New WP FL lineup

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

Means if you don`t use your washer on a very regular basis chances are high that the water sitting in the pump will turn into a toxic mess. As soon as recirculation goes on it`s dumped onto your clothes.
 
Thank you.  Gross. I hate to think what's down in the pump of a colleague's washer who told me she had to stop using pods because they did not completely dissolve in cold water. This was as she was telling me about her son's stinky athletic gear and how the only way she can get the stench out is to add baking soda to the wash water.
 
My 1986 Miele washer also tumbles through the entire fill. This is true for every rinse, but not during the fill for the wash. For the wash, it does an initial fill, tumbles a bit and then will pause to fill again. It might repeat this one or two more times until the required amount of water is taken.
 
My Whirlpool built HE3t fills via an opening near the top left of the door, directing the water into the center of the tumbling load. The load is saturated before the proper water level is achieved, so I assumed circulation had other benefits.
 
Now on the WP web site

The WFW8620, WFW6620, and WFW5620 (and companion dryers) are now there. The WFW9620 and the WFC9820 All-in-one aren't there yet, but you can download the manuals for them.
 
New details

So, their have been revelations and proofs.

So, while the Maytag and Whirlpool machines appear to have the same internals, they do have different UI layouts.

So let's start with some overviews.
These two searches list the new models currently findable on the web for both Maytag and Whirpool on applianceconnection.com.
As far as I have the overview each model has its manual listed on the product site.

Maytag:
https://www.appliancesconnection.com/maytag-front-load-washers-b800-90366-0-73,2857.html?sort=newest

Whirlpool:
https://www.appliancesconnection.co...washers-b800-63591-0-73,2857.html?sort=newest

First on the UIs:

Whirlpool uses the What to wash / How to wash logic from the TLs. They do have a presoak option that apparently dosen't drain after the soak. The "Steam" option appears to have the function of a heater engagement during the wash.

Maytag offers the same "Steam" option, but uses the usual cycle dial.
Pressing the cycle dial will run the "Extra Power" option. Opposed to the Whirlpool, that is a cold prewash that uses the bleach compartment in the drawer as a prewash compartment then.

However both offer a "Colors" cycle which seems like the "Normal" cycle without usage limitation.

Now onto the models that a shared and sold under both brands. I was abled to find out that these models share a lot of part numbers, so they are for the most part the same machines under the hood with slight differences:

The 56xx are the lowest end models I was abled to find.
Both the Maytag and the Whirlpool offer a 4.5cuft capacity there.
While the Whirlpool offers a small 1l Load&Go container, the Maytag has the better warranty.
The Whirlpool lacks any post-wash tumble feature as well, while the Maytag features the FreshSpin option (12h tumbles without fan).
Both are "closet depth" with less than 32" depth.
I found the parts manual for the Whirlpool version:
https://aem.whirlpool.com/wdl/en/as...uments/201811/repair-parts-list-w11320547.pdf
I had a look at the Maytag equivalent but can't find the link anymore.
Anyway the both share the same pump unit and heater according to parts numbers and the water system drawing clearly shows recirculation on this verry basic model already.

The next model up is the 66xx series.
The Whirlpool now has a bigger Load&GoXL dispenser that holds up to 2 liters of detergent.
The Maytag has a slightly bigger drum now at 4.8cuft and a 16h FreshHold option (uses a fan). It also has 2 cycles more, one of them being the colors cycle.
While the Whirlpool is still less than 32", the maytag is now about an inch deeper.
That was also the last parts manual I was abled to find:
https://aem.whirlpool.com/wdl/en/as...uments/201811/repair-parts-list-w11323671.pdf
Still, heater and recirculation.

Thus I assumed all higher up models will have a heater and recirculation as well.

Next in line is the 86xx series.
Both models are 5.0cuft now with about 33" depth.
Here, Whirlpool adds the Overnight Wash&Dry. This is a fan assisted system that supposedly also uses heat in some way, but claims to take about 6h 15min to wash and dry an 8lbs load. It also claims Nest Smart Thermostat integration, but no WiFi connectivity. The energylabel also says it uses over 700kWh per year compared to its smaller brother and the troubleshooting guides for the drying function do not mention any water connection, so I suppose it is basicly a washer dryer that vents the moisture into the room I guess. Also, a drum light.
The Maytag adds its first automatic dosing system here, but that is integrated in the drawer and only holds less then half a liter. It adds full WiFi connectivity and a 24h FreshHold option. The energy label here lists only 140kWh per annum, so no real drying capability, only overnight wash and dry for 2-4 synthetic items, not a quarter drum like the Whirlpool. Also, again, more cycles.

And as I said, I suppose both have recirc and a heater.

Now onto the models Whirlpool has to offer additionaly.

They do offer 2 smaller "closet depth" machines as well, the WFW560CHW and WFW862CHC.
The last number was exchanged for "C" as in "Closet"
Both have 4.3cuft capacity but still are 32" deep.
The lower end one does not have an heater apparently as it lacks a true Sanitize cycle (only Sanitize with Oxi) and the steam option. No further options either, but still the same cycle setup otherwise.
The higher end one is the same as the WP WFW8620 except for the Nest integration thing and that it "only" uses 430kWh per year due to the smaller load size for wash and dry.

