Front Load Washing Machines

[RichZ]

My wife and I were looking at front load washing machines at several places. So far, the Samsung models appear to have the features that my wife wants. We want to keep it under $900.

Anyone have any experience with front load washing machines. Anyone know anything about the Samsungs in particular?

We've looked at Lowes, Home Depot and Best Buy, so far. Any suggestions on other places to look?

Has anyone had any experience with the Energy StarTax Credits? How does that work?

Thanks!!!

 

[om21braz]

Judging by posts on GardenWeb and minimal experience from friends with FL washers, I declined purchasing one. I went to a local dealer and told them my wife and I want nothing other than 2 speeds, basic features - a unit we can purchase and forget about. They pointed one brand above all others, regardless of price - Speed Queen. About $600 bucks and a day later, I brought a top-load one home. Very pleased two years in.

 

[studor]

SWMBO bought LG's last fall from the son of a friend who happens to deal in appliances. About a month after the friends' son visited and he said that given the vibration we were experiencing (I did not think it was any worse than our old topload Maytag) we should switch to Samsung. Our laundry room is on the second floor so less vibration is a good idea. Any way he arranged to come and pick up the LG's and put in the Samsungs for no additional charge so we took him up on the offer. The Samsungs are terrific and are quiet and wash and dry the clothes well. The one brand I would not buy again is Whirlpool /Maytag -- their customer service which I had to use on every appliance in the house within the first three years of service is painfull. They handle complaints like you are asking for peace in the middle east --JMHO

 

[timswi]

Good info..SWMBO want's front loaders too...Samsung makes good stuff. Always had good luck with them.

The SIL has front loaders due to low water volume in their well. It solved their clothes washing problems in terms of water useage. They are very happy.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

We purchased a Frigidaire Gallery / Kenmore set with FL washer about 10 years ago. Except for one thing they have done the job with no problems. DW likes them. About 3 years ago (after the warranty) a bearing that holds the spinning drum failed. Service Tech told us this is quite common with FL machines and is usually caused by using regular detergent that makes too many suds. Supposedly there is a special soap for FL types. Don't know for sure if this is true or just BS to explain the failure. DW is now using the different soap.

Anyway, if you go FL, it might be worth asking the question regarding type of detergent.

 

[zzvyb6]

Front load washers, as well as the newer top loaders, require the 'e' type soaps because there is a soap sensor in the rince line that detects when the clothes are rinced enough. The older soaps don't work with the rince sensor. You need to use a LOT less soap with the new machines, too. And, most users don't know how much to use in any kind of machine, so theres' been a bad rap out on them.

I had one, didn't like the hassle of bending down to add or remove clothes. Yes, you can get a cabinet to put them on ($250). Yes you new one for the dryer,too, otherwise the neighbors will snicker. No they don't stay put so you have to bolt them down. My latest machine is a top loader, huge drum for rugs and hockey equippment, has a quick wash feature, a tablespoon of soap, stays put. Wish they had a top load dryer. I didn't buy because I needed the furniture look either. White by default is just fine.

 

[_RaT_]

My only comment is that its usually best to keep the door cracked open when not in use to let it dry out. They get a little smelly. This does not happen with the top loader. I have never had my clothes come out cleaner than you get with a front loader. Watch the amount and type of soap you use.

My wife and I were looking at front load washing machines at several places. So far, the Samsung models appear to have the features that my wife wants. We want to keep it under $900.

Anyone have any experience with front load washing machines. Anyone know anything about the Samsungs in particular?

We've looked at Lowes, Home Depot and Best Buy, so far. Any suggestions on other places to look?

Has anyone had any experience with the Energy StarTax Credits? How does that work?

Thanks!!!

 

[tulenutn2o]

Why are you looking at front loader? I have 2. I often wonder how many ways marketing gurus are going to come up with to sling water through clothes or clothes through water. What good does a front loader do if your wife(mine) continually uses the extra rinse and max extract and heavy soil modes? Doesn't save a darn thing. I have went back to my 35 year old maytag top load that I can repair myself for next to nothing. These new units are POS! For the record my old company had Samsung making machines for them and they were junk. All front loads will eventually have mold if you dont clean/dry out areas in the door. Top loaders do do. Where there is moisture,there is possibiltiy to mold.Save your money.My $.02

 

[deepNdirt]

I bought my wife the Whirlpool Duet 3 years ago, she loves them more than me i think, Have been very good energy saving units, although they were not purchased for the price you are suggesting to spend, was almost double that amount, ....... I must say though the washer has one kickback..... with the water saver built into the washer is not really good feature, you see I do quite a lot of sweating and soak my clothing,.. in the beginning I would just throw my cloths on into the washer, the washer would then detect and add just enough water ( water saving feature ) to wash the cloths, although it doesn't realize that most of the water in the machine is sweat from the clothing and would ad very little water.... in a since it would be washing the cloths in 60% sweat & 40% water instead of 100% water, needless to say our cloths would come out from the dryer what we thought were being cleaned but it was the fabric softener that put in the clean smell, wouldn't take but me to do a little sweating to re-activate bad oder, So we learn that I would have to first dry my sweaty cloths in the sun and then put them in the washer.... yes a lot of trouble for such a wonderful feature of saving water..... Perhaps someone in the design department has learn of this problem and has resolved it on the newer models, so if possible the machines you are looking at ask if this is a feature that can be turn off & on?.....

 

[jinman]

Judging by posts on GardenWeb and minimal experience from friends with FL washers, I declined purchasing one. I went to a local dealer and told them my wife and I want nothing other than 2 speeds, basic features - a unit we can purchase and forget about. They pointed one brand above all others, regardless of price - Speed Queen. About $600 bucks and a day later, I brought a top-load one home. Very pleased two years in.

I bought a Speed Queen (really Amana) about 8 years ago. I bought it because it had a stainless steel tub. It had a tub seal leak in the first year that I owned it and I got it replaced under warranty. Now, fast forward 7-1/2 years and the same seal started leaking again. I bought a used front-load Bosch from a used appliance dealer and asked him if I could trade in the Speed Queen. He said, "No thanks! I can't sell them." Oh well, off it goes to the metal crusher. Perhaps my washer was a fluke and they all don't have seal problems, but mine does/did. It was a great washer otherwise and I loved the stainless steel tub. I hope you have much better luck with yours.