Is Whirlpool making COMMERCIAL belt drive washers?

[norgechef]

I have seen a few comments on here about Whirlpool making commercial quality belt driven washers....is this true? I suppose they wouldn't be any worse than GE commercial washers but still, shouldn't they just continue making direct drives for commercial laundry products? I don't understand why they would want to make people hate Whirlpool commercial washers as well? if this is true it sure won't be helping their reputation any!

 

[thefixer]

They still market commercial DD washers that meet 2007 energy standards. The new commercial line that meets 2013 standards are the new belt drive model. They also make consumer grade belt drives that they label as "commercial quality", whatever that means.

 

[tolivac]

If the "new" BD WP's aren't holding up in residental situations-how does WP expect it to hold up under commercial use?Did they beef up the commercial versions?If so,these would sure be nice to get for a heavy household user.

 

[combo52]

New Belt Drive WP TL Washers

In my Expert opinion I think it is far too early in the game to pronounce that the new line of WP BD TL washers are going to be excessively troublesome or short lived. WP has already sold MILLIONS of these machines over the last 3 plus years and yes those of us working on and selling new appliances have seen a few problems which does not seem unusual for any washer sold in such LARGE NUMBERS, and I have yet to see one trashed either by us or the huge appliance distributor near us [ I get to look over the hundred or so machines they pull out of homes every week to see if there is anything there we want ].

 

I think it is a good sign that WP is moving this machine into the Commercial lineup, many mainly residential machines never got this far. I remember going to many Maytag sales meetings and the MT reps telling us how good the Norgetags were and I would always say if they are so good why is there no Commercial Version ?, MT of coerce stuck with the DC Helical drive machines for commercial applications to the end.

 

[pulsator]

I work for Whirlpool Corporation, and this is my personal opinion.

I'm excited about these machines! They are already posted on the Home Depot website. We'll see how the Agi-Peller pans out!

Whirlpool Heavy-Duty Series 2.9 cu. ft. Commercial Top Load Washer in White CAE2793BQ - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy Whirlpool Heavy-Duty Series Energy Plus 2.9 cu. ft. Commercial High-Efficiency Top Load Washer in White CAE2793BQ

www.homedepot.com

 

[mtn1584]

An "Agi-Peller?"...........................

You can call it an impeller, wash plate, agi-peller, and it still doesn't matter.....They DO NOT work!!!! A top load washer that doesn't use water is the most assinine product on the market today, especially in a commericial setting!!! I am a huge advocate of top load washers, but ones like SQ that use water to wash!! I think these along with the Duet Sport commercial models, although in huge production, are a colossol design failure!!
Mike

 

[mixfinder]

Agi-Peller

Jaime can you tell us more about an Agi-Peller since the description says its not an impeller.

 

[pulsator]

I work for Whirlpool Corporation, and this is my personal opinion.

I'm afraid I can't, there should be pictures of it eventually.

 

[DADoES]

 
Illustration in the user guide linked @ Home Depot, the agi-thingie appears much akin to a RotoFlex.

 

[norgechef]

Well...

I have a friend who's 2011 Kenmore belt drive is making a clunking noise when the spin cycle is coasting to a stop and its only ever been used in a single person household. Hes also always complaining about it constantly going off balance and making strange burning smells when the heavy duty cycle is used, not that he even uses that option very often. So 2 years of less than average use and its already wearing out!

I wont disagree that Maytag had many design flaws with some of their product lines but honestly my Maytag branded norgetag washer is 7 years old and I will admit it has had a few minor repairs but it is still going strong, and it has had ALLOT of use (some overloading) so i really don't understand why the reviews for these washers were so bad because my experience with this washer has been great except for the occasional crazy out of balance load. When it breaks i will most certainly be fixing it, no matter the cost. If it costs $800 for a basic top loading washer with rotary controls (Speed Queen/Huebsch) then what is the point in paying that much for something similar to what I already have? or $500 for a Whirlpool belt drive that will break in 5 years or less?! Besides, im not supporting that company after what they did to Maytag.

 

[logixx]

http://www.whirlpool.com/digitalassets/MLPDF/Repair%20Part%20List%20-%20W10559041.pdf

 

 

 

[frigilux]

Interesting. I'm assuming this doesn't use the reverse rollover principle, wherein clothes bloom up the center and move toward the tub wall, as do regular impeller machines.

Jamie-- Do you know the particulars of how the load moves in an agi-peller machine?

 

[logixx]

Looks kinda similar to GE's HydroWave system with the raised center on the impeller to hold fabric softener. I assume the pole in the center of this unit avoids loading issues - like people dumping everything in at once instead of layering items around the impeller with its center remaining visible. The pole automatically keeps items away from the middle of the impeller. Also, the agi does look a little like in a deep-fill washer. Looks old-school but it ain't. Some (many?) people would likely be put off using a washer with an obvious wash plate in it. The center pole helps in that regard, too.

BTW, read a GE commercial washer manual today and it said that the softener must be added towards the end of the main wash as it won't dispense during the spray rinsing. *eww*

 

[mrb627]

Loading

And seeing the way that some people load machines at the laundromat, I wouldn't expect these to fair very well. Sure hope I am proven wrong...

Malcolm

 

[combo52]

Overloading the New BD WP Built Washers

That is the wonderful thing about new electronically controlled washers, They will protect them selves, the motors do a great job of detecting strain and overload and react accordingly, the load just won't get washed and maybe the user can take the detergent covered stuff out and put it in the dryer, LOL.

 

[mrb627]

Great

Then the user can blame the machine, demand a refund, and go somewhere else to wash clothes. Finally, the laundromat will go belly up.

Malcolm

 

[joe_in_philly]

I agree with what Alexander and Malcolm said. I imagine the extended wash plate will force a user to properly load the washer, as they won't know to drop the clothes around the wash plate, avoiding covering the center. But from what I have seen in Laundromats, people often overload the machines.

Don't HE top-load washers take a long time to complete a cycle? It seems to me performance will suffer as long wash cycles are not compatible with a typical Laundromat. Although, in a Laundromat setting, perhaps the machines can dispense with time consuming load sensing, assuming that every load is a full load.

 

[logixx]

I suppose they save time by only doing spray rinses. No way to add softener to the washer.

 

[neptune]

The appliance company I work for, We just recently replaced 2 front load washing machines in a condominium and they went back to the traditional top load machines and they were direct drive top loaders. I don't understand why they would switch the true commercial/ coin op machines to these belt drive ones I personally feel as though that's a bad idea on whirlpool's behalf but that's just my personal opinion. In my opinion these residential machines that claim "Commercial Quality or Technology" is just a gimmick. the true "Commercial Quality" machines were the old Maytag Top Loaders.