Looking for help deciding what type of washer to buy....

[shneire]

Question for Eugene

Hey Eugene - you said I can do anything with the control panel that I can with the knob/dial type washer. Well how about going between the small, medium, or large water cycles? With the dial you can select and in-between setting. On the control panel you have to choose with the button which cycle you want....any hacks to this? I prefer the look of the control panel but this was the ONLY reason I decided to go with the dial/knob speed queen. Thanks for the info by the way! My speed queen comes tomorrow - so if you can tell me if I can do this with the panel washer I will switch to the other type. Thanks!! By the way I see you're in MN too! I'm not a native, though my husband is. My last 2 years - almost 3 here have been quite interesting in the frozen tundra!!

 

[revvinkevin]

Shannon, just an FYI... while the machine you bought has knobs, it's still electronic control. Meaning when you select a cycle with the "timer knob", you can only start it at the beginning of the cycle. Meaning, you are not able to re-start it in the middle of a cycle, or repeat a specific portion of the cycle. Unlike the Maytag washer you posted the photo above.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
I think you made a great choice.
I just bought one myself I plan to set up in the garage someday, or use to replace my nearly out-of-warranty Speed Queen front load machine if it conks out beyond rea$onable repair again.

 

[frigilux]

Shannon-- Take heed of what Kevin posted above. It's possible the 2017 with the cycle dial isn't a true "set it anywhere I want to in the cycle" type of cycle control. I know this is true of the 2018 model with knobs. Can someone with a 2017 knobs/dial model confirm this before Shannon receives a washer she might not want? Please also confirm that the 2017 with knobs has a continuously variable water level control.

If your 2017 has both a regular 'set it anywhere within the cycle' control and a continuously variable water level control, you should be set! You might want to contact whomever you purchased from and ask those two questions to be sure.

Water Level on the electronic control model: It's easier just to select one of the four choices on the 9 Series machine. I've had to go up to the next higher level a few times, but the four choices are generally enough.

Here's the hack I sometimes use: Let's say it looks like the load should have a 'Medium' water level setting. When agitation begins, I might want a couple more gallons of water added. I hit the power button twice to power it down, hit it again to power it up, then increase the water level to 'Large' and let it fill to the desired level between medium and high. Hit the power button twice to power it down, then once to power it up, then choose either 'Medium' and the cycle will continue, but only fill to 'Medium' for the rinse. I usually opt for the lower setting for the rinse, since it only agitates for a couple of minutes.

Again, it's probably easier just to opt for the next higher water level from the start and walk away. But the hack is there if you want to use it.

 

[shneire]

Knob/dial

I asked the salesperson the question about the controls being truly mechanical, with no electronic switch behind it - pretty sure the answer was that it was mechanical. Sales person did tell me that the 2018 with the knobs is definitely electronically controlled. I hope I'm saying all this right. Hoping I'm getting the right thing - probably should call the store tomorrow just to verify again, LOL.

 

[frigilux]

Shannon-- If your console and its controls look like the one in Photo #1 below, you will have a continuously variable water level selector and the ability to set/reset the dial anywhere within the cycle. You can see that each cycle has clearly marked areas for Heavy/Normal/Light soil level as well as 'Rinse' and 'Spin' and 'Extra Rinse.'

If, however the cycle dial looks more like the one in Photo #2, you will not be able to change to different portions of a cycle. It simply has the cycle name printed on the dial. You set the dial on the cycle you want and start the machine. The cycle then runs from start to finish, but you can't "move around" within the cycle---for instance, you can't set the dial back to the start of the wash to fill it with warm water for the rinse, then advance it forward to the 'Rinse' part of the cycle.

 

[shneire]

Photo 1

Hey Eugene,
The one I ordered is the same as photo 1 that you posted. I didn't know they made 1 like photo 2. So yes, it should be everything I want. Very excited to have the pair delivered today! Laundry has always been my favorite chore....can't wait to ditch the leaking kenmore frontloader, LOL. Thanks for your help and also to everyone else who chipped in on this thread. Took some stress off of me for sure! Knew this was the right place to ask questions....even if I'm possibly in the minority. Hahaha - will stick around as we plan on updating all kitchen appliances in the future too.

 

[frigilux]

Great to hear that, Shannon. I'm a front-loader devotee, but have to admit that I've grown to really like the SQ top-loader. Just a heads up, the dryer will tend to run pretty hot and continue running long after the load is dry. Also, if there isn't a removable plastic guard over the lint filter, order one from Amazon. It will stop items from picking up lint when you open the door.