New owner of a 2015 Speed Queen TL washer!

[maylingsmom]

I bought the awn432 on 3/31/15. I had a GE Adora that was only about 2 1/2 years old and the bearing and transmission went out. My husband said for me to get what I wanted. After tons of research including reading posts here and reading other forums and watching every video I could find on Youtube, I decided on Speed Queen. I love it. I bought it knowing there were things some people didn't like (water usage and no high speed spin for instance). The only thing I liked about the GE was the high speed spin so I am learning to do without that. My husband did the clothespin thing and I'm glad he did. I have had to adjust my detergent. I watch to make sure I have put enough detergent in (I have to use less in this machine). The GE just barely agitated so I was using more detergent and only getting a few sudsy bubbles. Anyway, I love it. It reminds me of the Maytag I had before I got the GE. May sound silly to some of you, but I love the sound the lid makes when I close it. No I don't slam it, but it makes the sound like the Maytag --- just sturdy I guess

 

[gusherb]

maylingsmom

I know what you mean, the lid has those nice rubber bumpers on it that makes a nice solid thunk off the sturdy steel cabinet.

 

[bobcurley]

Pre-Wash

Pre-Wash only adds 4 minutes to the cycle, according to the OP. After the 4-minute pre-wash, does the machine stop and wait for you to add detergent for the main wash cycle? Do you then press the green button on the right to begin the main wash?

Does anyone know how this compares with Pre-Wash on the knob-controlled SQ TL's? Do they also stop at the end of Pre-Wash? If so, how do you get them to proceed to the main wash?

(This is one of my considerations in deciding between the knob and electronic versions.)

Thanks!

 

[imperial70]

On the AWN542 they tell you to add detergent to the fabric softener dispenser (liquid). Although I've never done that and if I did I would only use a full tub of water to thoroughly clean the inside of the agitator.  After the cycle completes they recommend cleaning the fabric softener dispenser completely.

 

What I liked about older belt drive Whirlpools is that the super wash did a partial drain before proceeding to the main wash.  They recommended (IIRC) 1.5X the amount of detergent used at the beginning of the cycle. That won't work with the speedqueen because they do a full drain. :-(

 

 

 

[mtn1584]

On the AWN 542

Pre wash automatically advances to the wash cycle. Fill agitate, drain spin and refill for main wash cycle.

 

[gusherb]

On the AWNE82 Prewash will advance to the main wash cycle as well, UNLESS you select a spin-only with a prewash.

Actually that hadn't occurred to me how that cycle selection would be useful until this writing, realizing the usefulness in having the washer stop so you can put the detergent in (and not have to stand there watching, waiting to add it)

 

[bobcurley]

@gusherb: That's a great solution! Does it actually work? It seems counter-intuitive that you can add Prewash to a Spin-only cycle.

@mtn1584 and Imperial70: The Soak cycle on your machines, absent from the 82, seems to do what I had in mind — after agitation, soak and spin, the Soak cycle completely terminates so you can add a 2nd dose of detergent and then start your desired main wash cycle.

 

[mtn1584]

Love my SQ

Go online and read customer reviews of these washers on ANY website they are overwhelmingly 4 to 5 star reviews. I bought mine six years ago, bought one for my mom, and my brother bought a set too. All the AWN 542 with matching dryer!

 

[gusherb]

Bobcurley

Yes it does. Whatever cycle combination the control panel allows you to select is exactly what you get. There is absolutely no trickery in the programming with these machines.

 

[Chetlaham]

Welcome to the Familly!!

I am so happy to see you invested in a Speed Queen. Truly the best modern washer in existence. Ive had a mechanical AWN412 Speed Queen for about 2 years now, best decision I ever made. My only regrets is not buying one earlier.

I am not to thrilled about what looks like 2 separate circuit boards, or electronic controls, but knowing Speed Queen I think it will be as dependable as most other electro mechanical models.

I also want to ask, can the water level be adjusted? I personally think Speed Queen should have gone with a pressure switch that could be adjusted via screw. Can the transducer be adjusted?

 

[bobcurley]

LOUD Pumping (Draining)

Thanks to Gusherb and the other valuable contributors here, I took delivery of a AWNE92 on Friday.

