AO vs Currys for Large Appliances: Installation, Recycling and Total Cost

A £20 lower machine price can disappear when delivery, connection and removal are added. More seriously, a failed installation can leave a heavy appliance in the wrong room. Before comparing AO with Currys, measure the route, photograph existing connections and decide whether the old appliance will be disconnected.

Read this with our AO review, Currys review, kitchen-appliance buying guide and appliance running-cost guide. We did not order, install or test an appliance for this comparison.

AO vs Currys service prices checked

Service-price snapshot: official UK pages checked 18 August 2026. Both installation guides publish £30 for a standard washing machine, Currys publishes recycling with delivery from £20, and AO says promotional installation discounts can appear. The completed basket remains the controlling evidence.

Choose the exact appliance before the retailer

Retailer comparison is meaningful only after fixing a manufacturer model code. Similar names may hide a different capacity, energy class, hinge arrangement, colour, depth or guarantee. For washing machines, write down drum capacity, maximum spin, stated noise, energy consumption per 100 cycles and physical dimensions. For refrigeration, include total usable volumes, annual energy and door clearances. For ovens and hobs, confirm electrical load, fuel type and connection.

Search results are not enough. Open the product sheet and manufacturer documentation, then confirm the retailer page uses the same code. A marketplace seller, clearance unit or alternate suffix can change fulfilment and after-sales handling. Our shortlisting method is designed for this exact problem.

What each installation service actually covers

Freestanding laundry

AO says its service unpacks the appliance, connects to an existing water supply and standard socket, runs a cycle test and removes new packaging. Its connection point must be within one metre. Currys says its team disconnects an old appliance, checks existing water and electricity connections, connects and tests the new machine and clears packaging; the individual service page specifies connections within 1.5 metres.

Neither description authorises plumbing alterations, cabinet rebuilding or unsafe electrical work. Hoses routed through cupboards, seized valves, inaccessible sockets, extension leads and damaged waste fittings can stop the job. Send the retailer a precise question before ordering if the setup is unusual.

Integrated appliances

Integrated work costs more because the installer must attach or refit a furniture door and align the unit. AO’s page says the cold-water supply, waste connector and electricity must already exist behind or near the appliance; Currys prices integrated laundry separately. Measure the aperture, plinth, hinge geometry and door panel—not just the nominal appliance width.

If a kitchen has bespoke cabinetry, confirm who is responsible for cosmetic damage and whether the selected door system is supported. Keep an independent fitter as a fallback where cabinet adaptation is likely. A delivery crew working to a standard service brief should not be expected to redesign a unit.

Recycling and old-appliance removal

AO distinguishes Remove & Recycle, added with a new appliance, from Collect & Recycle, which can be purchased without buying a replacement. The old machine should be disconnected, empty and reasonably clean; a fridge freezer must be defrosted. Availability and pricing depend on the item, postcode and service selected.

Currys says it can take away eligible large appliances when delivering a replacement, with prices advertised from £20. The old item must be disconnected and ready; a built-in appliance should be removed from its housing. Currys prefers a similar-sized item and says a larger one is accepted only when van space permits. Confirm category, dimensions and price in the order rather than assuming any white good will be accepted.

Recycling and installation are separate decisions. If the old appliance cannot be disconnected safely, buy the correct disconnection service or arrange a qualified trade. Do not drain a washing machine across a floor on delivery morning. Photograph the old appliance and clear a safe route.

Delivery: the hidden source of difference

AO publishes a flexible model: charges vary by date, postcode and slot, deliveries usually run between 7am and 7pm with a four-hour update on the morning, and narrower paid windows may be offered. Remote regions and islands can have restrictions. This means a national headline cannot predict the real basket.

Currys also varies large-item delivery by product and postcode, with services offered through the basket. Its physical stores can be helpful for product viewing and support, although a store visit does not guarantee stock or a particular installation slot.

Compare like with like: same day, same slot width, same room placement, same installation and same recycling. A free kerbside-style delivery is not equivalent to a paid service that places and connects a 90kg appliance. If stairs, parking, lifts, narrow turns or restricted hours matter, disclose them before payment.

Returns and the cost of getting it wrong

AO offers a 30-day change-of-mind window for unused products. Its current returns page lists a £49.99 collection charge for a large item such as a washing machine, cooker or fridge freezer; services already performed are not refunded simply because the product is unwanted. AO Five Star members may receive an extended window, subject to membership terms.

Currys’ current installation product page says online buyers can return items within 30 days even after inspection, provided they remain as new and, where possible, in original packaging. Faults are handled separately; it describes repair, exchange or refund within the initial fault window and repair during the guarantee, subject to inspection.

Do not install, run or remove protective material merely to decide whether a finish looks right. Inspect model code, colour, dimensions and visible damage first. If the product is faulty, report that as a fault rather than an unwanted return and preserve photographs, packaging, delivery notes and service records. See our UK returns guide.

How to calculate the real delivered cost

Use the official energy label to estimate running cost with realistic household use. A more efficient large-capacity model can still waste energy if routinely run half empty. A slightly dearer appliance may be better value when its capacity, programme design and repair support avoid early replacement; an unused connected feature has no economic value. Our total-cost method keeps these assumptions visible.

Which retailer should you choose?

Our verdict

There is no permanent retailer winner. For standard laundry installation the published base prices are close. The decision turns on the actual appliance price, checkout-only delivery and recycling charges, postcode availability and the physical installation. AO’s detailed service guides are useful; Currys’ store footprint and electricals support can be useful. Insist that each promised service appears in the order confirmation.

Before delivery: a practical checklist

1. Confirm manufacturer model code, dimensions and energy label.
2. Measure the aperture and every doorway, turn, stair and lift.
3. Photograph water, waste, socket, gas or electrical connection.
4. Confirm the required services and exact old appliance in writing.
5. Empty, clean and where required defrost the old appliance.
6. Clear parking and a safe route; protect vulnerable floors.
7. Inspect the new unit before irreversible installation.
8. Retain confirmation, photographs and packaging until checks pass.