Looking to purchase new washer/dryer set & need feedback

[jillygirl6]

Need consumer input on dryer/washer. What has been your experience recently? I need to replace my 13 yr old dryer not cost effective to repair this time (not heating). Washer has same age & has many a repair. They are Whirlpool Gold II Super Capacity Plus made 13 yrs ago. Have to say they have been good to us. Like being able to set loads to my desire. There are 6 of us & my 3 boys do get things dirty. I run 8-10 loads 2x weekly & add 5 more to a week when its time to wash sheets. Looking at possible sets. Pretty sure I don't want front load due since lower to floor for my back & I am not willing to pay $500+ for platforms though I have had positive feedback on the LG front loaders. The new top load washers have Eco friendly no agitator/ less water used/ special detergent now being pushed. I have always used less soap than recommended.
So far mixed reviews from fb individuals & my local home educators group on no agitator saying their clothes don't get clean, are still dirty & smell (clothes no longer submerged but in 1/4 a tub of water), get torn worn more due to speed of spin, & takes 2 times longer to wash a load (mercy if that's the case I will never get done). The sales ladies at Lowe's had one she hates wishes she had her old agitator machine back.... SO far she seemed the most honest. Others when you ask how many kids they wash for & other questions they choke or get arrogant & then spit out all info they have learned from their vendors & argue with the responses I have gotten from families as if these people don't know how to wash clothes. We were looking at the Maytag Bravos, Whirlpool Cabrio but now see a GE that has both Eco option & agitator. Also saw a top load Frigidaire Affinity with Immersion technology that seemed interesting along with a new Speed Queen agitator type(pricey).HH Gregg guy was trying to push a new topload LG. Heard after August all agitators are phasing out. Don't know how true that is but lady at Lowe's said that.
After researching & visiting the stores we are more confused than ever. Seems we could buy a used car for the price of some of these. We really need to be wise & frugal.This isn't as simple as I thought it would be with technology changes.So what is your experience with the new top load washer ? My clothes are plying up & I need help.

 

[mrb627]

All Agitators Phased Out

This is sales marketing hogwash.

Speed Queen is your best bet, in my opinion.

Malcolm

 

[mayken4now]

Speed Queen

Front load machine! And of course a matching dryer. Oh hold on girl, you will pay, but will most likely not buy them again in 25 years.

Steve

 

[frigilux]

Honey, you need a front-loader! You'll be able to cut down on the number of loads by almost half compared to the capacity of your Whirlpool. Yes, the cycle times are longer, but again, you'll be doing fewer loads.

I just checked Consumer Reports online, and the LG WM2250C ($720) front-loader is rated Excellent for cleaning, capacity, energy and water savings, and gentleness to clothes. The Normal cycle (you'd better sit down) is 90 minutes. Clothes will come out of the dryer sooner, as you have the option to use a high spin speed for things like towels, jeans, sheets, etc. It receives a rating of Very Good for vibration, so you should be able to install it on a first floor laundry room without major vibration issues. (If it's on a concrete floor, almost any front-loader will be fine.) LG is also listed as the most reliable front-load brand.

I have a top-of-the-line Frigidaire Affinity front-loader ($900) and love it. Mine's on a concrete floor and I could stack a house of cards on it during the spin; but it is only rated Good for vibration, which means it is probably not a great choice for first-floor installation.

I also just purchased a top-loading Frigidaire Affinity Immersion Care washer. You can see videos of it in another thread in this forum. While I've been surprised how well it does for an impeller (no agitator) machine, it has a pretty limited capacity, and most cycles are around 60-70 minutes long. You can select your own water level, which means you don't have to wash in a tub only one-fourth full of water. I wouldn't recommend it for someone with a lot of active kids and the number of loads you have to do each week.

I agree that impeller-based machines are probably harder on clothes. It's the agitation of impeller machines that is hard on fabrics, not the spin speed. My front-loader spins at 1300 rpm (about double your Whirlpool) and I've never had a problem.

If you have absolutely ruled out front-loaders, then I agree with Malcolm: A top-loading Speed Queen washer has a traditional agitator and behaves like the machine you're used to.

But seriously....think about a front-loader. Good luck with your decision! Let us know what you wind up getting. We're nosy that way, LOL.

