Need advice for new washer purchase

[stricklybojack]

Here's the situation: my 86 yr old mother's 27+ year old Whirlpool washer made some "horrible racket" whilst in it's spin cycle. Last summer I replaced the inlet valve on this machine so it's starting to have issues, small wonder. I live 3500 miles away 8 months of the year and my family and I visit 4 months of the year.
She has the money for whatever machine I suggest and will only accept a new, not used, washer.
At one extreme the cheap bastard in me says buy a pair of BOL Kenmore's or Whirlpools on sale and be done with it for around $900 delivered and installed. My now passed Dad no doubt did the same thing when he replaced the still working Frigidaire machines I remember from childhood with these Whirlpools probably bought at what now is called Costco.. "Too cheap not to."
Or shoot the works and grab a pair of last year's SQ Imperials on sale. AN51F(?) I think was the model number for $1800 delivered with tax.
Tell me what you think, my mother needs easy to use and I need it to be trouble free being to far away most of the time to deal with issues.
Also give me ideas for something between the two extremes I laid out if you have any, I am all ears..

 

[stricklybojack]

I should clarify..

That $1800 was for the washer only. I didn't price a pair of SQ's. Because she lives in San Diego and often air drys so we could just replace the washer for now.
So with the Imperial we pay basically twice as much for half the package as getting a pair of Kenmore BOL machines.
That said if i found a similar deal on a matching SQ dryer that would probably be the way to go for her last washer and dryer set.

 

[DigAPony]

A BOL belt drive Whirlpool built top loader would suffice I suppose. They still use a decent amount of water and are reliable despite the flimsy build quality, or so they say.

However, if trouble free is important go with a top load BOL Speed Queen AW432 and their excellent warranty.

 

[mrb627]

TL to FL?

Is your mother going to be able to handle the transition from a top loader to a front loader? I would suspect she would prefer to stick with what she knows now. Are you certain her existing machine is not repairable?

Malcolm

 

[stricklybojack]

Malcolm,

you are so right about "change". However she has managed a new dishwasher (to Bosch from leaky but working Maytag) and refrigerator (to Samsung 3 door from worn out but working Hotpoint side by side) in the past year. TL to FL will have to be explored before attempted as she likes what she knows.
Being here in NYC the Whirlpool is starting to feel too used up, as besides the inlet valve replaced last summer i also repaired a leaky hose on the washer that had flooded the washroom while my wife first used the machine on our last visit over the holidays. Both wash and dryer are also rusty. Not to the point of being an issue for operation but they are not mint "keepers" by any means.
We will be moving in with her in the next one or two years.
DigAPony that is a thought. Is the 5 year warranty only on the newly released machines or any new Speed Queens?

 

[mrb627]

Electronic Models

As far as I know, only the electronic models have the 5 year warranty.
But a touch pad will be easier to deal with over the rotary knobs, I suspect.

Malcolm

 

[washman]

Speed Queen. Hands down.

 

[rp2813]

I emphatically disagree that the average 86 year-old would prefer the maddening multi-step process of data entry and preferences required by a touchpad.

 

I think your mother would overwhelmingly appreciate the familiarity of knobs and dials.  Grab a Speed Queen that still has 'em while you can.

 

[stricklybojack]

Okay for FL SQ's

.

The new touch SQ's (AFNE9BSP113TW01 and ADEE9BGS173TW01) have the much better bumper to bumper 5 yrs vs 3 yrs for the older Imperial model (ANF51F and ADE41F).

The new washers have a larger capacity: 3.42 vs 2.78.

So far i have found the new pair are also slightly cheaper in white; under $2888 vs $3060 for the older pair, but they are stainless Steel.

I'm guessing these are simple enough for my mother. She drives, volunteers at a hospital, and was programing her VCR until not that long ago.

 

[mrb627]

Imperial

I have the Imperial set and my mother loves the washer but not the dryer. Timer on the dryer is difficult for her to set. She has commercial Maytags with electronic controls and says they are easier for her to use.

