Shopping for new washer

[suedenim]

I am in the market for a new laundry pair. My current Kitchenaid washer and dryer have had two repairs each. They continue to work but under noisy protest. I was attracted to the KitchenAid set because of the 3-speed motor, good warranty, solid construction, but mostly because they were supposed to be the quietest. My laundry is two feet away from the easy chair and television. I want to replace it with the quietest top loader I can find that can also clean and rinse. It must be a top loader due to the configuration of my house, I would never be able to open a front loader to put laundry inside it. If you could see my set up you'd understand.

I was pretty convinced that I needed a Speed Queen TR7 and I ordered one, but the one they installed had a bad part on it and the store said it would need to be exchanged with something in their inventory. They had no more of the TR7 so I returned the unit since my current set still works.

Now I've lost confidence in the SQ brand because of the broken unit. The Maytag Commercial feels like an option but I do not believe it has the features the TR7 does, extra rinse, load sizing, delayed start, etc.

I'm trying very hard to warm up to the idea of an HE top loader, but I'm not convinced they can handle pet hair well. I was wondering what all the experts and enthusiasts would pick for me.

 

[pierreandreply4]

maytag

i have this maytag set and it handles cat hair pretty well also here a vid i took of the washer in action with my phone

 

[DADoES]

 
Your KA set is better than anything new on the market.

 

[revvinkevin]

^ ^ ^ What He Said!!

ESPECIALLY when Compared to ANY of the current top load washers available today!

** But If I HAD to choose a top load washer, I’d go with an LG.

 

[maytag85]

Since you want a quiet washer, I wouldn’t bother with a Whirlpool VMW washer since they are noisy and I wouldn’t bother with a Speed Queen TR7 since it’s expensive and has piss poor washing and rinsing performance. I’d just would keep your KitchenAid set since it will outlast all newer machines made on the market and will wash and rinse better as well.

If you really want a quiet washer, get a early 70’s Lady Kenmore with the quiet pak since those quiet pak belt drive washers are very quiet in operation.

 

[suedenim]

Thank you for the replies!

The first time I needed service was a few years back. I attempted to do it myself (and failed) but I could tell how well built my KitchenAid set was as I had gone to a sales floor to do pricing trying to determine fix or repair. All the new models seem so flimsy in comparison. I figured at that time that my set was worth at least two repairs. I've hit that benchmark now and have budgeted for their replacement.

The last repairman told me to just keep fixing what I got because I'll never find anything better new and I'd be hard-pressed to find something better used. He said if I had to replace it, to just get an Amana and let it go as long as it can, then get another one, and let it go as long as it can, etc. My mother has an old Amana washer that seems really well built but the quality is not matched in today's Amanas.

I've looked and looked at all the top load models and I still cannot wrap my head around the fact of how awful the selection is if you want a quality washer. Problem is, I can tell my washer is dying a painful and slow death. I feel like I have to apologize to it at times when I ask it to work something big. It makes this horrible ratchety sound. I'm nervous about it. If I could buy my KitchenAid set one more time brand new I would do it in a heartbeat.

I will look at the LG top load again. I do like the dryer with the versatile door.

 

[DADoES]

 
Parts are still available (last time I checked, anyway) to mechanically rebuild your KA to new condition ... or to fix whatever is currently wrong regards to the ratchety noise.  I did three (a Kenmore and two Whirlpools) a few/couple years ago.

The early 1970s Lady Kenmore recommended above cannot be done as such, parts are long NLA except among collectors who have stockpiled.

Amana today is Whirlpool, as is Maytag.

 

[agiflow]

Either fix or get the Amana NTW4516FW3. Had the washer for a year and would recommend.I sold it though because I wanted a DD again. Either get the KitchenAid repaired or get a refurbished Direct drive. Why not look into the Speed Queen TC5000 ? They have a nice rhythmic hum that shouldn't be too obnoxious.

