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

 

[MF1455v]

We have had our Maytag Neptune set for 2 years now and had no problems other that the mildew problem already mentioned. That was just on the bottom of the door seal where a small amount of water stands at the end of a cycle. Was going to call Sears (where it was purchased) or Maytag. Just happen to talk with the Sears service man at the store one day before doing so. He told me how to correct the mildew problem.

Once a month put 1/4 cup of granular dish washing detergent (cascade) and 2 cups of bleach in the tub area before closing the door. Run thru a cycle and the mildew is gone. We have been doing this for the last 3 months and have not seen the mildew come back.

 

[dmccarty]

JJT,

We bought a Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer earlier in the year.

They are great. Before we could not keep up with the laundry now it is not a problem. They can hold alot of clothes. The washer spins at 900 RPM and wrings out most of the water so that the dryer has to work very little. The washer is what causes us to wait. The dryer drys faster than the washer washes.

Right now I'm on city water. The washer uses a maximum of 15 gallons. It figures out how much water to use. My water bill has gone down by at least 25%. I'm saving a good $25 a month.

One thing that most people don't know is that a dryer wastes heated/cooled air. All of that hot/wet air the dryer vents from the house was treated air before it got to the dryer. The less time that dryer runs the better.

The Maytag and Whirlpool washer/dryers are pretty close in capactiy. The difference for us was the the Whirlpool controls are on the front of the machines while Maytags are on top. In the new house we the cabinent top will fit over the washer/dryer so we have one 12 foot long work space. We could not do that with the Maytag.

The machines are expense but have been well worth the money for us.

Later,
Dan

 

[JJT]

Folks,

Thanks a million for the feedback. Based on this, CR and some legwork, we are going the Maytag Neptune route. We have a small appliance dealer 1 town over with the unit priced at $800, (the same as Lowe's and HomeDepot). Over the past 15 years we've done a ton of business with them. No BS, no games, just the best price and they service what they sell.

Thanks again, JT

 

[dmccarty]

JJT,

I forgot to mention in my post about Maytag prices and the big box stores.

We are building a house and worked out a 10% off deal with everything we buy from Home Depot. They are changing the rules Jan 1st and we would not be able to get the 10% with the new rules. I don't know if this is just the particular store or company wide.

Since we need new kitchen appliances we wanted to save the 10% by buying from HD. We did not pick the appliances because of the brand but based on features. Maytag has a dishwasher, it was installed yesterday /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, range, and fridge that we want.

The problem is that when we tried to buy the appliances we where told that Maytag does not allow the big box stores to discount Maytag brands. The Mom and Pop stores can but HD cannot. When they said this is triggered a memory of an article I read in the WSJ about the priceing so I knew they was not a telling a lie. The day this happened I spent EIGHT hours in HD putting togather a list of things for the house. I was sitting in the appliance section and the Maytag representative appeared. She confirmed that we could not get the 10% at HD but the smaller stores can discount. I kidded her that Maytag was going to loose the sale to GE since I could get the 10%. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif She was fun to work with and honest.

What we ended up doing was going to the local Mom and Pop store for prices. Our first visit he did cut something like 3-5% off the price. The second visit and what we ordred worked out to something like 10% maybe a tad more. The wife did this one so I only roughly know the prices. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif So we ended up with Maytag for four of the five appliances. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The Lady In Blue 's company won, we got a fair price, and we helped on the smaller business. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have to say some good things about HD since they have been beaten up on TBN for years. The group of people we have delt with in this store for the last few months is excellent. They have gone way out of their way to help us out. I can't say enough good things about them. I'm not talking about one or two people but a good dozen or so. Its been one thing after another they have helped us with. We spent well over $20,000 with a smaller window/door company. The person we delt with I'm pretty sure is on commission. He made lots of money and was going to get more for interior doors and trim. He would not answer email and phone calls.

HD got the buisness. Their employees who most if not all of them are not on commission worked harder for us then the sales guy at the other company. I have been very impressed with this store. Once we are done they are getting a letter and I plan on meeting the manager to tell him how happy we have been with the service the employees have provided.

FYI,
Dan

 

[Michigan_Mike]

We just replaced a 3 year old Kenmore front loader.
It seems the bearing went, and it was going to cost $700 to fix a $600 wahser.
Sears offered a $50 coupon if we bought a new Kenmore.
That didn't happen.
My wife really likes the front loaders, so now we have an Amana.

 

[Bird]

Mike, I guess those things happen with any brand sooner or later. We had a 2 year old GE dishwasher spring a leak in the pump (oddly enough, discovered the pump leaking on our 5 year old Kenmore washer the same day). I went and bought a pump and fixed the Kenmore with no problem. But I couldn't see how to separate the pump from the motor on the GE dishwasher, so I called and learned that you don't separate them; they're only sold as a unit; for $180. Needless to say, we had a different brand of dishwasher the next day. And I've always had a high opinion of Maytag products until last year when our daughter's dryer quit. The only Maytag service people I could find and contact wanted $100 for the "service call" plus whatever it took to fix it. Since I had a pickup, two wheel dolly, etc., I wanted to just take it to them to get it fixed. Nope, nobody did that; in home service only. So I seriously doubt that I'll ever own another Maytag product even if they are good.

 

[gsxr1100]

I am with you Maytag Neptune FL for over 2 years and love it. Top loaders? Who uses that old stuff????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Uses less water too and easy to fix. Buy the parts online and save big time. Fixing them is easy, just need to find out what is wrong.

 

[RSKY]

I got the cheap Tru-Value vent, didn't cost that much but it sure dries faster. The vent appears to be aluminum and very thin.

 

[BigEddy]

We the Kenmore FL, 4 boys and a muddy yard. We do a lot of laundry and we love it.

Nobody mentioned one thing - We now do 1/3 the number of loads we used to, because the FL fits so much more in than did our old washer. About twice as much as the largest conventional washers, and 3 times what our 15 yr old one would hold.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am with you Maytag Neptune FL for over 2 years and love it. Top loaders? Who uses that old stuff????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Uses less water too and easy to fix. Buy the parts online and save big time. Fixing them is easy, just need to find out what is wrong. )</font>

Two years old and it needs fixing already????? Doesn't sound like a quality product to me, or did you just get one of the lemon colored ones???? Our top load is 10 years old and still has all of its original parts... 4 - 6 loads a week. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now that you've switched to a front loader, you need to send the soapy water to a lab to have it analyzed to see if there is any difference from using the top loader...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif