front load washers

[kenmac]

For those of you that have them. Have you had any mold issues ?? I was reading C R & they stated several brands were having issues with mold & that there was a class action lawsuit against manufactures with these problems

 

[thatguy]

i have seen ppl online mention a 'musty' smell because you have to keep the door closed, but no mold problems... But one leads to the other i bet

brian

 

[Travelover]

Front load washers retain a little water in the bottom and will mold if you keep the door and detergent dispenser closed. I always leave the door open and periodically run a white load through with a little bleach. No problems.

 

[radman1]

I don't get the fascination with front load washers. Cost more up front. More difficult to load/unload. Can't add item to washer once it is started. Suppose to use less water and can be stacked with dryer if space is an issue. I have had 3 friends with them and they have had issues with them. 2 with leaks around the door seal and a few other problems.

 

[Bird]

Suppose to use less water

And less detergent and get the clothes cleaner, if you believe the salesman. When our front loader Maytag died after three and a half years and Sears said the repair would cost more than I paid for the washer to begin with, we went back to a top loader. Now I've read some reviews about the top loader we have and complaints about it being noisy. And they're sure right; it's the loudest one I've ever heard. However, in our case, it's in the garage so the noise doesn't bother us one bit as long as it does a good job.

 

[zimcocomp]

I just installed a new washer and dryer a couple a months back. When I checked with the service department (which I always do) for things to watch for they definitely warned not to leave the rubber boot wet. Just wipe dry after each use and leave the door open a crack.

 

[Travelover]

I like the way they spin clothes out almost dry - much less drying time. If you mount one on a wood floor, you may feel it vibrate the whole house, if a load is unbalanced.

The early Maytags had problems and kind of made a bad name for the front loader's dependability. Think GM car diesels from the 70's.

 

[Bird]

The Sears service technician also said he tells everyone that IF you buy any of the machines with the lights and digital displays to either buy the extended warranty or service contract or have a pile of money handy.

 

[kenmac]

I like the way they spin clothes out almost dry - much less drying time. If you mount one on a wood floor, you may feel it vibrate the whole house

The artical mentioned that front loaders spin much faster than top loaders. If installed on a wood framed floor that you would notice more vibration than with a top loader. It Also nentioned to use a special low suds det. in front loader. The reason I bring this up is. My wife has been eyeing front loaders for some time & just wonder if they are worth the trouble

 

[zzvyb6]

I had a Maytag front loader with the mold problem. Turns out it's aggravated by not using the new 'e' soaps. (You use a LOT less detergent). These washers also had front door closure latch problems (The "wax" motor: sort of an electric heat activated hydraulic cylinder on the latch. And of course the bearing seal problems. Instead of paying $900 for a new drum assembly, I beat the bearings out and replaced them with water friendly, sealed ones for $35. Yeah, the front loaders use less water, spin much faster to save dryer cost, but were a royal PITA. Parts on eBay now.

BTW: The sloshing sound you hear from the drum is not water that remained in the drum, but a saline solution which is part of a self balancer system needed for the seveal periods that the drum goes thru when spinning up in super fast dry mode. I replaced mine with a super big capacity top loader with efficiency options and never looked back.