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.

 

[milkman]

Our 12 year old Maytag top loader quit agitating and when I took the front off to look at it, I saw that a seal was also starting to leak so we decided to just replace it. Went with the Bosch front loader and won't ever go back, uses way less water and detergent, washes bigger loads and they come out a lot dryer, so dryer time is now equal to wash time about 40 min. on low heat, and you can add an item after it starts, just push the start/pause button and the door unlocks. The price has dropped a lot since they first came out, the Bosch was $798 at Lowes and they delivered for $30 and we got a $50 rebate.

 

[Bird]

I see in the news today that Maytag has issued a recall for 2.3 million dishwashers. I didn't know they'd even sold that many. It said they were sold from 1997 to 2001. So that was before the sale. If anyone didn't already know it, Whirlpool bought Maytag last year.

 

[dsb5610]

We've been looking at and reading about the front loaders for a while. Some people love them, some hate them. I think we are finally close to buying a new set. Our pick will be the Whirlpool Cabrio. It is a top loader with over 4 cu/ft capacity and high-speed spin.

dsb

 

[RickS]

We purchased a front loading Maytag Neptune from Lowes back in March, 2003. Almost four years and MANY loads of laundry later (we have three kids ages 8, 5, 4) it is still working perfectly. I'm pleased!

 

[TexasSD]

We have the Samsung Silvercare front load washer and dryer. We LOVE it! It uses silver to sanitize in cold water. The sanitize feature means the wash cycle is going to be about 2 hours, the regular cycle on this is about an hour. We usually just sanitize our bedding, especially after someone has been ill for a few days.

The interface is very easy to use - even my 12 year old does his own laundry now. Basically a point and click version of a washer/dryer. The silver bars are guaranteed for 15 years, and then samsung will replace them - I think for free!

 

[BillG_in_TX]

We've been looking at and reading about the front loaders for a while. Some people love them, some hate them. I think we are finally close to buying a new set. Our pick will be the Whirlpool Cabrio. It is a top loader with over 4 cu/ft capacity and high-speed spin.

dsb

We recently replaced our washer and were looking at the front loaders because our daughter has one and loves it. We had a Sears serviceman come out to look at our old one and agreed that we should replace it rather than repair it. The good news was that he gave us a coupon that was more than his service call. It had to be used at Sears, but that's where we were going anyway, so it was well worth the service call.

Anyway, he mentioned something about the front loaders that I had read on epinions. You are likely to be unhappy if you place the washer on the second floor, or on a pier & beam foundation. The high speed spin will sometimes set up a harmonic vibration that literally shakes the whole house. It's not a problem if it's on a slab or in a basement. Since we have a p&b foundation, we decided to go with a new high-efficiency top loader, like dsb. Works great.

 

[PBinWA]

Our three year old Kenmore front loader just sprung a leak. I haven't tried fixing it yet or getting it fixed. I just went on Craigslist and bought a $100 top loader. Both my wife and I think we like the top loader better even though it isn't as efficient.

I'll probably fix the front loader and put it back into service eventually but in general it's noisy and doesn't seem to clean clothes as well. Clothes do come out of the washer "dryer" and spend less time in the dryer which probably saves money.

 

[Steve_Miller]

LG, washer and dryer, one year old and the only problem (if you call it that) so far was an error code came up once that said in the book to call for service. I unplugged it for an hour then plugged it back in and it's been fine ever since. Should have bought these ten years ago, probably would have paid for itself in water hauling, I have a dug well and septic. No problems with septic so far, I keep that pumped every 5 to 10 years depending on how it looks. Yes, I dig it up every once and a while and have a look, better to be safe than sorry.

Steve

 

[JSUnlimited]

Milkman,

I'm supprised that you only got 12 years out your Maytag! My Grandparents had a Maytag set that lasted almost 20 years. The washer and dryer would have made it longer but lightning hit them both. So guess what they bought, another Maytag setup!

When my wife and I moved into our newly constructed home 4-5 years ago, we bought a matching set of Maytag "Neptune" front loader washer/dryer with all the bells and whistles. With my Fire Dept. schedule and two teenage kids, these **** things run constantly every day (or so it seems)!

No problems to report at all, other than I'm not allowed to use them!

 

[zeuspaul]

I got three years out of my Maytag Neptune and it broke. I called Maytag customer service and told them I bought Maytag because I had good luck with them in the past. They told me you can't expect that with the new machines!!!

I don't want to go into the details. Just do a web search for Maytag Neptune and wax motor or class action law suit.

After a lot of work dealing with Maytag customer service they finally fixed the problem the judge ordered them to do.

Three years later the washer is leaking water. No more fancy high cost washers for me and no more Maytags. My reasonably priced Whirlpool top loader in a second home works just fine. I'll be replacing my Neptune with a top loader.

A buddy at work had the same problem. After three fixes and a lot of dealing with customer service he told them to take it away. He replaced it with a commercial type top loader with minimal electronics...basic dials only. None of the fancy switches and circuit boards that short out. He is very happy with his VERY BASIC washer.