Advice needed, please

[rosiembanks]

Please help me decide what to do. The issue is whether to repair a 1995 Whirlpool TL LSC9335AW0, which has a one-month old spin basket OR beg my husband for a new washer (which one, suggestions welcome after I explain).

The facts:
I have a balance disorder as well as sensitive skin. In our house, we have a laundry in the basement with the 1995 Whirlpool washer and an even older Whirlpool dryer (works beautifully). It is a two-story house, so a few years ago, we decided to create a "laundry closet" on the second floor near the bedrooms. For dryer venting reasons, my selection was limited to only one or two models. I chose badly. We have a pair of Samsungs, a FL and a dryer, stacked, and I dislike them. I do use them for certain things, but more often then not, I still trek up and down the stairs to wash in plentiful water, with a warm rinse, or to soak things in Borax (we have dogs), or wash throw rugs or other things I'm not supposed to wash in the Samsung. We live in an area where water is plentiful, and the skin sensitivities require me to have my laundry well rinsed. I have learned to use the Samsung, with a minimal amount of detergent, no fabric softener (which I've never used), etc.--and there are situations in which I use them first or spin things drier or something, but overall, I just prefer the "clean" I get from the machines in the basement. My husband is none too pleased.

Recently, the Whirlpool porcelain spintub was showing signs of age (rusting), and I had it replaced. The repair job knocked loose more rust, draining into the laundry tub after the next several loads. That stopped. Now (just after the 30 days of warranted work), the washer has started making a whining noise at the beginning of the wash cycle and again when it spins. At the conclusion of the cycle, I'm smelling something--maybe something burning. I'm not sure if it's an electrical smell or like a belt (are there rubber belts?). I don't know whether to call for more service or to investigate a replacement washer (as a birthday gift perhaps?). The repairman had told me I might be interested in a Speed Queen. Or, he said he'd heard Whirlpool might even be adding a similar model to its lineup.

Do I throw more money at the 1995 Whirlpool? If I'm looking for a new one, what are my options for a machine?

I would love a washer where I can control the water level, be able to open the lid while it's running (the Whirlpool WTW4800X in our vacation home locks when the cycle starts and doesn't start till it's closed and locked), soak something by stopping the machine (and not have the water drain). Do any offer hot with warm rinse? And a large capacity. One other thing: I have a married daughter who washes cloth diapers with powder detergent, thusly: Rinse. Hot wash, Warm Rinse. She says they can't wash diapers in the in-laws' new FL machine (can't use powder, in-laws say. My Samsung FL can, but maybe.) I want her to be able to wash diapers at my house.

What else should I know?

Many thanks to those who've read this whole thing...

 

[esty]

I would be very interested in finding out about the new whirlpool coming up! In my opinion, speed queen is a good machine, however it has issues. If you find out anything about the new whirlpool please post it. I may be even willing to trade my speed queen in if the whirlpool is made well.

 

[DigAPony]

Another option is pick up a low mileage Whirlpool built Direct Drive TL on craigslist, they are plentiful and were manufactured under different brand names.
A nice matching set could probably be had for the price of servicing your old machine.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/app/4913762938.html

 

[henene4]

I guess, though these WP TLs look solid, I guess its time to say good bye after 20 years. Though It might just be something like the belt, it could end up as the transmisson or the clutch as well. And if you have to make another service call, money wise, you might just put this up on Ebay or simmilar as a parts machine. But let me ask, is the noise only there at the begining of the cycle or throughout?
On TLs: Well, the Whirlpool you have at your vacation home is one of the 3 last TL platforms which are not HE. Non offer warm rinses. Only one can eventually be modified to do so permanently.
The Whirlpool you have at your 2nd house is the most bought one. It can give true hot washes by just turning of the cold water feed. However cycle flexibility is limited. And to give you a tip for your machine: You can unscrew the little lock piece under the lid and insert it into the lock. That would allow you to raise the lid at any time you want. But be carefull as this is true for the spins as well. So only let people arround the washer that know that the washer is modified. If you are not carefull and would then reach into a tub at full speed, say goodbye to your arm.
The 2nd option would be the GE HydroWave with agitator. They are not that durable, but offer more cycles and AFAIK you can raise the lid during wash and rinse portions of the cycle. But there is no true hot wash.
Last but not least: SpeedQueen. SQ offers 2 rows of TLs by now: Mechanical and electronical controlled once. The mechanical once offer you 2 rinses maximum, and can be modified to rinse warm on any setting with a little wiring job.
But the electronic once sound more like what you'd like. Though they do not offer a warm rinse, you can get up to 3 deep rinses, an automatic soak, an automatic prewash (though you'd have to add detergent for the main wash again) and pretty long agitation times. You can safely raise the lid at any point and get a true hot wash.
But though you have "plenty of water", you might not want a washer which could do a 5 fill wash cycle, using something like 80 gallons. Or more. And capacity wise, a FL is unbeatable.
The new SpeedQuenn frontloaders do offer pretty much the same features as the TL brothers, except they do 2 rinses right away (which means 4 rinses total maximum), they have slightly bigger tubs (plus the space for the agitator is free for use) and they spin 500rpm faster (1200rpm total, which equals to 400g extraction).
So, SpeedQueen seams like the best deal, but I personally always tend to recomend to buy new on washers older than 10 years.

