initial comments on Asko W6884eco

[hunter]

Recently I bought (over the internet!) an Asko W6884eco to replace my hated, and dying, Whirlpool Duets.

Some initial thoughts:

I had a cursing fit 'cause there was an issue with the machine requiring a motherboard change. However it was fully covered.

There is a 3 year full parts and labor warranty included, which was and is impressive.

The machines are 8kg machines.

As part of the test to make sure the new mother board is working, it's been in use pretty much all this weekend except for 8 hours of sleep time. Have done cycles from 40C to 90C in temperature, woolens to whites.

The cleaning power is extraordinary. My yellowing comforter is now white again. Some grubby greasy jeans are now merely worn.

The machine has up to 7 rinses to make sure detergent is gone, high water option (great for comforters), and a cold pre-wash option for a profile wash.

All in all the engineering is excellent.

The 'eco' designation means that it can take hot and cold water on inlet. My previous Askos were cold fill only, and the machine heated the water. I have tried it both ways and find the higher temperature (60C and above) cycles are 20 minutes shorter. My tankless water heater is right next to the machine so when it calls for hot water it gets it.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Actually, unless you have solar collectors and/or heat pumps for hot water, it's more green to have the machine to heat its own water as there will be less energy waste, plus the cycles, lasting more will clean better and you can have a true profile wash in all of them!

Anyway I'm so glad that you're enjoying your machine They also look very stylish!

 

[hunter]

I do go back and forth...

...for these reasons.

My water heater is an instant water heater that runs on gas. Which is why I was using the hot water inlet.

I had forgotten how CLEAN these machines clean. It's nice to have whites ... that are white again.

 

[dj-gabriele]

It's nice to have whites ... that are white again.

Welcome to the world of European style self heating front loaders

 

[mrb627]

Pix

Love to see some pix of your machine.

Malcolm

 

[mysteryclock]

I know the machines are a bit smaller than most other FLs on the market. Do you feel the size is an issue? Is there anything you can't wash because of it?

 

[hunter]

Yes, some things.

Yes, there are some things I cannot wash. My Wiggy's sleeping bag (http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=6 ) was a stretch even in the Duet. If I had a King sized polyester comforter I don't think it'll fit.

Everything else seems fine.

I've actually had Askos before; the first one died a terrible death from a power surge, and I had to sell the second one when I moved west. I bought the Duet thinking that, being German, it would have a good internal heater and wash well. After long experimentation I discovered that a) the heater only kicked in on cycles where 'heavy soil' was detected and b) the engineering for the US market is very different because Americans don't want laundry to take 2 hours. <shrug> Either you need a lot of water, or you need more time. Nothing is free.

This machine can easily fit several pairs of jeans, many shirts, and other stuff in one load. The tub volume is ~2.2 ft^3 I think. It is smaller than other machines BUT you can load it tighter.

The interesting thing about Askos for the US market: The washer and dryer both take 220, 15 amps. American homes are equipped with 30A 220V outlets for dryers (if they have an electric dryer connection). Therefore with this machine, the washer plugs into the back of the dryer, and the dryer into the wall.

It has a 2000w internal heater.

There is an error in the specs on the askousa.com website: the max temperature is NOT 95C/205F, but 90C/193F. No biggie really, at my altitude water boils at 203F so I'd not want to use 95 here anyway.

It has the ability to have a high water wash, and up to 7 rinses. You can have a cold prewash and up to (I think) 3 hours of soak as well.

It also will spin at 1800rpm.

The wool setting works very well - no more double extra rinses to wash the soap flakes out of the clothing, it heats at 30C or 40C for woolens (86F or 104F), and spins at 800 rpm.

One thing it LACKS is a rubber boot that will mildew, though we leave the machine door open slightly when not in use anyway. You close the door on the drum, and the drum has the ability to move inside the cabinet as it washes and spins.

This spin is significantly quieter than my previous Askos; they sounded like jet engines taking off.

I've attached a URL link from the askousa.com website.

イチモツLab | イケオジの嗜み

40代に突入し体の衰えを感じ始める世代かもしれません。ただ、私はここからより高みを目指していきたい。そんな元気が出るサイトを作りたいですね。

www.askousa.com

 

[launderess]

No Rubber Boot

Is pretty common for commercial/laundromat front loaders, indeed one would say is the standar. IIRC some Miele units (Little Giant?) lack the rubber boot as well.

 

[wringingwet]

Whites that are white....