 

[billiedyer1954]

a top load speed queen washer and roper dryer works for me and i am pickie.this was the best value for me.750 dollars for the awn432 and 300 and something for the dryer.i got the washer from a small appliance store and the dryer at lowes.

 

[qualin]

I will certainly say without a doubt that Speed Queen makes the best top loading center post agitator machines on the market.

They will outperform any HE washplate-style machine and last longer than them too.

They don't look like much, but they certainly get the job done.

 

[xraytech]

I must also highly recommend a top load Speed Queen.
I purchased the Speed Queen AWN412 washer last year for $649 and the matching Speed Queen ADE3LR electric dryer for $499. They both have a larger capacity than the Super Capacity Plus Kenmore 80 series they replaced, the loads are done quickly and everything comes out wonderfully. If you look at the length of the Speed Queen warranty on their machines and the fact everything is built to commercial standards you will realize they are built to last and are definetly worth paying a bit more for them, we do about 15 loads a week here in ours

 

[jillygirl6]

44520

Thanks, I am appreciating the input & still checking the research. I have been researching what you all are saying.Even watched the video on the Frigidaire affinity top load...all 3 . I am finding many of my options in sets pricey. I am beginning to think we may just need to settle on a dryer & just wait til the washer goes out to replace it and forget about trying to match as a set.

What I am finding interesting about all the boast of all these machines especially the new non agitators and front loads with cleaning abilities is that with my old Whirlpool Gold II super capacity plus I have never really had any problems with items not getting clean.Took all of 35 mins to wash a heavy load of towels that I took a few houses down to my moms & dried in her Whirlpool dryer in 60 mins today Less time washing for the permanent press & delicate load. I always wash in cold water & sometimes use bleach on whites if i need to. I preset any stain before I wash if it looks to need it or just let it soak for awhile.I always hang dry on a rack my tops & lingerie or other items that will not wrinkle since it has always protected their longevity & prevents nicks or snags. I do understand the technology of sucking the dirt out while spraying with water. I do that myself if there is a stain spot i need out using a sham wow & spot solution. Funny thing is when I looked at a whirlpool energy cost per year on one of its 'dumb" unit it was $13 a yr if you did 8 loads a week. I thought wow..is that all. I am hearing these new washers last about 5-6 years sooo is that really cost effective to spend that amount on these new types etc... I'm the type that only upgrades when I have worn something out...just the way I was brought up.
In looking at the Speed Queen specs I did see it weighs 200lbs...wow... but its RPM is 710 which really isn't any different from some of the agitator Whirlpool or Maytag or Kenmore styles. I know we will go back & look at what stock the small appliance store has but I think they only had 2 styles.

I wondered if we got a new dryer that possibly goes with one of these new wave technology styles will it matter that we are using our old model washer? Will it throw off its drying timing etc... since our washers RPM is probably 700? I think I read on the Good Housekeeping site one of the new models they tested when something took longer it ran hot drying & the dry sensor would turn off if it over heated past a certain point....they considered that an issue needing repair.

I saw on a consumer report for 2012 that someone copied & sent on washers... a Roper model had a pretty good testing on a washer....go figure. Unfortunately they didn't have the info on the dryers to send which is what prompted my need.
Thanks for your suggestions

 

[mieleforever]

Go for a Frontloader....

it will deliver a much cleaner wash. Why do I say that, out of experience. My mother has a HE LG Toploader, the one without the center agitator, it uses some or other pulse technology and the impeller wash plate system. It is a water hog!!! It does not clean the clothes at all, all it seem to be doing is taking in water then after about 10 minutes to going to and fro, it will start draining the water. We were there for the Christmas holidays she bought me a new white sweater. AFter its first wash there it had changed color. There is now cream colored creases, and I wonder how that had happened? After opening the lid while it was busy washing I could see that the top layer of clothes does not get fully submerged and the detergent is only partialy getting to the clothes, some of it actually were still dry and you need to put your hands in it to fully submerged the clothes.

My wife also noted that you cannot get as much clothes in the washer. My mother's is a 7,5 kg LG toploader and ours is a Miele 7,0 or 7,2 kg. ALso the whites stained sweater got white again after a cotton wash at 60 celsius. In my opinion it is a false economy if you buy a HE toploader, yes they are a lot cheaper than the Miele, but it's worth checking out all of the other f/l as well. Like say Bosch/Siemens.

