omg who is next!!!

[DADoES]

Vintage machines aren't necessarily any more reliable than "modern" units. The 1962 Whirly I grew up with had many repairs in its 15 years -- pump, belt, water valve, wig wag, lid switch, bearings replaced, even the bakelite agitator broke. Others have mentioned the same in regards to machines in their families. The 1976 Whirly that replaced it ran for 18 years (yes, with some repairs along the way) until the bearings wore out. The KA my parents have now that came along in 1994 will soon be 15 years.

The difference "then" vs. "now" is that people then were more apt to have an appliance repaired instead of tossing it out. Nowadays, a 5-year-old Whirly suffers a broken drive coupler, it'll be tossed out and the homeowner complains that the machine is junk ... over a $20 part. I have a 10-year-old Kenmore in my garage that a friend was going to trash. They washed a large rug, the coupler broke. They thought it was bearings gone bad due to the noise involved when the broken coupler runs.

There's more to water and energy conservation than just one's personal bills. With the world's population continually growing, more utility infrastructure is needed. More water treatment and sewer facilities, more power generation. That costs *everyone* in taxes and utility bills for municipal watersewer and power plants.

 

[ronhic]

Try living here...

....where the first hour of labour is nearly $200 by the time you include the 'call out' fee. Plus parts.

You can buy an Electrolux group European style 16lb front load machine here for about USD$500 odd.

Given the price of repairs, I don't know if I would be bothered to get something repaired even once....

As for the water issue....Well most Australians have a different opinion to most Americans in that while we would like to use more, we accept that we should not. Our government has not legislated (yet) that we can't buy water guzzling appliances, but has rather made it cheaper with rebates to buy water saving appliances. That and constant advertising about being 'water wise' seems to have worked.

To give you another idea, on the main 'highway' from where I live to where I work there is a flashing sign that tells everyone how much water the city has used in the last 24hrs compared to our daily target and our current storage level....

It effectively guilts you into wanting to use less.

...and the carrot (financially and being able to say to people 'we care') is much better than the stick.

 

[appnut]

Keith, we are all entitled to our opinions, however yo9u are still a relatively young man and there is some validity to your statements, but some are also knee-jerk reactions flying off the cuff. I've been around over double your years and I have observed in many parts of the country, MOST who do laundry really don't care all that much. I've seen MANY over load their machines and even more, simply use their top load washers without ever adjusting water level switches for various size loads whether it be one piece of a larger load. I know several ladies who habityually underloaded their machines and use full waterr level regardless. THAT is wasteful. I am sure those here who work for appliance companies and have observed laundry habbits could also chime in. Not all parts of the country have abundant water supplies to meet future population growth needs. The SW part of the U.S. and much of California and they are not "crying wolf". Climate patterns have changed and will continue to change. Just two years ago, parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee were reaching the point where their local "water ponds" were almost completely dry and had only a few months of supply left. It is scarey.

 

[toploader1984]

first of all, this has NOTHING to do with my age or anything, its great that people want to save the world and water and energy, BUT all i am saying is that i as a consumer should have a CHOICE of what i can buy, it is what americans are all about my friend! and as far as other parts of the country, well, we dont live there do we!?

 

[toploader1984]

u cant compare the way other counties do laundry, i am sure in africa they do laundry in a stream on a big rock and pound clothes by hand, does that mean we r supposed to do the same?

 

[re563]

It's not just other countries toploader

Here in florida it has been so dry over the past two years that we are on water restrictions year around now. I do have a HE3 from kenmore--6yrs old this year. Not one problem yet (knock on wood). I have a Bosch dishwasher, 4 yrs old--no problems. The dishwasher uses 5 gals of water in the normal wash. My washer (god knows what it uses)uses much less than any toploader, yet, beacause of the housing market and foreclosures, the city keeps rasing water rates to meet demand and because of houses going vacant. So, with water rates rising, I can't afford to have a topload washer, not to mention that most will not do a spray rinse now in order to conserve water.

 

[maytagbear]

"I am sure in africa (sic) they do laundry..."

That is so wrong on so many levels, child.

The urban centres of most countries on the continent of Africa have electricity, running water, and washing machines.

Secondly, energy has been artificially cheap here in the United States for far too long a time.

Thirdly, water usage and mis-usage is a consideration for the future. We are both fortunate to be in Great Lakes states where water is abundant and relatively cheap, but it uses energy, and lots of it, to get water to the faucet. Also takes energy to deal with the waste water.

I may not have children, but I do have 2 nieces and a nephew-in-law, and maybe one day (please, God), great-nieces or great-nephews, and I want their planet to be habitable and pleasant.

