10 year old SQ w/d or a new set?

[SFMomof2Boys]

So my $2k electrolux front loader set bit the dust after 18 months and 4 service calls. Luckily I'm under warranty so it's not a total loss.

After reading the forum, I decided to get a Speed Queen set.

I found one set about 3 1/2 hours away that is about 10 years old and looks to be in great shape, but I would need to hire movers. No idea how much that would cost.

I called my local SQ dealer and they guy said the cheapest new SQ set will run me about $775 for the washer and $675 for the gas dryer plus $100 for delivery. Does that sound about right for the basic model SQ washer & gas dryer?

After paying for movers, I suspect the 10 year old set will cost me around $700 - versus about $1700 for the new set. Since we are getting about $1200 back for the old set and I can probably sell the pedestals and such on Craigslist, either option is doable.

What would you do? Would an entry-level new SQ be better than a 10 year old model?

Thanks!

 

[henene4]

Back to TL?

I mean, don't get me wrong, but do you REALLY want to go back to a TL? There were some people on here that did this step and/or had the possibility to compare a TL directly to a FL, and all of them I can remember voted for the FL in terms of results, overall clothes care and usage.
Keeping in mind you would probably get the BOL TL of the old SQ line, I would guess the older set would be probably a bit more advanced, though, I am not one of the SQ experts. All I can say that the dryer might (or probably will) need a total clean up and the washers can develop some pretty big and expensive failures quite fast if they were well used during the 10 years of service.
On your old FL set: Why not keep the dryer? Is it still running? Does it dry good enough? You could save ~700$ for the dryer and get a SQ a bit more up the line.
But in the end, I want to remind you: Going back to TL means twice the water usage, more energy needed for the additional hot water needed, longer drying times due to the lower spin speeds and thus probably no time saveing and a bigger wear on clothing.
(And for all other members that want to argue about these facts, please do not do this in this thread. I know this will probably happen, but if it does, I don't want to be the starter of a thread-derail again!)
Hope you had nice holidays even with your troubles.
Merry Christmas from Germany
Henrik

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

Both the washer and the dryer are dead. Washer has a bad circuit board, bad door lock, and bad door seal. Dryer heating control element is bad and out of production. So the warranty people are reimbursing my purchase price and BOTH need replaced.

I want a NON high efficiency washer, and I want to have HOT water for the rinse. I have a high capacity tankless gas water heater, so it makes plenty of hot water for relatively cheap. I know hot water is harder on clothes, but my little boys outgrow their clothes well before they wear out.

And I want a TOP loader. With the Electrolux FL, using HE Tide detergent, heavy duty clean, prewash, and extra rinse, not overloading the machine, I still end up with not-fully-clean laundry. So several times a week, I wash & dry, it smells funny, so I wash again and dry again. Totally not efficient use of water, energy, or my time.

So I am aware of the benefits and savings of the HE units, particularly the FL HE units, but I have decided that for my purposes, I want a NON high efficiency, TOP loading washer.

And since Speed Queen has the ability to adjust the TL water level to full, and also to be rigged to have a warm water rinse, that's what I'm going for.

I think HE probably works fine for people who wear their clothes to a desk job and come home. But I have little kids who get dirty. And I need to be able to get their clothes clean without double and triple washing their clothes.

So it come back to: Would a 10 year old SQ set be better or a brand new, bottom of the line SQ set?

 

[rp2813]

Too bad they won't exchange your Electrolux washer for a new one.  The "Lemon Law" may apply if it's the same repair that's been required each time.

 

I have a Frigidaire front loader made by Electrolux and in six years it has had two repairs:  The door (really the hinge) and the pump, which was noisy (most FL pumps are) but not failing.  Both repairs were made just before the extended warranty expired.

 

Unless Hetch Hetchy fills up this season, I'd think twice about reverting to a top loading machine.  With the current water crisis in our area, my conscience won't let me go back to a top loader, but if you think a TL machine is a better fit for your household, SQ is a good choice that offers long-stroke washing action and a tub that fills to the top with water.  Try to get the model number and pictures of the control panel on the used machine and post them here.  If you don't use much besides the "normal" cycle, an entry level model might be fine for you. 

 

Personally, I think SQ washers are lousy at rinsing.  When I had an Amana, which at the time was a SQ clone, the "Extra Rinse" switch was always in the "On" position.  The entry-level SQ doesn't offer an extra rinse option, so keep that, and the additional water use should you get a model with that option, in mind.

 

SQ dryers aren't the greatest compared to other makes.  They use a thermostatic control rather than a moisture sensor and you'll have to adapt to them or you'll be dealing with extra-crispy clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

[rp2813]

Hot/Warm Rinse

I hadn't seen your reply before making my post above.

 

I don't know of any machine that offers a hot rinse.  The "warm" setting on my Amana was barely tepid.

 

Others here can advise if there's a flow restrictor on the hot water inlet.  If so, it can be drilled out or perhaps removed in order to get a truly warm rinse.

 

As I suggested above, see if you can get pictures of the 10 year old machine and post them here.  I'd be hesitant to buy something like that sight unseen, though.

