Washing Machine

zeuspaul · Sep 18, 2008

Several years ago I had troubles with the Neptune. What sticks in my mind is the comment from Maytag customer service after I told them I bought Maytag for its reputation for quality. They said you can't expect washers to last like they used to because of all the electronic control components!

A buddy had the same problems with Neptune, After numerous repairs he finally gave up. He replaced it with a *basic* NON High Tech washing machine. Do you really need computer controls for a washing machine?

I believe he purchased ( I don't work with him now because I retired) a Speed Queen.

Here is part of a review from epinions...

Speed Queen AWS51NW Top Load Washer Reviews. Buying guides & consumer product reviews at Epinions.com

I didn't want a front loader. I wanted to be able to soak clothes if needed, I like the regular agitator and non computerized controls. Simplicity works for me! There is a lot of room in the stainless steel tub, bigger than the old whirlpool we were replacing. Clothes come out nice and clean. The warranty is 3 yrs parts and labor 5 yrs on motor and 10 years on transmission and lifetime on the stainless steel tub. I am very happy with this washer.

Bird · Sep 18, 2008

I didn't want a front loader. I wanted to be able to soak clothes if needed, I like the regular agitator and non computerized controls. Simplicity works for me!

Us, too, and one other feature I wanted; CHEAP! I don't doubt that the Speed Queen is a better machine, but we bought $400 Kenmore washer and a $400 Kenmore dryer, a 5 year service agreement, and my wife's happy as can be.

pennwalk · Sep 20, 2008

My 6 year old Kenmore HE3 front loader just quit working last week Sears service ain't what you would call great and it is very expensive. They took one crack at it Tuesday. Unfortunately as soon as I tried to use it to test it out it still wasn't working. I had to call back 3 times to get an appointment Friday. The english wasn't that strong at the service center. I hope it won't turn out to be one of the parts that cost more to replace than the machine is worth. I think the computer is over $700. I found out the local service guys are United Steel Workers which may account for why it cost $150 in labor to install a $50 part that didn't fix the washer. I can't imagine why sears is in trouble. Just in case you were thinking about a Kenmore.

About the Kenmore, ITS FIXED

YAHOO!!! NO CHARGE YAHOO YAHOO. I take back what I was saying about Sears. But I did waste a lot of time. The service guy walked me through the whole repair. He found that the air dome which is a small plastic box was full of washer gunk which is a cross between grease and jello. He pointed out all the parts, what they did and gave me tips about working on the machine. Like putting your trouble light behind the pump so you could see the water flowing through the system. Very cool but very weird. How nice was that? With the help of the online appliance repair forums I'm pretty sure I could do the work myself. Also he said he liked the HE3 washers.

He said they were made in Germany and a lot better than the ones made in Mexico.

Chris

Bird · Feb 3, 2009

I guess this is another disadvantage of the front loaders, but absolutely incredible. I copied the following from My Way News just now:

[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif]Girl, 4, dies in washing machine with button start[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif][FONT=Verdana,Sans-Serif]Email this Story[/FONT]

Feb 3, 6:32 PM (ET)

p {margin:12px 0px 0px 0px;}

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) - A 4-year-old girl in Southern California has died after she climbed into a washing machine that began tumbling when her toddler brother hit its simple push-button start.
Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said Kayley Ishii apparently climbed into the front-loading washer Monday afternoon. Her 15-month-old brother either bumped or pushed the button to start the machine.
Amormino said the machine's controls were only 20 inches from the floor and the start switch was a simple push button. The girl was in the water-filled, tumbling machine for at least two minutes before her mother found her. An autopsy Tuesday found Kayley died of blunt force trauma and the death was ruled accidental.
[/FONT]

Scooby074 · Feb 3, 2009

Bird said:
I guess this is another disadvantage of the front loaders, but absolutely incredible. I copied the following from My Way News just now:

Tragic. Most front loaders have child locks to prevent this exact thing. Im not sure if the one in question does, however i know my father's Miele does have it.

JESSE1 · Feb 4, 2009

Our Whirlpool Duet washer has two buttons that have to be pushed to start. One unlocks the controls and the other has to be pushed for about 5 seconds to start the washer. The door locks when it starts but it sprays water on the door for a few seconds and then unlocks. It does this twice. This is supposed to wake up a sleeping child and give them time to push the door open. Don't know how effective it would be but it's better than nothing.

Bird · Feb 4, 2009

I've never heard of such a thing, Jesse, but it sounds like a good idea. Fortunately, our youngest will be 40 in a couple of weeks and is long gone from living at home with us, so I don't have to worry about it for us, but there's little kids living on both sides of us, and it's hard to imagine a much worse tragedy.

jinjimbob · Feb 5, 2009

Front loaders actually wash the clothes though, use less soap, less water, less electricty, can cram them 100% full. I have had our Frigidaire for 15 years now, nothing wrong with it. My wife wants it to break though, so she can get a bigger one.

I found the top loads just move stuff around, when I moved to the US and saw my first top loader, I thought I was watching The Wonder Years.