So you're saying its ok for appliance makers not to honor their warranty?
The GE HydroWave: One of the worst washers ever
- Thread starter whirlpool862
- Start date
So you're saying its ok for appliance makers not to honor their warranty?
This is unfortunate but that’s also not how math and statistics work. You’re talking about small observed data points. Not the statistical failure rate of a HUGE sample size of machines. GE made millions of these things.
I’m not going to say they were amazing on a Newton Maytag level. But they were decently comparable to other products on the market at the time.
You should know better, Jerome, that machines in college dorm and apartment settings see more abuse. In fact, GE would void those warranties as “commercial” settings if in a dorm.
Why do so many appliances fail around you Jerome? Are you haunted?
What a stupid comment.
The typical argument response of “so if you’re not anti-x, you must be pro-y!!!”
In reply #21 you never rebutted the second sentence of my original statement:
I can only deduce you agree with GE refusing to honor warranties something which btw I have dealt with first hand.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
I guess some service people get perks to stick up for certain products, regardless of what others may say,
However, I just ignore those argumentative types and their accusations.
Ain't no skin off my hide.
It makes life much more pleasant, just a few mouse-clicks and my sanity stays intact.
In all honesty I probably should.
However at the same time, I've gotten into the unfortunate habit of rebutting detractors. The way I see it members of the general public read these forums for information. I'd rather the market contingent see a balance of information instead of a one sided argument of value engineered complexity = best doctrine as is being preached here.
One can hope that a grass roots movement could be ignited where people come to the realization that the best value and performance comes from simple, stout, over engineered appliances designed to last decades rather than the flashy, disposable HE detritus the public has been mislead into buying.
Changing perception to see things as they actually are is the only thing that will change the appliance market. Of course the detractors know that, so their modus operandi is to discredit the messenger in front of the listening audience.
Opponents can't refute the information, so they have to challenge the presenter.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
I agree on the general public's education, in hopes that it can help those without the deeper knowledge that someone with experience will offer.
And perhaps that will lead to others "passing the words of wisdom" so that hopefully those corporations will see that changes need to be made in terms of quality and design.
After all, their reputations are at stake, and no amount of the consolidating of brand names will keep them from losing customers.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
What was the issue with it? I’m guessing either transmission, pressure switch or tub seal.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
There was oil in the transmission and it was indeed undersized. Another major failure point of the model-T’s was the pressure switch hose. The poorly designed pressure switch hose was prone to clogging, and as a result the GE Model-T’s would commonly flood your home!
I see so many reports of GE Model-T washers flooding homes.
The model-T GE was probably the worst washer of the 2000s (pre-2006, before the Hydrowave was introduced) outside of the Maytag Neptune top loader and Whirlpool Calypso.
There are only four washers worse than the Motel-T. The four include the agitub Frigidaires, the HydroWave (which is essentially a Model-T but worse), the Maytag top load Neptune, and the Whirlpool Calypso.
Yup.
And if a Model T went into spin-drain, it was not uncommon for some of the water to exit the overflow tub.
Yes the pressure switch prevented spin before the pressure switch reset, however when it would reset at about half way empty the spin would start throwing the water upward until the pressure switch tripped, causing machine would stop and brake, and then starting the process over and over again in rapid succession.
The latter none clutch models were worse.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
I’m surprised GE never got recalled for the Model-T’s or Hydrowaves for all their premature failure. GE also used terrible seals on their units, the seals would commonly fail and water would get into the bearings and cause it to howl like a freight train. I’ve heard of people who had bearings and seals fail on their HydroWave in under a year.
Another failure point on those mode shifters was the magnet, causing the washer to either make a horrible noise or rotate back and forth on wash cycle.
The plastic tubs are the best part of the Model-T’s, plastic tubs have never been a failure point on washers, that’s a lie. The plastic tub was probably the most durable part of the machine, and many GE model-T’s also use stainless drums (not only HydroWaves - mind you).
