Need a new washer/dryer combo

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ccny

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Hi. I'm in the US. I've been reading Consumer Reports to try to figure out what new washer/dryer set I want.

Beyond getting things clean, the two most important things to me are low noise/vibration and gentle on fabric.

The laundry is in a closet on the 2nd floor, the floor with the bedrooms, and is above the kitchen/living room which is why low noise/vibration is important.

The current old Maytag washer is shredding clothes and sheets; and on spin -- and the dryer -- both sound like a jet taking off. I'm sure people will tell me to just have the appliances fixes, I'm sure you're right but I want new ones, thank you.

According to Consume Reports front loaders seem best for fabric gentleness and vibration. LG and Samsung get the highest ratings from CR. I'm quite interested in the LG Sidekick since I do a lot of small loads. Am also intrigued by the Samsung FlexWash that is coming out sometime soon (not sure I can hold out, plus I would like to see reviews).

I'm open to new ideas but the top four I like from CR are:

--Samsung WF56H9110CW
--Samsung WF45K6500AW
--Samsung WF50K7500AW
--LG WM9000HVA

Price is not a concern, however, I do not want to replace these again any time soon. Thanks, in advance, for your help.
 
LG & Samsung

I have had a set made by LG for over 3 years now with no problems. I replaced a Maytag top load set with these to have a bigger capacity for washing comforters. They work quite well and I have virtually NO wear or linting with my clothing at all. I can rinse up to 3 extra rinses too. The washer does take much longer to operate, but that isn't a problem for me since I am not in a big hurry when doing laundry. I have heard good things about Samsung washers and dryers too. Personally, I think just about any front load machine would do a good job.
 
I would avoid Samsung products. It seems that just about everything they make has some fundamental engineering issue with it. As a servicer I love them. Nobody knows how to work on them, and I can charge whatever I want to fix it. I would imagine as a consumer it would not be such a pleasant experience.

I really love LG. Performance is awesome, great options, large tub. I would probably talk you out of the 9000's, unless you really must have the absolute biggest tub. The wm3770hva is 4.5 cubic feet and has all tried and true design and parts. It's also half the money. Definitely get the sidekick.

I don't think there is any home out there that needs 5.2 cubic feet of washer.
 
For reliability sakes...

I wouldn't look at any front loader.

I would say to look at one of Whirlpool's new belt-drive models or a new Speed Queen top-load washer w/ mechanical controls.

In my opinion Consumer Reports is bird cage lining material and that they weigh all this Eco nonsense to much. While under test conditions a front loader may manage to out perform a top load model, in real life this isn't always the case. Front load models & HE top loaders rely on the fact that the regular cycle is so long that the enzymes in high end detergents will have time to basically soak out stains (sitting in a wash tub for 2 hours would accomplish the same thing). If you don't want to pay $10+ a bottle for detergent and/or have actual dirt on clothes you need something that actually "forces water through the clothes" with a proper vane type agitator as opposes to moving the clothes through the water(agi-peller/tumbling).

Your Maytag likely has a sharp warn part on its agitator causing excess ware, in reality there are and have not been any models on the market that will cause excess clothing ware since Whirlpool discontinued their Direct-Drive models 5 years ago, and even they were not that bad if you did not overload.

To address another point, unless your old 'Tags had a problem w/ shaking the floor, any machine would be fine for vibration except GE's top loaders(suspension too cheap) and Speed Queen's front loaders(suspension over-built and stiff).

Whatever you choose, find the cheapest whirlpool dryer and get that if you are not concerned about the set matching. The internal design of the dryer has not changed since the 1960s and is one of the fastest dryers on the market. They are also very reliable and parts are very cheap and readily available. There is also no reason to get a dryer with tons of cycles considering the fact that there is virtually no difference between any of them and a standard "Automatic" cycle.

On a final note, when something goes wrong on a front loader, further disassembly is usually required than w/ most top loaders thus increasing service call expenses.

Here is a list of models of reasonable quality.

~Washers:

Speed Queen - AWN432SP113TW04 (I personally own and have had no issues, It washes very well and feels sturdy)

Whirlpool - WTW4616FW or WTW4816FW

~Dryers:

Amana (Whirlpool made) - NGD4655EW

Whirlpool - WGD4616FW
 
.
Richard, that is a compelling post. You are basically saying in general FLers wash better but TLers rinse better...
I will add FLers usually spin better too. And adding a second or further rinse can fix the FL machines comparative rinse inadequacies.
I don't know what you can do to a standard TL machine to get it to wash as well as a FL machine other than when a soak cycle is called for.
 
