New Whirlpool Front Load Washers

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littlegreeny

littlegreeny

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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/laun...stem.wfw6720rr.html?originVariantsOrder=WH,IR
 
They look nice. More substantial than the current lineup. Although I think I see the plastic door window sticking around. Deal killer for me.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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

 
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
" 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.
 
"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.
 
I still have a thick queen size bedspread that dates backc to the 1986 Lady Shredmore. Being physically chalenged, I cannot begin to comprehend me taking the beheamoth to a laundramat. Only lauder that portion of bedding abut once or twice a year. But will reun it in air fluff on dryer often. Sometimes even with a steam refresh cycle. I'm sure no one here can imagine me not using my appliance features as appropriate. After all, I select models with features I will use and that usually means the top two models in a product line.
 
Reply #14

Seems like a solid option, but for $1500? Holy crap, at that pricepoint one might as well cough up the extra $500 or so for an SQ FL.

I think the thing that Eddie and I keep referring to is something like an FL equivalent to our basic 3.5 cu. ft. Whirlpool-sourced TL's. A cycle selector knob with options such as Normal, Heavy, and Bulky, as well as a temp selector, maybe a spin speed selector and a knob or physical buttons to add extra rinses if needed. Possibly a soil level selector, if one wants to increase or decrease wash time. Sell it for around $600 or so and it would be a winner for sure.

And for heaven's sake get rid of the GD touch screen! Either knobs or buttons work just fine, and touch screens leave out certain segments of the population automatically by way of their design. I understand all appliance controls are driven by a computer board now, and front loaders in particular require computer boards because of the way they wash clothes, the need for a door lock, etc, but that doesn't mean it has to be connected to a touch screen. My basic Whirlpool TL has a computer board, and it's not connected to a touch screen whatsoever.
 
Big machines won't fit in my laundry closet either. I have to use smaller machines like Miele, asko, Bosch, or perhaps the LG model that's smaller, or even Electrolux. I hope I don't have to deal with it for a while. 

Neither my Miele nor the Asko have any issues with sagging glass doors and they are both well over twenty years old.
 
Speaking of price

Since it was mentioned on the first post that these would be competitive to brands like LG and GE. I just noticed that the prices for both LG and GE have significantly dropped but more for GE. Is GE struggling with their front loaders? The UltraFresh models were released not too long ago so I'm curious how they're holding up so far?
 
I mean imagine going through a big box store checking out the cool front load washers... people open doors of GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Samsung, etc... and they immediately think... wow, this one's plastic... all of the other ones or glass. I'm not getting the one with plastic. I can totally hear this conversation happening over and over in stores when ppl see that.... I mean, maybe they will all go to plastic doors eventually. It's good to hear that they seem to hold up... but I still don't like it.
 
Mark is totally right!

Everyone comparison shops in the store. Whirlpool & Maytag models feel significantly cheaper than competitors, particularly the door and detergent dispenser drawer. You also couldn't get a drum light unless you went to their high end models. Pretty much every Korean washer has a drum light. I do really like the real stainless drum in Whirlpool made models. Korean drums just look cheap with their chrome-plated ones.

Overall you feel a flimsiness with any Whirlpool-made product. American companies in general have gone way too far reducing costs. It shows to the consumer and they choose a Korean brand just because it looks or feels more premium.

I have a feeling Whirlpool has significant pension obligations, perhaps due to union labor. Unfortunately, those obligations show up in their "lean-produced" products.
 
Plastic versus glass front load washer, windows

We regularly see broken hinges, and destroyed door frames on Frigidaire Samsung both the 27 and 24 inch models. I see a lot of Bosch 24 inch machines with broken hinges. They break right off the front of the machine. You guys need to get out in the real world and see what people do to washing machines. I have yet to see a problem with the plastic windows in the whirlpool models are parts distributor has never sold one so it can’t be much of a problem.

Also had customers with the plastic window whirlpool washers comment that they like the way the door feels because it’s lighter and doesn’t feel like it’ll kill you if you hit it. It’s also easier to open and close, the population is aging. A lot of people don’t like heavy things.

John
 
Plastic versus glass front load washer, windows

I do agree with John (conbo-52). First, I will say, and truth be told I do own (2) Speed Queen sets. One a stacked SF7 and a side by side set FF7 SS. I ‘believe’ SQ is the only, or one of the only brands that use a piano hinge for their glass front doors to the washer making it an extremely durable hinge.

To John’s points I will add that plastic front load washer doors are considerably quieter in regards to objects such as but not limited to metal buttons, snaps or hooks hitting against it during the cycle.

I will also add that my best friend does have a FL washer with a plastic inner door/window. I did rented from him in the past for a couple years and never had any issues with the plastic inner door but did experience quieter results. The washer is 5 years old now and there still has been no issue with durability or performance thus far.

With that said I personally do prefer a glass door and prefer how SQ has chosen to use the piano hinge for durability even though there is more clanks and pings from loads that have buckles and zippers, etc…
 

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