My house is a Craftsman-style bungalow built in 1935. The owner before me had the washer-dryer plumbing and setup moved from the unfinished basement to the kitchen. She had side-by-side washer and dryer, but I got a new Kenmore (made by Frigidaire) stacked set in January 2003 (washer manufactured 10/2002), and use the gained space for pantry storage and a cart that holds my toaster oven. I have been quite pleased with this clothes washer over the years, except when it deposits new gray marks on my clothes. Overall, I am very fond of this washing machine (model 417.42142100). The dryer still works fine, though I seldom use it. I mostly hang my laundry up to air dry.
Earlier this month I heard a terrible loud sound and continued very loud sound during spinning. The door locked on me. I learned after googling to try the unplug for a while trick. This worked to unlock the door. There was also leaking of water onto the floor (like a fourth of a cup). I got a repair person out, and he quickly said the bearings were bad and that I need to get a new machine, because to fix my current one would cost thousands of dollars. I had a phone call with another appliance repair person as a second opinion. He was much more personable than the first guy, but basically agreed. And I have come to accept this after watching YouTube videos, googling, and reading on forums like here. So thank you.
My current machine is a wonderful medium size that works great in the space I have available for it in the kitchen. Here are this Kenmore front-loader's dimensions:
Width -- 26.6 inches
Depth -- 25 inches
Height-- 34.5 inches
The last picture in my post shows the layout, though it isn't to scale. There is actually a narrower space down the galley than my drawing shows.
The current door opening between the kitchen and front of house is only 26 inches. If the swinging door is removed, the space can go to 29.75.
If trying to exit through the back door, the space between the refrigerator and the sink counter is 26.25. If the refrigerator door is removed, a few inches could be gained, though this may be hard? The back door allows 28.3.
Apparently, a medium sized front-loader with a capacity of around 3.1 cubic feet is hard to find. Except for an expensive Speed Queen, it looks like I will have to stuff a considerably bigger machine in the way of my galley walk, or else downsize to the small loads of officially compact machines (2.6 down to 1.6), and have to run more loads.
Since my current dryer runs fine, I don't want to buy a new one. I am thinking of having the new washing machine installed as a side by side initially, and then having a separate handyman build a sturdy platform for me to place around and above the new washer, and putting my old dryer on the platform with secured corners, so I can have my pantry back. Do you know of such a thing being done?
I am also interested in hearing front-loader make/model recommendations you have for me for this space.
- TUBerosa
Earlier this month I heard a terrible loud sound and continued very loud sound during spinning. The door locked on me. I learned after googling to try the unplug for a while trick. This worked to unlock the door. There was also leaking of water onto the floor (like a fourth of a cup). I got a repair person out, and he quickly said the bearings were bad and that I need to get a new machine, because to fix my current one would cost thousands of dollars. I had a phone call with another appliance repair person as a second opinion. He was much more personable than the first guy, but basically agreed. And I have come to accept this after watching YouTube videos, googling, and reading on forums like here. So thank you.
My current machine is a wonderful medium size that works great in the space I have available for it in the kitchen. Here are this Kenmore front-loader's dimensions:
Width -- 26.6 inches
Depth -- 25 inches
Height-- 34.5 inches
The last picture in my post shows the layout, though it isn't to scale. There is actually a narrower space down the galley than my drawing shows.
The current door opening between the kitchen and front of house is only 26 inches. If the swinging door is removed, the space can go to 29.75.
If trying to exit through the back door, the space between the refrigerator and the sink counter is 26.25. If the refrigerator door is removed, a few inches could be gained, though this may be hard? The back door allows 28.3.
Apparently, a medium sized front-loader with a capacity of around 3.1 cubic feet is hard to find. Except for an expensive Speed Queen, it looks like I will have to stuff a considerably bigger machine in the way of my galley walk, or else downsize to the small loads of officially compact machines (2.6 down to 1.6), and have to run more loads.
Since my current dryer runs fine, I don't want to buy a new one. I am thinking of having the new washing machine installed as a side by side initially, and then having a separate handyman build a sturdy platform for me to place around and above the new washer, and putting my old dryer on the platform with secured corners, so I can have my pantry back. Do you know of such a thing being done?
I am also interested in hearing front-loader make/model recommendations you have for me for this space.
- TUBerosa