I suspect I have a defect, and I'd appreciate some feedback:

Whenever it is pumping (draining), it makes a loud, deep (low pitch) sound like a stalled motor. However, it actually is pumping out the water at a fast rate. The sound during pumping is at least twice as loud as the sound during any other activity, including spin. It agitates and spins normally, and spin is quite fast.

combo52 (reply #12 above) said the motor is under heavy load at the beginning of each drain operation because it also is spinning a full tub of water. However, listening to Gusherb's two videos, I don't think my machine is normal. Any comments?

(One user on the Consumer Reports website had an incorrectly installed lint filter, but I don't know whether that is in the pumping path, and that person didn't report any noise.)

 

[mrb627]

Low Speed?

I believe the first spin in all cycles is at low speed.
Perhaps that is the difference in the motor noise?

The only way to know for sure is the record a video and post it for the group.

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

I used the slow spin speed frequently on my 2014 SQ and it didn't make any odd sounds. It did, however, make the sound of a can of pennies being shaken when set to slow agitation from time-to-time.

Have it looked at. It's under warranty.

 

[gusherb]

The first spin is always low speed and it does have a very deep pitch that resonates through everything. Depending on where I'm standing in the kitchen or family room it can come off as overpoweringly loud when it first starts. I have to listen again but it's possible my videos haven't portrayed this accurately. Bob, could you possibly post a video of yours?

 

[mtn1584]

Normal operating sounds..............

that sound the pump is making is normal, is the machine functioning properly? Then the noise is normal, also these machines do NOT have a lint filter. The pump is attached to the bottom of the motor and the drain hose is attached to it, there is nothing in the way of the pump.
Mike

 

[gusherb]

I'm curious if having some knocking sounds during spin is anything to worry about. My machine has been developing some noises like that lately.

 

[combo52]

THE SOUNDS OF new SQ TL WASHERS

These are heavy well built washers BUT are a fairly crude older style construction. I completely agree with Mike, if the machine is working well there is most likely nothing wrong with it, and while you have a great warranty calling for service and having someone come out and start messing with the washer is not a good idea in my experience it can easily do more harm than good. [ and you will just drive everyone nuts in the process, and accomplish nothing ] LOL.

 

If you want quieter operation you probably should have gotten the FL SQ however you can sound insulate the SQ TLer if you wish,  Jason and I made my Frigidaire 1-18 nearly silent by adding a lot of sound proofing insulation to it.

 

[combo52]

THE SOUNDS OF new SQ TL WASHERS

These are heavy well built washers BUT are a fairly crude older style construction. I completely agree with Mike, if the machine is working well there is most likely nothing wrong with it, and while you have a great warranty calling for service and having someone come out and start messing with the washer is not a good idea in my experience it can easily do more harm than good. [ and you will just drive everyone nuts in the process, and accomplish nothing ] LOL.

 

If you want quieter operation you probably should have gotten the FL SQ however you can sound insulate the SQ TLer if you wish,  Jason and I made my Frigidaire 1-18 nearly silent by adding a lot of sound proofing insulation to it.

 

[bobcurley]

gusherb said: "The first spin is always low speed and it does have a very deep pitch that resonates through everything. Depending on where I'm standing in the kitchen or family room it can come off as overpoweringly loud when it first starts."

That perfectly describes my machine, so I suspect it is normal. The "resonates" part is what worried me that something was abnormal!

I made the following videos with an iPhone 5s, and but its microphone steeply rolls off the bass below 250 Hz, so it cannot portray the true sound unless you boost the bass during playback:

#1: Agitation, full tub of water only (no clothes); looks & sounds completely normal:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/36417795/Extra Large Rinse - Agitation.mp4

#2: Final Drain & Spin with loud, deep, sound until water completely discharged at 1m18s. Spin is slow before that time, but then gets quite fast, evidencing that motor and belt are good:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u... final Drain & Spin, low freq stops 1'18".mp4

I ran the audio from video #2 through a spectrum analyzer. It shows a huge peak at 120 Hz, which implies the deep noise is vibration from the motor. Screenshots are below. Photo 1 is the average spectrum between the 2 and 76 seconds points in video #2, while water is being pumped out. Photo 2 is the average between the 90 and 120 seconds points, during fast spin.

 

[bobcurley]

p.s. — The intention of my post was not to complain about the sound, but to verify that my machine is not defective.

Just to be "safe", when I get some free time in a few days I probably will remove and inspect the pump. I already ordered a replacement "heavy duty" version of the pump. Interestingly, the standard pump is only $14, while the heavy duty version is $40 from PWS Laundry.