Porcelain Top, Lid, & Basket (Whirlpool Brand)

[drewz]

Well, with all the product lines shifting at Whirlpool there is now only ONE "Classic" Washer & Dryer set you can buy now with a Porcelain, Top, Lid, & Basket. These are the WTW5900 (washer), and the WED5900 (electric) or WGD5900 (gas) dryers. I remember when porcelain was standard on every model, next year these models probably won't be in production. Does this porcelain finish cost that much more to make? I have a Kenmore 90 Series with a porcelain top looks like new, and have a 70 Series dryer with plain metal top and it looks like a piece of trash and they are the same age. Anyone have any good reasons why porcelain is being phased out on appliances?

 

[pierreandreply4]

what i think

hello

i think they phases out porcelain top and bascket because they want persons to replace thir washer and dryer when they brake just to make more money.

 

[rp2813]

Agreed, they know the top would outlast all the other operational components on a modern washer so there's no longer any point to using porcelain.

My '97 Amana pair weren't porcelain so I was very careful with them while I had them. A real disappointment compared to the center dial Maytags they replaced.

 

[launderess]

Porcelain is being replaced by plastic for BOL and some MOL models with various grades of stainless steel for some MOL and most all TOL washing machines and dishwashers.

In theory stainless steel can cost more, much more than porcelain, however much would depend upon the process of producing porcelain covered metal. Some really great ones would literally outlast the washing machine/dishwasher, others would crack/chip easily which lead to rust.

IIRC there may be some environmental issues with producing porcelain covered metal for appliances as well.

By and large though, plastic is probably replacing porcelain for the reason another poster gave; washing machines/dishwashers are no longer lasting four or so years, much less the 15 or so of yesterday. With that in mind a "lifetime" tub/interior becomes less and less of a selling of a selling point.

 

[dnastrau]

Maytag Epic 9700 still has it...

The Maytag Epic 9700 FL washer that we recently purchased has a porcelain top (apparently the lower 9600 model has an enamel top.) The 2000 model year KitchenAid top loader that we had previously (and matching dryer that we still have) also had a porcelain top and lid.

My parents' 1984 Hotpoint Filter-Flo set still looks great - both have a porcelain top!

Andrew S.

 

[funguy10]

If you want cheap, try a GE Top-Loader and its all plastic basket, agitator, and transmission. Garunteed to fail very early or your money back

 

[johnb300m]

GE TL

Have any of you ever noticed the awful noises GE top suspended TL washers make when you swivel the drum around?
It's a terrible metallic scraping noise.
THAT cannot be good for reliability.

 

[pulsator]

Were you turning a hydrowave or the older plastic TL? The older plastic TL washers aren't supposed to turn...

 

[johnb300m]

GE TL

NO I wasn't turning the tub, but moving the tub in a circular motion on its suspension.
You grab the agititor and move it around.

I do this to all washers I look at, and it tells me alot about the machine.
GEs like to use top suspension and they always make terrible metallic scraping noises when I move their suspensions around.

 

[goatfarmer]

Porcelain...

...is very expensive to apply. At Frigidaire school, back in '76, the instructor told us the application of porcelain to the inside of refrigerators, washer tubs, etc, was the most costly portion of the manufacturing process. With the washers now lasting 10 years or less, it just doesn't make much sense.

 

[xyz]

John, I do the same thing when I look at a machine. I move teh tub everytime. Those GE toploaders are pretty disposable ine the Bic lighter sense huh?

 

[sudsmaster]

A lot of machines come with powder coating instead of porcelain, at least for the exterior. It looks almost the same but of course doesn't last quite as long. It's more easily scratched, but better than a thin coat of conventional paint.

You can tell when a mfg advertises their machine as having "durable coat finish" or some such euphamism, but they are careful not to claim it's porcelain enamel.