I am contemplating selling my Whirlpool direct drive top load washer and purchasing a front loader

[ryner1988]

Hi everyone,

First, a bit of backstory is in order to explain what has made me start considering this.

I get paid by the state to take care of my wife who uses a wheelchair full-time, as some of you might know. About a month ago, the state raised the amount I get paid considerably. As such, I was owed a substantial amount of backpay. The main thing that has kept me from pulling the trigger on a new washer over the past year, and why I've had used ones ever since the VMW died in early 2022, is the up-front cost of a new unit. Well, that issue is much less pressing now, so I feel able to afford it finally. It also helps that the DD is in sellable condition since I recently had it repaired, I'm guessing I could get around $200 for it maybe.

As much as I enjoy my old-school TL, I am aware that I can't keep it going forever, especially with both myself and my wife being disabled. I had several parts replaced on the DD over Christmas and it runs great now, but I'm always a bit nervous about what happens if something else were to break down on it. We might not be in a financial position to buy new at that time, and we are now.

I am also starting to have some weird feelings about owning an old-school TL with all the climate stuff that is happening. The scorching Texas heat, and the Canadian wildfires causing so much smog in my region have been a bit of a wake-up call to me. I think maybe it's time I try to do my part where I can. I fear I've been putting my head in the sand about these issues, and while I don't want to be an extremist in any way, I think that maybe recklessly using a water-guzzling TL like it's 1990 is a bit irresponsible of me. Perhaps it's time to move on.

Anyway, if I do this, the model I'm strongly considering is the LG WM4000. For those who aren't aware, this is the entry level turbo wash model and has plenty of features for our needs. I am a little concerned about the touch screen, but I believe braille labels can possibly be applied to the buttons so that I have access to the features I would use most often. Perhaps someone who owns one of these eunits can elaborate further on whether the touch screen could be used by a blind person with modifications such as braille stickers. Another thing that makes me comfortable owning this unit as a blind person is that I believe every time the machine is turned off, it reverts to the normal cycle as a home cycle of sorts. This means that I would always have a base to start from, and could probably learn to count beeps when turning the cycle knob and making my selection. Again, some weigh-in from a member who owns a machine like this would be greatly helpful.

I'm also a bit concerned about space. My laundry closet is 40 inches deep, and the LG is 31.25 inches deep whereas the DD I currently have is 25 inches deep. Will the new washer fit in my existing space one wonders?

Finally, if someone has another suggestion about what I can get as a new machine, I'm open. The LG seems to be a really strong contender, but I'm open to anything except an sQ FL. I can't afford that, period.

I'd appreciate some thoughts here.

Thanks so much all.

Ryne

 

[ryner1988]

I was a bit mistaken about the measurements...

The LG is actualy 30.25 inches deep, not 31.25, so a bit less than I thought.

 

[appnut]

You got my vote for the WM4000. I have the WM4200, the 5.0 cu ft. version

 

[thomasortega]

Lg washers are excellent and reliable. If you can afford and upper level model, go for it, you won't regret.

 

[ryner1988]

Bob, can I email or private message you? I have quite a few questions and you seem in the best position to answer them.

 

[appnut]

Ryne, of course you can contact me privately.

 

[windrivers]

I don't see any need to hurry as long as you have a washer that works now. But then, I believe in saving money for when I need it, not just spend it when I have it.

I also don't believe you're going to change the weather in Texas by buying a FL and selling your TL.

But if you really want a new washer, go for it.

 

[ryner1988]

Jeff, my goal in possibly doing this is to get ahead of the curve before the direct drive washer breaks down again. I am blind, my wife is disabled, and we can't easily repair things ourselves. When this machine was delivered to me from a used appliance store last year, it had a few malfunctions like the neutral drain not working right and the clutch was also going bad. I used it this way for several months until the clutch issue became so pronounced that clothes were noticeably wet after cycle completion, at which time I hired my bro-in-law to replace the clutch. He also changed the transmission to solve the neutral drain issue and put in a new drive coupler. I just always feel a bit nervous about such things happening again especially on a machine that's pushing 20 years old. Parts won't be available forever. If I buy a new machine now, I could possibly sell this one since it was recently repaired. I can see your point though and will consider keeping it until or unless something else goes wrong. I just fear being stuck is my only thing.

