No Consumer Speed Queen Front Loaders in 2018??

[launderess]

"Hello, Thank you for your question. In 2018, there will be stricter government regulations we need to comply with for one cycle on the machine. There will be some modifications to our current top load washers beginning with January 2018 production. What will not change is that our design specifications remain at 10,400 cycles giving you a long life, a high degree of reliability backed by a strong warranty, and great Washability. For most cycles, you still get a full tub of water for wash and rinse and the temperature you select for washing is still hot or warm or cold and not blended."

https://www.speedqueen.com/products/front-load-washers.aspx?mn=AFNE9BSP113TN01#build-your-own

What a lot of palaver.

A reasonable query was made and the response answers nothing clearly.

One would think a company like Alliance Laundry would at least have one person issuing talking points on this matter. Rather it seems every other customer service person or otherwise connected with that company has their own response.

Might as well stop at front gate and ask the security guard or perhaps one of the secretaries at this point.

 

[johnrk]

I Guess

they're not impressed by Hyacinth!

The only person I ever heard use the word "palaver" was Fraser on Dad's Army...

 

[combo52]

SQ FL Washers In 2018

From our sources they will continue to build and sell them, there could be limited supply at times, but we have had this problem before.

 

SQ makes much more selling the commercial version of these great washers [ SQ FL washers are truly the most heavy-duty trouble-free automatic washers EVER sold for home use ] so there have been times when we have had to wait to have orders filled.

 

2017 SQ FL washers already meet the 2018 energy standards.

 

To Replay # 57, Hi Edward and as usual thanks for your input. These SQ soft mount washers are certainly not as durable as the hard mound models from SQ that cost twice as much. But I would like to see an example of any soft mount FL washer ever built that was better built than these SQ FLers.

 

When we started selling SQ washers and dryers around ten years ago the SQ reps told us in training that the FL platform and the dryers were tested for around 25,000 loads and the TL washers around 10,500. I know they are now advertising that all their laundry appliances are expected to last around 10,400 loads which really does not make sense. As anyone in the business as long as me knows a top load washer simply will not last as long as a good dryer, and when you look at how the SQ FL washer is built it is easy to see that it should last much longer.

 

We have over a dozen examples of SQ FL washers that have lasted over 25,000 loads and several that have lasted 35,000 and 45,000 loads in hotel, animal hospitals, health clubs etc, after 5-8 years of 20+ loads per-day we usually sell them a new machine and in EVERY case we refurbished the old washer and have sold it for in home consumer use.

 

When the Jefferson Hotel near the White House was remolded about a dozen years ago the architect put in one pair of the SS SQs, after around 45,000 loads we replaced these with a pair of SQ FL stack machines, we fixed up the SS pair and sold them to a couple we know around four years ago and they have had no problems at all, this washer is on its orignal main bearings etc.

 

John L.

[this post was last edited: 12/14/2017-07:45]

 

[launderess]

Since their reintroduction to residential market

SQ washing machines have mainly been a commercial washing machine in domestic clothing.

Short cycles with limited choices, vibration issues, and other complaints can be directly traced to putting basically a "laundromat" washer in homes. What you got in exchange for those complaints was a washing machine that could (and likely would) out live anything else on market.

It is worth nothing both Miele and Bosch stopped production of their large washers, and they didn't have the true capacity of a SQ. Whirlpool seems to have managed a blend between capacity, cycles and durability, but a Duet ain't no SQ.

As noted elsewhere in this forum SQ home washers simply lack many of the features you can find on any cheaper Asian import (such as Samsung) of equal capacity. Things like built in heater and a bewildering/vast array of cycles and options. Am not saying this is better, but there you are....

Have said this before the SQ washers at my local are only good for laundry that isn't heavily soiled/stained. Marks that my Miele or AEG easily remove still remain (or traces) after a trip through those SQ washers.

SQ washers at my local complete a "heavy" wash in 30mins. Both the AEG and Miele take about an hour (or more), must to complete wash cycle alone.

 

[gusherb]

I wouldn't entirely gauge how good SQ washers perform off of them in a Laundromat setting, reason being the machines in the laundromat are usually programmed to give the fastest cycle for quickest turnover time. I have used SQ machines in laundromats that were programmed to cycle through as quickly as possible, and have used ones that were programmed to give a prewash and an extra rinse or two. The former was disappointing but the latter worked quite well. 

 

[launderess]

Yes, noticed while nosing around various other sites

That modern SQ laundromat washers offer a large selection of programming modifications. Our local has none of that (the pre-wash is about two minutes), so again YMMV.

