Front Load Washers revisited...

[hazmat]

Seems we discussed this a couple years back front load washers

I'm in the market for new washer/dryer. The dryer squeeks like a mouse on crack - I can't hear myself think when I'm in the basement. It makes more noise than my table saw . Washer is a top load, decent capacity, but a water & energy suck compared to the new technology.

Anyway, LG, Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Bosch seem to get good reviews. All are expensive. Who makes the Kenmore?

LG seems to lead in the "specs" department - largest capacity 4.0 cu ft, highest spin rate 1200-1320 rpm (depending on which model). And steam - didn't even know I needed steam,

I could really care less about all the fancy different wash cycles, just want to put my clothes in dirty & get them out clean. Although the "sanitize" function that some advertise is appealing to me knowing that my clothes are in the same load as my 18 mo old's especially after a "blowout" :

Features important to me:
Capacity - Is there a practical difference between 3.8 and 4.0 cu ft?

Stainless drum - presumable longer lasting - most have lifetime warranties

Washer Cycle time - consumer reports tests showed big differences here from < 1 hour to 1.5 plus.

Drying time - I'm assuming since these front washers spin faster that the matching dryer is able to dry a load in the same or less time it takes to wash it.

Am I missing any important features? - the salesman was talking about direct drive vs. belt drive and porcelin tops, not sure if either would sway me...

So - anyone care to report on their washers. Based on specs alone the LG is leading the list, but I'm unsure of their quality- perhaps y'all can enlighten me.

 

[gordon21]

I went through all the same thinking you are doing about 6 months ago. All the various brands and models seemed equal until one little comment was made by the salesman at Sears. Once you start a load in the front loaders, you CANNOT stop it until the entire cycle is done (30-75 minutes). No exceptions. Once I heard that, we bought the top loader version that has no agitator and uses "volcano" action to cycle the clothes. Every time we load it and start it, we find one or two more things to throw in within the first 5 minutes. It's easy to do; stop the washer, open lid, throw in extra items, shut lid and hit the start button again.

The new washers are super quiet, use only 1/3 the water and give great results. The lack of a agitator prevents items from getting caught and damaged.

 

[n8wrl]

We have a two-year old pair of Kenmore "Elite HE3"s on pedistals and we reallly like them. We bought them seperately - washer on sale at Sears and dryer at one of those bash-and-dent sales at a regional distribution center via eBay. HUGE capacity compared to the top-loader we used to have and I think it does use less water. Clothes come out great. No idea who makes it - somewhere on the web a while back i came across a list of who makes what. Maybe some google time?

-Brian

 

[JRobyn]

We got the Whirlpool ones at Costco. Was about $100 less than Lowes for each unit and they had an offer for a rebate for one of the pedestals. Dryer finishes a load in something incredible, like 30 minutes! Washer DOES HAVE a feature to pause and add stuff. Figured at Costco, if we didn't like how they worked, we'd return 'em;-). You may see some negative reviews about the bleach dispenser erroneously dumping into a load at the wrong time. Upon examination of the very simple and effective mechanism for how the dispenser works, it is my conclusion that the only way there can be a problem is USER ERROR. Wife is very pleased. Plus, they're almost as much fun to watch as TV!

 

[schmism]

we have a set, ausome!

they clean the clothes so much better, with so much less water and soap its amazing...

we opted for non electric gizmo versions. i didnt want to have buttons dieing, LCDs going bad and circit boards fryed in 5 years when the avg life of my current waster/dryer was well past 10 years.

we opted for the kind we can fit under a counter and are stackable. (we currently have ours stacked)

i think the pedistals are WAY over priced for what you can build out of some 2x4 and plywood ($300 a piece!... for metal stands! you MUST be jokeing)

 

[cast_and_blast]

I went through all the same thinking you are doing about 6 months ago. All the various brands and models seemed equal until one little comment was made by the salesman at Sears. Once you start a load in the front loaders, you CANNOT stop it until the entire cycle is done (30-75 minutes). No exceptions.

This was an erroneous statement by the salesperson.

I have a Maytag Neptune set and it's quite easily paused, opened, added to and re-started.

Hopefully the salesperson knew a bit more about the unit that they actually sold you.

Scott

 

[kc5dlo]

I bought the no frills version of the Maytag neptune stacked set a few years ago. I'm pleased with its performance to date with no problems. Mine allows about 5 minutes or so after starting to pause and add clothes to the load. After that it does want to run the complete cycle before unlocking the door. Has'nt been a problem for me.
I was told to try the local appliance dealer when I bought my appliances. I bought the Neptune set, the Gemini Range, an over the stove microwave and a dishwasher. I tried the box stores and discount electronic places, all wanted the advertised list prices with no discounts allowed. One place said that maytag dictated what they could charge for them. Legal? The local appliance dealer sold me the package almost 1500 less than the other places quoted and delivered them for free. I did do the installs myself though.
You have to use detergent marked "HE" but you use a surpriseingly small amount of it per load. Also found some detergent at Sears in a giant pail that works well and is really cheap.

 

[escavader]

HAZMAT
Since we talked about these way back,we have had zero problems with our kenmore.Less water[less well pump electricity] spins them dryer[less dryer electricity]more capacity-less loads[saves on electricity].I figure with the 10 0r 20 bucks a week my light bill dropped its paid for already.It is a no brainer-buy one.it will pay for itself,and create less work for you folks
ALAN

 

[Harvster]

Check out Fisher&Paykel washers and dryers. Bought mine at Lowe's about two years ago and they are great. Cost about 1/2 to 2/3 of something like the Kenmore elite line. The washer is a top loader but uses sensor technology to only fill the tub as needed and has a unique washing system. Uses water like a front loader. It has a large capacity, only 0.1cu ft less than the Kenmore elite. Spins at about 1000rpm so the drying time is reduced. The dryer is a top loader. The drum opens up sideways from the top. The dryer works well and fast, tumbles one direction for a while than reverses so things don't get twisted up. And finally the feature I can't live without... the lint bucket. The little lint screen empties itself into a little container inside the dryer and only needs to be emptied about every 10 loads. I hate cleaning lint screens and this is so easy. Just pull it out and dump it. For the money, water savings, load completion time I can't see myself ever buying anything else.

 

[Bird]

In May '05, we bought a Maytag set (washer & dryer) from Sears. We specifically, at that time, wanted the small size and front loaders. But since we weren't that familiar with them, and since these have all those new digital displays, etc., I bought a 3 year extended warranty that I normally would not buy. That warranty also includes an annual preventive maintenance or routine maintenance checkup. So in May '06, I called Sears and they sent out a service technician. The day before he arrived, the dryer started making an unusual noise. So he ordered the necessary part to be shipped directly to us and told us to call when it arrived and they'd come back to install it. We did that and a different service man came the second time. If you didn't know it, Sears service men now work on all brands, whether you bought the product from Sears or not. And I visited a good bit with both of the service men who came to our home; one older fellow and one young one. Both of them expressed a belief that the Whirlpool products, which includes the Kenmore, which Whirlpool makes, are both the most reliable, and if they do need service, the easiest to work on. Now of course you may think that's just Sears employees trying to sell Sears products, and you could be right, but I don't really think so. I think these guys were being honest. So if I were going to buy now, I'd buy Kenmore. In fact, the Maytags we bought in May '05 replaced 10 year old Kenmores that were still working.