The impeller HydroWaves didn’t clean well at all and they had a weirdly placed fabric softener dispenser. The noise they made was higher pitched.
Another major failure of the HydroWaves was the tub straps, the tub straps on those HydroWave units would very commonly fail, causing it to shake violently on every load. It’s rarely the suspension rods that fail on the HydroWaves, usually if it keeps shaking it’s the tub straps that are bad. Model-T’s had a similar design so the tub straps on those failed often as well. The suspension rods rarely were the culprit on the HydroWave machines.
GE should definitely recall their newer machines, as they are literally exploding like the recalled Samsungs.
The Model-T’s and HydroWaves were an absolute nightmare to repair if the mode shifter when (on a HydroWave) or the transmission went (on a model-T), the entire machine had to be taken apart to fix it. You had to essentially take the WHOLE thing apart. Same goes for if you had to replace the seal or the tub center bushing.
I honestly don’t think the newest Whirlpools are any better, as many are literally getting bad control boards right after a year, I think Whirlpool should be sued and legally responsible for all the control board problems they had on their VMW’s, as well as a recall. They don’t seem to be fixing it, because as time goes on I’m seeing later and later models with a faulty board, I bet in 2026 I’ll see the 2025’s with bad boards as well. The service bulletin only affects the 2023 and 2024 models. It’s like they designed the pressure switches on those boards to fail within a year to make customers buy a new machine every year. Thousands, if not millions, of Whirlpool washers made from 2023-present are constantly draining and not starting the cycle. As of now, I’m seeing the models made as late as December or November, 2024 that are constantly draining, so the 2025 units are probably also affected. There is no good reason on why millions of machines should be getting control board issues every year.
I bet on Christmas people will be buying a lot of the VMWs of that style (especially since they are being discontinued and are often in stock at lower prices on clearance), and I bet within a year they’ll have control board issues.
I read a Reddit thread about an apartment or something full of these newer Whirlpools (2023 I think), and they said half of them started the constant drain issue within a year or two. Whirlpool seems to be discontinuing the traditional VMW’s so I hope it’s not an issue for post-2025 modes since all the newly released smaller models are essentially the 4.5 to 4.8 models by looks but with a smaller drum. I bet that Maytag six-light VMW launched in 2025 will get a constant drain issue by 2026.
The potted boards found on the bigger VMW and VMAX units don’t seem to have that problem.
Last edited:
panasonicvac
Well-known member
No issues. We left the set behind when we sold our cabin.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Let’s not forget. The timers on the HydroWave and Model-T units weren’t the greatest, they’d often get noisy or not fully advance. I can’t find anything good about the model-T or HydroWave. The timers were a common failure point too.
Some washers are super reliable but can’t wash well, like the Speed Queen TR series, they spin out well and are built like tanks, but they can’t wash well with the whole drum spinning on the wash cycle and a bolted on agitator. This was NOT true for HydroWaves, and even those washed better than a Model-T tho the GE HydroWave didn’t wash well either.
I don’t mind HE washers or the way they wash, but I know even a GE Model T will wash better than ANY VMW (except for the commercial grade ones). A Maytag commercial can probably wash better than a GE Model-T easily. I don’t hate Model-T’s mainly for their cleaning performance, I hate them for their durability and reliability, the metal used on them was also cheap and thin, GE literally made their cabinets out of sheet metal. GE is probably the only manufacturer I’ve seen who used sheet metal for their cabinets. Even the motors on the HydroWaves and Model-T’s weren’t the best.
Some washers are super reliable but can’t wash well, like the Speed Queen TR series, they spin out well and are built like tanks, but they can’t wash well with the whole drum spinning on the wash cycle and a bolted on agitator. This was NOT true for HydroWaves, and even those washed better than a Model-T tho the GE HydroWave didn’t wash well either.