Decisions made today have wide-ranging consequences.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[peterh770]

Watch GE drop toploaders next... WP/Maytag and SQ will be around for a while due to the commercial demand for those machines.

 

[animasinsulinpu]

2 hour wash cycle???

OMG!!!! My WP Duet's normal cycle is only 40 min. And the Whitest White cycle is 1 hr. But with the WW cycle, I get 5 rinses. When I bought the washer I got a $100 rebate and $75 for the Bosch DW.....Bill in Az.....

 

[twinniefan]

Cost of repairs

I agree with you Ronhic about the prohibitive costs of getting various items repaired in fact this is what happened to me just recently my brother has a small colour televison in his room it was damaged recently during a severe electrical storm, now the unit only cost $169.00 to start with, now I rang a couple of service places, thinking it might just be a 10- 20 dollar component burnt out.
Well he we go,
1.callout fee-$120.00
2could not detect problem with first visit,needed to be taken to workshop, another $120.00,plus whatever cost replacement part is.
You see $220.00 just to find the problem before actually doing anything to repair it,admittedly I took a chance and called the guy out hoping that it may indeed just be a small burnt out part, but it wasn't so I have to wear it.
I since replaced it with a similar tv similar price, however I could have saved myself $120.00, just by tossing it out in the first place and just getting a new one straight away.
I could have claimed it under my contents insurance,however my policy has a $500.00 excess,meaning I wear the first $500.00 of any claim anyway.

 

[sudsman]

Keith

On the close of May 25 I will have worked 50 years in a laundry. Started when I was 6. I have been a Certified Laundry Manager for over 38 years now. I can ASSURE you there is a very dangerous situation regarding water supplies in the US>. maybe not where you live but in most of the US water is in VERY short supply. It is only getting worse. Yes there was a time when we did not have to care but that day is gone with the wind, AND if we want future generations to survive WE MUST conserve as much as possible. Also I can assure you that a washer taken care of will last at lot longer than 5 years.. True there are some poor models for sale. Just like cars, vacuums, and any other appliance . There are good and there are bad. AS far as hate for our goverment perhaps you need to do some internet surfing and check out some others I really think you will be in for a rude awaking in which I personaly think you so dearly need.

 

[tolivac]

Guess us TL fans are going to have to hit the appliance swap shops and stock up on our vintage favorite TL machines.I too feel this water use "problem" for washers and dishwashers is just too blown out of proportion.Again I repeat as I have said before-the main water problems of usage IS NOT appliances--but external use of water such as watering lawns and gardens(at how some folks water their lawns-we have SEVERAL TL washer loads right there in one day)filling swimming pools in the spring and summer-keep in mind some of these portable pools again use several cold TL washer loads to fill.Now washing cars-how many folks leave the hose on while they are sponging the car?Again another several TL washer loads of water used.Leave our appliances alone please-the gov't needs to SCRAP these water and energy requirements for appliances-the best regulator of energy-water usage is not the machine--BUT YOU!!If these needs are scrapped-another money hogging gov't dept can be shut down-that may save us more money than before!and help our defecit.
I am also NOT GOING to buy an overpriced FL machine.These may do well and all that-but I want the choice to buy one UP TO ME not some dope in the gov't.For my area-a FL machine that lasts only 5-7yrs IS NOT going to pay back in water and energy use.In fact my water price went down last month-due to the water company drilling and putting into service more wells.Maybe other water companies are going to have to do this.

 

[washerfan]

Thread# 22112 The BIG Question Post# 346655-5/5/2009-05:37 ||| WasherFan (USA)...

I don't really get this whole idea that it is so essential to save water. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Water is "wasted" all the time. People wash their cars, water their plants & yards, shower frequently, wash dishes, etc.

Yet all the sudden, we are "wasting" water washing clothes? PLEASE!

I learned a long time ago in college that out of all the water on our planet (and if memory serves), 98% is in the oceans, 1.9% is in the glaciers, and 0.1% is the fresh water man has used since the beginning of time.

Instead of making all of us feel bad for "wasting" water, why doesn't the gov't. attempt to find a way to beneficially use the 98%?

 

[maytagbear]

Desalinization

is very energy intensive. It's better to conserve, or re-treat fresh water.

I would like to see car-washing discouraged without a shut off trigger nozzle. An open hose is just so wasteful.

Even though I sometimes choose the "extra rinse" button, I do not make it a routine. My showerhead is a low flow one, and I get great results with it.

