Frigidaire Affinity

[peteski50]

Today I helped a friend hook up his new set of Frigidaire Affinity washer dryer TOL model in silver. Real nice set and runs quietly and probably the most simple of all the new front loader designs. We did 2 big loads and everything came out with great results. What I really like about these Frigidaires is that they don't take all that time to balance before spinning like my LG does. I still like the LG but this is a great alternative and the service is probably better. I don't feel the Frigidaire dryer is as top quality as the washer. I cannot believe WCI in all this time really hasent improved the design. It is still a noisy dryer and smaller capacity compared to competive brands. But I have to say the exterior did not get hot. So that is a plus. The washer is extremly quiet and is excellent quality. The only thing I think they should add a prewash cycle. Their is a drum light that turns on for 3 minutes when the door is opened. I wish they would make it with a on off switch.
Peter

 

[frigilux]

They're a good-looking pair, too. However, you brought up the reason I'm leaning toward replacing my old-school Frigidaire FL'er with a Duet set---and that reason is the dryer.

My washer has a 3 cu.ft. tub and a full load in that is almost more than the dryer can handle without making everything one massive wrinkle. A full load of towels will fluff up to fill the entire drum by the end of the cycle. When I dry my queen-size comforter, I have to stop the machine and redistribute it or it will fill the drum as it dries and scorch a bit at the back of the drum.

The new Affinity washer has a 3.5 cu.ft tub, but the dryer drum is the same size as mine. Makes no sense. Meanwhile, the new WP/GE dryers are at 7 (or slightly more) cu. ft.

Others have pointed out Frigidaire does this so the washer and dryer can have the same size footprint, but I'd rather have machines of a slightly different size and get the extra room in the drum.

Glad they haven't messed with the pre-spin balancing routine. My machines sit on painted concrete, so I don't require a machine that completely fine-tunes a load to prevent excess vibration.

 

[golittlesport]

I am surprized they don't offer a larger dryer, too. While the 5.8 cf dryer saves the day in many installations...like stacking in a laundry closet or placing under a counter...I think Frigidaire should offer a bigger dryer for folks whose machines are in the basement or garage.

Myself, I have the 5.8 and it works just great for me. (my under-counter installation wouldn't work with any other large capacity brand.) I don't like to do huge loads of laundry. I'd rather do a finer sort and wash an extra load or two. About the only time I stuff the washer is when I do towels and they come out of the dryer great...towels don't wrinkle. Sometimes I'll split a load of jeans from the washer to the dryer.

 

[jasonmarc52]

Not WCI any longer!

Frigidaire is not part of "White Consolidated Industries" any longer, but part of Electrolux AB from Sweden. Not only that, but that company also makes the fantastic Zanussi and AEG brands as well! At least we can get the AEG's here in the USA! Jason

 

[frigilux]

And HOORAY that Frigidaire is no longer being held hostage by WCI. It was around 1996 that Electrolux got the brand, right? I bought the first-issue (manufacture date of September 1996) FrigiLux front-loading washer.

Even though I'm glad the brand has had at least SOME of its reputation restored, nothing holds a candle to the classic GM-owned Frigidaire. That's when a Frigidaire was a freakin' FRIDGIDAIRE.

In fact, I completely understand when people feel the name should have been killed off when GM bailed out at the end of the 1970's.

I wanted Frigidaire appliances SO BADLY when I was a kid, but our house was strictly Kenmore/Sears, down to the electric knife and toaster! I think that's why I buy Frigidaire now, even though it isn't the real deal; Somehow, just seeing the name on my appliances comforts me.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Frigidaire Front-Load Washer:

Hi! Eugene, what Model Front-Load Washer did you buy and did you get the Matching Electric or Gas Dryer, or is your Dryer going to be more of a Match to your new Washer?

Thank you for your help with this in wondering if you've got the "Fridgemore" or the newer Square/Retangle Door Front-Load Washer.

Peace and great Frigidaire Laundry Washing and Drying, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[frigilux]

Steve-- The Frigidaire I just purchased is a top-loader, model 1749. My other washer is a Frigidaire front-loader, rear control panel, which was purchased when I moved into my house in summer 2002. I upgraded to Frigi's TOL dryer in 2005; the 2002 model I had prior to that didn't have moisture sensors, just a thermostat.

The control panel on all three units look exactly the same----four control knobs and a timer on the right side.

 

[golittlesport]

Eugene - does your new Frigidaire TL spin-drain or neutral drain? Does it have the dual action agitator? How fast is the spin? What do you think of it? I'm not that familiar with Electrolux/Frigidaire TL's, although I see they have jumped way up the list for reliability in CR's reader's poll.

