bradfordwhite
Well-known member
or
the Amana Version ?
the Amana Version ?
If you had to choose...
- Thread starter aubrey
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bradfordwhite
Well-known member
Would you get a matching pair or are we talking just washers?
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Cfz2882/ Brendan - no used items. The rules as stated in the opening statement were that it had to be a NEW machine. Those of us who are thrifty, practical, and can make repairs are apparently damned.
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Cfz2882/ Brendan - no used items. The rules as stated in the opening statement were that it had to be a NEW machine. Those of us who are thrifty, practical, and can make repairs are apparently damned.
The Amana version doesn't have an onboard heater, among other shortcomings.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
did I miss a zoom meeting on this?
What are we doing with an on-board heater? Is that a thing now?
This is the U.S. not an EU country.
What are we doing with an on-board heater? Is that a thing now?
This is the U.S. not an EU country.
Yes as much as I like to think I am thrifty and practical, I did say NEW because I cannot repair washing machines. Unfortunately I have no experience whatsoever. So as much as I would like to find the best old school washing machines that still kick butt to this day, with proper maintenance and DIY repairs, I just can't do it. And my location prevents me from finding really awesome stuff like that anyway. (I live in the middle of nowhere). So naturally my best option was to find something new AND reliable.
Also bradfordwhite to answer your other questions, I'm just looking for a second washing machine. And I only mentioned these brands of FLs because I've heard great things about them. I have no clue about the quality and efficacy of Amana or Whirlpool.
And the on-board water heater is-for me just an added luxury for truly cleaning/sanitizing things without the need for any bleach. (I'm not against bleach or anything but would be nice to have the option to use heat to sanitize if I wanted to).
Also bradfordwhite to answer your other questions, I'm just looking for a second washing machine. And I only mentioned these brands of FLs because I've heard great things about them. I have no clue about the quality and efficacy of Amana or Whirlpool.
And the on-board water heater is-for me just an added luxury for truly cleaning/sanitizing things without the need for any bleach. (I'm not against bleach or anything but would be nice to have the option to use heat to sanitize if I wanted to).
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking the question you did Aubrey. The more specific the better. If steam will work better than or equal to bleach than yes, that's a good thing.
I did not see the note about the internal water heater.
Bob is there with the facts and I so appreciate that. He updated me in another thread about Maytag Fabric-matic washers earlier today, Thank-you.
I've heard of the steam washers and dryers but never used. I will need to get up to date on that.
That being said: I'm partial to the Duet mainly because that's what I've always had. And the new one above has a removable drawer where one can access the pump filter which was my only real complaint in the past.
However, Bob is going to tell us about the other "shortcomings" and he will be correct and won't even be smug about it. Bob why are you GOALS?
I did not see the note about the internal water heater.
Bob is there with the facts and I so appreciate that. He updated me in another thread about Maytag Fabric-matic washers earlier today, Thank-you.
I've heard of the steam washers and dryers but never used. I will need to get up to date on that.
That being said: I'm partial to the Duet mainly because that's what I've always had. And the new one above has a removable drawer where one can access the pump filter which was my only real complaint in the past.
However, Bob is going to tell us about the other "shortcomings" and he will be correct and won't even be smug about it. Bob why are you GOALS?
Well, having lived with my Duet 9 years and 3 months featuring stain treat, steam, Allergy, and Sanitize cycles, I have come accustomed to NOT having to use LCB, I no longer have to search each garment for stains and treat said stains (which usually took me the time the DD LK completed a cycle). My first FLer was a Frigidaire without a heater. I have an all-electric house and it gets so expensive to have that set above 120-125F at the most. The Frigidaire didn't deal with stained aundry much better than the DD top loader. Now, I've enjoyed the "luxury" of selecting cycles and options that effectively deal with a variety and types of stains that when needed can heat gradually from lukewarm to Hot, Allergy, and Sanitize temperatures. I'm still trying to wrap my head around not being able to deal with my very difficult stains and having a washer that doesn't have an onboard heater. To me, it's uncivilized. I'd hate to spend $2000 for a Speed Queen front loader and end up miserable because it won't effectively deal with my stains and sanitize items when appropriate. And I don't believe garments can be "sanitized with Oxi". Laundry cannot always be done via wham bamb thank you mayam speed. If I had to resort to soaking, I'd much rather have a machine that was maintaining or increasing water temperatures and tumbling than just sitting and soaking (been there done that for 25 years. to put it bluntly, have someone from Speed Queen get their butt down here to my house with their front loader and prove me 1000% wrong with the constraints/guidelines of my life/laundry. I don't experience any "stink", smell, odor that I hear people complaining about with their HE washer. But then again, I don't wash in cold water. I wash with top notch detergents and select wash times and temperatures appropriate. I've used my "Normal" (energy star certified cycle) and opted for hot water and normal soil level. This is the only cycle that I smell a dirty laundry smell coming out of the vents in the back of the washer during the spin after the wash cycle. I've even checked fabric temperature after wash water drains. IN the 10-12 minutes of wash for this cycle, garments are tepid temperature at best. I don't experience this issue when I use cycles with heater maintaining water temperature and similar 10-12 minute wash.