Go watch "Tank Girl" for a world without water.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toploader1984]

AMEN REX!!!!!!! i ur so right!!!! at least u agree with me, people on here ARENT getting what i am saying, yes we should conserve water and especially people that live in climates where water is limited, HOWEVER, all i am saying is, i should have a CHOICE on what i am able to buy. if i do not want a FL i should not be forced to buy one, as a consumer i should have the choice to buy a top or front loader, not to mention i severly injured my back 4 times already, i HATE bending way down to get clothes out, and i am not paying 250 dollars EACH for a pedistal, it is bad enough i have to bend down for the dryer, and being over 6 feet tall it is very difficult, and i am not convinced about these new high efficency top loaders yet. when i bought my GE filter flo and got rid of my LG tromm, my water bill went up 7 dollars in 3 months!!! and i was washing like CRAZY fro the first month cuz i was soo excited!!! the electricity well... stayed the same, didn't go up and didn't go down.

 

[toploader1984]

i recently remodeled my bathroom also, and of coourse i HAD to buy a 1.6 gpf, gallon per flush toilet, half the time it gets plugged up, 60 percent of the time i have to flush TWICE! prove me wrong but..... isn't that defeating the whole purpose of "saving" water?? my house was built in 1955, in the main bathroom has the original blue toilet, i kid you not!! that toilet only got plugged ONCE!!! and i have lived here 3 years. i am sure it could be better with a high pressure or pressure assist toilet but they have a hefty price tag.

 

[pierreandreply4]

me i hope maytag will continue making top load washers right now i have a whirlpool duet and i realy don't like it the washe time is to long and second of all compare to topload the whirlpool duet is not water effeciant and me in my case i know that i will buy a top load washer for my next washer.

Pierre

Ps: i think that fridgedair will lose alot of money if they stop making topload washers.

 

[davek]

Toilets

When I was living in the college dorms, I was always in awe of how effective a commercial toilet was at clearing debris. I often flushed unwanted food, and I once went into a stall where someone had left a dirty pair of boxers in the toilet, which was cleared with one flush. I never saw one clog. I know they're loud, but I will have commercial toilets when I do eventually build my own home. I also intend to have a urinal, perhaps in the garage, too.

 

[aquarius1984]

Taking it all for granted

Perhaps Toploader1984 would like (or not) to experience the psychological pain and physical pain of knowing he had no water to drink or wash or cook with yet others in this world were taking it for granted and wasting it willy nilly.
Moaning like a child that something so trivial as using a washing machine is so important compared to potentially saving someones life.... yes it is literally like that!

I can only imagine just how a child born into a third world country through no choice of his own feels when he cant get a cup of water to quench an ongoing thirst that never ends.

I for one am all for washing with Low Levels especially as there is absolutely nothing wrong with todays machines and the water they use.
Water levels have produced excellent jobs in machines where usage was 39l or lower on 5kg loads.

Sadly we have gone back a step or 3 and now have machines using 60 litres for 6/7 kilos.

Perhaps if detergent manufacturers spent more time into sorting out their formulas so that products rinsed better we could lower the consumption again and get back to a justifiable level of water consumption of our machines.

We all should not take for granted the simple things that keep us alive and not aim to waste a single drop which would of been appreciated in everyway in another part of the world.

None of us know what is exactly going to happen in the future either. Who knows what could happen and just because your water supply is plenty now should a disaster happen would you be wishing that you hadnt wasted a drop with hindsight?

As I get older I realise just how appreciative someone can be of any old piece of tat when they dont have anything to start with and what exactly it means for them to have it.

Yes I do use higher wash temperatures but then I am now keen to fill the machine and use it economically but then I dont boilwash for nothing.

Because our machines use just the right amount of water to do a grand job I dont have to worry.

Perhaps if the money saved by not using gallons of hot water in a TL was spent on transporting water to those who were needy many more children would get that drink to keep them alive.

OK its an idealistic vision but remember it may be worth it so save just 1 life maybe????

Its all about social decorum in the circumstance.

 

[brisnat81]

The discussion about water wasted outside the home?

Our water restrictions are as follows and have been this way for the past 3 months. We're on a good thing here as we can now use water outside the house again.

All hoses must be fitted with a trigger nossle
Hosing (For watering or washing cars) is allowed between 4 and 4.30pm 3 days per week
Bucket Watering allowed at any time.
Target Consumption per person per day, is 200L (52Gal)

Prior to receiving some rain and our Dam levels rising for the last 2 years it was as follows:
Bucket watering between 4-4.30 3 days per week
No washing of cars or hard surfaces
No watering of lawns
Target Consumption per person per day was 140L (37Gal)

We're lucky, our dams got down as low as 16% and we've now had enough rain to take the levels back up to 59%. If we make it to 60% we then go on Permenant conservation measures or Target 230 which gives us a Target consumption of 230L per day and will allow normal use of water outside 10-4pm.

Currently the average water use per person per day this week has been 130L and it hasnt impacted upon anyones life whatsoever.