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

My vote goes to a Speed Queen top-loader, as well. I wouldn't be as concerned about her mastering the electronic controls as much as her ability to bend over and reach into a front-loader to unload, when small, damp items like wash rags and hand towels inevitably get stuck to the back of the tub. It's more challenging than unloading a dryer. At 86, she isn't going to get more limber.

A front-loading pair on a pedestal would solve that problem, but pedestals are not available for Speed Queens.

 

[retro-man]

Last year picked up a hotpoint pair for my mol. These replaced a set of filter flo's. They work well for her, only a couple of loads a week. She is in her 80's also. Simple controls on both units, easy to understand. Actually looks simpler than the filter flo's. My feeling is they work well, much less money and she is happy with them. No need for the major expense of a speed queen.
Jon

 

[pierreandreply4]

well one thing i remember when my grandmother had to replace her washer she went that was before she moved to a nursing home with a whirlpool topload direct drive and she is 91 year old now so even if at the time her daughter my aunt would of bough her a frontload the way her laundry room was made a front load washer would not of fit its strange but me i think see pic even do i prefer a top load washer myself i think i am like my grandmother on that side that a frontload would of fit see picture for proof but if you think a topload would be better for your mom i say then go for it even better if you can find a used refurbish model vintage era that depends on how many load your mother do would help as new sets cost alot of $.

but i would say go with a speed queen they are the best choice if you went new.

 

[stricklybojack]

Another possible choice..

Would be between the basic TL Speed Queen, going with electronic controls for the 5 year warranty. I found the pair for about $1700 total delivered.

Or for that same price we could instead opt for the "highly reviewed" Electrolux 4.2 Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer with IQ-Touch Controls and the equally as touted matching dryer. That price would also include delivery and 4 years of Squaretrade waranty extension to match the Speed Queens. The site i found review Speed Queens was openly hostile to their very existence.
That no doubt is a can of worms right there. The same thing goes on with the vacuum enthustiast crowd over certain beloved brands that score/rank poorly year in and year out while far "lesser" machines continuely rule the roost.

My question is about wash performance. The Speed Queens are less daunting to think about post warranty period no doubt, but will they clean/dry as well as the Luxes?
Part of why my mothers machines have lasted so long is she doesn't use them too often or for very large loads; "take that comforter to the laundromat your going to burn out my machines." An average of three loads a week is only 150 a year. It would take nearly 7 years to get to 1000 loads. So the longevity of Alliance machines might be extreme over kill.
And also which washer would be quieter the TL SQ or the FL lux? Or even dryer for that matter, her Whirlpool is far louder than i like considering we share the first floor with the laundry room on our visits. And the washer...furgedaboutit!

 

[pierreandreply4]

well when washing a front load is quiet when it comes to washing clothes but is a bit noisy when it go into spinning and since front loaders even do i prefer a top load washer i can say that when spining a front load washer can extract alot of water and if this can help you here is a video of a speed queen washer in action that was posted by a fellow member of the site

 

[rp2813]

FL washers are the opposite of TL types with regard to noise.  FL's are very quiet during the wash cycle, and make more noise during drain (electric pump) and spin.

 

Dryers are all about the same IMO.  It seems like any of them made since the '80s produce a low whistling tone that can be heard indoors and out.  I loved my HOH DG806 Maytag.  It was quiet as a mouse, and quick too. 

 

[combo52]

New W&D For Mom

If the price is not an object I would diffidently get the SQ Front Load Pair, even though she is unlikely to wear them out the investment will benefit someone not to mention it benefiting all of us by treating the environment better.

 

SQ does sell pedestals for their FL W&Ds, they are available in Black or White.

 

[joeypete]

I really like my BOL GE Hydrowave set. It has everything you need for good cleaning. I spent $888 for the set this past fall and am extremely happy with them.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I would stick with a new belt drive washer. This design is going on almost 8 years and I'm just now starting to service them regularly. The machine is not "cheap", just efficient use of materials.