 

[ea56]

I have a GE GTWN 2800 that I purchased from Home Depot in July 2012. It is a simple, old school top loader with electromechanical controls. There is no ATC. I wash most loads with hot water and I get TAP hot water, it is NOT mixed with any cold water. Granted the fill on hot is slow due to flow restricters, ( I really don't know just what the EPA is hoping to accomplish with the flow restricters, as I still get a full hot fill). The capacity is very large, 3.9 cu ft. I use the Power Rinse option on all loads and get a complete fill on every rinse. There is an infinfite water level control, on Super it fills about 3" from the top, but I can override this and get a complete fill to the top by holding the switch on reset until I get the level I want. Due to the large capacity this is seldom necessary. I could adjust the water level switch like the adjustment for the Speed Queen, but I honestly just haven't got around to it yet, and for the few times I need a complete fill the reset hasn't been a problem. There is no locking lid, when the washer is in operation lifting the lid stops the agitation or spin, but by placing a large magnet in the front right corner you can watch the washer in action if you're curious. The longest cycle with a full hot fill takes about 50 mins. I have had absolutely no problems with this machine, no unusual noises, never unbalances and even though the spin speen is only 640 rpm, the final spin is very long which seems to compensate for the lower spin speen. I had been reading this website for a few months before I purchased the GE and had seriously considered the Speed Queen AWN 432 or 542, but I looked at them in the store, wasn't impressed with the capacity and for the price the dealer was asking they weren't going to be b very accommodating as far as delivery charge and hauling away the Whirlpool Cabrio POS that I was getting rid of. Home Depot sold me the GE for $449.00, plus I had to buy new fill hoses. The delivery, install and haul away were no charge. I am happy with my purchase, the washer cleans every load beautifully and I would purchase this machine again in a heartbeat.

 

[coldspot66]

Try to find a local dealer that reconditions washers. A Whirlpool direct drive washer (like you already have) but newer would be my recommendation. For the money, these direct drive washers turned out to be the best all around machine. Good performance, easy to fix, and pretty dependable. You won't find that combination in ANY f/l or t/l washer today, including Speed Queen.

Brand names would be Whirlpool, Maytag,Kenmore, Roper, Admiral, Estate. As long as it is a direct drive washer, it's a Whirlpool.

 

[esty]

I was looking into this washer and the hotpoint as well ,when I originally had issues with my speed queen. I do see a lot of good reviews on it. How do you do a delicate wash since that is not an option on the front panel? Also, did you get the matching dryer? If yes, how is that? Did you ever have clothes with holes come out of the washer or dryer? Do you ever have water remain on the bottom of your tub when the wash is done? I read some people saying they have that issue, or unbalancing issues.
Thank you.

 

[rosiembanks]

Wow, already several things to consider!

The noise on the 1995 is at the very beginning, stops after water has filled. Then starts up again as it spins out.

Interesting about overriding the lid lock on the Vacation Home Washer. I'd wondered about that--it had failed, and we needed to have it serviced because it won't fill if it doesn't think it's locked. I'd read it was an issue with that model, and many people have it happen with wet clothes locked inside that they can't get out. I felt fortunate that wasn't my situation. I bought that washer because it would let me decide the water level, but that only seems to be partly true

The idea of buying an older Direct Drive is gaining appeal. Should I decide to do so, there is a place nearby which specializes in older machines! That is where my daughter purchased her washer/dryer after learning I was so disappointed with my Samsung set. She was determined not to buy HE anything.

Mechanical vs. Electronic: I'm more a fan of mechanical. If only because it seems illogical to me to load up an appliance with electronics so near water. I've also had really really bad luck with various control panels and circuit boards in appliances--this is why the appliance store knows me. I can live with 2 rinses, but the other SQ electronic features sound appealing.

