The majority of washers in apartments I've rented have been the lower end GE washers and dryers post FF era.
Here's what I know:
- They do clean decently well.
- They are more violent than the Shredpool DD design, since they have a very fast 90deg. arc. 2 speed machines are preferred.
- The plastic, ribbed Xtraction baskets actually wring out a lot of water for a slow, plastic tub.
- Their very small transmissions have reciprocating gears on a bar.
- They have fairly well built, quiet 1/2HP induction motors. I've seen them made in USA, China to India.
- The mode changing clutch is directly attached to the motor spindle. (non hydrowave)
- Hydrowave models use the exact same mechanical innards as post FF GE washers, sans the digital motor/transmission-less drive system.
- Hydrowave machines have a variable arc from 360 to 180 degrees.
- Hydrowaves also have some kind of load sensing technique, where they spin the dry tub of laundry and measure the kinetic energy.
In summary, they're fairly cheap on the surface, but they do tend to last several years or more if you get a good one.
Their matching dryers seem to be the same dryer design as from the the FF generation, with that giant grill vent in the back. And it's actually my favorite dryer design ever. Even a little more than the Maytag design.
One caveat is after advanced age, the GE dryer drums can sag in the front, and clothes can catch in the opened drum seam. Watch out.