 

[gizmo]

ratchety noise

pardon my ignorance but isn't a ratchety noise likely to just be drive dogs in the agitator?

If so, it must be a particularly easy DIY repair, plenty of capable people here able to talk/walk you through the repair.

 

I'm not familiar with the Kitchenaid machine, is it a direct drive Whirlpool under the skin?

 

[egress]

yes, the kitchenaid is a Direct drive.

 

[suedenim]

KitchenAid was part of the Whirlpool family. It was the deluxe brand and then it wasn't.

I would be interested in having a mechanical rebuild done. Does anyone have hints on finding a place that can do it? What do I look for? I am not sure if it's something the guy I have had out here from time to time normally does. I haven't asked him but I can.

Thank you for your help!

 

[tomdawg]

I too would keep the kitchen aid over anything else out there. Kitchen aids are generally the quieter DD. The pump on newer machines can get awfully loud. Sure you can hear the kitchen aid, but it’s a consistent smooth sound where as newer machines make different noises through out the wash.

 

[rp2813]

From what I've read, the "agitator dogs" are parts that are an easy DIY repair.   If as Chris mentioned above, the noise is coming from those, you should for sure keep your machine and make the repair.  I don't know what their real names are to research part number and price, but someone here is sure to have that info if needed. 

 

If you're able to provide one, a video of your machine making the noise would be helpful.

 

[suedenim]

Hello everyone, and good morning!

I will work on the video later today, but here is the tag if that is at all useful. The two repairs I have had on it replaced a pump and the water intake connection.

 

[DADoES]

 
1998 model-year.  Factory production 1998, Nov 30 - Dec 4.

Be advised that videos cannot be uploaded directly into a post here like photos.  They must be put on an online sharing service such as DailyMotion, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.  Copy the URL for viewing the video and paste it into the "URL Link to Share" field when composing a reply.  Majority of folks here use YouTube.  The AW board software recognizes standard URLs to YouTube and embeds the video when pasted directly into the post (not necessary to use the link share field).  You'll see the video in the reply preview if it's working.

 

[DADoES]

 
Regards to agitator dogs, agitator cogs may be a more accurate term but agitator dogs has long been the common term.

P/N 80040 is the four dogs.

P/N 285811 is an agitator repair kit that includes the dogs and the cam, thrust washer, cap seal, and agitator bolt seal.  Note that there are three repair kit choices depending on the design of the agitator ... short, medium, or long cam.  Yours is medium.

A simple test to check the dogs ... turn the spiral auger by hand.  Counterclockwise the dogs should grab and also turn the agitator base/fins.  Clockwise the dogs slip and the auger free-spins, the base fins don't turn.  The dogs are broken if the auger free-spins both directions, doesn't grip and turn the base counterclockwise.  It's normal for the auger to be a bit loose and wobbly.

 

[pinkpower4]

Fix your Kitchen Aid set if possible, but...

If you want a new washer closest to what you have, I'd go with the Speed Queen TC5 (be sure to get the newest model that includes the five year parts and labor warranty included in the price) or Maytag mvwp575gw (get THIS model--it has the five year parts and labor warranty included in the price). Both of these have short and efficient cycle times (about 25 mintues to 45 mintues, I think, if no extra options like a presoak or extra rinse are selected). Overall, Speed Queen TC5 would be my top pick if I had to choose a new one made today. It was not available when I bought my Maytag mvwp575gw, which would still be my overall second pick.

The Speed Queen TC5 is more durable in terms of its design: suspension, transmission, etc. It also has half load options for the main cycles. It uses tap hot too when hot is selected. Unlike your washer, this has a control board behind the knobs (they all do now) and a control board that works along with the transmission. The extra price for the dryer cannot be justified when compared to Maytag/Whirlpool that work well too at a lower cost. There is no water level selector like you probably have with your washer just a full or half tub fill. Just a thought, but many hotels (if you go on vacation) or laundry mats will have Speed Queen for their top loaders. You may be able to get an idea of the noise by trying them out? They are a true commercial top load.

