mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I know this gets tiring each year... but it's still going with no issues at all.. officially 20 years old! Crazy
Happy 20th Birthday to my Whirlpool Duet FL Washer
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panasonicvac
Well-known member
That's awesome!
I now wish we could've kept the Duet here and brought the Maytag Neptune up to the cabin instead when we bought them both at the same time. I'm sure we would've still had them today if so but definitely for certain they're still at the cabin according to the Airbnb photos.
I now wish we could've kept the Duet here and brought the Maytag Neptune up to the cabin instead when we bought them both at the same time. I'm sure we would've still had them today if so but definitely for certain they're still at the cabin according to the Airbnb photos.
Whirlpool!
Whirlpool made some good stuff back then. Now, not so much.
Whirlpool made some good stuff back then. Now, not so much.
Congratulations! Twenty years is quite an accomplishment!
That's really impressive, really.
It's that typical roulette play where even a TOL appliance can be a dud - or in reverse, an "average" appliance can outlast any expectations.
Amazing thing is that there still is nothing considerably "better" (be it feature or efficiency wise) in that class.
Let's knock on wood you'll have many more of these posts to do!
It's that typical roulette play where even a TOL appliance can be a dud - or in reverse, an "average" appliance can outlast any expectations.
Amazing thing is that there still is nothing considerably "better" (be it feature or efficiency wise) in that class.
Let's knock on wood you'll have many more of these posts to do!
Congratulations mark! May you get many more from the old gal.
Happy 20th! I love seeing appliances that last and last and last and last...
I hope you get another long run from these two.
I hope you get another long run from these two.
cfz2882
Well-known member
HE3 set
my HE3 kenmore set from 2001 still going strong -washer is German,dryer US made.Drain pump was replaced on the washer.
my HE3 kenmore set from 2001 still going strong -washer is German,dryer US made.Drain pump was replaced on the washer.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
wow... that's 4 years OLDER than mine.... it gives me hope that mine might have 4 or 5 more years left in it?
Not a speck of dirt or mold on mine either
Not a speck of dirt or mold on mine either
murando531
Well-known member
Congrats! It’s a gorgeous machine so keep it until it completely dies. My Duet Alpha WFW92 set is 8 years now with no issues, aside from one worry it gave me about a month ago where for 2-3 cycles, it would occasionally make this tiny muffled squeal during the spins, and yet when turning the drum by hand or during slow rotations, it would be completely silent, so I don’t think it had anything to do with the bearings. After those cycles though, it’s been perfectly fine, so I’m thinking now something could have somehow gotten wedged against the seal, like a wad of hair or lint or something, and it cleared itself up. Otherwise, best washer I’ve ever owned, smooth and quiet as day one, and built like a tank. I’ve debated giving the set to my granddad after the house burning before his new house is built, so that I can get the 8620 set before they’re discontinued and they go back to the center knob design (barf), but I also wouldn’t mind keeping it until hopefully hitting that same age.
It does make me wonder why in the world you’d be strongly considering LG or anything but Whirlpool again as a replacement, after having this washer and the dishwashers that have done so well for so long. Despite the hate train that’s seemed to flare up around here recently against Whirlpool, their dishwashers, especially the KitchenAids, are the best they’ve ever been, and have been raved about by those that own them, myself included. As for their laundry and other appliances, the internet, specifically that Maytag-costume wearing Samsung apologist, and two *ahem* “very active” members of this site, seem to rant about apparent wide-spread issues, and yet the people who are actually in the field and dealing with customers directly aren't backing those claims up. The two local appliance stores around me say they’re still at the top in reliability compared to most of the other brands, save for Speed Queen, Miele, Bosch, of course, and one of them has flat out stopped selling LG or Samsung entirely because of their reliability and difficulty getting parts and service handled.
It does make me wonder why in the world you’d be strongly considering LG or anything but Whirlpool again as a replacement, after having this washer and the dishwashers that have done so well for so long. Despite the hate train that’s seemed to flare up around here recently against Whirlpool, their dishwashers, especially the KitchenAids, are the best they’ve ever been, and have been raved about by those that own them, myself included. As for their laundry and other appliances, the internet, specifically that Maytag-costume wearing Samsung apologist, and two *ahem* “very active” members of this site, seem to rant about apparent wide-spread issues, and yet the people who are actually in the field and dealing with customers directly aren't backing those claims up. The two local appliance stores around me say they’re still at the top in reliability compared to most of the other brands, save for Speed Queen, Miele, Bosch, of course, and one of them has flat out stopped selling LG or Samsung entirely because of their reliability and difficulty getting parts and service handled.
Reply #10
I have been using and or buying Whirlpool products for the last 37 years and in all that time I've only had one failure and that was the Maytag bravos X.
