GE Harmony Washer

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westtexman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
471
Location
Lubbock, Texas
Robert,

You mentioned in another post that you had a GE Harmony Washer. How do you like it? Does it clean as well as your other TL machines, or a FL? I am considering purchasing one. Thanks,

Tex
 
Hi Tex, my GE Harmony is a fine machine, its great for doing huge loads of clothes and jeans. Its not so good a washing sheets and dog beds as it seems to have trouble sensing the right water level for those types of loads, otherwise its fine. It cleans OK, but I'm glad its not my only washer, I only use it about once or twice a month if I do not feel like paying any attention to the laundry. The new version with the heater and window lid looks interesting.

Have you seen the video I posted of the Harmony?
 
Robert,

So how would you rate the quality of these machines? I am a little concerned about the plastic cabinet tops and how they are holding up over time. The display models at Home Depot are pretty scratched up although I realize they would get more abuse.

You also mentioned being able to make it use more water by choosing the rugs and/or comforter cycle. I remember your videos and the water level was impressive. Would the washer then tell the dryer (through the cable) that you are drying rugs and maybe overdry a lighter load due to fooling the washer?

I have liked the look of these machines since they first came out and now the glass window lid has really got my attention. I just wish they would have put a flat surface metal top on the cabinets instead of plastic, especially in that price range.

Could you repost the link to the Harmony videos?

thanks, Patrick
 
Patrick, I've read that it's not required to use the communication cable. And I imagine that even if it is used, the dryer settings can be manually adjusted as desired.
 
Hi Patrick, no I don't use that silly communication cable. I didn't like what the washer was saying to the dryer, it was being "fresh". It’s easy to override anyway if you don’t like the setting that the washer picked for the dryer.

Anyway, the plastic tops seem to be holding up just fine but the curve design of the top causes clothes that are folded and stored on top of the dryer to slowly slide forward and then off onto the floor when the dryer is running. Since my modern room (where the Harmony w/d and Asko are located) is right next to my "Frigidaire Gallery" I take the clothes and fold them on nice, thick vintage porcelain. The clothes have told me they feel more pampered being stored on chrome and porcelain as opposed to some nasty slippery plastic, holding on for dear life.
 
Uni,

I remember seeing pics of your "modern room" with the Harmony and the Asko. Do you use the Asko often? I think I've decided that instead of the Harmony, I want to get either an Asko or a Miele. I like the look of the Bosch Nexxt, but I really want a heater that goes up to 205 (Asko), or at least 190 (Miele). Do you use the high temp wash often?

I recently purchased a Danby FL (it was the only thing available in my area), and I like the fact that it heats up to 200 degrees, but I think it's sister product (Groenge (sp?) only received "B" ratings on both spinning and cleaning in Europe. I have read posts on THS from years back that said ASKO was having many problems back then, but I've heard the quality is much better now. What year model is yours, and have you had any quality issues?

Tex
 
Robert-

Thanks for the feedback on the slanted cabinet top. I am still undecided and in no hurry at this point but keep leaning toward the Harmony's. I have always been a Frigidaire fanatic and almost feel like I'm cheating by considering GE but I've got 2 Frigidaire sets now and besides, I like things that are unique. I've also thought about the new larger Frigidaire front loader set but am disappointed that the dryer is not larger as well. Any more than 4 or 5 pairs of jeans and they come out too wrinkled. The GE Harmony dryer is large and fast and I like the stainless steel drum too. I'm surprised you are the only one here with a set of these.

thanks again, Patrick
 
Tex I use the Asko about once a month, and I only use it for a boil wash. The boil wash usually works well with towels and rags that have come in contact with transmission oil or grease during my restorations. This way I don't have to put really grimy stuff that in the vintage machines as to keep them as clean as possible.

Oh I forgot to post the links to the Harmony Vids...

Harmony Fill 3.2mb

Harmony wash 6.5mb
 
LOL

In this neck of the woods in general, the old washers are for the greasy stuff and the new one is attempted to be preserved..

But I think Robert's logic makes total sense.
 
Hi Robert,
Thanks so much for posting the videos of your superb GE Harmony, I really love the wash action it seems to flex the fabrics well it must give you very clean results. What speed does it spin at?
Robert I would love to see an inside picture of the empty washer if you get a chnce.
I would really love one but sadly GE dont ship them to the UK.

All the best.
Hugh
 
WHOO HOO

GO THE VIDS!

MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS
MORE VIDS

You wouldn't ever get the idea that i wanted more videos of the (beautiful) harmony washing?

Gotta love the flexing of the clothes.

Do it & the matching dryer really 'talk' to each other?
 
Hugh the Harmony spins at 800rpm between the wash and the rinse and Spins at 1000 for the final spin. The 1000rpm spin is only done in the last minute of the 9 minute spin, but if you select "Extended Spin" it spins for a total of 10 minutes at 1000rpm. Although it might be me, I need to get a scale to be sure, but even with the extended spin I don't think the clothes feel as dry and light as they do out of a Unimatic at 1140rpm for 4 minutes or the Asko at 1600rpm for how ever long that thing spins.
 
