New Whirlpool Front Load Washers

[littlegreeny]

It looks like Whirlpool is introducing some new models to be more competitive with the likes of GE and LG. They aren't on the USA website yet, but they are on the Canadian one.

They include a "FreshFlow" vent system, antimicrobial protection on the boot, smart featuring including AI wash, and finally, a front pump filter access door.

Let's discuss...

https://www.whirlpool.ca/en_ca/laundry/washers/front-load/p.5.0-cu.-ft.-smart-front-load-energy-star-washer-with-the-freshflow-vent-system.wfw6720rr.html?originVariantsOrder=WH,IR

 

[panasonicvac]

Hmm

Definitely looks interesting. If they wash and dry as well if not better than our old Duet set, I'd certainly be interested.

 

[carolina128]

33 inch depth

And they keep increasing the depth- the last generation of Whirlpool front loaders was just under 32”. Seems like LG remains the only manufacturer making full size front loaders less than 31” deep. As someone with a shallow laundry room, this is the key specification I look at.

 

[pierreandreply4]

seem they are taking the maytagh front load model design and putting there name brand on the model with a few cosmetic change, make me wonder how these models would look like with the whirlpool brand name even do they are top load washers?

 

[appnut]

There are 3 models on the Home Depot web site. WFW4720, WFW5720, and WFW6720.

Even the 4.5 cu. ft. models are 32 inches deep. And the 5.0 cu. ft. is 33 inches and then some.[this post was last edited: 9/29/2024-14:38]

 

[johnb300m]

They look nice. More substantial than the current lineup. Although I think I see the plastic door window sticking around. Deal killer for me.

 

[henene4]

Many dryers over here have switched to plastic dryer doors, both inside and out, both see through or not.
My mum has Beko (Arcelik) dryer which was the first one I encountered with a see-through plastic door.

Must say: Was very skeptical at first and it certainly screams cost cutting.
But after 2 or 3 years she has had that dryer so far, I am pretty surprised how well it actually holds up.
So while I totally would prefer a machine with a glass inner door, if any other features pushed me towards the machine with plastic inner door, it wouldn't be a deal-breaker anymore.

 

[magic_clean]

Alpha--Duet Washer

inner door is plastic. Dryer is glass.

I have a new Duet pair. Yes the washer door feels "light" compared to my earlier model, but this doesn't seem to detract from the machine operation and performance. Just feels different. We don't think about it much anymore. I fully appreciate that perception is reality.

-LP

 

[gelaundry4ever]

heat pump

Does this use a heat pump system like their competitors' combos?

 

[ryner1988]

That depth though!

Up to 33 inches in depth? Jeez!

And this is what I am talking about. If some company would just design a damn 3-3.5 cu. ft. FL, they would fit in more places. There's no way I could get one of those 33" machines in my laundry closet. As long as manufacturers continue to push these mammoth machines, and let's be honest, who really, actually needs a 5 cu. ft. washer, they are leaving out a significant portion of potential customers.

Folks wonder why top loaders are still so popular in 2024. This is partially why.

It just reminds me of people driving around with their ginormous SUV's like the big man on campus. Bigger is not always better.

Ryne

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool and Maytag front load washers with plastic Windows

This has been out for a number of years now and I’ve never seen a problem with it. I support anything that makes machine lighter, easier to move and less costly. It’s probably gonna increase the durability the machine overall because we see many broken door hinges because of the weight of doors on front load washers.

Unfortunately, neither of the glass doors or the plastic gets recycled at the end of the machines life so I don’t think it makes any difference.

John

 

[ea56]

Re: #9

Amen to that statement Ryne!  Bigger is not always better.  I will never have one of the huge new generation FL’s in our home.  First of all we don’t NEED that large a capacity of a machine and secondly we can’t FIT one of these behemoths into the dedicated space we have for our laundry equipment.

 

If manufactures would bring back BASIC 3.0 to 3.5 cu ft FL’s that were reasonably priced they would literally fly out of the showrooms. By basic I mean no predetermined cycles, just controls for the users to select the wash and rinse temps, wash and spin speeds, wash time and water levels, thats it!  I don’t need a special cycle for towels, whites, colors, ect.  just provide directions in the owners manual for suggested settings for every type of load and let user make the appropriate choices.

 

 Yeah, Speed Queen has a 3.5 cu ft FL, but they cost upwards of $2000.  I don’t care if they are supposed to last for 20 or 25 years.  I’m 73 and I don’t need a machine to last that long, plus just because they say they will last that long is no guarantee that they will.

 

Eddie

 

 

[carolina128]

Speed Queen’s front loader is also really inefficient with its use of space. The body is only 27” deep, which is great…but the door protrudes out significantly (even while closed), and along with the drain hose the real depth is 31 3/8”. There’s just nothing between compact (by American standards) units from Miele and Bosch and the like, and the huge machines everyone else pumps out.

If I had to replace my Kenmore direct drive tomorrow, I think I might have to go with a top loader out of necessity. My 32” deep laundry room just can’t fit modern front loaders apparently, given that I have to leave an inch of or so for the door to be cracked open.

 

[littlegreeny]

Thanks Bob for letting us know they are on Home Depot's website. I agree with others about being disappointed in their continued use of plastic for the window and that they haven't made the depth narrower.

I'm somewhat surprised none include an auto dose feature. I wonder if they will be coming out with a few more higher-end models that will have it?

 

[magic_clean]

Shallow depth needed?

There's this:

https://www.whirlpool.com/laundry/c...ed-front-load-washer,-non-vend.chw9160gw.html

https://www.whirlpool.com/laundry/commercial-laundry/washers/front-load/p.27-commercial-high-efficiency-energy-star-qualified-front-load-washer,-non-vend.chw9160gw.html

 

[carolina128]

#14

Hmm, that’s fascinating. It’s actually in that Goldilocks size- 3.1 cu ft and 29” deep. Reviews don’t seem great though, but I don’t want to place too much emphasis on those.

 

[appnut]

Little greenie these are not the only models that will be included in whirlpool's line. I'm sure there will be an auto dose.Model in both worldpool and maytags products. Maytag has come out with the pet pro front load model too which we will need.

 

[launderess]

" It’s probably gonna increase the durability the machine overall because we see many broken door hinges because of the weight of doors on front load washers."

That must be either an American thing or perhaps recent as one has rarely if ever seen a European h-axis washer with a "sagging" front door. This due to weight of glass porthole or anything else .

My older Miele cabinet and door are made from heavy steel with substantial glass porthole. No issues thus far and machine seems set to out live one.

AEG Lavamat is of a more recent vintage using thinner steel but still has glass porthole, no issues thus far.

If American and Asian manufacturers ceased this arms race for ever larger machines with declining build quality perhaps that would address any "sagging door" issues.

 

[launderess]

"Bigger is not always better".

In Europe washer (and or dryer) sizes are still somewhat dictated by built in standards as laundry appliances often are fitted into kitchens, baths or wherever else thing or things can fit in what can be a smaller sized home.

USA OTOH while warming to what is considered "compact" sized front loading washers, trend seems to mimic laundry machine use of old. People want ever larger sized washers/dryers for the perceived capacity. This to hold what they believe will be standard loads of huge amounts of laundry (which often rarely happens) and or for doing king sized quilts, duvets and other bulky things.

US market can get away with this due to often on average larger homes and or dedicated space for laundry appliances with room to fit.