the intelligent sensor technology. At the start of each cycle the machine analyses the load’s weight, and adjusts the time, water, and electricity used by the machine. This gives it an A+++ energy-efficient rating, helping you save on energy bills whilst helping the environment. To work out yearly figures, I used the average number of washing machine loads in the UK (274 per year), and multiplied by three different load amounts (6kg for high, 4.5kg for medium and 3kg for low) to get a total amount of washing per year in kg. This is often an issue with the outlet pipe which may need re-aligning by a qualified plumber. Mid-cycle stopping Water remaining in the drum can cause this. Water not draining away needs to be dealt with by a trained technician. Incorrect control options or settings can also affect the spin cycle. An unbalanced load in a machine fitted with an electronic sensor can also stop the machine from spinning. The appliance is really noisy

Thanks to the 1600rpm spin speed, our clothes retained 0.9kg of water, which works out at a decent 34.62% of their original weight. The washing machine’s energy label says that this machine has an A-rated spin cycle, and the tests confirm it. It’s useful to have such an efficient spin, since it means that your clothes spend less time drying or in a tumble dryer. The easy iron function also ensures that this is a great choice for those on a busy schedule, whilst the economy wash will save you even more money. The KG detector also helps ensure that the right level of water is used with every wash. Running costs are impressively low, even more remarkable by virtue of how little this washing machine costs. Stain removal is about as good as I can expect from a machine at this price. While this washing machine is certainly not quiet and does vibrate quite a lot, for the features you get on the price you pay, most overlook this and are very happy their choice. With smart connectivity and high load capacity, this is a modern machine for the modern family.

Final Verdict on the Candy

Spin efficiency – Excellent, particularly when the washing machine can run at 16oorpm to leave clothes comparatively dry. Rated A+++, the Candy Grand’O Vita GVS169DC3 should be efficient to use and run. To test, I started out with our standard wash at 30ºC. This cycle used 0.53kWh of power and a fairly frugal 29.4l of water. Stain removal – Pretty good on the 30ºC wash, although the synthetic wash ended up folding the stain strip leaving a blob of ketchup behind. Unfortunately, problems do occasionally occur. And although you may not be able to fix them yourself it’s good to know what they may be related to. See common Candy washing machine problems and troubleshooting here… Candy Washing Machine Error Codes Noise performance is decent, and I measured the Candy Grand’O Vita GVS169DC3 at 57.7dB during the standard part of the wash, taken from 30cm from the middle of the door. Spin speed was 79.6dB. Both figures are below the figure stated on the EU energy label, and about average for a cheaper washing machine.

Spin efficiency – Excellent, particularly when the washing machine can run at 16oorpm to leave clothes comparatively dry. Ultimately, if you’re on a budget, then the Candy Grand’O Vita GVS168D3 8Kg washing machine could be a great choice. Smart features also ensure that this will save you time, energy and provide an easy option for washing your clothes.

GVS148D3-80

With a drum capacity that isn’t too far off the typical max 9Kg, this washing machine will be suitable for the average or larger family. The smart features also ensure that it is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of time to choose specific settings. Features and programmes – Very basic controls, but they’re easy to use and there are wash programmes to cover most types of clothing. Candy Grando washing machine problems may be varied. The following list states the fault and the parts of the appliance that could be the cause: The machine won’t start Stain removal wasn’t quite as effective, since the stain strip folded and twisted inside the sheet during washing. As such, results may vary from wash to wash. I found that most of the stains were removed, but there was some red remaining, while the tomato sauce stain had partially transferred to another part of the stain strip. However, where the strip hadn’t become folded, the ketchup stain was less visible than on the 30ºC cotton wash. It’s worth pointing out that in both tests, the countdown timer wasn’t particularly accurate. For the synthetic wash, I found that the last 2 minutes of the spin cycle took closer to 10 minutes to complete. Think of it as an indicator of time, rather than a hard-fast timer.