All New Whirlpool Cabrio

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I don't recall ever needing to use huge quantities of laundry detergent or hot water in any washer in my lifetime, and most certainly not in the 2012 belt-drive Whirlpool I have now. I can load dirty clothes to the top of the basket, sometimes more, use a scoop or cap full of detergent to the line recommended on the box for either type of washer, and the clothes feel crisp and clean after one rinse. The only obstacle in the way is the long fated battle against the detergent manufacturers, one hugely guilty culprit being P&G, stripping the product we've always used with great results of its core ingredients, only to put them in a more expensive bottle with a fancier smell and name.

Regardless of front-load, top-load impeller, or top-load agitator styles, water's chemical makeup has not changed in the time humans have walked the earth. Scientists have not suddenly recoded its molecules to be more effective in lower quantities. It still takes water to clean, and it still takes water to flush detergent and left over dirt particles away.

Jumping to a different but related note, it's nice to see that some companies are putting the consumer's choice back into the machines. For too long a user has been forced to endure things like measly spray rinsing and luke-warm water when they need hot. So far, Speed-Queen is producing washers that now appease the DoE while still offering traditional cycles that work as people wish. With this new Whirlpool, it's now possible for any cycle to use deep water should it be desired, and having a heater built in will at least give steaming hot water when dirty diapers and soiled bedsheets need it most.

The bottom-line is that consumers should be able to use the machines they pay for as they see fit. It's up to the manufacturers to make sure that is possible while also making sure the machine CAN abide by energy restrictions under a regular basis. If you feel that your clothes are being sufficiently cleaned by half a gallon of water, more power to you. If you can't wear your clothes without itching unless they have gone through three deep rinse cycles, you should have the power to do so.

My grandmother washes a load of clothes that should be set to large on her plastic GE top-load, but is actually set at Extra Large, as she feels the clothes should roll freely. After the initial wash and rinse cycle, she sets the timer control to Heavy Soil again, without detergent, and lets the machine proceed through an entire wash and rinse again. I myself don't deem that many rinses necessary, as I'm happy with my washer's performance, but she feels more comfortable if she knows there is no more detergent residue left, and that's all that matters.
 
I couldn't find in the manual anywhere which shows which cycles/options the Steam and heater is an option. And if it was available when the option for higher amount of water is used. 
 
Just Curious....

Are the Cabrio and Bravos dryers using this same blower set up?
Why is the blower set up like this? So the drum can be bigger in the same size cabinet?
Many complaints about this design.

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this could prove to be an interesting machine and setup.......

first of all, its a TIER 1 for Energy Efficiency.....that means it will use more water....

and the operating instructions are specific of not favoring ALL Cold washes.....warm/hot must be used for clothes cleaning as well as machine maintenance....that was interesting, and something we have been saying all along!

if it is along the F&P design, lets hope the function of the machine is as well, don't see a mention of a recirc/sprinkler, but alternating spin and wash will at least make sure detergent and water are saturated through the load....

I'd like to see one in action on a regular load....
 
According to the parts list, this washer works like the other current Cabrio <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Platinum</span> models: recirculation pump and F&P-style Direct Drive motor.

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Still...

They are a nice looking pair. Glad to see they have gotten away from those membrane switches that eventually fail. I wasn't sure that Whirlpool would step into the UBER TL market. Leaving it to the imports...

Malcolm
 
New WP Washer and Dryer

About the only thing really new to these machines is the touch electronic control that does away with the troublesome membrane controls that Malcolm mentioned.

The nut looking thing in the middle of the dryer bulkhead is just a spray port that a fine mist of water comes out of for the steam feature, WP-KM has had this feature for about 10 years now.

WP builds dryers with three different style blowers, direct drive with the blower wheel mounted directly on the front or rear of the motor, this dryer has the blower on the front of the motor.

On some of their bigger dryers they either use a belt driven blower like Brent posted in reply # 22, on higher end models the blower has its own variable speed motor eliminating the belt. We have not seen many problems with these new systems, but they are more complicated and will be prone to some problems that you would not have with the blower mounted directly on the motor.

The excessive lint build-up pictured in reply#22-2 is typical of a dryer that is not vented properly [ or at all LOL ]. The pictured build-up has NOTHING to do with the design of this dryer, I have seen every dryer design imaginable is as bad a condition in my career. The picture Brent shows has also been doctored if you look at the duct at the bottom of the lint filter housing, you can see they stuffed hand fulls of lint in it before the picture was taken, lint would never built-up in clumps like that. For a dryer to be in this condition the area around the dryer would also about the same.
 