That's quite a recommendation for the GE GTWN. Like Esty, I'm a bit concerned about the lack of a Delicate cycle. I once held a delicate dress in the washer while the water swished through it during the delicate wash and rinse cycles. That's one of the main distinctions between how I use the upstairs Samsung FL and the basement machine: the Delicate cycle. Also, I read a review, which I didn't understand, complaining about a timer and emptying water?

thanks, all

 

[ea56]

There is no gentle cycle, but the perm press cycle gives a pulse wash, kind of like the old Maytag Fabricmatic did. It agitated, then pauses for a few seconds then agitates & pauses throughout the entire wash portion of the cycle. So if you use the perm press cycle for items that require gentle you should be OK. By the way the regular agitation is not real vigorous anyway. I have never had any clothes get holes or tears since I've used this machine, unlike the Cabrio that put holes in all of our wash cloths and white tee shirts. I did also get the matching dryer, and it is the BEST dryer that I've ever owned! There is never any lint left on clothes, and it dries all loads completely, no damp spots, except when I dry my king size quilted bedspread or down comforter. These larger items need to be rearranged as they tend to ball up, but they did this with any other dryer I've ever used too. I've never had any water remain in th bottom of the tub and have never had any unbalanced loads. This washer does exactly what it is supposed to do on every single load.

 

[esty]

Thanks so much ea56. To tell you the truth, I have never been so busy with washer and dryer trouble since I bought the speed queens. My original new speed queen dryer drum was leaving marks on the clothing like a really old dryer can do. Speed Queen new about the problem and replaced it with a white dryer drum so I shouldn't have that problem. Now I get a constant build up from fabric softener sheets on the inside aluminum plate vent. Very sharp pieces build up and I think is catching on the clothing as well. I really am so curious as to what whirlpool is coming out with also. I am curious also to see if there is a you tube showing your washer in action.
Thanks so much.

 

[esty]

I just watched a you tube of the ge washer in action. The agitation is actually very slow compared to the speed queens regular agitation speed. The ge was going like the speed queens slow agitation. I have 4 kids at home. One little boy who loves to get dirty come spring and summer. I wonder how this ge would take care of all his dirty clothes?

 

[ea56]

All I can tell you Etsy is that I notice an immediate improvment in how clean my laundry was after I got the GE. Though the agitation seems slow, it is very thorough. I've never found that I needed to rewash anything because it hadn't gotten clean. But I do think that using hot water whenever possible also helps any washer do its best job cleaning. I've used many different detergents, found that for cleaning ability and value Arm&Hammer liquid works very well. Frankly, I couldn't tell that Tide did any better job, but it sure costs more.

 

[esty]

Thank you for your imput. What is the difference on agitation speeds between the whites option and color option? Is there a difference? Funny you mention arm and hammer and tide. Those are the two detergents that I use. I use tide on my husband's things because he likes a scent, and the new original tide scent is mild to my nose. I just added Persil pearls for whites, for certain white loads. Amazing results. My whites have never been so white. Ido stop and soak for about 20 minutes.

 

[ptcruiser51]

@ea56

I have a low-end GE TL. It came with the house (2013), but I have no idea how old. Poly-whatever tub. Several cycles, full rinse w/spray rinse following. I am very pleased with it so far. Handles bathroom/kitchen carpets with no problems and full cleaning/rinsing. I used hot wash for linens, whites, towels. Warm for most everything else except for dainty embroidered things that are of heritage (napkins, tablecloths, furniure scarves).

I noticed that agitation on "perma-prest" or "casual" setting is more vigorous to start, then goes to slower.

As for dryers, as a former THD appliance salesman, I know that GE dryers have the "oomph" to get the flow going for 50' or better. Just go to the showroom and look at their in-basket vent compared to the weenie triangle of WP, KM, MYT, and others.

Good luck!

PTCruiser51

 

[DADoES]

 
rosiembanks,

As Coldspot66 says, your 1995 Whirlpool is a direct-drive machine, there is no belt involved in the mechanism.  The model number you cited does not search for parts but LSC9355AW0 does so I assume that's it.

You say the noise of question occurs during the initial fill, then stops (when agitation begins?), and occurs again during spin.  That's odd being as the machine's motor does not operate during the initial fill, only the water valves (hot, cold, or both) are on then.

 

[ea56]

Etsy
As far as I can tell there is really no difference between the whites and colors cycles, except that I think there may be a longer wash time in the whites cycle. Makes no difference to me, on most everyday loads I use the whites cycle, longest time setting. Thanks for the feed back on Persil, I'll have to give it a try. EA56

 

[esty]

Ea56, does your ge also start out with a fast agitation and then slow down like the other person said his does? My mom's 1980ś Kenmore does that.

 

[ea56]

Not that I've ever noticed.

 

[whirlcool]

Our 1993 WP TL machine does that. No matter how much wash time you dial in, the last 5 minutes is always slower agitation.

I wonder why your WP TL machine rusted out like that? Is your basement unusually damp? I've seen them do that here when the laundry room is located within garages.

What I would do before sinking any more money into the old one would be to pop the cover off of it and look at how bad the rust damage is. If it's just a spot or two it may be able to be repaired. But if it's everywhere, I'd look for a used machine.
Fortunately parts for these machines are pretty reasonably priced.