Choosing an energy star washer

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

R

rosie

Active member
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Messages
29
Location
Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
My first post. I live in Southern Ontario and have the opportunity to take advantage of a government rebate program on the purchase of an eco, or energy star washer. I have a 21 year old Whirlpool DD that still works, sort of and if needs be I will replace this old workhorse. Only problem is the new machine must be energy star rated to take advantage of the 25% rebate, applied at purchase, in the store. This eliminates any agitator washers of any brand. What make and model would be a good choice? The link below is the offerings from one of the larger stores within range. The red price is the cost. The green price is after the rebate. All prices are in Cdn. dollars.

 
LG front loader

I have had the 3500 washer for a year now and am extremely pleased with it. It holds more laundry than your direct drive top loader and is more gentle with it.

You can see Lorain Furniture's review of it on Youtube.
 
Another vote for the LG. I have the WM3575 which has turbo wash but no heater. I am satisfied in every way with it. When I sell this house I’ll probably leave it so that I can get the same one but with the heater, just for fun.
 
I noticed the 3900 wasn't avaiolable.  the only difference between the 3800 & 3900 is the TurboWash 360.  I'd go with the 3800.  
 
I watched Kirk's

videos of the new whirlpool model with recirculation. After watching that and wathing the LG with turbowash, I'd definitely get LG with turbowash and heat. The whirlpool wasn't horrible.....but it just looked adequate to me. he washed some sort of pillow on bulky.......BULKY!!! And the water level was so low I couldn't believe it. But the recirculation made up for it.
 
it has always seemed the higher the EER or Energy Rating, the poorer the machine....by mainly the water usage....

we used to have a Tier Rating....1, 2, or 3.....3 being the best at energy savings, and the highest at Rebates....

yet 1 was your better choice if you wanted clean clothes washed in good amounts of water and at higher temps....

efficient machines are not economical if their not effective at doing their job...
 
Martin, extrapolating that logic, LG's and Whirlpool's 4.5 cu. ft. washer are rated at 105 kwh/year.  for the 5.0+ cu. ft. washers, LG's 5.2 cu. ft. washer is rated at 120 kwh/year and Whirlpool's 5.0 cu. ft. washer is rated at 141 kwh/year.  I'll take the one with higher kwh because that means the onboard heater is used more for maintaining and raising water temps by design.   
 
LG 3500

I did a bit of research on the LG 3500 and watched this video put up by a Kirk Rivas. At the 19.22 mark of a light load fast wash the sheets were removed. Parts of the sheets were still dry. They did not appear to have been washed at all. This would be my preferred setting. I'm not a dirty guy. This seems to be a problem with low water usage machines. Any comments would be appreciated.

 
LG Water Level and Comments

I had an LG front load model for ten years (until the bearings went out). There was a screw I could adjust to get more water if needed. I did adjust that screw raising the water level until it came to the bottom of the door. Door could still be opened to throw a forgotten item in.

Does anyone know if this can be done on the LG3900 or the LG3800 Rosie is considering?

For what it's worth, the washer was pretty reliable. I had a rotor that got stripped. I could replace the part myself easily for under $100. It would have been an avoidable repair as I know to check this next time on a regular basis. The drain pump had to be replaced--this was due to one of my kids leaving a bobby pin in their pocket.

Mine had an easy-to-access coin trap and tube to drain the water from tub.

I did not have issues with mildew smell. Left the door cracked. Also, I ran a load on sani-cycle usually with bleach every week. My washer has an onboard heater.

Smaller items of clothing came up clean, but I noticed my comforters came out cleaner in a top load where there is turnover (I have the Maytag mvwp575gw top load now). However, the HE top loads that would probably qualify for the rebate very likely have low water and little agitation. I would get a front load over them.

It is my understanding LG has made some improvements making it easier for the homeowner to fix. Lorain Furniture has some videos that show this on the 3500 model (watch video below). Be aware that in the USA and where I live, it may be easier to find someone to work on Maytag/Whirlpool (and their private labels), Speed Queen, versus Samsung or LG.

 
I'm of a mind to give up on the HE type washers. I only do 2-3 loads per week in the old Inglis DD. Turn it on, put in powdered soap, throw in the clothes, sheets, towels etc. and wander off for 40 minutes. Done. Is there any thing left that does this. Speed Queen seems to have abandoned the market around here. They were everywhere with those 2018 models everyone was complaining about. Now they're gone and the old Huebsch name is showing up, but not around here. The Maytag commercial machine is $1500 Can. Too much. Is there a decent agitator machine like a Whirlpool or GE or Frigidaire any more?
 
2 things: the 3500 isn’t a turbo wash machine, and any load with a sheet stretched across the back of the tub like that on a front loader will have dry spots. Think about the high spin speed, how thin the fabric is, and what will happen to the water that’s in the part of the sheet that’s in the center of the window as it spins. Totally normal to have the occasional dry spot and it doesn’t mean it didn’t get washed.
 
Roper and GE?

Roper RTW4516FW2 has a dual agitator, but it is vertical modular washer. This is also one of the lower priced ones. Someone on this board has one though, and he likes it a lot. I am not sure about the durability of it. People do not feel this design will hold up as well.

My Maytag vmwp575gw is also a vertical modular washer. However, the critical parts have been reinforced. Even so, I do not expect the washer to last more than ten years, but it is number 1 when it comes to cleaning performance and easy for me to repair. With that said, the Speed Queen TC5 seems to be the undisputed top favorite (and my overall favorite too) will likely require fewer repairs and last longer before major repairs are needed vs. the Maytag. However, it costs more too.

The Maytag has a five year parts and labor warranty (this is all the time) and the Speed Queen has a 10-year parts and labor warranty for a limited time only if purchased and installed before end of year. Otherwise, warranty is three years for that model. I am not sure if the same offer is good in Canada. I know you are having issues with locating a retailer anyway. Both of these washers are expensive where you live, the warranty offers additional peace of mind. This is the only reason I mention it.

General Electric also makes some top loads with the dual agitator. I tried to find the ones that are NOT HE. However, HE ones that have deep fill may work too. I have seen somewhere where one or some of their models may come with a direct drive now? If so, this may give it an edge over the Maytag washer. However, they would cost me about the same as the Maytag washer where I live.

I have been mostly looking at the knob versions. I like that some of these models still have the water level selector switch. What I don't like is the dial (the large white one) to select the cycle on the washer or dryer. They do not seem well made. The smaller knobs seem okay. I help someone do their laundry that has a GE machine.

They weigh 150 lbs. or more, so not a lightweight machine. This is similar to weight of Maytag.

I found these, but I cannot tell if they are direct drive or not. I cannot see the details of the parts diagrams well enough but I don't see a typical belt guard like what comes with vmw washers.

Is this one of their direct drive models? Look at the parts list for it?

https://www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/ModelSectionParts/GTW725BSN0WS/3/0/0/0/TUB_&_MOTOR

What about this one?

https://www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/ModelSectionParts/GTW845CSN0WS/3/0/0/0/TUB_&_MOTOR
 
My experience with front load

They are definitely gentler on clothes. They take longer to wash clothes, but with today’s enzyme based detergents that’s not such a bad thing. You can wash king sized comforters no problem in larger machines.

With that being said, I would not buy one without a prewash cycle and compartment for prewash detergent. In my experience, the highly concentrated dirty water will soak into the fibers and create an odor and UnderArmor style breathable fabric is a major culprit of this. The prewash will allow for removal of major soil so the longer main wash cycle can do its job without soaking odors into the fibers. An extra rinse option would also be ideal with on onboard heater too, if possible.
 
 
Rosie/Jim re: Reply #11 ...

All the items in the load absolutely got fully saturated wet and washed.  Dry areas at end of the cycle are artifacts of the higher spin speed, particularly if a single-ply layer of an item such as sheet is spanned across the drum and exposed to air currents.  I have a toploader that spins 1,010 RPM for a full six mins, a thin-fabric item in some instances may have a dry spot or two.
 
There is a dealer not too far away that carries Speed Queen washers. They have 2 models that are fairly reasonable after you do the currency conversion. They are as follows:

AWN432SP113CW04

AWNE82SP113CW01

I am not sure of the year of these 2 models but they are new. Any input would be appreciated.
 

Similar threads

T
repair or replace 12yo Maytag Ensignia (Norge style) Washer
Replies
5
Views
13
thefisch
T
W
Beginning year 4 as a homeowner
2
Replies
32
Views
33
washman
W
oliveoiltinfoil
Need help choosing a washer dryer
3 4 5
Replies
83
Views
84
oliveoiltinfoil
oliveoiltinfoil
rinso
Energy Star: Why Dishwashers?
Replies
3
Views
9
washer111
W
P
Question for Aussies on this board re: washer preferences down under
2
Replies
25
Views
26
ronhic
ronhic

Latest posts

Back
Top