Whirlpool no longer uses Duet as a brand name for their front loaders. I still personally think they are the only front loader with the degree of flexibility of fabric/garment cycles coupled with being able to select steam and or sanitize with all those fabric cycles. 60 years ago I learned to do laundry the Whirlpool/Kenmore way. Fabrics deserve the appropriate cycle for regular, wrinkle free (wash & wear) and delicates with agitation (tumble) and spin speeds as appropriate, along with flexible water temps. The Duet I bought at the end of November 2011 met those needs. I'm extremely picky about doing laundry. Unless SQ could prove me wrong, having a SQ would be like going back to my old Frigidaire, but better quality. I always select cycles whereby the onboard heater is used. Generally delicates don't need it, but I have had times where I've still needed it for those garments and selected a cycle with a mediu9m speed tumble pattern. Like a pair of tan kakhis that had a significant blood stain that sat for 2 weeks. Tide with bleach alternative and stain treat with steam, and warm wash temp the stain was totally removed. Similar results with cloth napkins and kitchen cleaning rags, but selecting stain treat and sanitize temp--heating from luke warm to extra hot by the time it gets through steam phase.
Whirlpool WFW8620 and the LG WM4200 or WM4500. I have a sneaky suspicion Whirlpool may be updating their product line sometime this year. the Whirlpools were brought to market November/December 2018.
Speed Queen FL!
There is no better washer EVER made for the domestic market. If you need a washer that can process quickly and thoroughly large amounts of laundry in a domestic setting on a continuous basis there is no better choice.
Also if you are looking for something dependable to avoid service calls as you can not fix the machine yourself nothing other than a SQ FL will be nearly as reliable.
There is a reason that the Coin-Op version (mechanically identical) of this machine is so popular in Laundromats, Dorms, Apt. houses.
WK78
There is no better washer EVER made for the domestic market. If you need a washer that can process quickly and thoroughly large amounts of laundry in a domestic setting on a continuous basis there is no better choice.
Also if you are looking for something dependable to avoid service calls as you can not fix the machine yourself nothing other than a SQ FL will be nearly as reliable.
There is a reason that the Coin-Op version (mechanically identical) of this machine is so popular in Laundromats, Dorms, Apt. houses.
WK78
panasonicvac
Well-known member
If you're still having trouble on deciding what new front load washer would be best suited for you, I would suggest to call up your nearest appliance or laundry technician and see what they would recommend for your needs. That's what we did when we had both our old washer and dryer replaced. Our technician recommended LG because that was one of their least repaired brands that they've fixed as of last year and they were also ranked one of the better performing front load washers out in the market. From what I recalled when we asked about other brands to them, Samsung was another brand that they've liked. Whirlpool's front loaders and their other brands they own were okay. And GE not so much. I did used a Electrolux front loader last year and I thought it was trash. So that's how we ended up with the LG WM8100. Overall we've been really pleased with it. Now again if I were to buy another new front load washer today, only this time it's going to be the Speed Queen. Personally I'd rather have something that would last the longest, I think they're arguably the most reliable front loader out in the market today. I mean I do trust that the LG would last for quite a while but I would bet that the Speed Queen would outlast it, I wouldn't be surprised when the LG starts to break after it's 10 year warranty is up. So far my only criticism with LG overall was we had trouble with the company on fixing our stove shortly after buying it around the same time as when we bought the laundry set, that's another reason why I would be leaning towards on getting the Speed Queen as our next set. Another tip is to watch some of these review videos on YouTube from a technician who's also a member on here. So overall if I were to recommend a new large front load washer to anyone, this is what I would personally suggest. If you care about features mostly, then I would suggest to look into LG. But if you care about reliability mostly, then I would suggest to look into Speed Queen. Either way, both of these machines would be excellent at getting laundry clean.