Still one of the reasons never could pull oneself to buy a SQ domestic washer was the historical short cycles and limited options. Coming from a Miele there just wasn't any comparison. Don't know what they are up to now, but IIRC early SQ front loaders had a wash cycle of about ten minutes or so. That is just too short IMHO for anything but lightly soiled wash with no marks. That or unless you intend to use chlorine bleach and or other aggressive chemicals.

 

[gusherb]

The last generation residential front loaders gave a 35 minute wash cycle IIRC. I thought I heard they increased it to a minimum of 40 minutes on the newer ones. With all the wash options given on the newer ones I think total cycle time can be increased to a bit over an hour. 

 

[combo52]

Yes Current Generation SQ FL Washers

Have a plenty long wash, NO VIBRATION issues, and you can select up to five rinses.

 

Furthermore they are the ONLY FL washers I know of for home use where the main control board has dip switch settings on it that allow the water level to be increased up to an inch and 1/2 in 1/2" increments and fill with all hot water if selected.

 

John L.

 

[brisnat81]

Hi John, Miele’s will let you raise wash and rinse levels via the service menu. You can raise the wash level up to the edge of the door boot and the rinse level 1/3 of the way up the door.

The hot and cold fill Miele’s will fill to the selected temp, of its above 60c it’ll be all hot fill and then boost to maintain it.

 

[combo52]

Hi Nathan, that's good information, I knew that Mieles could be reprogrammed also and the heater element is a good feature.

 

I would probably still buy a SQ FL washer over the Miele for its larger capacity, better durability and much easier to service design, to say nothing of a lower price and 5 year full warranty.

 

[gusherb]

Hmm, I'd love a FL that uses water. More reason for me to get a SQ FLer! Having it do full hot is also a requirement of mine.

 

[johnrk]

I'd Still Like

to own one of those oval-window Westinghouse machines. They really used water and are such fun to watch!

 

[imperial70]

Commercial Laundry is a shrinking market. As new apartments go up they are opting for in-unit laundry vs Laundry rooms. That also means reduction in laundromats.

 

[rapunzel]

"Commercial Laundry is a shrinking market."

However, there are still holiday parks, motels, hostels and other places where people may want to access laundry equipment. Here in inner Sydney, lots of people don't have laundry facilities in their units. Though, many former self-service laundromats are now offering bag washes for those people who don't want to do their own laundry.

Then there is the developing world. Places like China, India, where many people live in high density housing with few amenities, such places would be ideal for laundromats.

 

[gusherb]

When I was in Taiwan, the hotel I stayed at had SQ machines. Flew halfway around the world only to do laundry in the same machine I use at home, built only two states away from me.

 

[launderess]

"Commercial Laundry is a shrinking market"

Much would depend upon many factors including what you are defining as "commercial laundries".

Yes, in many areas of the country laundromats are closing. But that often has much to do with rising fixed costs (rents, wages, utilities, taxes, etc...)versus demand/customer base.

Here in NYC nearly all laundromats do drop-off and that sector of business is growing. A good laundromat owner with business smarts can make his (or her) money on a good pick-up and delivery scheme. Even here in NYC with all these new apartments either installing en suite washers and dryers, and or new laundry areas, many still prefer the old ways; to send things out.
http://www.dexter.com/support/knowl...-and-commercial-accounts-are-you-missing-out/

Happily we live in the Internet/App world which is revolutionizing even pick-up and delivery.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/shopping/the-best-on-demand-laundry-apps-in-nyc-ranked

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/best-laundry-apps/

What is true about these app services is they aren't much different than how many corner laundries in NYC and other urban areas have operated for decades. That is work is contracted out to a wholesale laundry. This can be anyone from a large enterprise to a laundromat.

On the large industrial commercial end what you are mostly seeing is consolidation as larger laundries grow more so and or push smaller ones out of business.

Advances in tunnel/batch and automated laundry equipment has revolutionized the business.

Hotels, motels, hospitals, restaurants, gyms, the lot all still produce tons of laundry per day, and many no longer have in house laundries. So it has to go somewhere.

 

[imperial70]

I should have said Laundromats instead of commercial laundry. I had read an article (because i was researching opening one) about laundromats not being a sure thing they once were because of rising operating costs and shrinking markets (because old apartments are being replaced with modern building which offer in unit laundry to attract an upscale crowd).

 

[foraloysius]

Here they are, the new frontloaders for 2018:

https://speedqueen.com/products/front-load-washers.aspx

 

[launderess]

If one were going down that route

Would look closely into doing service wash for residential and or commercial customers. Will largely agree self service alone laundromats are dying for reasons previously mentioned.

The attendant at our local says the self service portion is not a large source of money for owner. However the service washing (drop off and either collect or delivery) is where he makes his money.

 

[mrb627]

Imagine That...

Looks like the FL machines aren't being discontinued after all.

Other than the door reversal, I see no change to programming/cycles or options.

Malcolm