government forcing companies to axe top loaders

[toploader1984]

if people are so worried about saving water, why doesn't a company come out with a machine like the APEX!!! well i guess u could say whirlpool did with the calypso.....ughhhh, they ruined that machine, all they really had to do was FORGET all the electronics in that machine and use an old fashioned timer to control the cycles, 90 percent of problems in newer machines today all comes down to control boards and sensors, why don't more companies just use timers? the first frigidaire front loaders that came out in the 90s had timers, they would be reliable machines if frigidaire could get the bearings right.

 

[pulsator]

From my understanding, timers are no longer allowed as they use too much energy, computers use less energy thus they use them instead now.

 

[lebron]

All the new top-loaders suck anyways, everyone knew this was going to happen eventually in as late as the 90's. No big deal

 

[pulsator]

Not ALL of them suck, the Speed Queens are an exception in my opinion... lol

 

[toploader1984]

for sure!!! speed queen is the BEST, if they go out of business, i will stop washing my clothes.

 

[toploader1984]

c mon, timers use more energy? what a joke, the average front loader takes an HOUR to run a cycle, even IF computers use less energy, u have a washer that is running for an hour! just for one load versus a top loader running for only 20 minutes!! how is that saving energy!???? my LG when put on sanitize, on LIGHT soil took 3 HOURS!!!!!!!!!

 

[toploader1984]

also when i put my LG on the "quick" wash cycle, which still took 40-50 minutes, didn't even spin between rinses, so in order to make the cycle quickeer, lg cut the spin cycle, how is that supposed to rinse anything out!!??

 

[laundromat]

Original Frigidaire front loading washers-----

ARE electronic. There is no way around it nowdays. They have a speed regulator on an electronic board that is mounted on the rear frame. It regulates the tumble and spin speeds and,if it fails and needs replacement, the cost is almost $400 and without replacement,then tub will not spin at all and may not even tumble.As far as the "colapso" is concerned,I believe that a lot of the electronic failiers were customer related either by them not removing the protective cover sheet that is only for safe shipping or from pushing the controls so hard that the diodes fail.Had Whirlpool placed a MagiClean filter in the Colapso's,The pump failier would have been a lot less frequent.The lint acumulation in the ones I had,was unbelievable. If that method of agitation was so gentle,how and where was all that lint being formed?Enquiring minds want to know.

 

[vintagesearch]

LOL my god no worries here about the end of toploaders there is a great thing out there many of them like

used appliance shops
craigslist
estate sales
ebay

and so on

were you will be able to buy a regular toploader no matter what and for a relatively good price

i mean its what this site thrives on "vintage" the older the better its like a fine wine!!!

 

[bertrum]

wash times

hi toploader1984 (michigan),

Quote: "c'mon, timers use more energy? what a joke"

Timers certainly don't use more energy than pcb's they have just become uncommon because production costs of making a timer compared to a PCB are massive, most pcb's are sold to manufacturers for next to nothing.

Prehaps you said Timers use more energy because they were mostly fitted to older machines where the cycles were set longer.
Timers can (and have) be made to run to modern "economic" wash times.

Modern front loaders are very ecomonic compared to top loaders or even old quick front loaders, they do this by increasing the wash time and using the heating element very little.

 

[whirlcool]

After thinking a long time about this, we decided that after our Whirlpool electronic set dies (no problems yet) we'll probably want to go with a Frigidaire 1-18 set. We have time until the right one comes along.

If we can't locate one of those. We'll probably get a Speed Queen set. However nothing beats those Whirlpool dryers.

 

[DADoES]

There's more to water and energy conservation than just the personal usage bills that one is willing to pay. With the world's population continually growing, more utility infrastructure is needed. More water treatment and sewer facilities, more power generation. That costs *everyone* in taxes and utility bills for municipal watersewer and power plants.

In regards to frontloaders (and dishwashers) that run long cycles ... the longer cycle times don't necessarily involve more power usage. Motors are much more efficient and pull less wattage. As I found when testing my DishDrawer, even running a 132-minute cycle and heating tap-cold water to 150°F and 163°F, the power consumption is quite frugal. Someone should check a vintage toploader with a WattsUp or Kill-a-Watt meter and compare it to a newfangled frontloader. Perhaps run a cold wash to eliminate the water-heating factor. The frontloader likely will come out ahead, even if running a 2-hr cycle.

 

[dj-gabriele]

I'm with Dadoes!

A cold water cottons cycle in my machine, done at 30°C, heating water from tap cold to 30°C cold only uses 0,3 KWh of power as the motor is only 200W and ir runs only half of the time. If I were to use tap cold water, I'd save half of that electricity. Plus one has to say that most of the programmes last way less that the TWO OR MORE long hours that seem to come in mind to the averange not-European consumer! And with a price of 2,4 € every cubic metre of water, I'm more than glad to use only 50 L istead of 150 L per load!! Even if I seldom feel like using an additional rinse.
Also the dishwashers: the one my parents are getting does the standard cycle in 80 minutes (that is one hour and 20) with a consumption of 1,25KWh of power and if one uses the ECO cycle it is 130 minutes (2 hours and 10) but is uses 1Kwh only as the water in the wash is colder. (figures for 14 places)

 

[18millstreet]

Energy savings

What I notice are valid points on each side,so each person needs to evaluate what is best and most comfortable for them. I preffer vintage,well made appliances,but that's me. Also consumer use has much to do with how efficient an appliance is. Even the best appliance will not save if abused by over or underloading,or cooking too long at too high a heat. Whatever appliances you have, use them wisely...and enjoy your summer! Take care ,Walt