With these two videos down below, both of these I believe still apply to it's newer models today. You can still buy the Speed Queen, they're not discontinued anymore. And the LG is pretty much the same machine as their newer ones including mine.
With these two videos down below, both of these I believe still apply to it's newer models today. You can still buy the Speed Queen, they're not discontinued anymore. And the LG is pretty much the same machine as their newer ones including mine.
New SQ Front Load Washers
One of the many great things about these washers is they do not dub down the hot wash temperature, when you select hot you get all hot water entering the machine.
John L.
One of the many great things about these washers is they do not dub down the hot wash temperature, when you select hot you get all hot water entering the machine.
John L.
aquarius1984
Well-known member
Heaters
Like Bob said, an internal heater is essential.
It’s what makes European machines superior to the rest of the world.
It’s very clear standards differ in each country but it’s safe to say that our heated machines are the best for performance. What passes for clean in America from the likes of the SQ front loaders and Toploaders from all manufacturers is what we expect as results from a cycle designed for refreshing lightly soiled or unsoiled items.
It’s just the standards that you’ve all been programmed to think are good but we realised over 60 years ago that machines need heaters to actually clean.
LG with heaters are definitely the way to go.
Like Bob said, an internal heater is essential.
It’s what makes European machines superior to the rest of the world.
It’s very clear standards differ in each country but it’s safe to say that our heated machines are the best for performance. What passes for clean in America from the likes of the SQ front loaders and Toploaders from all manufacturers is what we expect as results from a cycle designed for refreshing lightly soiled or unsoiled items.
It’s just the standards that you’ve all been programmed to think are good but we realised over 60 years ago that machines need heaters to actually clean.
LG with heaters are definitely the way to go.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
Well also there were, and apparently still are, a larger portion of homes that don't have a hot water heater compared to the U.S. So it became necessary to install heaters in washer and diswashers in order to get sanitary results.
If the EU countries had learned to be energy gobbling pigs like us here in the U.S. where we burn through 25% of the worlds energy resources a year even though we only have 4% of the worlds population, perhaps you wouldn't need a water heater in your washers.
If the EU countries had learned to be energy gobbling pigs like us here in the U.S. where we burn through 25% of the worlds energy resources a year even though we only have 4% of the worlds population, perhaps you wouldn't need a water heater in your washers.
It's got nothing to do with whether there is a hot water service or not. That is a misunderstanding.
Efficient front loaders use so little water that, even if connected to hot water, by the time they have bled through the cold water sitting in the hot water pipes, the drum is more or less full. So the water in the drum will be too cold, even if hot fill is selected.
I have a Miele front loader with hot fill and a heater, it usually still has to operate the heater for a few minutes even with a hot fill. Having a heater gives much more precise control over the temperature of the wash water, too.
Long term members of this forum will be saying that I have changed my tune, and that is true. When we had a smaller solar power system I used to modify washers to disconnect the heating element. But we now have 3kw of solar panels on the roof so operating a washing machine with heater is fine, though I still prefer it to have hot fill. Heat phase takes only a few minutes but it makes a difference to cleaning. We have a manual recirc pump to get hot water in the pipes right to the tap, so we don't have the usual cold water bleed through issue.
Efficient front loaders use so little water that, even if connected to hot water, by the time they have bled through the cold water sitting in the hot water pipes, the drum is more or less full. So the water in the drum will be too cold, even if hot fill is selected.
I have a Miele front loader with hot fill and a heater, it usually still has to operate the heater for a few minutes even with a hot fill. Having a heater gives much more precise control over the temperature of the wash water, too.
Long term members of this forum will be saying that I have changed my tune, and that is true. When we had a smaller solar power system I used to modify washers to disconnect the heating element. But we now have 3kw of solar panels on the roof so operating a washing machine with heater is fine, though I still prefer it to have hot fill. Heat phase takes only a few minutes but it makes a difference to cleaning. We have a manual recirc pump to get hot water in the pipes right to the tap, so we don't have the usual cold water bleed through issue.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
Now I'm anxious to try a steam washer.
Well I was thinking about getting a Miele but I was made aware that if the time ever came that I would need service for it, I would need to know how far I am from a Miele factory servicer or a Miele partner with an MDU laptop (MDU=Miele Diagnostic Unit). And apparently there's only one in my state very far away from me. That sort of convinced me to not get a Miele.
Aubrey, I m in a similar situation where I live in a small-to-medium size town. thus no Miele.
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