Any Front Loader washer testimonials?

[Cliff_Johns]

We bought the Maytag front loader just after it came out (or re-came out). Clothes last much longer, come cleaner and you use less soap. Ours had a problem with the gasket (it got mildewy, though it didn't leak or anything), but when we have loads of dog towels or those 3X5 rag rugs, it works great. You can wash quilts without worrying about destroying them.

We were replacing a GE top loader that died in three years. Man am I unimpressed with GE appliances.

Cliff

 

[v8dave]

We bought one and a matching dryer for our new home. They were delivered and sent back the same day. The front loaders are deeper, by 3 or 4 inches, than the standard top loaders. We couldn't open the adjacent outside door.

Make sure to measure the available space and the model you are considering--allow for the hoses on the washer and the dryer's vent, it'll add another 3 to 4 inches to the depth.

Too bad too, we've heard the same good things about them the other posters are saying.

 

[reb]

We bought a Maytag about 3 years ago. We found it marked down when a new model came out. The wife thinks it is great. It has had only one minor problem, which was covered by the warranty. My major objection was the price and the fact that everyone seemed to charge the same. When it comes time to replace this one we will look at some of the other brands.

My experience with GE appliances matches Cliff Johns'.

 

[PhilNH5]

We have had a Neptune for 6 years come Christmas. I bought it for the water savings as we have a well and septic. The manufacturer's claims on energy costs and water savings seem very optimistic. At the time they were based on 9 loads a week with an electric water heater. We only do 3 loads a week. I do not believe I will ever make up for the premium I paid for the FL. We paid 999 less 100 rebate from the electric utility so 900 bucks was my out of pocket cost. I could get two very adequate washers for that price. But I do like the low water usage. I would buy a FL for that reason alone.

We did have some of the issues that others mentioned - especially the mold around the seal. I posted that in here and someone told me to call Maytag. I did and they fixed it a good 4 years after purchasing it.

One final note. My wife does not like this washer. It has a sensor to keep the load balanced during the spin cycles. It will start and stop repeatedly to get the load balance. This can add an addtional 10 to 15 minutes onto the time it takes to complete a load. My wife hates coming down stairs to findout the thing is still running. But other than that I would recommend one.

Phil

 

[duber34]

My wife and I purchased a Whirlpool Duet Front Loader about 8 months ago. We absolutely love it. It uses far less water and less detergent. The clothes dry in a very short amount of time from having so much water spun out. I was amazed at how clean the clothes are!! (Can't figure how that works? Less water used and cleaner clothes /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ) My wife had an initial concern about having to bend down to load and unload the washer. I considered buying the storage bin that the washer sits on to raise it @ 12" but felt that it was a bit too pricey for me. I built a wooden pedestal out of 2X4 and 3/4 ply to raise the machine 18". Works great! We raved on the washer so much that my parents went out and bought the same machine from Sears badged as a Kenmore. They are extremely happy as well.

 

[BarryinMN]

I bought one of those premium Kenmore German front loader sets last year for the farm. (Well & septic.) Received a $50 rebate from electric co-op.

Anyone notice pants shirt sleeves sheets come out like twisted rope? Or is it operator error?

 

[RSKY]

We bought a Maytag Neptune Front Loading Washer and Dryer several years ago, I forget how many years but it was one of the first sold at the local Sears store. As with a lot of new products there were glitches. Maytag has covered all problems with only a one time charge of $110 on one repair. I will say that part of the problems were caused by incompetent repairmen. When we call them (Maytag) we usually get a runaround from the rep until they look up our record. One of them actually said "holy *** you have had problems", and then they get very helpful. At one time two years ago we went without a washer for two months while ours was being repaired, but honestly that ordeal was not the washers fault but an incompetent, lazy, dishonest repairman.

The good things are: A front loader does not tear up your clothes. With a top loader my work shirts were lucky to last one year of being washed weekly. With the Neptune I have some three year old work shirts that still look good enough to wear. You will use less water. You will use less energy. Your clothes will be cleaner with less soap used. You can wash delicate or hand washables, the Neptune has a setting for this, with little problem. You can stuff towels into the drum with your foot (hmmm...maybe this one will go in, okay now one more, etc) and they will still come out clean. You can wash small rugs with no problem. You can stuff in full sized quilts with no problem. You can take the cushions off outside furniture and wash them in the Neptune. Literally anything that is cloth and that you can shut the door on can be washed. Those are the good points.

The bad points: You can't add anything to the wash once the cycle has started. You must leave the door open so it can dry out or the inside may mildew. To wash tennis shoes or other heavy objects you must wait until you have a large load of towels to put in with them. The cycles are longer, but the loads are larger.

One thing to warn anybody about who purchases a large capacity washer and dryer such as the Neptune. You MUST have a rigid large diameter dryer vent. DO NOT under any circumstances use the flexible crap. Ours had the flexible hose for three or four years. The Neptune dryer is supposed to dry a load while the second is washing and the wife was disappointed that she could wash two loads while the first was still drying. I finally changed to the rigid venting and now the dryer is finished BEFORE the second load is washed. I have cost myself much in energy bills by laziness.

We have had problems with our Neptune but after having a front loading washer there is NO WAY that I would go back to a top loader.

Oh yeah, I have been told by some independent dealers that by 2010 all washers will be front loading to meet government standards on water and energy useage.

 

[GerardC]

<font color="blue"> One thing to warn anybody about who purchases a large capacity washer and dryer such as the Neptune. You MUST have a rigid large diameter dryer vent. DO NOT under any circumstances use the flexible crap. Ours had the flexible hose for three or four years. The Neptune dryer is supposed to dry a load while the second is washing and the wife was disappointed that she could wash two loads while the first was still drying. I finally changed to the rigid venting and now the dryer is finished BEFORE the second load is washed. I have cost myself much in energy bills by laziness.
</font>

What type of rigid vent did you buy? Gerard

 

[Bob_Skurka]

We purchased an Amana front load washer several years ago, it was when they first came out. There were very few models to choose from, and while I am not a big fan of consumer report or other magazines, the Amana was rated very high. What I can say is that we had one problem with it. The water discharge pump went out and had to be replaced, the cost was reasonable, and the washer has performed well. It cost less than the Maytag but seems to be of very high quality.

 

[Dargo]

It's been almost 2 years since I bought the Whirlpool Duet FL washer and dryer. With a family of 7, my wife does an average of 2 or 3 loads each and every day. Knock on wood, nary a single problem. We have them stacked, dryer on top, which gave the wife enough room to put in a folding table and hide away ironing board. She's happy, so I'm happy! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif