Expanding Laundry: Your Expertise Needed, Please

[frigilux]

Geoff's recent laundry room makeover has spurred me into action. I've figured out how to move things around to make room for a 2nd washer. Unlike most of you, I have no (none; less than any; zero; zilch experience with this sort of thing.

The two washers and a dryer will be placed in a row. I'm not planning to run both washers at the same time---after all, there's only one dryer. The new washer will be a toploader; my current washer is a frontloader. I thought it would be fun to be able to choose between the two types. I'm thinking of getting the TOL Frigidaire, as it will match my current pair exactly. Also, they're very inexpensive, which will make the expansion financially painless. (Notice how I deftly bypassed using the words 'plastic-y' and 'cheap', LOL?)

Here are my plumbing questions:

1) Can I just get some Y couplers and add them to my current faucets for the extra pair of inlet hoses or should I have a second, dedicated pair of faucets installed? I always turn the water off when I'm done washing for the day.

2) What should I do about an extra drain pipe? I don't want to switch-out drain hoses every time I use a different washer. (I know what will happen: Eventually, I'll forget to put the right hose in the drain (most likely when I'm using the TL'er) and the carpeted family room right next to the laundry room will be flooded with 22 gallons of bleachy wash water). Is adding an extra drain pipe something my appliance installer can do or should I call the plumber and have him take care of that before the new washer arrives? The current drain pipe has a trap which leads directly into the cement floor, which is then fed to the floor drain.

Sorry if these questions seem wildly naive, but I don't want to screw-up anything. Thanks in advance for your advisement.

 

[coldspot66]

You can split off the hot and cold with "Y" couplers, so that's not a problem. You might need longer hoses for one machine, depending on where the shutoffs are located. As far as the drain is concerned, best to call a plumber for that. I have a workshop in my basement and had the hot & cold split with "Y" couplers for years, but do now have 2 separate shutoffs. Hope this helps!

 

[frigilux]

Yes, it does! Thanks for your help. I'll call the plumber tomorrow and get things rolling. I have to order the washer from my dealer (he has a MOL Frigidaire in stock, but it doesn't have temp-controlled cold/warm water, nor does it have sound insulation) so it will be a couple of weeks before it arrives. That gives me time to take care of things.

 

[gadgetgary]

That gives me time to take care of things.

And of course....pics will follow??????

 

[frigilux]

Absolutely! This will be the first toploader I've had since my KitchenAid back in '90. I keep thinking I should get a Whirlpool or Maytag (either is a better machine) but for some reason I want the 'look' to be uniform. I didn't know until now that mattered to me, but I guess it does.

My sister had an Electrolux-made Frigidaire toploader for about 8 years and she had no trouble with it. Reliability is supposed to be very good, but they are a cheaply made, plastic-laden machine.

 

[gmmcnair]

Frigidaire Top Loaders

I had a WCI made Frigidaire in my first apartment in Portland and frankly, it was crap.

However, I have a Kenmore top loading laundry center in our home right now. Their BOL laundry centers (the 27 inch variety) are made by Electrolux Frigidaire. I know I was leery when I moved in and saw the controls, the tub, agitator, and all. Exact!

Happily, four years later, I have been washing 7-8 loads a week wtih this machine and no problems whatsoever. The only part I've bought for the machine was optional. I bought a fabric softener dispenser from the Frigidaire web site so I didn't have to hear the Downey ball clunk around in there.

It's a very adequate machine. It has decent washing ability when not overloaded and the agitub is fun. It has very similar action to the mini Frigidaire in the "See it Wash" section--only more robust. It also has a longer spin cycle on the regular cycle, dubbed "Power Spin" on the newer models, which does a really good job of removing water from the clothes (for a top loader).

Another happy feature. Unlike the plastic GE machines, this one actually appears to have a real self cleaning lint filter. Very little fuzzies problems, even when I line dry.

Yeah, I know, they're cheap and plasticky, but they seem to hold up well to reasonable use. I have an entire kitchen of cheap plasticky "Fridgemore" appliances, and, since Electrolux has been daddy, they all seem to work well. No service calls in four years of use, on any of them.

Glad you're getting a Frigidaire. Maytag has really slipped since the 1990's; read consumer reports, the threads here, and epinions reader review of Maytag and Admiral (the SAME design) top loaders. I think you will be happy for years.

 

[frigilux]

CR bottom-rates the Frigidaire TL washers, but I'll probably wash my uber-dirty laundry in the front-loader anyway. I'd actually prefer a Maytag because they don't have a neutral drain---I believe the ElectroFrigi's have a neutral drain, which isn't as much fun as a water-throwing machine. But I seem to want the machines to match, so I'm leaning toward Frigidaire.

I also had a WCI TL'er back in the mid-80's and it was bad. Things came clean if the load wasn't too large. I'm sure the new machine will do at least as well as that one.

I'm also concerned about the ease with which I can fool/disable the safety lid switch. On my WCI Frigi it was easy. I stuck a little hunk of wood in the opening and it held the safety switch down and fooled the lid-locking mechanism during spins.

I think Maytag TL'ers have the magnetic lid switch, which is very simple to fool with a magnet. We'll see. I'm going to my appliance dealer after school to place the order. He sells Maytag and Frigidaire, so I have the option. Frigidaire's TOL lists at $419, and he'll be able to beat that price by at least $50. That's the other thing Frigi has going for it....price!

The TL won't be my daily driver. I'm a big FL fan, but it will be fun to have the option. Sometimes it's just more fun to watch a TL'er in action.

Needless to say, I'm excited. The plumber comes tomorrow morning to add the extra drain pipe.

 

[gmmcnair]

Lid Switch on Frigidaire TL

They're still easy to defeat....anything down in the little hole lets you see the spin cycle.

They do have a neutral drain, like the old belt drive Whirlpools, but they're sturdy and wash better than the old WCI machines (read my earlier post)....just don't be surprised if the performance isn't stellar compared to your front loader. Load them loosely and they're fine.

Personally, I wouldn't touch a new NorgeTag (Maytag and Admiral) with a ten meter cattle prod. Unless you buy top of the line, you get the same cheap plastic tub that's in the Admiral, along with the same transmission and inner workings. With the top of the line, you get the stainless steel tub....and the cheap inner workings of the NorgeTags. You can get the cheap plastic tub in the Frigidaire with some sturdy inner workings for a lot less.