2010 Admiral-pool washer and dryer

[dblrinz]

Gordon - We have started putting the similiar Roper model in our apartment units. Probably one model closer to BOL. They are little troopers - They seem to keep going through anything a tenant "throws" at them which is usually being heavily over-loaded.

I have run a couple upon delivery to make sure they work and because I love washers. Their agitation is incredibly fast. Seemingly faster than my orbital Maytags, but I don't really know for sure. I will be very interested to see a video when you decide to use it!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

So far, the machines are still in boxes....I am thinking they may become boxed time capsules. Still haven't unboxed my Kenmore dishwasher either.

Gordon

 

[davek]

One certain improvement

They don't make them look cheap like they used to with BOL machines. That's an amazing bargain. If you want to see something bad, look at the old Galaxy machines that Sears used to sell for their cheapest one. White cabinet, brown plastic control panel, plain black knobs. I'm 100% sure that they made them look like that to make the first upsell easier.

 

[whirlcool]

Isn't the control panel supposed to be white? Is there a layer of plastic on it causing it to look blue.

I hate that when people install their machines and leave the plastic on them!

 

[mark_wpduet]

Actually

I could be wrong, but I think that's supposed to be a blue control panel. It seems I remember seeing one (I can't remember where) and it was blue and it wasn't the plastic covering.

 

[tbolt25]

good washers but...

I think these Whirlpool-made washers are good, but I don't like the way they agitate. I like old-school, long style slower agitation strokes.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

This is just plastic protective covering. There are date codes and other manufacturing script printed right through the middle of the film. It is not meant to be there long-term while the unit is in use, and when removed yields a white console.

Gordon

 

[gmmcnair]

Nice Machines!

I have the same washer as my daily driver. I am very pleased with it, especially for the price. They're a screaming good deal and wash very well. I find that the fast agitation isn't terribly harsh as long as you don't overload the machine. I drop everything in loosely, and I haven't had a problem.

I too was put off initially by the Gentle Cycle, but the pause and then agitate hasn't hurt anything I've used it for in the last several months.

The only downside is Hot is now Warm, Warm is now Cool, Cool is Cold....and so on.

 

[mrb627]

Temp Control

Someone needs to figure out a bypass for the temp controls.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I agree - based on the videos I've seen with the water adjusting on and off repeatedly, it would annoy me. There may be a way to fool the thermostat in the mixing valve, but what a pain! To get hotter water, what would happen if you select hot and just turn off the cold supply?

 

[lordkenmore]

"To get hotter water, what would happen if you select hot and just turn off the cold supply?"

The Environment Police would come and arrest you. You'd be stuffed in a dungeon with washer that only does cold water washes.

Seriously, I have heard of people doing this. I wouldn't be surprised if some modern washers wouldn't stop filling and wait for the "problem" to be corrected. But the Admiral might let you get away with it. Given its low price, I imagine the temperature limiting would be the cheapest/easiest approach. Plus,I don't see anything that looks like an error light or display on that machine.

Which raises one thought about another value of this machine--it appears that the timer is an mechanical one. If you are really lucky, there is no "control board" that costs more to replace than the machine sold for, and which will be impossible to even find in 3 years.

 

[pulltostart]

Nice Pair!

Gordon - please keep us posted if you actually put these into service. I too have been intrigued by the "value" that is pair offers and have been temped to take the plunge. I figure if my daily drivers failed this pair would likely be replacements.

Lawrence

 

[surgilator_68]

Hotter water....

I would think that if this system is the one that uses two thermostats on the inlet valve, one on the cold side and one on the hot side you could simply fool them....

 

[spookiness]

but what about the dryers?

There has been a lot of chatter about these washers and their value (I own one).

But any experience with the dryers? Or they all too similar?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The dryer is the typical Whirlpool fare, 29-inch top-mount lint screen, ten bazillion made, dependable dryer. I would be surprised if there is anything truly objectionable about the dryer in design, but I'm not completely sold on the timer they're using.

What's interesting is that the Estate, Roper and Inglis (I think) variants of the washer are essentially identical except the control panel itself. The dryer though has some differences. Reading the reviews of the Admiral dryer, users object to the 30 or 35 minute timed drying cycles, especially the 30-minute low-heat timed cycle, which won't dry much in 30 minutes except a doily. I believe the Estate version has a 60-minute timed high-heat cycle, and an automatic termination cycle for the low-heat, which makes a lot more sense. All this can be wired in with no added materials, just plug-in a different timer. Apparently Maytag/Whirlpool on this dryer wanted to encourage users to use the auto cycle, but some users seem too stupid to know how to use them, let alone read an owner's guide.

Gordon