Front Load Washers-BOL Frigidaire

[exploder321]

What do use guys think of the BOL Frigidaire Front Loader from Blowes? This one is smilar to the Kenmore ones, and i like those..My brother has been using a BOL Montgomery Wards (ge made) that he bought for $110 new right before they closed (1998 i think) he also has the matching dryer...
They have been moved all over the country and we're all shocked they've survived this far.. But the washer goes clunk, clunk clunk now and has for a while and is leaking a little oil from the transmisson..
SO i have been socking back a little dough to buy him a washer (which i am halfing with my sister) which we plan to get tommrow... They have this one in stock and they have the $698 one in stock.. I like this one baised on price, and plus i think this will be a little easier to move..His fiancee also is buying him a new dryer, and he would like it to match (like his current set)

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www.lowes.com

 

[mixedup]

I used to have this washer

or the 1998 version of it in my old place. I got it because I had to have a stackable set as I only had a tiny laundry closet. It was my first (& only) front loader and I really liked it. Actually I quite miss it. It was basic, no fancy cycles or heater, but I think it cleaned better than my current 10 year old kenmore top loader. I never had any trouble with in the 7 years I owned it, but I never had any occasion to move it. Around here it is typical to leave the appliances when you sell. So I left my beloved front loader at the condo and wound up with a toploader that I don't like that much.

Virginia

 

[frigilux]

That's the washer I have (Toggle, too)---except mine has a rear control panel. It's a great little machine. Not as technologically evolved as your Affinity, but it gets the job done. Spins at around 1000 rpm. The porthole isn't as big and easily accessible as the Affinity.

I had a 1996 front-contol, stackable FL'er at my warehouse apartment. It was the very first Electrolux-built Frigidaire FL'er. It's still there, washing for 3 apartments. I left it behind because I wanted a new pair when I bought my house.

That's a great price for it, too. More people would buy FL'ers if the prices weren't so astronomical.

 

[exploder321]

Thats what i thought, so thats what he's a getting... He dry cleans most of his uniforms, etc..So he doesn't do alot of Laundry, but that dam BOL M/Wards GE contraption is the pitts.. I took a video of it washing but it didn't come out very good... It'll be headed to the Krusher (the trash dump place) tuesday before i leave... It harldy has any turn over, no cold wash selection or hot wash selection or even a water level, just an On and Off..It's the damdest thing i've ever seen... But he only paid $110 when he was just startin out, so it's seen its abuse and use (he wrote every state it's been in on the back, just to keep track of where he's lived... Its moved 14 times in its life)
The dryer only has a Hot setting and thats not that hot..Took an hour to dry a mixed load of towls, sheets etc (um, i and a certin some one made a mess last night) and they still where a little damp when removed

 

[oxydolfan1]

Around here, men are like laxatives.....

They irritate the CRAP out of you!

So, have fun, have fun, you're young enough to be my.....

YOUNGER BROTHER!!! lol...

Anyhoo, I like that machine, although it would be a bit small for my taste.....only thing is, I keep seeing "ball bearings, ball bearings" in my mind's eye, and I KNOW I've heard of people having issues with this, either with this or similar Fridgemore machines....might wanna do a little quick research into that.

I must say, I used to be prejudiced against Frigidaire machines but they certainly have come a long way (particularly against Maytag)....priced WAY more reasonably than Whirlpool, yet way more trustworthy in my eyes than GE (I've just about ruled them out for my next machine)....

The prices of these machines are ridiculous....it is the TOP loaders that should cost more, if they really meant for the American consumer to save on resources!

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Bearing Problems:

Hi! Scott, from what I've been reading about the problems with Bearings, is mainly and only when people haven't used the "HE" Detergents and allow the Washer to "Over-Sudz", causing Sudz to get onto the Rear Tub Bearing area. As long as you use "HE" Detergent's, or at least try to be careful to not Over-Sudz with any Regular Detergents, these Fridgemore Washers as with most other Front-Loaders should operate for quite a long time, without any or many problems.

I hope that this helps you and relieves any/some worries about Bearings. Holiday Greetings.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[exploder321]

I agree on that aspect..

I know some one who now has what i call the "VW" of washers, the Neppie and they love theres..They had a 1997 Fridgemore from sears prior and always let it over suds and it's rear bearings whent in about 5.5 years..The sears guy told them only use HE soaps...When i got mine, this info was relayed to me and i live by it for the most part...

 

[bosch2460]

I had one of those. It was my first front loading washer. I origionally got it back in 99, I think. It cleaned well,and did all the things people claim from a FL, but it was also near the water heater, so I didnt have much thermal loss. It was still better than the rough Whirlpool it replaced. My cousin and her family of 4 have had the MOL model like this for about 3 years, and they adore it. Of course, who do you think recommended it?? The washer still cleans better than any TL, and the dryer drys pretty evenly, so dont be fooled by its smaller size. In fact, I just recommnded this to someone who is building a new house, wants a FL, but has a really small budget. Good luck....

 

[sudsmaster]

I would talk your brother into getting it. Then you and Jason can while away the few moments when you're not in bed together watching the sheets go round and round...

 

[exploder3211]

Hehehe..