The Maytag mvwp575gw is the one of the best performing cleaning washers you can buy today. It has one control board behind the knobs and uses a vertical modular design instead of transmission. It has the dual action agitator. It moves clothes down, in, and through the water well including the bulkier items like comforters or really dirty work clothes. This is because the agitator not only moves in a different direction than the tub, but the two pieces of the agitator move independently too. An agitator that just moves back and forth in one direction can't turn over comforter or get the really dirty items as clean quite as well. All deep water cycles have tap hot when hot is selected. Maytag says this is commercial. Though I think it is better built for residential use, I don't consider it a true commercial quality due to vmw design.

The biggest cons of the Maytag mvwp575gw washer is there is only one half tub fill option. Although it works well for quick washes and even smaller loads (except delicates), some may have an issue with these two things. Hot is warm and warm is cold with this cycle only. A spray rinse is used instead of half tub rinse. You can get around these by using an alternate method to fill the tub with tap hot and by just running this cycle twice without detergent the second time if you want the half tub rinse. The spray rinse is just a bonus. This washer uses a hung suspension. I haven't had any problems when washing like items, for example, a load of jeans or towels. If you wash items of different sizes like a bed bed, be sure to balance it with something of equal weight so it does not go off balance in the final spin. The matching dryer shouldn't disappoint. It's basic, simple, and should be well built to get the job done for years to come. Side note. I've had my washer for three years now without any warranty issues in my kid and pet friendly home. On some days, I've run it from morning to night one load after another too.

HE washers will likely add cold even when hot is selected. They also will not give you enough water. In some of the HE washers I've seen, the clothes just go back and forth. Whatever is on top stays on top. If there is not enough water, the top of the clothes don't even get wet. Cycle times are often much longer.

I personally would not get the Speed Queen TR series unless you have lightly soiled or office wear only. Also, this wash action is not as effective for turning clothes over. Cycle times are longer too.

I strongly suggest watching videos on YouTube especially by Loraine Furniture or Kirk Rivas before selecting your next washer. They do unbiased and informative reviews.

 

[pinkpower4]

Maytag Deep Water Cycles Clarification...

All Maytag Deep Water Cycles have a full tub wash and a full tub rinse. Hot is tap hot. Side note: Each of these cycle's wash actions work as expected. The delicates cycle has the shortest agitation time, so I always do a presoak with it.

 

[suedenim]

This may need to move to the Imperial forum I am providing you a link to my KitchenAid in action, (it goes to my google drive) but I'll try to relate it to the new washers.

I have thought about the Speed Queen TC5 and the commercial Maytag. I know there's a trade-off between performance and longevity between the two. I like the agitator of the Maytag, looks a lot like what I currently have. It seems like everything is back-ordered though. I have an office job so I don't need a super cleaner, but I would like to have an extra rinse as soap and fabric softener bother me. I suppose I could do a 2nd cycle with the Maytag. I thought the issues with the TR7 has been solved from the 2018 version.

It's been a complete blessing to have a washer that works for two decades. Sometimes I would have to go to the laundromat to do quilts, but for the most part, I've been happy with my purchase. It cost a fortune at the time, but I knew what I was buying was a good set. The delivery people were so happy to install it. They said I had a great unit. That's the sort of quality I want again, so I am leaning probably more toward an SQ washer since they are reliable. I believe you get what you pay for. (Except that TR7 I had bought was broken new---now I doubt their track record).

As far as the ratchety noise, it was much louder and pronounced yesterday, but perhaps that is because my laundry room is an old hallway to the no-longer-existing back door and narrow, cave-like space projects sound. When I started this load the washer seemed pretty normal and then it started to increase. The noise stopped at the very end of the spin cycle. I think it's more noticeable for different cycles, but maybe that's just me.