Help me purchase my first washer/dryer set!

[passatdoc]

The Frigidaire 2140 has a large 3.5 cu ft capacity but stays on the standard 27 x 27 inch footprint. Larger washers get the extra capacity by being deeper, which may not work in closet installations or in laundry rooms with tight clearances.

Best Buy usually has it on sale for mid-500s, OR they will raise the price to 600 but give you 100 dollars off if you buy a dryer too. This week the pair would cost you 1000 for electric dryer, 1069 for gas dryer. This pair can be stacked ($25 bracket from Frigidaire) to save space if you like.

Sometimes Best Buy lowers the price down to 549 for the washer but eliminates the 100 dollars off for buying a pair, which would be beneficial to someone buying only a washer. Lowes also carries this machine

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=256879-2251-LTF2140FS&lpage=none
and sometimes puts it on sale. Currently going for 548. The matching dryer is 499

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=169291-2251-FEQ1442ES&lpage=none
and remember you may not get any rebates with a TL, so do your homework before making a purchase. The rebates may place a FL pair within your reach.

Frigidaire makes stacked combos with gas or electric

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&Ne=5000&category=Frigidaire&N=0+1000088+4294966498
but these cost more than buying separate machines.

I have had my 2940 for two and a half years. Great cleaning, quiet operation. Depending on where you live, you may receive rebates from the water district or gas utility (in my case, $100 water rebate, $35 gas utility rebate). Will cut your water use by about 60-65%. Because the clothes are drier after final spin that in a TL, drying times are reduced and this will result in lower gas and/or electric bills. If someone in my area (SoCal) needed a new pair, after the rebates the net price would be 865 for electric, 934 for gas.

 

[lightedcontrols]

Front Loaders...

...are the WORST choice that you could make. They are very unreliable, NO ONE wants to fix them, and they don't wash well....which is why it can take three to four times LONGER to complete a cycle, compared to a top loader. Go get yourself a set of Speed Queen top loaders. Mark

 

[passatdoc]

Um...in his original post, he stated that his budget was $800-900 maximum. Are Speed Queens all that inexpensive? People who recommended FLs here were trying to point out that some moderately priced machines may be more affordable (if bought on sale and if rebates are offered) than he realized.

Yes, FLs take longer to wash a cycle, because they involve multiple rinses with low volumes of water. But they also rinse the clothes very clean, leaving far less soap residue than my old TLs used to leave. They also use far less water, which in some areas (California, where I live) is important, since we have to conserve water. Water use may not be an issue in Virginia , but it is here. Conversely, A/C operating costs may be an issue in VA but not in coastal CA, where no one on my street even has A/C, nor do they need it.

 

[thomasortega]

I don´t have any problem with my american FL.
Actually my affinity saves water, detergent and electricity.
I can wash bigger loads than in a standard top loader, they come out cleaner and much better rinsed.

I recommend High Efficiency Front Loaders from Electrolux (frigidaire) or Whirlpool (Maytag, Amana, KA, etc...)
All of them has their positive and negative points. you just need to choose the model you like and the model you can afford.
Other tip I can do is... hear your feelings.

You can be at the store, in love for brand A, but you decide to buy the brand B because a friend told you... You'll never be 100% satisfied.
Buy the washer YOU like!

 

[lightedcontrols]

just seems logical....

.... to buy a machine that can be fixed. SQ machines are the same design used for about 25 or more years. I've never had good results with a front load machine. They don't wash well, they take FOREVER, and who fixes them when they break down?....and they wrinkle everything up terribly. Use a little more water and get your clothes CLEAN! Mark

 

[xyz]

CB, if you aren't confused enough by now, may I suggest just washing your clothes in the bathtub or better yet showering with them on and walking them air dry.lol. No, just go Kenmore basic.

 

[electron800]

There's nothing wrong with front loaders or top loaders!

They both can wash well, rinse well and be equally as reliable. It just depends on which one you get as to how good it is.

Personally I couldnt deal with a 1 rinse top loader. I prefer my clothes not to be full of detergent residue thank you =]

If top loaders are so much better how come front loaders have always been more popular in Europe, even before the eco-freaks started dictating what we're allowed to do?

A front loader with a heater will wash perfectly, I've never used one without, we don't have them here. This is the only reason I can think of as to why American's seem to have problems with their front loaders.

If you wanna be eco-friendly, don't bother chucking your top loaders for front loaders, or wash in cold water. Just ditch the drier for a washing line and a drying rack. Dryers are about the most energy hungry appliances in the house and they're totally unecessary!

People "washing" their clothes in cold water in their modern front loaders whilst their dryers are rumbling away beside it and their A/C is running at the same time really are fooling themselves into thinking they're helping the environment.

 

[fredfred9633]

i hace a kenmore washer and dryer and ther work great
dont let its size fool you it can fit ALOT
it uses very little water and gets the clothes clean it would make a great first washer and dryer
it will last a long time

 

[mistereric]

fwiw...

My parents just replaced a direct drive kenmore, 8 years old and not worth fixing, with a nice MOL Speed Queen unit. We have a damp basement where the machine is to live and wanted something mechanical and overbuilt, not electronic. The new machine doesn't have a ton of features, is as dull as dirt to watch but its rock solid and does a great job. I wouldn't be surprised it if it lives for 20 years. Closest thing on the market to the center-dial maytags, from what I've seen. Cost a little more than the kenmore it replaced, but not much.

In your place, I would buy a new Speed Queen washer and grab a basic dryer off craigslist. Kenmore dryers are usually easy to find and dirt cheap.

 

[irishwashguy]

i am with ric

Speed queen. You will never regret it. When I was looking for a machine, i soon found that there are things that weigh into my choice. How much did I spend on all of the clothes that I am going to wash in it. I ran my finger over the holes in the GE ten years ago. I would stay away from them. The rebadged Whiltag in lou of a S.Q. I think that you would be happier with it truthfully, Call them and see what they can do for you........800-345-5649

 

[volsboy1]

I have the G.E. Harmony Washer and I love it.You can do anything with that machine.I like how it saves water most of the time but you can hit the Throw-rug setting and it fills up all the way and really cool to watch it has a see-through window perfect for us folks.We first had a Front load G.E. and hated it there is not enough water to wash and you cant do nothing about it.To give a example when in wash mode when it would stop and reverse there would be no water dripping.The clothes were wet but thats about it.The longest wash was 3+ hours and still I couldnt get out the smell out of my gym clothes.The Harmony has no agitator it has a plate on the bottom and the steel basket has bumps and they go back and forth then it will do a slight spin to pull water through the clothes.It outwashes the Frontloader on the shortwash 40Mins and there clean at that than the other at 3.5 hours.I lost my leg and Im back in college and live back home so this is my Moms washer I would much rather have a Jet-cone but that Harmony is a Great washer so far and it is used twice a day and never had one thing go wrong with it but it is $$$$..

 

[laundramatt]

Just got a Speed Queen MOL washer for $560.00 and we love it. OUr '95 Maytag's tub seal was leaking and I wasn't impressed enough with the Maytag to save it.

You can't go wrong with a Speed Queen. The Fisher/Paykel was our 2nd choice, but the difference in capacity seemed too big. The F/P was the older agitator style.

I'm glad to see toploaders that are larger capacity, with plenty of water, and slower agitators that won't shred clothing, are still available. And I'm glad the Maytag died before the environmental wackos and the federal government took all of my choices away from me.