Tub Light(s)

Seems that we have lost the ability to turn the drum lights on during operation on both of these machines. Too bad...

Malcolm
 
I have been given the green light to reveal some details

FINALLY! I have been reading this thread waiting to tell you more about this machine! I've spent quite a bit of time on this machine so I am happy to answer as many questions as I can about it!

1) This is NOT an Oasis machine. It is not based on the Fisher & Paykel design. This is an entirely new platform. Yes, it does still use a BPM motor just like the Oasis machines.

2) The washer has a drawer type dispenser for detergent, softener, and oxi-bleach (on some models). There is a separate chlorine bleach dispenser that dumps into the tub like most washers have. (As opposed to dumping in the basket where the chemicals from the drawer go.)

3) The washer does have a recirculation spray. It comes from about the 4 or 5 o'clock postion.

4) The washer does not have a drum light (sadly).

5) The nozzle in the dryer is for water. It sprays a very fine mist on the clothes to create steam.

6) You couldn't turn the drum light on in the dryer for any of the Oasis match (Saguaro) dryers that had the Whirlpool label on them. You could on the Maytag Bravos though I believe.
 
Interior Lights: That seems to be happening with more and more brands/models. Whirlpool and Maytag front-loaders are two examples. The GE RightHeight model (spendy, of course) still allows the light on during operation, as do some LG models.

I'm starting to think I need to hang on to my 2010 Frigidaire pair as long as possible: No dumbed-down hot water; shorter Normal cycle time (44 vs. 80+); steam, allergen and sanitize water heating options; Max fill option (which I use on loads with liquid chlorine bleach); interior light can be switched on during cycle; most importantly, they're paid for, LOL!

As for the "What" and "How" controls: Merely different words describing the same controls all our washers have. "What" = Cycle; "How" = Options/Modifiers/Default Settings. Great electronic touch controls, though! Had them on my LG dishwasher and far preferred them to the membrane controls on the Frigidaire washer. Glassy and classy.

Edit: Thanks for the official update, Jamie! We always appreciate any inside information you can share with us.
 
New DD TL Whirlpool Washers

Thanks for the information Jamie, I discovered this morning when looking over the parts list that this machine is indeed quite different from previous F&P style washers.

The big difference that I see is the washer can agitate without filling the machine with enough water to cause the inner basket to float and disengage the basket from the drive shaft and only allow the impeller to be driven. This change may allow much smaller amounts of water to be used in this washer than the previous design.

It also appears that this new WP washer design now has an easy to change shaft,seal and bearing assembly. This will make this washer easier to keep running for longer service life as well as making it use even less energy than the previous design.

I say this is great news, thanks Jamie for your efforts on this new machine, and to think we knew when you were just 13 years old and now you are helping make the washers of tomorrow possible.
 
I HATE whirlpool and I'm not a huge fan of top load washers but I have to be fair and admit these machines have a breathtaking design.

it's probably the first time in my life that I can say "WOW" after seeing a new Whirlpool washer.

My only concern is... impeller again? Let me guess: this machine uses more water (2 teaspoons + 2 drops)
 
Nobody mentions impellers knotting sheets? My impeller certainly does. Reversing does not diminish it. Offset (off the tub axis) impellers don't but I haven't seen one of those since my 1973 Panasonic twintub and it would be very difficult to implement in a tub which also spins.
 
I think it's cool that

"deep water" is a modifier! That means you can choose a cycle and add deep water to that cycle if you want. I'm so glad that they are starting to give us more options like that on washers that they took away the past few years.
 
I think this post proves your knowleg about this type and design of washer...
The standard cycle is still the low water system (though we can suspect all deep rinses as the softner option lacks AFAIK). Yet, as seen on some lower end Maytags before, there is an option called DeepWater wash. If it works like on the Maytag conter part, it actually drasticly increases water levels.
And if you don’t exepct such: F&P do it since they have introduced low profile agitators (LPA).
(Side note: Technicly, it is not an impeller. Impellers turn faster and more than 720° arc. A LPA stays below 720° and spins slower.)
 
Maybe the water recirculation system eliminates the need for a special softener setting. If the rinse water is recirculated, then fabric softener can be evenly dispersed without a deep fill.
 
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