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

Here is a different listing. I spoke with the seller and he is selling off machines from the local military base that he bought at a surplus sale. They don't have coin slots, so I'm guessing they are either from the military housing units or the base had free laundromats. Here are the washers and dryers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SpeedQueen-...983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c8f874b7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SpeedQueen-...257?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418d1a5479

He's working on a freight quote for me, so I don't know how much it will all cost.

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

Warm Rinse

From reading the archives, it seems it is a straightforward job to attach a Y connector (?) to the cold water supply so the water going in is already warm. And it appears a kind guru has posted a wiring diagram with info on which wires to join to make the rinse always warm and/or the same temp as the wash. I wouldn't know how to do it, I'm pretty sure the guy who ran the new gas and water lines in my garage could manage the water supply hack.

And yes, I know California is in a drought, but double and triple washing clothes doesn't result in any water or energy savings. I've tried all the typical suggestions - use high quality HE detergent, use less detergent, use a laundry booster, put in less than a full load of laundry. I suppose I could pre-treat and pre-soak all the clothes in the laundry sink, but honestly, I don't have time for that, and it's a massive sink, so might not result in any water savings over the non HE top loader.

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

Cycles

I use "normal", "heavy duty", and "towels" on my current machine with "prewash" and "extra rinse". No delicates/wools/handwash/silk or other fancy options. Just try to get the kid-stink out of my clothes.... I can't imagine what my laundry will smell like by the time they hit puberty!

 

[henene4]

Can't stand the question...

Which temperatures are you washing at?

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

Wash temp

I wash on warm for everything except towels and bedclothes. Those I do on hot. But after reading the forum it sounds like warm is more like lukewarm.

 

[cleanguy]

new washer

i would get a new SQ washer with multi-year (3 or 5) parts/labor warranty !!!!!
Maybe get used dryer (WP dryer,, long lint trap model or even SQ)if short on money .
One service call on "used washer will wipe-out your possible savings on used washer.
Do you know how to repair appliances ???

 

[appnut]

Warm rinse

No current SQ top load models offer warm rinse.  They are all cold rinses. I suppose you could let it run through the whole cycle, then restart the machine for a warm fill on wash and then turn the timer dial to rinse once it fills up with the warm. 

 

[frigilux]

Buy the new machines. You'll run into repair issues sooner than later with the 10 year-old pair.

 

[DigAPony]

I'd pass on those Ebay SQ's, for several reasons:

-There is a HE symbol on the lower right corner of the control panel, I assume that means reduced water usage and/or temps.

-Are they Raytheon or Alliance machines? They look Raytheon built to me, (not good).

-Laundromat use- they may have a lot of miles on them.

-The price is nothing great and hiring movers for a used W/D sight unseen is crazy. Furthermore, after all that trouble and expense you'll have no warranty.

 

[washman]

Frig is right

Buy new. You will be best served in the long run with machines that are backed by the best warranty in the industry.

And I can speak from personal, first hand experience with these old school, tough as nails machines.

They work.

Period!

No fuss, no muss, no reboots, resets or other asinine BS to deal with so as to comply with oh-so-grand-eco nazi ideology. Run whatever detergent you like. Frig does PODS, I use liquid but you can use those or powder if you can find it. The machine will clean your laundry perfectly. Well, unless you use the dollar a bottle junk from Family Dollah or Big Lots. Otherwise you are good to go.

FYI, dad's neighbor scored a 2007 GE TL that was given to them. Seems the mode shifter is flaky because it won't do a full spin. It will start, then quit. Well he had the whole thing apart, down to the guts and I was appalled at the unexcusable cheapness of metal used and the plethora of plastic.

When you shop for a new machine, believe me when I tell you that you will find modern stuff to be as cheap, if not cheaper, than the 2007 GE. Stay away from them at all costs. If you cannot afford new or don't want to spend the money, then get an old school Whirlpool or Maytag (Before the WH buyout) and don't look back.

 

[rp2813]

I agree that the ebay machines are not a good idea.  They are HE machines and require HE detergent.  That tells me they don't fill all the way.  They also don't even have the fabric softener dispenser at the top of the agitator.

 

The lid verbiage also says the regular cycle uses a series of agitation periods and pauses.  That is not how a normal non-HE washer functions.

 

I would not trust these machines.  They may look OK, but likely have not received the best treatment.  Buy a new pair.

 

[SFMomof2Boys]

recommend a great SQ dealer in Northern California?

Okay, I'm sold.

New unit it is! Can anyone recommend a good SQ dealer who also does repairs in Northern California? From the archives, it looks like SQ service people can refuse to service machines not sold by that dealer, so I would like a reliable dealer who also does good repairs.

I'm in San Francisco, but it looks like most dealers will deliver within 50-75 miles. I called some dealers on the SQ website and they are "furniture showrooms" who can order laundry machines but don't keep a single machine in stock. Hoping for someone who is also an authorized service provider.

 

[askolover]

Around here...

multiple "furniture stores" also sell appliances....and service what they sell!  I would ask them about their service department. 

 

[mrb627]

Water Conservation

I would venture a guess that based on your location, you'll be hard pressed to find a dealer that stocks top loader machines. I recommend you expect them to order a top loader special for you.

Malcolm