I have no need for a new laundry pair, but if I was looking, I'd likely go with a top loader. We've had front loaders as the main machines a couple different times (and different machines) and what I've noticed is yes, they are much gentler on clothing, but on the flip side of that, they don't seem to clean as well, which in my experience, has led to musty towels and sheets that smell like body soil, regardless of water temperature and cycles used. Clothes get stiff and rough from lack of rinsing, unless heavy doses of good fabric softener are used (which in itself isn't good) As far as I'm concerned, top loaders still win, regardless of efficiency. I'd look at Speed Queen (top or front load) because they are home style machines built to withstand commercial use. You might also look at the Maytag MVWC415EW top loader and matching dryer, one of our members here has purchased a set and seems to be happy with them. The washer is a high efficiency style top loader but can be set to fill with a normal amount of water. The pair and a review/overview of them can be found in this forum under the title "I got a new Maytag set". Good luck and keep us updated!
 
Not only that, Robert, but I add that I think that with heavy dirt type soil(work jeans for example) the more aggressive action of a TL model forces the dirt out of the fibers.

Another thing to consider is that I know tons of people who use the short cycle on a FL because of how long the normal cycle is and thus don't get the solvent like action of modern, quality, enzyme detergents.

Also you buy cheap detergent (Purex, Extra, Sun), the washing action alone of a FL cannot make up for the lack of enzymes like a TL model can with the more effective method of agitation.

Look at Consumer reports from the 1950s, the FL models always scored at the bottom due to short cycle time and the traditional detergent w/o enzymes of the day. In other words if Joe Consumer uses the short cycle for everything and buys cheap detergent were back to the 1955 CR test of automatics.

***Also, if you didn't know the old CR articles are still available using web.archive.org for this site.(some have pages missing but it is better than nothing.)

Here is a link.

 
lorainfurniture

I have the 5.2 LG made machine and like it really well. It isn't a matter of needing something to hold that much laundry, it is the need to have a machine that will actually wash and dry a king size feather comforter and save me a trip to the laundromat. For that I am truly thankful to have this set of machines!
 
Best New Full Sized Stack Washer-Dryer

Far and away would be a Speed Queen Front Load Stack, these are easy to service when needed without un-stacking and because of there bolted together construction there is no vibration problem even if your floor is a little weak.

 

A SQ FLS will cost more initially but unless you do more than 10 loads a week and live there more than 25-50 years you will not have to replace this machine.

 

2nd best machine is the Whirlpool Top Load Stack for serviceability and longevity, major downside of the WP is much smaller washer capacity, much greater water use, and much harder on clothing.

 

John L.
 
Best New Full Sized Stack Washer-Dryer

Keep in mind when you stack two regular machines almost NOTHING can be accessed for service when they are stacked and installed, SO you need two men to remove the dryer just to diagnose most problems with the washer and many with the dryer as well.

 

When stacked you can not replace any parts on the dryer including the belt, the heater element, any thermal fuses, any of the electronic controls because you have to get to the back of the machine to even start disassembling the dryer.

 

And on the washer you have to get the dryer out of the closet and off the washer to do any repairs to the electronic controls, clean or replace the water pump.

 

On either the SQ or WP full Top Load stack all of these parts are easily accessible with out moving the machine even one inch.

 

And again keep in mind most separate machines when stacked are not bolted together very well so we constantly see problems relating to vibration on many installations.

 

 

 
 
I can fit my king comforter in my 3.5 speed queen front load and it gets clean. 4.5 cubic feet is more than enough for a thick king comforter.

The 5.2 is more bragging rights than actual usefulness. Or, if you have 5 kids playing sports and you literally need to wash a mountain of laundry every day. Other than that, I think the 4.5 is plenty.

Either way, im sure you will be pleased with performance. I'm definitely not trying to dissuade you from it, but your paying almost $800+ more for .7 cubic feet.
 
.
FL machines generally take much more space than TL machines...Speed Queen however is an exception. We have a SQ front loader that fits our smallish space but keeps breaking and SQ will NOT replace it even though it is under warranty. They continue replacing the same parts over and over in some sort of bizarre humiliating ritual. Others have experienced the same issue with the company.
I digress.
You don't have to go that route because Whirlpool makes a front load machine to fit laundry closets.
Get an extended warranty and still pay only half of what a SQ set will cost.

See the Whirlpool reviewed at bottom link. While you're there read their reviews of Speed Queen products too, linked here:

http://laundry.reviewed.com/search/products?keywords=Speed queen

spoiler alert, despite their high cost they rank nearer the bottom in performance, another something I wish I knew before buying one.[this post was last edited: 3/23/2017-12:29]

Laundry Reviews, Features, and Deals - Reviewed

Find the perfect washers and dryers here, the most comprehensive source for unbiased, trustworthy washer and dryer reviews, including top load, front load, stackables, and more.
laundry.reviewed.com laundry.reviewed.com

stricklybojack-2017032311192503733_1.jpg
 
LG makes the best. Top or front loading. I've had both and great results. No repairs after restoration ( one had a clogged filter. The other one had a faulty door lock.)they've worked flawlessly for three years. I was able to increase the water level on the 8000 via the turn of a screw bandit has yet to beoverloaded. Good luck.
 

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