GE Harmony

Hi Robert. Thank you for the video. Looks like good wash action but forgive me, I am old school and miss an agitator. One question, when starting to spin, do clothes evenly distribute to the sides without agitator to keep them evenly distributed?
 
Hi Robert,
Thanks for the information. 10 minutes at 1000 RPM is quite a long spin, but the Unimatic at 1140 RPM is unbeatable for a Top Loader, you are so lucky living in the USA and having all your beautiful classic washers. I really like the GE Harmony I wish I could get one in the UK. If you get a chance could you please post a picture of the empty drum? I am fascinated by the way it’s able to flex and move the laundry so well without an agitator.
Does your Asko have a brushless Induction Motor? The Asko machines seem to be the best of the European crop.

Hi Harry,
Thanks for the LG link I did not realize the GE Harmony was based on the LG Turbodrum.

Thanks.
All the best.
Hugh
 
When I was a guest at Robert's house before the convention, Robert gave me the opportunity to watch a cycle of the Harmony. To be honest, I was not very impressed. The machine is very frugal with water when it fills automatically and it seemed to have trouble in the beginning to get the clothes on top wet. The load I watched didn't turn over as well as the one in the video.

I have read several complaints about damaging clothes. I think Robert said he didn't have that problem but then again he most of the time uses his preset cycles that are all done with at the highest water level. I can understand the complaints, there is a lot going on at the bottom of the machine in order to get the upper layer of clothes to roll over. An agitator helps to devide the forces over the whole height of the drum, the strong action is compensation for the lack of one.

After using this machine and watching a whole cycle with the lid open my conclusion is that it's an OK machine, but not more than that. On the other hand it is not a nightmare like the Calypso. If I had to choose I would at least look at the other washers on the market.

Conclusion: Robert's classics are far more impressive than the GE Harmony (even the Norge! just kidding! LOL)

Louis
 
It's just an oversized impeller machine. Think about the force and speed of the impeller to get the load to move like it does in the video. No thanks! There's nothing gentle about this machine at all.
 
shockers

iam surprised to find someone to say something good about the ge harmony washer and dryer. i had a friend who bought the set she was told it would wash a queen size comforter with ease. well when she did just that and it came time to take the comforter out of the washer, it was sopping wet, and the washer kept tying her husband's sleeves on his workshirts in knots. So she sold the set , and bought a new Stabersystem 2000 washer and loves it.
 
Thank You

Hi Robert,
Thanks so much for those great Harmony drum shots, that’s a real nice stainless basket. Does the Impeller at the base of the basket turn independently of the basket?
I would really love a GE Harmony washer.

All the best.
Hugh
 
I downloaded a video from GE and it suggests that the machine washes using the drum and not the pulsator. If anyone wants it please just e-mail me & i will e-mail you back
 
That video from GE is misleading. It does spin the wash tub gently during a small part of the wash cycle, but its only about 10% of the time. The rest of the time the wash tub is stationary and the impeller is swinging back and forth.
 
LG

Will learn as time goes on. Remember when Japanese goods were considered to be "junk"? Korean goods are on that same path. They learn quickly. When Hyundai cars were introduced here in the US, everybody jumped on them becasue of the low price, but they were really BAD quality-wise. Now they have the best warranty in the industry and though maybe not up to Toyota quality, one certainly gets a lot for their money and the thing isn't a targe for thieves live Camrys and Accords.
 
An agitator does distribute the force somewhat, but there is still a lot of action going on at the bottom of the load.

The Harmony drum has some interesting subtleties in the design. Those radial protrusions around the lower perimeter, outside of the impeller, should intercept the circular outward flow of the water and direct it up along the sides of the drum. The bumps on the drum wall should create additional turbulence. This should produce a more conventional washing action.

Getting jeans to move in the water is not an easy task due to the fabric being so stiff. The entire key to handling jeans is the diameter of the drum. Smaller machines will do one or two pairs in a mixed load quite well, but beyond that, the washing action starts to decline. A large conventional TL or FL, possibly an entire load of jeans, though I never had much luck trying that. If you can get four pairs in a load, that's good.

As for the washer talking to the dryer, that sounds like GE is experimenting with the technology that's supposed to lead to all of our appliances being on the internet. The only rationale I can see for doing that is to enable dealing with electric power shortages by remotely telling certain appliances to stay off until a certain hour. You don't want your fridge telling your neighbor's fridge what you had for dinner last night:-).
 
I can *easily* get six pairs of 34x32 jeans in my F&P GWL08 or IWL12. Seven pairs also does quite well, and I've done eight but that starts pushing the limit. I tried TEN once as a test in the GWL08, that was interesting. It didn't balk at agitating, sloshed the hell out of them, but there wasn't much rollover, LOL!
 

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