Frigidaire FFTW1001PW TL Washer / FFRE1001PW0 Dryer

[niclonnic]

I've had this washer and dryer set for a couple months now; it came with my new house and I'm finally getting around to making a post about it.

Right off the bat, I was glad to go back to a good old top-load washer with an agitator, as I honestly feel that this type of washer is more effective than a front-loader, particularly my old LG which used very minimal water.

This machine is a lot more basic than my last one. It features a stainless steel tub. The agitator simply tosses the clothes around with no turnover whatsoever. It tends to be rough on towels; at the end of a cycle, I occasionally see towels that come out a bit ripped, leading me to cut off the loose fibers with a pair of scissors.

The noise emitted during operation is weird, but at least the machine is quieter than older top-load washers, especially my previous Maytag Atlantis TL washer used in the old house prior to the LG. Is this a thing with current TL agitator washers?

There's also no option for the water level; instead, this machine senses how much water to use depending on the load size. That feature works really well.

The lid is locked during the entire cycle, so the detergent, clothes and any additives must be added prior to starting the machine. Fortunately, the washer can be paused mid-cycle to add any forgotten clothes.

One interesting option is "fabric softener." Turning that setting on changes rinses to deep, filled ones.

One downfall of the machine is the water temperature. Whenever it's set to HOT, the water doesn't actually get that hot; rather it's LUKEWARM at best. So it doesn't truly sanitize clothes. Does the lid allow a lot of heat to escape?

I don't have much to say about the dryer; it's an electric dryer, and it gets the job done. However, the "delicates" cycle doesn't fully dry clothes.

Notwithstanding some faults, I do enjoy this washer and dryer set quite a bit. I feel that my clothes come out cleaner than they did in my LG FL washer. What are your thoughts on this set?

 

[thomasortega]

This is probably one of the worst washers Electrolux ever made.

The agitator is my design (made for a washer that had a real transmission) but it ended up used wrong in this washer. The agitator actually spins like an impeller in this washer.

At least it was 100% electrolux-made.

For some time after this model Electrolux rebadged a Haier washer as Frigidaire. Not sure if they still have it or not.
Now the Laundry centers are 100% Electrolux again.

 

[niclonnic]

Video

I just made a video demonstrating the wash action of this washer. The lid sensor is located under the left door hinge; I taped it in to bypass it. I also stuck a pair of scissors through the lid lock, and that's how I was able to make the washer run with the lid open.

 

[yogitunes]

seems to be really gentle wash action for a Normal cycle...but as long as it is effective...

a lot of machines dub down temps in their own way....usually Normal has the coolest water temps....

before you show concern for the hot selection, what is your water heater set at?

 

[niclonnic]

Yogitunes

My water heater, which is a Rinnai RL75 tankless unit, is set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It's been at that setting ever since my family moved in.

 

[yogitunes]

first of all, your in a Northern state, your incoming cold water is really cold....

now starting with 120 degree hot water, which is a really warm bath temp....not exactly hot water to start with....the slightest dub down has turned all hot selections to warm at best...

one advantage you have with the tankless, you can boost the temp while your washing clothes and then dial back down....140 to 160 would be best, and purge the lines if possible...

theres concern for a water heater setting at 120 for the bacteria that can grow...

on some machines we have taken out the restrictors, especially on the HOT side....and even turning down the cold water valve at the wall to help regulate the amount of cold water entering...other machines have programming we can't get around..

 

[henene4]

120F a really warm bath temp?!?

What kind of baths are you takeing?
That's enough to poach salmon!

 

[DADoES]

 
160°F .... household stand-alone tankless water heaters (not tankless integrated into a boiler) are typically limited to maximum setting of 140°F.  Mine was factory-limited to 125°F with a menu option to change the limit (to max of 140°F).

Raising it to 140°F is unlikely to have much effect on this type of washer that dumbs down temperatures ... it will just mix in more cold water to maintain the programmed temperatures ... unless the user finds that a cycle other than Normal (perhaps Heavy Duty or Bedding) provides less restriction.

Tankless is 100% flushed whenever water flows so is less likely to have the bacteria problem, and the heat exchanger surface gets considerably hotter than the output water temp.  Mine is normally set at 102°F to 104°F for showering, although I raise it to various higher temps for clothes washing and *occasionally* for hand dishwashing, and *once in a while* so the first dishwasher fill is warmer for a particularly greasy load.  I've not had any apparent trouble with bacteria accumulation in 15 years, on untreated well water.