 

[qsd-dan]

I'd use the DD until something fails. A new front loader is a phone call away and they'll disconnect, remove, and haul away the old machine while installing the new one and properly set it up. Just make sure they remove the shipping bolts. You choice of using a new water saving front loader will make zero difference in climate change.

 

[maytag85]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Btw, all the wildfires are caused by not cleaning them of brush from using a control burn method to dispose of dead brush and vegetation. Brush doesn’t ignite from 100F heat, usually ignite from people either being careless and negligent like the people here in California when they were doing a gender reveal, or causing by metal road debris that’s kicked up by cars which will spark a fire if there so happens to be dead brush on the side of the road.

 

[windrivers]

I understand, Ryne. Sometimes you just need to go by the law of averages and your best guess as what's best for you. I'm just biased against most new machines as they don't seem to be built to last, and I'm not even sure how long parts will be available for the new machines after the warranty period ends, as all companies seem to want to do is sell you a completely "new and improved" piece of garbage and intend the machines to be disposable rather than worth repairing. Though I have no experience with LG, and no idea of how your old one was used/abused, other than the parts that already had to be replaced.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[jamiel]

I'll be a little contrary, but I think Whirlpool may have better support for vision impaired customers (braille overlays, etc) which might move me in that direction.

 

[ryner1988]

Well, the decision has been made for me, it would seem...

My wife's two-year-old iMac has developed a problem, started earlier this evening, where the screen has a big horrizontal gray/black streak in it. Google search tells me the inverter (lightbulb) is going out. So, yippee about getting to decide whether we repair or replace a two-year old machine. Fun times.

So, obviously, the DD washer stays for a while.

 

[thomasortega]

Just a quick FYI, LG also has ADA compliant Braille control panels. You just need to request them, they're free.

Some models are smart and they integrate seamlessly with Alexa, so you can use your voice to program the cycles exactly the way you want.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Did you or someone else go through a similar scenario like a year ago or so?
Why does this sound familiar?

 

[ryner1988]

Reply #14

It very easily could have been me. My VMW top load Whirlpool washer, bought new in 2016, died early last year. Since then, I've had two used washers that entered my house in less-than-steller condition. The Maytag A112 that replaced the VMW had been sitting in a barn for five years before it was put back into service in my home. It developed a leak after about 3 months, so along came the used direct drive because I couldn't afford a new machine at the time. It had the issues I described above. So, I've had the desire for a while to get off this train, but it doesn't look like it'll happen anytime soon at this point.

 

[helicaldrive]

Do it

You will be amazed at how much cleaner and better rinsed your clothes can be with a FL, and how much less detergent and water you use. Especially detergent. A bottle or box will last 3 or 4 times longer. The only thing is the FL does take longer and you will need to set it to do extra rinses. There is a learning curve about loading and dosing but once you get used to it you’ll never look back.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Me chiming in with my little old opinion:

I have had 2005 FL washer for 18 years now...While I love the old school WP TL washers, it would be really hard for me to go back to one.. Just as it was hard for me to move from a TL to a FL washer. The first few months I HATED it..then it grew on me and now the only way I would want a TL washer is if I had no choice...as for modern FL washers... I would get an LG with turbo wash if I had to buy one right now...I can't vouch for LG personally... but I've seen them in action and heard they are easy to repair if something goes wrong....the way they are built everything is easily accessible for a tech..

 

[combo52]

Front load washer, serviceability

The only full sized front load washer That’s easy to work on is a speed queen.

I can sit down in front of a Speed Queen front loader, take out for little screws and then takeoff one big half inch bolt and you have the entire front of the machine off and the entire front cover of the outer tub off. No other washer is easy to work on like that.

Speed Queen’s don’t have any extra complicated gimmicks like recirculating pumps and dispenser systems for detergent and softener to go out of order. The recirculating system is stupid because there’s no filter you’re taking the dirty sediment from the sump and dumping it back on your clothing as it washes, it doesn’t accomplish a thing.

There’s no real difference in the construction of any other full-size front loader that we work on regularly some have slight advantages and disadvantages but I don’t see any difference because they all use pretty much the same construction techniques with a huge plastic outer tub

I would still go with a Whirlpool or Maytag front load washer. If you don’t wanna spend the money for a Speed Queen the next best one would be the full size GE’s at least you can get parts for all of these and anybody will work on them unlike LG and Samsung .

John