I have two askos .. one is a commercial one for the catering company and one in the house ... I would have to say for immune suppressed individuals, it has probably contributed to my longevity. It actual cleans the clothes.   I could never go back to these modern machines of today.  The asko for the catering company lives outside here in the south and has been going strong since 2003.  Give me a vintage or and Asko    Service Sucks here in the south but let me tell you they are built like tanks ... 

 

Philippe

 

[bertrum]

Superb choice of machine!.
Arguably the best front loading washing machine available.
Cant speak highly enough of this machine!

* * * * *

 

[qualin]

The Asko W6903 was my second choice when it came to buying a machine, this is a top of the line model, the W6884 is the next model down from that.

The reason why I didn't buy them was because I didn't like how I'd have to buy the dryer at the same time I'd buy the washer, or that the washer can't be used without the dryer due to its 220 volt requirement. I found machines for the same price which had a larger tub capacity.

These are really expensive machines in Canada. I wasn't prepared to drop nearly $4k on a set of them.

The Miele W4842 and its matching dryer were my third choice, but I was still looking at a $4k price range for a set of one year old demo models! (ie. They were even more expensive than the Asko ones!)

This is a great machine you have.

 

[toggleswitch]

Quote: The washer can't be used without the dryer due to its 220 volt requirement.

moot points now but....

HHHMMMM Just my opinions...Some options:

1- The plug of the washer can be changed to fit into a standard North-American dryer circuit. You just won't be able to use your washer and North-American Dryer at the same time. The 30a dryer circuit (for a washer) is excessive, but not believed to be dangerous.

2- Your dedicated washer circuit, as it currently exists, (dedicated meaning there is nothing else on that circuit) can easily be converted to an air-conditioner type 15a or 20a, 220v circuit. 220v air-conditioning circuits don't have a neutral wire, and as such can't provide 110v in the washer. Methinks such a Euro-washer would not need any 110v. One must check.......

And before an engineer chimes in, we all already know that it is actually 120v and 240v in this country. 110v/220v is just a "convention" and point of reference.

 

[dj-gabriele]

I'm sure what Toggleswitch said is correct!

Anyway, can we see what kind of plug is fitted on this washer?

 

[gansky1]

Very impressive machine. I've not kept up with the Asko offerings and changes since that Asian-built super-sized machine they had a for a while. Those models appear to be gone from their offerings now, just as well as the fit & finish on those didn't seem up to the standards of their other European models.

I had a set of Askos, bought at a Sally-Ann appliance auction and I used those for several months after replacing a broken shock absorber before giving them to a friend who used them almost two years. I was also very impressed with the cleaning ability, the boil washes were outstanding and I do miss that option now and then.

Do you have the matching dryer as well, Hunter? What are your thoughts on it? Of course, being used to the cavernous U.S. dryers, the Asko I had was small even for it's matching washer, somewhat noisy and with the obvious power limitations, somewhat slow. With the washer's extraction ability and inherently longer cycle times , the dryer could easily keep up with the washer and it seemed very accurate but the smaller drum made wrinkling a problem if you didn't get the clothes out very soon after it finished.

 

[AZREOspecialist]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but the W6884ECO is only a 2.44 cuft IEC capacity. There is absolutely no way this is an 8kg machine. 5-6 kg yes, but not 8.

 

[dj-gabriele]

2,44 cubic feet is around 70 litres so indeed it can be an 8 kg machine!
In fact some other manufacturer claim (and can really do it) a capacity of 9 kg of cottons in less than that volume.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Askos

Good choice, in a league of their own I say (IMHO) but I can understand how frustrating it must have been for you guys over there with the lousy service etc...saying that i`ve only needed one call in 11 years...

Hunter, my model was an initial timed fill approx 30 secs then during heating it would top up during load saturation, once that happened I would pause the machine, and then switch it back on - which resulted in another 30sec fill....great if you wanted more water on the wash in the cotton cycles with vigerous agitation....can you do this on yours??

Bertrum, can we take it from your reccommendation that your are an ISE engineer perhaps??

Cheers, Mike

 

[dyson2drums]

They look to be well engineered sturdy machines. Programming looks very flexible which is something I always like in washing machines.

The drum volume is 60litres, which is okay I guess. Considering my LG is rated at 69litres drum volume which they state as a 9kg load capacity machine.

Seeing the pics above I would love to experience using one!

 

[mysteryclock]

Just a style question - can the machine be operated or installed w/o the external cosmetic door panel? Or would that leave two gaping holes for the hinges? I'd prefer to see the porthole vs. having it covered up.