 

[frigilux]

Rich-- The washer is being installed early this afternoon. I'll do my first load after work today. I believe Frigidaires now have a neutral drain (boo!). Not sure what the spin speed is, and it doesn't say in the operating instructions. I'm guessing it's nothing spectacular---what's average for a TL lately? 680 rpm or so? I'm sure it isn't anywhere near 1000 rpm (ala Fisher/Paykel and the CabriOasis) since it has a plastic tub and I believe they have stress-induced spin limits.

I wonder what the agitation speed will be---it does have the dual action agitator and the fins look small and WP/KM-ish. If it has a slow/long stroke, there isn't going to be a lot of oomph in the agitation dept.

I'm also curious as to whether it has an indexing tub, which I thought hurt rather than helped rollover in my WCI Frigi TL'er back in the mid-80's.

Needless to say, I'm excited to give it a whirl. I haven't had a TL'er since 1990. They're bottom-rated for cleaning in CR, but I don't plan to use it as my daily driver. The FL'er will continue to hold that position.

All questions to be answered soon (fingers crossed).

 

[frigilux]

Clarification: When I said "They're bottom-rated for cleaning in CR", I meant my Frigidaire, not ALL top-loaders. And my last daily-driver TL, in 1990, was a KitchenAid.

I also had, all-too-briefly due to my own stupidity, a Frigidaire 1-18 and a pristine 1959 LK around the same time, both of which I carted home from the Frigidaire dealer's discard pile across the street from the warehouse apt. I used to live in. The LK had never been used. The 1-18 worked perfectly. I sold them both less than a year later in a misguided 'clean-house' fit. (Here's where I kick myself for the 10,000th time). It happened long before I discovered this wonderful site and had a
support group which would have talked me out of it, LOL.

 

[peterh770]

They still index the tub, agitating further in one direction than the other. Hopefully you will find that the auger turns with the longer agitation stroke to help the rollover.

 

[frigilux]

That's right---I'd forgotten that the counterclockwise stroke was long and the clockwise stroke was much shorter. Oh, boy. I hope the auger helps that situation. We'll see! I just don't understand the need for an indexing tub.

 

[gmmcnair]

It's cheaper?

Wouldn't it be cheaper to make a machine with a locking lid on the spin cycle and no tub brake? Here's my amateur theory...

If you watch an old Norge/Wards machine, the tub indexes a time or two before the tub brake CLUNKS into place. Then the tub is mostly stationary. WCI machines, and the new Electrolux top-loader keep on indexing. My Kenmore/Fridgemore is no exception.

My Fridgemore laundry center has the locking lid and no brake...since it's locked until about a minute after the cycle. You can hear it wind down from the high spin for several seconds....much longer than regulations allow for newer machines to have a spinning tub. The tub also indexes, which seems to hamper wash action IF you overload it. Otherwise it's fine and cleans well enough.

Since this initial design was WCI (CHEAP), wouldn't it make sense to tout the indexing tub and safety lid lock as "features" rather than efforts to cheapen the machine????

 

[agiflow]

At one time WCI did tout the indexing tub as a feature and called it 'three way washing action' or some non-sense.

 

[gmmcnair]

It's cheaper?

Wouldn't it be cheaper to make a machine with a locking lid on the spin cycle and no tub brake? Here's my amateur theory...

If you watch an old Norge/Wards machine, the tub indexes a time or two before the tub brake CLUNKS into place. Then the tub is mostly stationary. WCI machines, and the new Electrolux top-loader keep on indexing. My Kenmore/Fridgemore is no exception.

My Fridgemore laundry center has the locking lid and no brake...since it's locked until about a minute after the cycle. You can hear it wind down from the high spin for several seconds....much longer than regulations allow for newer machines to have a spinning tub. The tub also indexes, which seems to hamper wash action IF you overload it. Otherwise it's fine and cleans well enough.

Since this initial design was WCI (CHEAP), wouldn't it make sense to tout the indexing tub and safety lid lock as "features" rather than efforts to cheapen the machine????

 

[gmmcnair]

OOPS

Sorry for the double post!

 

[peterh770]

The difference is voluntary vs. involuntary indexing. The Norge and old GE's would index involuntarily because the brake was not completely engaged. With the Westinghouse/Franklin/WCI/Elux machines, it is built into the mechanism to allow this measured, mechanical indexing to occur. With the big spiral agitator that effectively sucked the clothes down with the long stroke, the Westinghouse agitator was really quite good, while the straight vane MOL/BOL Westy, Frigidaire and angel-wing Kelvy/Gibson/Wizard are not quite as good for maintaining turnover.