And, as the TOL crown, Whirlpool offers a WFW9620 model, a fully fledged 33.25" deep complete washer dryer combo, with 5cuft drum, AutoDry, water cooled condensing system, seperatly selectable drying functions as a result, 2 Load&Go tanks (one large one for detergent and one small one for either detergent or softner), a touch screen and full WiFi connectivity.
It is still 120V and has a companion dryer, both avaible in gas and electric.
Drying times appear to be beyond the 4h range for a good load, the label cycle uses a 6h timed drying function.
Idea appears to be to basicly use it as a washer only during the day and for the night to use the wash and dry funtions.
 
It appears the WFC9820 doesn't have steam for stains capability (the 24" combo announced last august/September doesn't have steam apparently either) compared to the WFW9620 does steam for stains.
 
Interesting how heaters have been marketed to Americans by Whirlpool as "Steam."  As if heating and maintaining water temps isn't a feature they would care about or pay for by itself. 

 

I take it these machines must have some sort of small steam generator in addition to heating water?
 
Jim, I have no idea how these will execute heat/steam functions. On my 2011 Duet, the heater is automatically energized once fill has been satisfied and user has selected warm, hot or Sanitize temps for Bulky Items, Whites, Heavy Duty, Allergen, Sheets/Linens, and Kids Wear cycles. And each of these cycles will also adjust wash/heating time based upon soil and load size/weight. On Normal/Casual, the only way I will get heated water is if I select the Steam for Stains option. And because it's the Energy Star cycle, it will heat hot water at about 120 degrees at the most, warm is also dumbed down even with steam. Otherwise when steam for stains is selected, the sequence is as follows. Machine washes/heats laundry for a certain amount of time, varies. Then it drains, does a slow balance spin, and then adds a bit of water. the load begins tumbling back & forth again and the heater is engaged again to generate steam. And that steam rises up from the bottom of the tub and can be anywhere from 15 to 22 minutes. then cools the load down, drains, and begins spin and rinse sequences. I find it to be extremely effective dealing with very heavily soiled fabrics with food stains (napkins, kitchen cleaning cloths, ..) I have no complaints at all. It does what it was designed to do very well.

I personally am of the opinion steam was a "feature" created to be more efficient in reaching much higher water/tub temperatures vs. heating larger amounts of water during the wash.
 
Bob, thanks for the detail on the steam operation, I had no idea how it worked. 

 

On my old school Neptune there is just a toggle button for the heater (on or off.)  When on it will maintain cold at 65, warm at 105 and hot at 130 regardless of cycle or any other options.

 

The energy star testing of the "normal" cycle has made things confusing for sure.
 
energy star testing of the "normal" cycle has made t

Jim, let me throw and wrinkle and a monkey wrench in this whole thought process. Whirlpool and brandmate Maytag on their dryers that are Energy Star rated, the "Normal" cycle defaults to an eco option cycle with dry temperature reduced and add MANY minutes to the cycle, but is purported to offer significant energy savings. The user can cancel that eco option for the Normal cycle to operate as one would expect. I noticed on the new Maytag TOL MED8630 dryer, it has a "Regular" cycle as well as a "Normal" cycle. The "Normal" cycle is the energy star rated cycle with lowered temperature and Regular dries at regular heat level.
 
I saw a new whirlpool and maytag in person

I saw the new whirlpool and maytag front load line up. very similar to the inside of the last generation, few tweaks. not much has changed other than the outer appreance.
 
I saw a couple machines on display at Lowe’s. I only had a couple minutes to look, but the weirdest thing is the interior door glass. It’s completely scooped out, I suppose to give the interior more volume. This model (WFW5600HW), without an outer door window cover, just looks odd.

The paddles are different than the previous version, and the dispenser drawer doesn’t empty into the inner tub. I saw the little reconciliation sprayer practically hidden at the top of the door boot. The back of the drum has a different pattern of holes. It really seems to bulge into the tub in the middle. Not sure if it is more so than the last version, but looks like an oversized fruit juicer.

I’ll try to get more pics soon.

joe_in_philly-2019010422431001882_1.jpg
 
Don't like the "Pull here" drawer at the base of the machine----OH MY ACHING BACK"What a POOR design.They forget some folks have back problems.This is not practical.CHANGE IT!!!!!for you at WP.Otherwise could be a nice machine.
 
Ditto that Rex.  Our electronic med dispensing machines have drawers all the way down on the floor too and I hate having to bend all the way down to pull out a pill or two.  It's a long way down there for me.  I'm only 6ft, but I'm all legs, so it's a long reach for someone who has never ever been able to touch my toes!
 
Same for me--its getting HARDER to reach down there!!!The drawer should be placed at the TOP of the machine-and these FL washers need to be made into TALLER cabinets to get the load opening further from the floor.That washer was designed by and for lepricons!
 
I can see your point with it being so low however that is where the pump clean out Port area is and how different is that in competitors such as LG and others where their pump clean-out area is? You can also get the optional pedestal to bring it 15 in higher up off the floor.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top