My current refrigerator and stove are Whirlpool and Amana and for the last 3 years they have been working great. No issues yet.
All my other vmw agitator washers performed well also, but I never kept them long enough . Maybe 2 years tops before selling them and trying other machines.
The reason I am a fan is because their products overall have served my family/me well.
I now have three classic washing machines from whirlpool. Two belt drives and a KitchenAid direct drive.
I'll say though with those machines they definitely cared more about quality then.
I have been using and or buying Whirlpool products for the last 37 years and in all that time I've only had one failure and that was the Maytag bravos X.
My current refrigerator and stove are Whirlpool and Amana and for the last 3 years they have been working great. No issues yet.
All my other vmw agitator washers performed well also, but I never kept them long enough . Maybe 2 years tops before selling them and trying other machines.
The reason I am a fan is because their products overall have served my family/me well.
I now have three classic washing machines from whirlpool. Two belt drives and a KitchenAid direct drive.
I'll say though with those machines they definitely cared more about quality then.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Honestly, I actually like the looks of the NEW FL Whirlpools... I just wish I could see how they actually wash/rinse...
To be clear, the only LG appliance I would consider is their FL washer... Nothing else that they make appliance wise..
I would get a Whirlpool dishwaher/Range/Fridge/dryer before LG... I agree with you. I really LOVE their dishwashers
I just think of all the appliances LG makes, I think they make their FL better than their other appliances.. But the MAIN thing is actually watching them go through different cycles and liking what I'm seeing more than I do the Whirlpools (but there's really NOT a lot of Whirlpools in action on youtube)... Like the new FL models (which I actually LIKE the looks of) I would totally consider that but first I need to see it in action..
Another thing I've run into is I feel like Whirlpool can't get it together with parts shortages since Covid... I LOVE my kitchenaid blender...it works great but the pitchers start falling apart after a couple of years... so I call and then send me another since it's a 5 years warranty.. I'm on my THIRD pitcher so far... and I called them again for another one and they're shipping it out when they become back in stock... this was 2 months ago and I haven't received it. I think it's just little things like that that make me wonder about them NOW vs then.. that's all.
To be clear, the only LG appliance I would consider is their FL washer... Nothing else that they make appliance wise..
I would get a Whirlpool dishwaher/Range/Fridge/dryer before LG... I agree with you. I really LOVE their dishwashers
I just think of all the appliances LG makes, I think they make their FL better than their other appliances.. But the MAIN thing is actually watching them go through different cycles and liking what I'm seeing more than I do the Whirlpools (but there's really NOT a lot of Whirlpools in action on youtube)... Like the new FL models (which I actually LIKE the looks of) I would totally consider that but first I need to see it in action..
Another thing I've run into is I feel like Whirlpool can't get it together with parts shortages since Covid... I LOVE my kitchenaid blender...it works great but the pitchers start falling apart after a couple of years... so I call and then send me another since it's a 5 years warranty.. I'm on my THIRD pitcher so far... and I called them again for another one and they're shipping it out when they become back in stock... this was 2 months ago and I haven't received it. I think it's just little things like that that make me wonder about them NOW vs then.. that's all.
repairguy
Well-known member
Congrats! It really goes to show that when you take care of an appliance as you have Mark that it will give you many years of great service.
My paternal aunt has a WP Alpha WFW94HEX (serial May 2012). It has had one repair, motor board failure in June 2018 (which I diagnosed and ordered the part for them, uncle installed it).
panasonicvac
Well-known member
cfz2882
I'm curious to see what your Kenmores look like, wonder if it's the same kind that was made around the same time as this Duet or if it looks any different back then.
I'm curious to see what your Kenmores look like, wonder if it's the same kind that was made around the same time as this Duet or if it looks any different back then.
cfz2882
Well-known member
HE3 design
the doors are dark smoke plexiglass with black controls area.I will see if a good pic can be taken.
the doors are dark smoke plexiglass with black controls area.I will see if a good pic can be taken.
Not Surprised that your German made WP duets:
Made it to 20 YRS. They are very good machines.
WK78
Made it to 20 YRS. They are very good machines.
WK78
I probably subconsciously jinxed mine by looking at Bosch washers too often. Then, about three weeks ago, it wouldn't turn on.
It would have been 14-years-old next month. Parts are still available... but that Bosch was calling me.
It would have been 14-years-old next month. Parts are still available... but that Bosch was calling me.
Congratulations 20 year-old German built, whirlpool duet
These were quite good washers overall, and we have many friends and customers that have one this old that are still going. Some have barely been repaired at all. Others have had a number of repairs.
I don’t think this is unusual the whirlpool full-size front load washers that came after this are also holding up very well.
