efficient washer/dryer

BlueRidge · Jun 10, 2005

( ... i got lucky & won a prize from work. the prize is a whirlpool frntload washer & dryer. perfect timing, but while waiting for deliver on 6-20, the old dryer died. hopefully whirlpool don't have all the probs mentioned here. )

If you got the Duet, you got one of the best, from all I've read.

Dargo · Jun 10, 2005

The Whirlpool units have been top rated by Consumer Reports for a few years now. Sounds like you got the best you can get. I won a dozen golf balls last week. Gees, I'm jealous! I'll trade!

rogdan · Jun 12, 2005

Talked with a Lowes rep. about W/D today while shopping for other things. He said Maytag had bought out 2-3 other appliance brands a few years ago (Amana was one I think?) They then ran into financial trouble and their quality dropped off.
They did have Fisher, Bosch, Whirlpool and Maytag front loaders I did get to look over. He also mentioned the trouble Maytag had in the beginning with the front load design but said they have corrected them.

dukenyc · Jun 13, 2005

I recently bought the fisher-paykel, and I am very pleased. It sips water, usign about the same as most front loaders without the hassel and additional maintenance.

After replacing the seal twice on my leaky duet, I'll never go back.

Jagmandave · Jun 13, 2005

One thing I'd recommend if you get the front end loader type, is to put them up on pedestals, those doors are really down close to the floor! Kills my back trying to pull laundry out of either one, especially looking into the dark recesses of the washer trying to find the missing black sock...........

fractal · Jun 19, 2005

( We recently bought a Fisher & Paykel washer and dryer combo. We got the top load dryer and love both.
The washer hits 1000rpm during the spin cycle the clothes come out darn near dry. Both units are HIGHLY effeicent in both electrical consumption and water consumption (big factor for me being on septic system).
I think they are somewhat cheaper than the Bosch as well.

-dave )
The fischer paykel dryer is made by general electric. It looks, tastes, smells and performs like a GE. It works great /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I thought the wife was nuts when she suggested the fisher paykel. I had never heard of them. But, having owned one ... they are great. New Zealand inguinity at its best.

We tried the maytag neptune about a year after they first came out. We bougt it at sears. The first washer was replaced after a day. Another day later they took them both back and replaced with a conventional top loader. Three years later and days out of extended service that had replaced the direct drive cam 4 times, we replaced them with fischer paykel while we could still sell the washer. It is still running strong and doing a great job at a fraction of the water.

I used to say "the maytag neptune is great for little old ladies who's clothes don't get dirty" but found that to be untrue. I now say "the maytag neptune is a decent washer for people with soft water". Those of use with hard water who refuse to compound the nitrification of our soil by using a water softener are best served with something else.

Oh, the neptune dryer burned our clothes. Literally. Could have been the soap that the washer didn't get out (yeah, we used tide HE as they recommended). Took the clothes that we just couldn't use to the laundramat and ran them through with no additional soap and ... it didn't need any. Lotsa suds. Ran through twice with no soap just to get it all out /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The one thing about fischer paykel you need to know. Their dish drawers are a lot like the maytag neptunes. Do not even think about maybe even possibly buying one if you have hard water. They won't take it.

HuckBB62 · Jun 19, 2005

We purchased the Kenmore Elite He4t set. They're truly amazing. They're extremely huge, efficient, quiet and do anything imaginable. The only problem we had (and resolved) was that the dryer was taking too long. The problem was too much dryer hose lying under the house on the cold ground. The Kenmore spins at 1300 rpm on the rinse cycle! Not much water left to dry after that eh? They're wonderful machines and Sears service is simply excellent. On top of that, you can get funky colors if you wish, blue, copper etc. They're definitely a top contender and I think they're just what the doctor ordered. New for this year is even a taller base cabinet that even standing up laundry soap bottles fit into. Yup, we love 'em.

r0GuE · Jun 20, 2005

Just thought I'd throw this out there:
I have a Kenmore front loader. Really it is a Frigidaire. I have seen it marketed as both, and when you buy replacement parts (which I've had to do twice in 4 years, they are listed as the later).

It is JUNK! This washer is engineered at the edge of self destruction. One thing to note with front loading washers is the potential for leaks. They have two halves of a tub bolted together. Mine was not even close to tight enogh to prevent leaks. They happened slowly and eventually increased until a $150 motor contoller board failed. That was when I found the leaks and the wt carpet underneath. I replaced it and about 8 months later a stabilizer shock inside it broke. That was only $30, but was a pain in the but to get at. I am NOT a fan a fron load washers anymore. I could buy a lot of water for the money and hassle I've been through. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

HuckBB62 · Jun 20, 2005

What model was yours? The reason I bought the He4t is because two families at work have been using the previous model, the He3t. No problems whatsoever. They're built almost industrially. Couldn't be happier with ours and they've had no problems either. Again, Sears service has been awesome over the years for any problems we ever had. The main circuit board went on our side by side Kenmore after ten years. That's all the problem on any Kenmore item I've ever had.