New Frigidaire Top Load Agitator Washer

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300c

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Just saw this model on the Frigidaire web site: FFTW1001PW (link provided). It has an agitator! The earlier Franklin/WCI based agitator washers disappeared from the Frigidaire web site about a year ago.

The new machine is not Energy Star and retails for $599.00. Since it is a new Electrolux product, is it based on the Westinghouse/Simpson machines in Australia and New Zealand? (The agitator and tub suggest as much.)

I believe agitator top load automatic washers will be with us for some time to come. Thoughts, opinions anyone?


300c++12-7-2013-20-31-57.jpg
 
What's the max spin speed on this one? Oz machines average 900 rpm max. Westinghouse/Simpson used to be good cleaners and reliable.
 
300c may be on to something

The agitator design does look rather Simpson-esque but to be completely accurate that design probably in truth is an impeller with a centre pole to make it look more like a an agitator The resultant wash action resembles that of an impeller machine
 
What ever happened to the Next Generation Electrolux?

Electrolux was supposed to come out with a new/updated front loader earlier this year and I heard it was pushed to summer but that's come and gone and now it's the end of 2013.
Are they going to release a new front load washer/dry in 2014?
Anyone hear any news?
 
I'm willing to bet the farm the 'hot' water setting is dumbed down to 90-100 degrees (otherwise known as lukewarm). Having experienced that frustration with the impeller-based Immersion Care, it would be a deal-breaker for me. Quite honestly, had the IC allowed for truly hot water, it would probably still be in my laundry room.

My advice mantra remains the same: Get a front-loader with an internal water heater. If you require a top-loader, make it a Speed Queen.

frigilux++12-8-2013-09-53-56.jpg
 
Looking at those photos, the build quality doesn't look too wonderful.
 
This looks as if it is based on Australian Westinghouse/Simpson machines, which should make this washer a good performer. This style of agitator has been around over here for yonks and it is a cross-over between a straight vane agitator and an impeller. They wash very well and are gentle on clothes and, according to specs., give 850 rpm spin. I am not aware of unbalancing issues with Australian washing machines of this type and for modern design and materials, they are what they are. They beat Asian designed top loaders by a mile and can hold their own in comparison to the plastic junk that is being marketed as traditional top loaders by Whirlpool now.

I am surprised that Fisher & Paykel hasn't accumulated a greater fan base over that side of the Pacific. If I didn't have a Speed Queen I'd definitely go for F&P.
 
In regards to it being like an F&P machine - only on the most superficial cosmetic level. F&P agitators are different and their machines allow users to customize many of the functions, as well as offering manual overrides for auto functions like water level and factory/favorite cycle options. Water temperature can be customized as well and set from tap cold to 68, 86 up to 140 F and the machine will sense and mix hot and cold water to achieve nominated temperature. F&P machines are quite amazing really and they are well-built.
 
I am into 7 . . .

. . . years with my F&P (I think it is 7 years) Intuitive and have had no problems whatsoever with it. As we speak, it's washing a load of six sheets and pillow cases.

The agitator is wonderful and can handle large and small loads. The machine senses the fabric type and adjusts the agitation speed accordingly. It spins at 1000 rpm. It also adjusts the length of the stroke of the agitator depending on the fabric type.

The electronic part is easy to deal with and the automatic settings are easily canceled or adjusted to your satisfaction.

If the new Frigidaire is like the F&P, it's made from a good pattern.

Jerry Gay
 
After doing further research I have come to the realization that this is more than likely an F&P design. Haier and Electrolux joined forces designing new laundry appliances, add to that the fact that Haier purchased 90% of F&P back in 2012 and it becomes clear where the DNA of this washer came from.
 
Its a Simpson/Electrolux Based Machine:

To me at least, this is a fairly close resemblance to the Simpson we had from 2009-2012.

The agitator is essentially the same design that when loaded, tends to beat clothes rather than clean them and turn them over (Point especially noted with underwear, which would be abused by the agitator before slowly disappearing).
As for the tub, it appears to be essentially identical to that used in the Simpson machines pre-dating the "HE Revolution." Not that that would really make much difference in the wash though - these machines always take an eternity to pump out and actually enter the true spin cycle.

Cycle-Wise, this machine retains most of the cycles from our Simpson machine (Heavy, Normal/Heavy, Normal, Delicates). But it seems to be missing the Spin + Rinse, Spin, Woolens and Colours cycle that our machine had. We also did not have a "Pre-Soak." The only cycle with it utilised a short 5 minute one on the Heavy cycle.

Fabric Softener switch obviously cycles Deep-Rinses or Spin Rinses (of which there are 7).

This model also appears to have fully automatic water level sensing. After the recirculation broke on our machine, you could only use the "Auto" water level on the cycles without the recirc. pump functional - Colours and Heavy. Otherwise, the machine was expecting the pump to be operational, and you ended up with the water level being too low.
Sometimes, you could fool the machine into adding more water by opening and closing the lid for some random length of time - although it also seemed to work on manual water levels, which seemed to be "automatic" too (That is, the machine wouldn't "just fill" to said water level, but would "sense it's way there," cycling the water valve as needed).

Here is the thread I wrote last year explaining the machine. You will probably notice the resemblance on this pure Lux/Simpson design. That is to say, even though Haier are "in bed" with F&P now, this machine doesn't share much resemblance, except aesthetic details mostly.
 
Not an F&P design

I have to agree with washer111, unless it's a Direct Drive machine like the F&P, then it's purely a Electrolux/Simpson based machine.

And to tell you the truth, they don't get great reviews here in Oz. A lot of the time, they have balancing issues.

I now have a 10kg F&P Washsmart and its far superior to the Simpson.

Cheers
Leon
 
We have two medium-size Simpson washers with that kind of agitator at one of the facilities that I look after. I judge them to be pretty good since some pretty dirty clothes go in and they come out clean. They do take a long time to pump out water and get to the final spin, but otherwise I've not experienced major issues with them; and they do a true hotwash.
 
Has anyone heard anything more about this washer?

Or is it still just "vaporware"?

If they gave it the standard 3/4 HP Frigidaire motor, with a decent transmission, at an aggressive price point, then it could be a real dandy of a washer.

But I searched all over the internet, and if this model is anything more than vaporware, then I couldn't discern it.
 
Other than Speed Queen, the only top loading washer I, myself would consider is the LG. I bought a top of the line set for a cousin to replace her 1981 Speed Queen pair. The only problem she had with the SQ set was the outer cabinets rusting from the humidity .
 

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