Chances of frontloader going boom?

[washerdude]

We have now had our brand new whirlpool duet front loader for 2 weeks now and we love it. Today i decided to look up the chances of front loaders exploding....like the lg washers. Surprisingly enough there were 2 cases of Maytag Maxima units "exploding" on high speed spin. Of course it does not look as bad as when lg washers explode. But it is a little concerning. We washed our king size comforter when we got it and it seemed to have no issue spinning that on high spin. What are they chances of it blowing up?

 

[qualin]

I would say fairly slim. I haven't heard of any issues with Whirlpools exploding.

If anything, Whirlpools have been more prone to the trunion bearing going out.
I'm not sure if they've fixed the issues with it since they introduced the Duet's on the market, so I can't say if it is still an issue.

The way you'll know if the trunion bearing is going out will be hearing a loud roaring noise when it is on spin. It only really is a problem with people who constantly overload the machine load to load all the time.

 

[washer111]

As Qualin pointed out, FL's don't generally make a rule out of exploding randomly. 

 

However, shoddy build quality and poor usage habits can manifest and CAN result in spectacular failure if you turn a blind ear to a roaring bearing or continuous out-of-balance/high-speed operation.

 

Poor usage habits may include any of the following:

~ Overloading

~ Inadequate detergent dosage/Too much detergent dosage

~ Excessive fabric softener usage

~ Frequent cold-water washing: Allows the buildup of mold/mildew/detergent scum*/bodily soils and oils, particularly in FL machines that are kept shut and/or are not run through cleaning cycles 

 

*This and your own soil usually will degrade/corrode the metal supports and bearings in the washer - which will subsequently fail. PLEASE use hot enough water, with enough detergent so your machine remains clean! It doesn't matter whether the drum/door boot looks fine, its whats on the outside that counts!

 

If a poorly-built machine is respected and cared for, it can last a lot longer than if you just "use and abuse" the machine till it konks out. 

 

(And before someone points out that FLs are rubbish because they require cleaning cycles - Regular hot washes, with enough detergent and/or Chlorine Bleach COMPLETELY alleviate the need to do so. Machines used in Hard-water areas that HAVE a heater in them should have a maintenance wash (HOT)with Citric Acid/Vinegar to remove buildup regularly and prolong element life)

 

[henene4]

I know of no case a FL made by LG exploding.
In fact, I know of only one case where bad and cheap manufaturing caused a washer to disintegrate: The Candy/Hoover company here in the EU. They used cheap and badly welded inner drums and these than ripped open at speeds anywhere from 1000 to 1600 RPM. It even happend in our consumer reports tests. I think the pictures in the link illustrated what kind destruction is possible:
http://www.test.de/Waschmaschinen-von-Candy-Hoover-Totalschaden-im-Badezimmer-4104279-0/
Yet, they got active and serviced any machine made during that period for free. They reduced the maximum spin speed until they either exchanged the drum unit or the whole machine.
But I don't think a FL could ever explode like the LGs did. As long there is a basic bit of quality and mind in that machine, such situations should never occour.

 

[washerdude]

Thanks for the replys! Here are the 3 maxima units that exploded. The extra link is what i just noticed.

http://www.saferproducts.gov/ViewIncident/1239511

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Sesrs...ploded-9-months-after-purchase-Sears-w-976647

http://www.saferproducts.gov/ViewIncident/1330022

Oddly enough this is only happening to maytag units. 0 results showed up when i searched whirlpool duet.

 

[henene4]

LOL

I would ask all customers who has set up these units and if the shipping rods have been removed. And what they washed when that happend.
I dont know about how the site on link 1&3 works, but the description is just incedible simmilar. Either the site offers prewritten sentences or they copied each other.
One thing in link #1 puzzels me further: Oil all over the wall? There is exactly on part that contains oil and that is the bearing. The amount would not be more than a few milliliters and it wouldn't be anywhere liquid enough to spray anywhere. It would create single dots if spun out of the caseing.
Link 2 looks like the machine was indeed a lemon. But the woman had technicly no right to dem and a 400$ upgrade. The seller only has to return the price she paid and was not anyhow forced to give her the same unit again. If there was no simmilar model avaible for the same price, thats the problem of the woman.

 

[DADoES]

 
I caught the oil discrepancy immediately on reading that report.

 

[washerdude]

I noticed on my new duet that there was a noise when you turn the tub by hand as if there is something metal stuck between the tub. I knew this was the balance ring and apprantly it contains "heavy oil" acording to a video. But still, i don't get how it could spray everywhere even if it was being shreded by the tub.

 

[henene4]

I doubt they use heavy oil. More likely it's a water based fluid. Imagine the ring somehow fails: A gallon of oil all on your laundry and in your washer drum and pipes.

 

[DADoES]

 
Hmm.  I didn't consider a balance ring on the drum.  That could be.  The balance ring on the Catalyst toploader basket is dual-chambered, per service doctrine.  The top part is water-filled as on other direct-drive toploaders.  The lower part contains 320cc of oil and steel balls for additional ballast.

 

[logixx]

The Duets and Maytags have two balance rings as well.

 

 

[henene4]

But anyway: Even if that ring gets crushed, how should the oil scatter out of the inner tub and out of the cabinet?

 

[nmassman44]

Funny you ask the question...on my quest for a new dryer, that I fixed for $25, it needed new coils for the gas valve. Not bad for a Frigidaire built GE dryer that is 13 years old. Anyways one dealer here was telling me that she will no longer be selling Maytag/Whirlpool built frontload washers since they have issues with circuit boards blowing out after 6 months of use. This was a Maytag Home dealer here in Lynn that told me that. Then I went to another dealer and he was steering me away from anything Whirlpool built since the drums on the washers are failing at the seams during high speed spin. They have encountered 4 so far from what I was told. Whirlpool replaced the machines and these are very recent ones with the new spiral and embossed drums.
I was leaning to the Electrolux washer and dryer since they will stack nicely and fit where I want them. But now that my dryer is fixed for now, I wont be in the market for new until the next episode occurs. The dryer in question is no longer made and NOBODY has them in gas anymore. Plus the price for parts for this baby is staggering...like $560 for a new gas valve, $100 for a new control tstat and $40 for a new igniter...for that kinda price I would get a new dryer.