We just bought them today! Lowes even delivered them at one oclock (suprised because it's christmas eve) and took the old stuff.. $599.95 with delivery, pedistal and tax for the washer and $245.95 with delivery, pedistal and tax for the dryer... The dryer and pedestals where scratch and dent units...

 

[Bearpeter]

Devils advocate!

Can anyone who has one of these tell me how the stain removal is on these machines? I really want to be won over as I'm a euro FL'er user!
I can only imagine the clothes are tckled by the machine after 9 minutes maximum agitation.

As a comparison, my AEG does a 60 degree wash in 145 minutes (85 wash and 60 rinse and spin) This gives perfect results every time. Pressing the time saver button gives a total wash time of 64 minutes but the results are not all that good, sadly)Sorry if I am sounding a bit negative but the maths don't add up.

I took a duvet and some bedding to the launderette last week and have to say the results are appauling. The times were consistent with the frigedaire.29 minutes for two washes and 3 rinses....

Saying that, i am looking for a TL american washer for the new house to do the bedding, towels etc. Can anyone with a knowledge of the british market recommend a TOL TL'er?

Have a great Christmas everyone and happy huge loads of.... washing in the new year!

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Top-Load Washer:

Hi! Peter, Merry Christmas {if even a little late to you} and a Happy New Year.

I've known of some other Guys in the UK that have bought the Whirlpool Top-Load Washers and they've had real good results and are totally happy with the ending result of their cleaning their Laundry. One of the Guys lives in Northern Ireland and he's had his Whirlpool "Direct-Drive" for about 14-years now and he's never ever had any Repairs on it and he's told me that it even still sounds like new, the first time that the did a load of Laundry in it.

I hope that this helps you, I really like the Whirlpool's especially over the newer GE Washers. I would also alternately recommend an Electrolux/Frigidaire Top-Load Washer as well as the Whirlpool.

Peace and Holiday Greetings, over the Pond, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[lavamat_jon]

I've heard good things about the Whirlpool toploaders too - from what I've gathered and been told they only shred laundry when they are overloaded - which is pretty obvious IMO. Would have one in a heartbeat if I had the room... would still have the Miele though beside it, can't be doing without the frontloader for delicates and the 95*C washes .

Happy Christmas, both to ou Peter and to Steve.

Jon

 

[bosch2460]

Now Jon.......we have discussed those Whirlpool TL, and I have told you to bad stories of mom's Whirlpool. I know I dont overload and it still proceeded to eat my favorite and most expensive pair of jeans. Not to mention the incredible fading and pilling on my uniform shirts.

 

[Bearpeter]

Thanks for the festive wishes!!!

Hi all, in my last message I was talking about the wash quality of the Speed Queen machines not Whirlpool... Any ideas on how these machines manage to clean?
All the best Jon and Steve.... just ;popping the goose in the oven as we speak!!!!

 

[Bearpeter]

sorry.... too many espresso martini's!

I meant the Fridgidaire FL!!!! not speed queen!

 

[foraloysius]

bosch2460

A while ago one of the members here bought a new Whirlpool set and had the corkscrew agitator replaced by a straight one. Would that be an idea for your mother's Whirlpool too?

 

[passatdoc]

2140

I have the FTF 2140, which is the most basic of the Frigidaire FL line with a full size (3.5 cu ft) tub. All of the models above the 2140 have the same size tub. I've owned it for a year with superb results. Gets everything clean. White towels washed in hot cycle look as if bleach was added, without using bleach.

I bought the matching gas dryer and stacked the pair. Because my garage laundry area includes a county-required bollard (steel pipe filled with concrete to protect the gas lines and water heater from a runaway car....), stacking was the only option. The bollard sits right in front of the washer space, and would block a FL door even on a pedestal. The stack was placed in the dryer space, with the washer space now housing a folding table.

No mold problems, but I wipe out the gasket seal with a sock or towel at the end of each laundry day (not between loads if multiple loads are washed in one day).

Will the washer last ten years? Will the bearings give out about 5-6 years? I don't know, I hope not, but at least I paid $600 (before $130 in rebates from gas company and water district). I didn't buy the Lowes model and bought instead from a local discounter, http://www.howards.com I did buy a five year extended warranty on the washer just in case. If it fails after five years then I'm screwed.

 

[tumbler]

Frigidaire bearing failures

I had a "Frigimore" machine (1999) and so did both my brothers, my ex, and a friend. Out of those five, 3 failed after about 5-6 years due to bad tub bearings. I think SactoTeddyBear is correct-there seems to be a correlation between oversudsing and bearing failures. From what I've seen in the repair manual, there may be no shaft seal protecting the bearings, or if there is one, it's obviously inadequate, allowing soapy water into the ball bearing assy. and washing out the grease. Then it's just a matter of time before the bearing fails. I noticed that even with the "h.e." detergents, the "Frigimore" develops more suds than my current Whirlpool Duet, which is suds-free even when using a full tray of h.e. detergent. The answer would appear to be that if you have a Frigimore or other small or medium size machine, use ONLY h.e. detergent, and be careful how much of that you use. Also, all-fabric bleach can readily cause oversudsing in those machines (but not in the Duet). My brother with the bad Frigimore just bought a Duet at my suggestion, and only had standard detergent on hand to try it out. We added 1/4 cup of it, and it made some suds, but not an excessive amount. Nevertheless, he tossed the detergent and bought the h.e. stuff. Good idea.