k0ua
Epic Contributor
Put a little vinegar about a cup in with a load of towels. It will clean it right up.
You think HVAC equipment maintence sucks???
- Thread starter Sigarms
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Put a little vinegar about a cup in with a load of towels. It will clean it right up.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Appliances have gone down hill IMO. Which is why I refuse to buy new stuff. I'll scour c-list and FB market place and try to find something older. No control boards, all analog controls. Nothing like a 2-year old washer needing a $100-$150 control board replaced to keep people buying new stuff every few years. The analog knobs and timers are so much more resilient.
Heck, my 30-year old stove is 100% analog control knobs and oven settings. The most "electrical" part on it is a simple LCD timer/clock. And even if it failed, wont effect the function of anything on the cook-top or oven
And I hate the high efficiency washers too. Maybe others have to pay a ton of money for water or something? But water is CHEAP around here. Switching to high efficiency might save me a buck or two a month?
Kinda like the high efficiency toilets too while I'm at it. How much water do you "actually" save when you gotta flush 3 freaking times?:laughing:
Heck, my 30-year old stove is 100% analog control knobs and oven settings. The most "electrical" part on it is a simple LCD timer/clock. And even if it failed, wont effect the function of anything on the cook-top or oven
And I hate the high efficiency washers too. Maybe others have to pay a ton of money for water or something? But water is CHEAP around here. Switching to high efficiency might save me a buck or two a month?
Kinda like the high efficiency toilets too while I'm at it. How much water do you "actually" save when you gotta flush 3 freaking times?:laughing:
CobyRupert
Super Member
Stackable with a dryer, so washer/dryer requires 1/2 floor space.
Less water usage (I think?).
Entertainment when the TV is on the blink.
Some say they do a better wash as the clothes can slowly tumble. But top load agitators probably also do a good job. Spin cycle is probably where they excel. On mine, spin is actually multiple spin cycles. A slow tumble in between these high speed spins rearranges how cloths are "stacked" on top of each other as they are spun again. (Exaggerated example: A towel that is being spun against a rain coat ain't going to shake its water, but maybe next spin cycle, tumbling has rearranged it so the towel is against the tub.). I think my front load also spins wicked fast compared to a top load*. (IMHO) Clothes come out of washer much dryer than a top load, requires less dryer energy.
*: My front load has a variable speed (I assume SCR controlled) motor. Do modern top loads also use some type of variable speed drive to turn tub?
CADplans
Elite Member
radios1
Elite Member
yep, there are drawbacks. I forgot to mention, they require HE detergent which is more expensive, and they fill intermittently, with on, off on off water cycles, which makes water hammer a problem..
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Yeah, like the washing machine is a major energy user in the house. In the big scheme of things it is insignificant compared to heating and cooling, and even lighting. Let alone the drying cycle. About what I figured, front loading washing machines are a PITA. That is why we didn't buy one the last time we needed a new washer. 
CobyRupert
Super Member
Yeah, like the washing machine is a major energy user in the house. In the big scheme of things it is insignificant compared to heating and cooling, and even lighting. Let alone the drying cycle. About what I figured, front loading washing machines are a PITA. That is why we didn't buy one the last time we needed a new washer.
Correct, your washing machine is a small energy user compared to heating that is one of largest energy users.
(IMHO) A superior spin cycle, or even an extra spin cycle that can remove any extra water saves a whole lot of energy compared to trying to use dryer heat to remove that water.
Also consider that in the winter that not only is your dryer using ~5500Watts for its heater that gets directly exhausted outside, but that air flow is also sucking a whole lot of heated air from inside your house that becomes this exhaust stream too. That air needs gets replaced by cold outside air that your furnace needs to heat up.
Go outside and stand at your dryer vent and notice how much air is coming out, that much cold air is being sucked into your house at the same time.
OP
Sigarms
Super Member
My wifes previous washer was a front loader and we never had an issue with it. My wife wanted a new front loader. Enough said?
Heck, I didn't even go and pick them out.
I will say it does seem easier to pick the clothes out of the front loader than a top loader. That said, they way I do wash is throw everything together and let it roll LOL
No agitator, so they (allegedly) are easier on clothes. I wear wool in winter, which is supposed to be dry clean only. Years ago when I dropped them off the attendant told me that the front load machines use the same mechanism as a dry cleaning machine, and I've been washing them in cold water that way ever since.
Mostly though, I believe it's just something different than the way it was always done so it has to be better.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Our top loader does not have an agitator either and it does a great job. And its spin cycle gets the clothes very dry before you throw them into the dryer.. Much more so than older previous machines. I still haven't heard a convincing argument for the front loaders. AND I am now very glad we avoided them.