Like most good washer dryer pairs the dryer that matches these duet washers will far out of the washer, just basic physics and dealing with water.
The two big exceptions in history to the dryers outlasting The washers were Frigidaire dryers from the 70s often died long before the washers and Maytag stream of heat and halo heat dryers Often didn’t last as long as the Maytag washer people just got tired, repairing the stream of heat dryers often times.
I have one of these German built KitchenAid proline washers and while I’m quite happy with its performance overall I’m glad that it’s in the outdoor laundry room because it’s always been a frustrating machine to watch these duets. They have too much trouble balancing and they keep timing out to a longer cycle time. We sold a pair of these to my former partner and he still has them. The washer was only repaired once the dryer never but it used to be so frustrating to do laundry and because it would say 11 minutes to go and you’d come back 20 minutes later and it was still trying to balance made it very frustrating to get things done around the house But with mine it’s outdoors I don’t pay any attention to it, the only other problem with this machine was the tangling of jeans and long sleeve shirts, so I just don’t wash anything but towels and such in it.
Overall, my front load three year-old Speed Queen washer is superior, it never has trouble balancing it never extends its cycle time and virtually no tangling.
My last service call Friday evening was a German Maytag duet, the little plastic piece that hits the power button broke, and you have to take the control panel apart and take the broken button out so you can take a pencil with an eraser and hit the button manually this is one of many common problems on these German duets. They had really bad plastic Parts. Other common problems were bad, drain pumps, bad motor boards, bad inlet valves, but there’s never been a washing machine made that didn’t have some problems eventually so overall I would rate the German duets as a very good washer, certainly far better than the Maytag built duets.
John L
These were quite good washers overall, and we have many friends and customers that have one this old that are still going. Some have barely been repaired at all. Others have had a number of repairs.
I don’t think this is unusual the whirlpool full-size front load washers that came after this are also holding up very well.
Like most good washer dryer pairs the dryer that matches these duet washers will far out of the washer, just basic physics and dealing with water.
The two big exceptions in history to the dryers outlasting The washers were Frigidaire dryers from the 70s often died long before the washers and Maytag stream of heat and halo heat dryers Often didn’t last as long as the Maytag washer people just got tired, repairing the stream of heat dryers often times.
I have one of these German built KitchenAid proline washers and while I’m quite happy with its performance overall I’m glad that it’s in the outdoor laundry room because it’s always been a frustrating machine to watch these duets. They have too much trouble balancing and they keep timing out to a longer cycle time. We sold a pair of these to my former partner and he still has them. The washer was only repaired once the dryer never but it used to be so frustrating to do laundry and because it would say 11 minutes to go and you’d come back 20 minutes later and it was still trying to balance made it very frustrating to get things done around the house But with mine it’s outdoors I don’t pay any attention to it, the only other problem with this machine was the tangling of jeans and long sleeve shirts, so I just don’t wash anything but towels and such in it.
Overall, my front load three year-old Speed Queen washer is superior, it never has trouble balancing it never extends its cycle time and virtually no tangling.
My last service call Friday evening was a German Maytag duet, the little plastic piece that hits the power button broke, and you have to take the control panel apart and take the broken button out so you can take a pencil with an eraser and hit the button manually this is one of many common problems on these German duets. They had really bad plastic Parts. Other common problems were bad, drain pumps, bad motor boards, bad inlet valves, but there’s never been a washing machine made that didn’t have some problems eventually so overall I would rate the German duets as a very good washer, certainly far better than the Maytag built duets.
John L
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Did I mention my duet dryer died like 6 years ago? It was probably TOTALLY repairable... but I replaced it with a standard WP dryer.. It was giving me an error code (I forget which one)..I understood at the time the dryer was probably fine and could be repaired... but I wanted a regular whirlpool dryer... and at that time I got mine for $300 something dollars.
About the Duet washer... Speaking of drain pumps going bad. Mine has never been touched... but I wonder if it's going... I really don't know to be honest, if it's always done this or it's something new. I'll explain:
So I'm in the laundry room folding clothes and the duet is getting ready to do the LAST spin.. As I'm folding clothes and it's trying to decide if it's satisfied to do the last spin... I see the drain hose behind the washer "shaking" more than usual.. A cord that's touching it shakes too... and it only does this WHILE it's trying to decide to spin... it stops doing it once the spin starts... and I don't see this behavior with other drains or interim spins... and it almost makes, gosh, I don't know how to describe it... sort of a knocking sound in sync with the shake (not horrible) but as I'm seeing it I'm asking myself "Has it always done this?" But it drains perfectly... who knows... I wouldn't be surprised if it's on it's last legs..
tell me... is there like a sign that a drain pump goes or does it just go on its own without any indication something might be wrong?
