Bringing household electrical appliances into Finland

patgeorge · Post by **patgeorge** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:35 pm

We will be moving to Finland from the UK later in 2006. Most of our household electrical goods - cooker; dishwasher; washing machine; microwave; TV; etc. are less than 5 years old. All have the CE mark. Should we bring them with us or will we have to buy new ones on arrival? I know Finnish voltages are same as UK; but we're thinking of import regulations and wiring regulations.

Patrick George

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Jussi · Post by **Jussi** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:45 pm

I would say your much better off getting new ones over here. While many things will work, the are others such as the Tv that can have issues. Also the cost of moving them here is just not worth the hassle. Are you renting or buying?
...most houses for rent come already equipped with a cooker and fridge. We imprted several items and the hassle is just not worth it.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Jussi

zee · Post by **zee** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:14 pm

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I am a Systems/Networking Engr (Microsoft Certified Pro) I like meeting people and am fun to work and be with.
Thank you
Idowu Okiki

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:59 am

patgeorge wrote:We will be moving to Finland from the UK later in 2006. Most of our household electrical goods - cooker; dishwasher; washing machine; microwave; TV; etc. are less than 5 years old. All have the CE mark. Should we bring them with us or will we have to buy new ones on arrival? I know Finnish voltages are same as UK; but we're thinking of import regulations and wiring regulations.

Patrick George

Hi Patrick,

Wiring regulations are no different to the UK, except they very rarely earth things here, it will only involve chopping off your 3 pin plug and replacing it with a continental plug... costs about £1 a pop.

If you are bringing the stuff here as removals goods, I don't think there are any limits about household appliances, there should be no tax issues.

As Jussi said, most flats come with a cooker and fridge, don't bother with them.

Washing machine & dishwasher, these don't always come with rental apartments, if you've got a £1000 Miele, I'd bring it with you, if it's an el-cheapo £199 Indesit, get rid & buy a new one here.

Microwaves are dirt cheap nowadays so I wouldn't bother bringing one with you.

Does the TV have a Scart connector? If it's less than 5 years old it must have, if so, you will be able to get a Finnish Digibox for about £60 which will I'm 99% sure be compatible with your telly.

Are you bringing a car? If so, stick the telly in that & 86 the rest.

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:20 pm

One good thing to bring is a few of those 4way power strips. That way you only have to change the plug on the strips rather than on all your appliances.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:35 pm

Re the cooker..... you might want to decide on that AFTER you have found your flat/house in Finland. The first thing I did on buying our house was to ditch the cooker (actually gave it to MIL). It was a bog standard electric oven whereas I was used to a self-cleaning double fan oven with multiple extras.... When I went to buy a new oven, the guy in the electrical store was getting silly-excited as I ummed and ahhed over induction hobs and pyrolyse ovens... I ended up buying two separate ovens neither of which is as big as the one I had in France and neither is self-cleaning. OTOH if you're only staying here for a year or two you could probably make do with whatever happens to be in the kitchen in the place you rent.

I would not recommend shipping a fridge/freezer as flats/houses are usually well-equipped.

You will however, definitely need a dryer so check what's available in the house you are buying / renting (we had to go out and buy washer and dryer). As space is usually an issue, a stackable matching pair is usually the best solution.

Almost all houses/flats have dishwashers and the good news is the water is nice and soft so you don't need to buy Calgon and salt and rinser and all that crap.

Bring your own slo-cooker

can't find them here.... in fact bring a few and you can resell them on this board

I know nothing about TVs but I guess they are cheaper in the UK so if possible it would make sense to bring one. We have satellite for French TV but I'm not sure if you can get Sky etc from here...

Do you know whereabouts you will be living?

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