I don’t mind HE washers or the way they wash, but I know even a GE Model T will wash better than ANY VMW (except for the commercial grade ones). A Maytag commercial can probably wash better than a GE Model-T easily. I don’t hate Model-T’s mainly for their cleaning performance, I hate them for their durability and reliability, the metal used on them was also cheap and thin, GE literally made their cabinets out of sheet metal. GE is probably the only manufacturer I’ve seen who used sheet metal for their cabinets. Even the motors on the HydroWaves and Model-T’s weren’t the best.
Last edited:
My brother had timer issues with his Hydrowave. The timer wasn't noisy but sometimes quit advancing in certain areas. The idiot replaced it with a Samsuck top loading impeller model that has given him problems.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
I actually think Samsung top loaders are better than HydroWaves, usually when those fail it’s something like the suspension rods or the drain pump. They also easily have better washing performance. At least the Samsungs don’t get tub seal failures without a year.
No, I don’t like Samsungs at all, their parts are too expensive and the suspension rods and their new ECM pumps are known to go out. The pumps are known to make an awful noise. Samsung only makes good phones and TVs, not appliances. I actually think the new Samsungs are better than the current Whirlpools. At least the new Samsungs don’t have control boards that barely last one year.
The timers on those HydroWaves and Model-T’s were known to fail, like the one you mentioned, I had a friend who had a model-T with a messed up timer (it was a Model-T unit, not a HydroWave), and that machine wasn’t even that old.
The GE basic units with the agitators are okay, but all the other ones are TERRIBLE. The GE units with the washplates literally destroy themselves during spin cycle, I literally call those units “General Explosion”.
Last edited:
Samsuck, by a long shot! The Hydrowave was over 10 years old when he got them used.
I think he's overloading the Samsuck. From what I've read on this forum, they should not be loaded more than 30% capacity. He fills it all the way up and washes most things tap cold.
I washed some towels his kids brought over to swim in the pool. God, those things stunk like hell! The towels also showed a lots of wear, like the impeller was chewing them up which is probably from overloading.
Last edited:
whirlpool862
Well-known member
10 years old is not that much of a long time for a washing machine, but it is a little long for a HydroWave, I also see 10 year old Samsungs often too and people who had their Samsung last 10 years without issues. Some HydroWaves go forever, just like how someone may have a Chrysler 200 go forever (tho those weren’t good cars), just like how Chryslers aren’t known to be reliable, Model-T and HydroWave machines are not. I had a friend (he’s not a friend anymore and moved to a different state), but he had a timer issue (with the same symptoms as yours), but with a model-T. His model was like a 2004 and I saw that in like 2008 or something meaning that timer only lasted 4 years.
I’m seeing 18 year old HydroWaves, but I will never buy a used GE Model-T or HydroWave, and I’m seeing less of those sold, because many of them have got into the scrapper years ago, if I’m getting something used I’m either getting a direct drive, a dependable care, or one of the pre-2015 Speed Queens. They haven’t made a HydroWave since 2016. They discontinued the Model-T in 2012.
I currently have a VMW, and it certainly does not have the best cleaning performance but it does clean an average size load. Any machine can clean to some extent if functioning right.
The HydroWave and model-T’s are literally the same machine but with a different motor, without a transmission, and with a different frame, everything else is the same, same drum, same agitator, same panel design. You can literally put Model-T components into a HydroWave. You can literally just swap the HydroWave parts to Model-T parts. They have the same inner and outer drums as well.
Last edited:
If anything HE impeller machines have only encourage overloading. And of course you have detergent bottles with the letters "cold", lots of cold options on the machine and everything else saying to wash in cold water save energy blahh blahh.
This is why I like top load deep fill analog pressure switch washers, everything gets wet, cleaned and turned over when load within reason. I can also use a genuine warm wash with sensors or restrictors getting in the way.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Do you mean the new machines with deep fill? High water level + impeller doesn't wash better. Impellers are designed to work with lower water levels. They aren’t designed to work with a full tub of water, this is also true for fake agitators.