I would say if I were to guess the first time I noticed it was like a year ago..I just happened to be in the laundry room... since then I've taken notice if I'm in there if it does it before intermin spins and it doesn't.
About the Duet washer... Speaking of drain pumps going bad. Mine has never been touched... but I wonder if it's going... I really don't know to be honest, if it's always done this or it's something new. I'll explain:
So I'm in the laundry room folding clothes and the duet is getting ready to do the LAST spin.. As I'm folding clothes and it's trying to decide if it's satisfied to do the last spin... I see the drain hose behind the washer "shaking" more than usual.. A cord that's touching it shakes too... and it only does this WHILE it's trying to decide to spin... it stops doing it once the spin starts... and I don't see this behavior with other drains or interim spins... and it almost makes, gosh, I don't know how to describe it... sort of a knocking sound in sync with the shake (not horrible) but as I'm seeing it I'm asking myself "Has it always done this?" But it drains perfectly... who knows... I wouldn't be surprised if it's on it's last legs..
tell me... is there like a sign that a drain pump goes or does it just go on its own without any indication something might be wrong?
I would say if I were to guess the first time I noticed it was like a year ago..I just happened to be in the laundry room... since then I've taken notice if I'm in there if it does it before intermin spins and it doesn't.
cfz2882
Well-known member
Duet drain pump
pump on mine got noisy and erratic starts.pumps were made by Askoll and i would say these are noisier than average.On the failing pump the impeller was very loose on the rotor magnet.
pump on mine got noisy and erratic starts.pumps were made by Askoll and i would say these are noisier than average.On the failing pump the impeller was very loose on the rotor magnet.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
so if/when the pump fails... should I spend $ to have it replaced ...with a machine this old?
Drain hose, jumping and shaking
Hi Mark, that is not a sign of the pump failing.
It’s up to you to repair or replace the machine when something goes wrong. It’s easy to replace the drain pump. I just do it myself if it fails.
The board failure that you had on the dryer was just the solder joints on the motor relay takes 15 minutes to fix that and no parts.
It’s always a tough call to decide whether to fix something or not just up to you.
John L
Hi Mark, that is not a sign of the pump failing.
It’s up to you to repair or replace the machine when something goes wrong. It’s easy to replace the drain pump. I just do it myself if it fails.
The board failure that you had on the dryer was just the solder joints on the motor relay takes 15 minutes to fix that and no parts.
It’s always a tough call to decide whether to fix something or not just up to you.
John L
The Askoll pump in mine became louder many years ago but kept draining like normal.
Replacing the pump is not too difficult - plenty of videos out there. If that's the only issue, I'd replace it.
Replacing the pump is not too difficult - plenty of videos out there. If that's the only issue, I'd replace it.
I mean, these pumps are REALLY affordable.
Dosen't even have to be a brand name one.
If you can do it yourself (which really is easy) I don't see the point in scraping a machine because of a broken pump.
Even if you want to get something new at that point, changing the pump and putting it up for sale for a decent price would yield you some profit...
Dosen't even have to be a brand name one.
If you can do it yourself (which really is easy) I don't see the point in scraping a machine because of a broken pump.
Even if you want to get something new at that point, changing the pump and putting it up for sale for a decent price would yield you some profit...
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I think pump shaking is not a sing of it failing then I think it's all good... because it sounds really healthy when it does its drains...just for whatever reason before the final spin it gets shaky like that for some reason. It's possible that it's always done this and I've just never noticed it.
as for fixing things. I'm sure it's easy... but unless there's a tutorial with kindergarten instructions... forget it.. fixing things is not my bag... although I have surprised myself with a few things over the years that I've done myself.
Hey Combo - I was pretty sure that was the case with the dryer... but it gave me an excuse to go back to a standard WP dryer which I prefer much more... I think the dryer was about 14 years old anyway.
as for fixing things. I'm sure it's easy... but unless there's a tutorial with kindergarten instructions... forget it.. fixing things is not my bag... although I have surprised myself with a few things over the years that I've done myself.
Hey Combo - I was pretty sure that was the case with the dryer... but it gave me an excuse to go back to a standard WP dryer which I prefer much more... I think the dryer was about 14 years old anyway.
whatsername
Well-known member
Happy birthday Duet, see you next year in the pink forum 
Congrats on 20 years! I have one of your machines siblings - it's going strong too. Bought it used in 2010, wanted to experiment with a FL,soon became my daily driver. Wishing you many more years of Duet washing.
lakewebsterkid
Well-known member
Congrats!
Honestly not shocked. I see a few floating around every now and then!
Ours made it to 11 years with heavy use. Here is to another 10!
Honestly not shocked. I see a few floating around every now and then!
Ours made it to 11 years with heavy use. Here is to another 10!
