You think HVAC equipment maintence sucks???

[RickB]

Couldn’t possible be anything to do with low end components and crappy designs.

As long as we keep buying cheaply made chit they will make it.

 

[goeduck]

We have two laundry rooms (I built the second after getting tired of my wife complaining about my filthy clothes). In mine I have a front load LG and hers (newer) a top load LG. Both visually have a stainless liner in the drum but I suspect the outer drums are plastic. The top load is easier for her to get clothes out of so we went that way. Also it does not have the little cleanout trap door on the bottom that my front loader does. I got rid of an ancient Maytag top loader (I know, I know) that was working fine but used a boatload of water. Repeat, a boatload of water. My OCD wife washes laundry way too much (few clothes on high setting) and my leach field was struggling to absorb it. I could not get her to stop (living with someone OCD is an adjustment) so I went with a washer that uses much less water than the old Maytag. That solved my water problem. Unfortunately I did that prior to adding the second laundry room or I would have kept it for myself. The top load cleanout must be done regularly otherwise the water in it starts to stink. I never understood why that is, but it does. I assume the trap is not pumped through but I never needed to take off the sheetmatal to see. I also never thought of the idea k0ua posted of adding vinegar. Does that clean up the trap water?

 

[k0ua]

We have two laundry rooms (I built the second after getting tired of my wife complaining about my filthy clothes). In mine I have a front load LG and hers (newer) a top load LG. Both visually have a stainless liner in the drum but I suspect the outer drums are plastic. The top load is easier for her to get clothes out of so we went that way. Also it does not have the little cleanout trap door on the bottom that my front loader does. I got rid of an ancient Maytag top loader (I know, I know) that was working fine but used a boatload of water. Repeat, a boatload of water. My OCD wife washes laundry way too much (few clothes on high setting) and my leach field was struggling to absorb it. I could not get her to stop (living with someone OCD is an adjustment) so I went with a washer that uses much less water than the old Maytag. That solved my water problem. Unfortunately I did that prior to adding the second laundry room or I would have kept it for myself. The top load cleanout must be done regularly otherwise the water in it starts to stink. I never understood why that is, but it does. I assume the trap is not pumped through but I never needed to take off the sheetmatal to see. I also never thought of the idea k0ua posted of adding vinegar. Does that clean up the trap water?

According to the wife, the vinegar does several things. It kills bacteria, and will keep the trapped water from stinking, makes the clothes smell nice, and also breaks down grease a bit. The instructions of our top load washer says once a month to run some special expensive cleaner thru it, but she just uses 1/4 to 1/2 cup on heavy loads, once in a while. She especially uses it on heavily soiled clothing like work clothes that have been sweated in a lot or may be greasy. Or if the machine starts smelling just a little funky she will run a load with the vinegar added and it apparently clears it right up.

 

[Sigarms]

Apparently vinegar works wonders.

I can tell you for a FACT that if you have a tankless water heater (particularly Rinnai), and are on well water, to clean the heat exchanger out (on that tankless water heater) once a year with vinegar.

 

[zzvyb6]

Speaking of which, Our latest Maytag uses a soap drawer instead of the side-cups I've always been used to. Took us a few weeks to get it right.

Latest adventure was an out of balance bedspread that made the machine totally inoperable with the drain pump running continuously for 10 minutes at a time no matter what you tried, even after unplugging.

So, it was Google which suggested we unplug for 1.0 minutes, then plug it back in and immediately raise and lower the lid SIX times within 30 seconds to reactivate the controls. This sounded like a scam to me, but this procedure did reset the lockout. Manual ? Who needs a user manual to wash clothes ?

BTW: This machine will pass quarters I leave in my pants pockets. The old one passed pennies, nickles and dimes but the quarters clogged up the slotted drain filter in the drain housing. Fortunately, all the change now shows up in the dryer lint trap.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

>Snip< deleted.

 

[Sigarms]

Well, new machine showed up yesterday via Lowes. Nothing out of our pocket, top loader, this time a LG (girl at lowes said she see's less LG's back if that actually means anything.

Funny thing is when they were wheeling in the new one tipped over on the dolly, I could see it had a plastic tub as well.

I'm guessing if we can get a least a couple years out of it, I should be happy.

 

[groundcover]

When I went to buy a washer a few years ago at an appliance store, not a big box store, I was pretty sure I wanted a front load. The owner quizzed me about our water supply, frequency of use, what floor level it would be on, if change was ever left in pockets etc. I bought an old school top load and couldn’t be happier, never an issue.
Friend of mine went shopping and didn’t get the quiz, what a nightmare! Front load on the second floor. Got the added base for the washer and dryer, looked beautiful but on the spin cycle the washer wanted to try to walk downstairs ! We removed the base for the washer, better but not good. Cut a thick rubber stall mat ,still not good. Got some little feet from the manufacturer, still an issue but he is living with it, guess the Mrs doesn’t want it moved to the basement! Too bad he didn’t have my salesperson!

 

[Sigarms]

After talking to numerous people as well as reading the posts per this topic here, the easy solution is don't touch a residential front loader with a 10' pole, period

We just had the bad luck of having an old Kenmore front loader that lasted about 15 years and didn't think twice about getting another front loader.

 

[k0ua]

After talking to numerous people as well as reading the posts per this topic here, the easy solution is don't touch a residential front loader with a 10' pole, period

We just had the bad luck of having an old Kenmore front loader that lasted about 15 years and didn't think twice about getting another front loader.

About 15 years ago the wife and I came to the same conclusion. So we bought a new top loader (LG). It still works fine, never any problems with it. (knock, knock). The purported superiority of the front loader of lower water usage is not a concern of mine. What I am interested in is a machine that works well and lasts a long time. I seem to have that.