Should I get my old Kenmore direct drive washer fixed?

[Zoey]

Neither top load nor front load washers jive well with constant cold water washes. Top loaders are just more forgiving....for awhile. If you run a cleaning cycle on the front loader twice a month, you'll probably have a cleaner outer drum than the DD....which is very notorious for buildup at the very top (thanks to the neutral drain) and bottom of the outer plastic tub, especially with cold washes.

I have clothes I've been washing in a Maytag top loader (and drying) for 32 years (same slim figure the entire duration). They are not worn out yet and that includes 120F warm washes, spray rinses, and deep rinses. A front loader will be significantly gentler on your clothes compared to a DD.

Thanks, that's helpful.

 

[sumgal]

I've got a Kenmore 90 Plus series, quite pack plus, 110.C28932790. Matching dryer. Bought these either late 1999 or early 2000. I think the last time I worked on the washer was 5 years ago. The motor was stalling, problem with the centrifical start switch. I rebuilt the switch. Motor got hot a few times before we noticed, kind smelled. But the motor survived. Have also replaced the capacitor. And the motor-pump coupler a few times. Took the timer apart once. And I did rebuild the transmission maybe 10 years ago for some reason. Really really glad it has no electronics.

But like I said, I haven't touched it in 5 years. It's almost - boring. We can go a couple weeks without doing a load, and then sometimes it's running several loads in a day. Dryer - have hardly done anything with it, replaced the igniter twice.

Fix your Kenmore. It's worth it. And it ain't done right unless you do it yourself.