Most of the new H.E. machines now have deep fill, and it often is more of a half fill these days. Deep fill is associated with newer washers, tho older ones filled with more water and cleaned better, I agree on that. Full-water machines with true agitators cleaned the best. I don’t think deep fill was even a common term for washers until the 2010s.
I do agree that impellers encourage overloading as it allows more clothes in it, Whirlpool literally launched the removable agitator so that customers can “remove it” during large loads, but I have a Whirlpool impeller washer and I honestly throw my clothes in when I turn it on. I know I’m supposed to pretend it has an agitator but I just dump stuff into it, and i’m pretty sure the agitation cycle will make the clothes move over the impeller anyways.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
If you worked where I did, you'd feel the same as I do....
Most of the tv's, dvd players, etc, that came in for repairs over the years were Samsucks.
That brand put a bad taste in my mouth that's now permanent.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
I own a Samsung phone myself and it’s been good. My TVs are roku, one TCL and one Hisense.
I like Android more than iOS, I never cared for iOS, although I do have an iPad that’s iOS but I’ll always go android for phones.
Nope, the older Speed Queens, direct drives and early VMWs that had an agitator with an analog pressure switch.
Deep fill on modern machines is a misnomer. It does not fill all the way above the last row of holes on the wash basket. In fact, if you try and fill a modern GE top load washer beyond 2/3 of water it will go out the overflow tube. I hate it.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
The older modern deep fill machines did, actually, at least the WP ones, but they often filled it all the way to the top, there was no other option. It was either auto sense or fill to the top, no other options. The MVWC565FW0 for example, had a deep fill option that when selected would fill it to the top, the MVWC565FW1 did too (except on normal cycle), the MVWC565FW2 didn’t fill to the top on deep fill.
Look where the overflow is placed on modern GE washers. That is just messed up. You can't even manually fill the machine with a hose or bucket to the right level.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
And I'm content and happy with just having some Panasonic cordless phones around the house, and an answering machine, connected to Verizon Fios.
I've no need to take a cellphone along with me when I'm out and about.
Some of the transducer models did fill legit to the top. You are right about that. However as you noted you can't choose 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, ect like with a variable pressure switch. I want control, not the machine.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Yep, that’s a stupid design. I don’t like the GE stacks at all I just used them as a reference to washers with a pressure switch and true full water selection.
They are AWFUL, possible as bad as a HydroWave, the seals on those would always fail and the bearings would always go bad. Usually, when I see videos of these units (at least this style without the newer drum style), there is at least a little bit of bearing noise, and the transmission often stuck to the tub, meaning the entire tub had to be replaced. These had such a stupid design to them.
They even sounded cheap when first bought. The lid lock was a common failure on those too.
Everything about the older GE stacks was terrible, the bearings on those would always go out.
I bet the washer had repairs before he got it unless it was a very low 1 person use machine.
It was okay. The tub was massive but agitation was harsh IMO and no spray rinse during the first spin cycle, which doesn't meet my expectations. I know most top loader washers are like this, Whirlpool DD's have been like this since the 80's unless it's an Ultra Wash model.
whirlpool862
Well-known member
Also, the later VMW’s with load size option (like the WTW4800BQ) had a transducer and filled all the way on load size high.
Even the newer VMWs fill to the top when you put it on bulky cycle or Affresh.
Stupid or perhaps deliberate. They don't want people washing clothes in water and will do anything to discourage even going as far as deliberately flooding your home. I don't understand where the rabid, morbid insatiable appetite to control people and their lives come from.
Like seriously, you already met the energy mandates by defaulting to cold water and misting the clothes into a wet nap state. Why would it bother you if I in the privacy of my own home took a hose with 150*F water and filled my impeller washer to the top? So that I can actually get good wash results without fabric damage? Like what transpired at GE that they had to go to that length of making an unusable washer?