Hope it will guide you in the wright correction, if all else fails this forum has got a lot of washer experts and they know their stuff!!

Regards

 

[jillygirl6]

44520

mieleforever- so your experience with the new TL impellers was that it's ability is bogus when it comes to cleaning. How do you see an older washer working with a new FL dryer or even the new TL impeller dryers?

xraytech,qualin, billiedyer1954,mrb627 -- you all are fans of all agitators or only the agitator if it is a Speed Queen? What do you think of a new FL dryer with old Whirlpool Gold II super capacity plus washer? Will the dryer preform well or just cause it to over heat or take longer than dryers that go with "dumb" washers?

Frigilux & mayken4now-- you both obviously love your front loader & see it as the better machine. But...will a FL dryer work well with "dumb washer" if I can't buy both at this time? If I have gotten almost 11-12 1/2 years from my 2000 Whirlpool models with only one repair I can recall on the washer....will your FL set have that longevity? & what are the cost of repairs on them? do they have multiple repair problems with age?

 

[vacbear58]

Front loaders

Jillygirl6

You have not displayed which part of Alabama you are from but there is a Speed Queen front load washer & dryer for sale in Georgia, by a vendor well known in this forum, it could well be worth your while checking out if you could arrnge to collect or ship them - see the link.

Al

SQ W&D Set In GA

Anyone we know? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speed-Queen-Stainless-Steel-Imperial-Front-Loading-Washer-and-Dryer-/300847149541?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460be331e5

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[coldspot66]

You will never find a more dependable washer than the one you already have. Whirlpool direct drive washers have always been the best top load washer for the money. Very dependable and easy to fix, should the need arise. If it's a dryer you are needing now, again, a Whirlpool or Kenmore dryer with the lint screen on the top right (not inside the drum) is yout best bet. Again for the money and speed of drying (assuming clean clear venting) still can't be beat. Puts dryers costing twice as much to shame! Just my 2 cents.

 

[gr81nknox]

new dryer

When you say it's not cost effective to repair the dryer, is it just not heating or are other things going wrong. If it's just not heating, it may be as simple as the high limit thermostat has gone out or the element gone bad, neither of which should be huge repair jobs.

Of the top loaders you mentioned, I would go with the Cabrio or Bravos, although the new Frigidaire which just showed up in some vidoes here looks interesting. I have limited experience with the new washers so can't offer alot of advice. My parents have one of the new Kenmore impeller washers which is based on the Cabrio and they seem to like it. They've had it since 2010 and no issues with it. Having said that, I did an unscientific test back during the holidays. I went over to visit with them much of the day on Christmas eve and having a load of towels needing to be washed, carted the laundry basket over there(made me think of my college days of bringing a large basket of laundry home!) Loaded the machine, added the appropriate amount of Tide HE detergent to the dispenser and let it go. I will say, due to the high speed spin(or maybe it's the lack of water) the towels dried much faster than they do at home. Anyhow, everything came out nice and clean and the towels had a bit of the Tide scent still on them. Nothing excessive, in fact I kind of liked it. Fast forward to last week when it was time to do towels again. This time back at my house using my "traditional" washer. After the tub filled for rinse and started agitating, I opened the lid to peek in as I had a suspicion about why the clean towels smelled so much like Tide. Long story short, the rinse water was still very sudsy. So much so that I turned the second rinse on. So while everything seemed clean when it came out of the new machine, I'm thinking the rinsing is suffering big time. Another reason I plan to keep mine running as long as I possibly can. To be fair, the new Kenmore does offer a second rinse option, but if you have to run two rinses to thoroughly rinse things, how is this saving water??

 

[ronhic]

Jillygirl

A couple of things....

If you are doing that much laundry, you will most certainly do about 2/3 or 1/2 the number of loads with a front load machine. As an example, and I have to work in kilo/pounds here being in Oz, a small 9 pound (under 2 cu ft) front loader will hold 8 cotton single bed sheets....yes, 8!!! and wash them perfectly. Assuming you are washing top/bottom/pillow slips only, you could wash 2 loads of sheets instead of 5....

