Looking to purchase new washer/dryer set & need feedback

[volvoguy87]

New stuff.

I work in a store that sells appliance parts. I am not a service technician, but I sell parts to them all day long.

First the dryer:
Speed Queen makes the second best dryers on the market. In my opinion, Whirlpool makes the best. They are sold under the Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, Admiral, Inglis, Roper, and a few other name brands. The good ones are easy to spot because they have the lint screen access on top in the back right corner. This is called a "Whirlpool 29 Inch Dryer" in the appliance field. They have been in production since the mid 1960s and are still made today. They are the best performing, most efficient, longest lasting, and easily serviced dryers money can buy. There are only 2 or 3 features I would really look for. #1, a drum light, #2, an electronic moisture sensor, and #3, a drop-down door. The drum light is a rectangular plastic thing on the back wall of the drum. The moisture sensor is a black plastic thing with 2 silver metal strips at about 4:00 on the back wall of the drum. This is the only appliance I can confidently say can withstand 40+ years of regular hard service and still be reliable. If you have this type of dryer, keep it. Look up a Whirlpool 29" dryer on Youtube and get videos to show you everything. They are simple machines that are easily repaired.

Second, the washer. SPEED QUEEN! There is simply no substitute for the quality and performance of a Speed Queen washer. The Whirlpool Direct Drive washer, like yours, is good competition to Speed Queen, but if you want new, go with the Speed Queen. I prefer top loading, but buy whichever you want because Speed Queen makes the best of both types.

There are other brands that are very good, like Asko and Miele, but having them serviced is a bit more difficult and they are very very expensive. Samsung and LG make the worst appliances money can buy and many service technicians won't touch them.

Good luck,
Dave

 

[launderess]

IIRC According To Consumer Reports

LG and Samsung laundry appliances had the lowest number of repairs via their member survey (most reliable). Indeed IIRC LG was actually the winner in that category in that it's washers were the most reliable.

 

[washer111]

Launderess:

One must still remember though this is only a small minority of LG/Samsung owners voting... Perhaps those dealing with the annoying cycle selection jingles, constant breakdowns and the like were too busy messing with their machines to have time for a vote.
Staying with some elderly relatives recently, one was frightened to see an almost NEW Samsung FL machine that had a squeaky motor, loud pump and angry-sounding spin. Due to their age, and inability to navigate through the cornucopia of different cycles, they had numbers 1-4 to guide them to their "Favourite" cycle (Quick22) at a "lovely 86ºF with one rinse... No wonder it sounds angry.

Then there's the "abused" 1997/98 (or even older!) Fisher and Paykel SmartDrive machine, no wash cycles, just temperature, spin and water level controls. It's had some work, but has been using cold (rainwater) ever since day one. Only repairs were due to mice/rats eating some wiring, otherwise, the machine chugs away quite happily day after day, flooding the outside area due to a collapsed/blocked drain to the septics.

Really, if CR is to get a GOOD idea on who gets what, they need to setup a survey for all members to do (compulsory?), with millions of members, one would imagine they'd get a MUCH better idea of reliability. Something just tells me that an LG/Samsung machine would be terribly unreliable, esp. LG's Highly-Coveted Exploding models...

 

[ronhic]

almost NEW Samsung FL machine that had a squeaky motor, loud

I hope you arranged for a call out under warranty then...

 

[washer111]

No:

Wasn't my machine to fuss over, and I wasn't entirely sure of the age, but it was "new" within the last year or two. It wasn't my business to be informing them how to use their machine, or what to do about it - they are of that age, I am a younger person and we were guests, so I kept my mouth shut: Except when one relative was talking about her stainless electric pan causing everything to stick: I offered some advice on that issue. 

 

Besides, it was their choice to buy that machine, and who knows: It might've been like that from the start. They don't give a second though to it. Perhaps if they had been talking about it making odd noises, I might've suggested a service call, but nothing arose, and I didn't have do much laundry in that machine either. 

 

So all I'm saying is: Given the right circumstances, I might've said to call someone out, but considering I didn't know if there was something wrong or not, wasting their time and money on such things wouldn't be worth it: And fixing a Samsung, the repairman would say "It would be cheaper to buy a new one." So not worth any effort at all, really. 

 

[ronhic]

Mate, your call...your relatives and your relationship.

...but you did do laundry so you could of at least asked the question:

'Auntie Mabel, has your machine always sounded like that?'

and have gone from there. You have a level of knowledge and may have saved them some heartache in the future.

If it was still under warranty, then they could have quite possibly have scored a replacement machine. If not, there is still an obligation regarding the 'reasonable expected lifespan' of the goods - be it toaster, car or washer.

Maybe I've a different approach - if it doesn't sound right or doesn't smell right, then it probably isn't.

Most people I have the privilege of knowing would be grateful for any help someone with knowledge can provide and I most certainly would have asked a question regardless of how young or old they were. They don't need to heed any answers, but often a question can start a dialogue - they may have thought for a long time that it wasn't quite 'right'.

If I'm a guest in their home then they obviously care sufficiently about me to invite me to stay, and long enough to do laundry in your case.

The least any of us can do with our knowledge is try and help.

 

[washer111]

You are right:

I could've offered my assistance, but come to think of it, I never really gave it second thought. I thought "Hmmm, that doesn't sound very good," then never again.

A Whirlpool machine operating in the Home Ec. room at my school has a similar "angry" sound during spinning, and pump seems hopeless (its starts pumping, then you hear every 2-3 seconds: Wooom.... Wooom.... Woooom.), yet it's worked away for 3 years I've been here now with no issues. I ran a "Vinegar Wash" to clean it this past year at that, seem to make it look better (I also cleaned the liquid-detergent fouled dispenser...)

 

But thanks for your advice, I'll bear that in mind for next time I visit (or even write a letter!)