American and Korean (LG/Samsung) front load machines are enormous compared to those made in Europe and have the capacity, should you use it all, to clean more clothes in cold/warm or hot water better than pretty much any top load machine.

Doing washing for 6 people is no 'relaxing job', but if you can put double + in the machine and it takes, say 90 minutes compared to 35 for your Whirlpool you are really no worse off. In fact, that allows you a 90 minute clear run to do other things - read, kitchen, kids to sport, have coffee with a friend etc - things you could never squeeze in if you only have a 35 minute 'window'.

Think long and hard about what you need, how much various machines hold, access to warranty claims/repairer (should you need) etc. Don't be afraid to take a big basket of clean clothes to a shop and fill a few machines up either! The only thing you need to remember with a front load machine is to FILL IT UP - 4/5 up the door or until you can put your hand in (just) between the clothes and top of the drum....then you'll really see just how much they hold.

 

[teknikleespekng]

My two cents

I moved from a top loader which came with my house to a front loader in 2001. I am just replacing it now due to the bearings failing and leaking from the tub seal. I have never had a repair on this machine in the years I have owned it. It was a Kenmore branded Frigidaire. I have been thrilled with its performance all these years.

I chose to stay with a front loader. I am getting a Speed Queen AFN50R front loader delivered tomorrow. Sure it was pricier than some front loaders, but I should not have to replace it for many many years. Also, the cost of some front loaders plus buying an extended warranty brings the price very close to the Speed Queen. The other thing is that the Speed Queen does the job. You dont have to try to figure out what wash cycle does what. You have more manual control over what you want the machine to do. You pick the cycle, water temperature, and extra rinse if so desired. It doesnt have an electronic control board, its electro-mechanical. It also offers a true hot wash fill. It wont take you an hour + to do a load of wash.

The people here are great. Having people who are knowledgeable about the machines, who own and repair vintage machines, and can give you real world feedback really helped my decision to plunk down the money and just go for the SQ.

The dealer I went to had the SQ top loaders on the floor. They still have the push, turn, pull knobs. They sell quite a few of them, and if you want to go top loader its the way to go.

 

[teknikleespekng]

Oh one more thing

When considering a dryer for a washer, you have to take into consideration the capacity of the washer. The SQ FL'er is a 2.84 cu ft. My Kenmore is a 2.7 cu ft, so my current dryer will not have issue with my load sizes. Hope this helps!

 

[frigilux]

jillygirl6: I never keep washers/dryers long enough to discover their maximum lifespan. Frankly, I don't know that you'll find a new machine that will give you 11-1/2 years of service with only one repair. Speed Queens are built like tanks by all accounts, but we have yet to see how reliable they'll be in the long term.

If your Whirlpool washer is doing well, by all means keep it and buy a dryer. Rather than spending big bucks on a dryer that pairs with a front-loader, get an inexpensive one. If you get a few more years of service from your Whirlpool, you can purchase a matched pair of your choice at that point.

 

[whirlcool]

My Whirlpool dryer with the filter on top just turned 20 years old. It has never had a repair at all. It still has the original belt and light bulb in it too! I'm going to see if it will last another 20 years.

 

[qualin]

I've become a huge fan of front loading machines.

I've seen the wash action of HE-Style impeller style top loaders and I really don't like it. Actually, it kind of makes me sick to watch it because all I see are the clothes rubbing up against the impeller and not really moving around.

Personally, I think that non-HE style impeller washers work better but conventional center post agitator washers work the best, at least IMHO.

I guess the advantage to non-HE style impeller machines is that you can put anything in the tub and not have to worry about it getting damaged.

Whereas, with center post agitators, you have to pay careful attention to the wash speed you select, otherwise you can damage the clothing in the machines.

Where I find conventional center post machines really shine is when you are washing fabrics with lots of hair on them or you are washing fabrics like denim or canvas.

I like the Speed Queen agitators because they don't have an auger on the top with agitator dogs which can break. The Auger was added to the agitator on machines to compensate for people loading them too much. I had a GE with one and I didn't really think that it did all of that great a job with adding in turnover.

I have to admit, I'd be tempted to put in extra plumbing in my house so I could have both their top and front loaders in my house..