Speed Queen (or other) decision

[bourbonbarrel]

Hello from Kentucky.

My 16 year old Maytag (top load) performa set just bit the dust and we would like to purchase a new set in the next day or two. After significant web research and a few trips to various appliance retailers, I think we have decided on the SQ brand (although we are open other suggestions).

It's just the two of us with a little one on the way. As of right now we don't wash a significant amount of laundry - a few loads per week, but I'm sure that will change slightly in the coming months.

Would a SQ top load or front load be better for our growing family? Note that we have never owned a front load, only heard the pros and (mostly) cons. There seems to be adequate information and opinion on the top loader on the web (including this site), but very little opinion on the front loader. Additionally, I think we favor the electronic controlled SQ's, but I'm also not sure as much of the data is related to the older models with mechanical controls. We are trying to bite the bullet and buy once and cry once, so any suggestions would be great.

 

[rp2813]

Just off the top of my head, I think you could buy four SQ top-loaders for the price of one SQ front-loader, so there's that. 

 

With a baby on the way, you should think about whether a super-high temperature wash option would be something you'd need.  No top-load machine offers such a thing, nor does the SQ front-loader.  Other makes of front-load machines do, by means of an on-board heater, depending on the model.

 

Others here will have to advise on whether the SQ front-loader offers a true hot wash that isn't temperature controlled.  If you have your water heater set high enough, a SQ top or front load machine without temperature control could be all you need.

 

Personally, I'm not sold on the rinsing job from a SQ toploader.  We had an Amana, which was a SQ clone, for several years and it was lousy at rinsing -- towels in particular.   If you want to eliminate the potential for skin irritation from detergent remaining in washed items, the front loading SQ might be the better option.

 

Just steer clear of Korean makes and GE.

 

[wayupnorth]

I still have my 1984 Maytags running strong with only 1 washer repair. But if I had to replace them, it would be a SQ top loader as it is the closest new to what I have now. Being more old school, I want a washer that does what I want it to do, not it. Hot water if you want, full tub of water if you want and you get clean clothes out of it. I prefer the mechanical controls over anything electronic.

 

[laundromat]

I have had ,pretty much, every current brand of front loading washers and have had many disappointments with most. The only ones I have had excellent results and are still running strong with few,if any problems are my LGs. Look,even though you have the so called "American Assembled" washers and dryers,where do you think the parts are manufactured????!!!! Not here. So, with that said, my recomendation is LG. You dont need all the bells and whistles. Mine ( I now own six of them ) are going,strong. The oldest being eleven years old. That one was doa. The door latch assembly broke from slamming the door. Those as familiar with LG as I know you are able to readjust the water level by the,simple turning of a screw on the air pressure valve in the top under the lid. Mine fills up to the lowest level of the door handle and EVERYFHING gets uniformly washed, rinsed and spun out,1400 rpms. Real quiet and also has recirculating sprays. I got it at Sallys for a song. Cost me forty bucks to replace the lock assembly. Found it on CL.

 

[danmantn]

Highly recommend the Speed Queen top loader. Hot water is not dumbed down in the TL or FL. With the new digital models, you can have multiple rinses, but when using the proper amounts of detergents (and quality brands), multiple rinses are not necessary. I use near odorless detergents and softeners with great success.

 

[bourbonbarrel]

How long is a typical wash cycle in the speed queen front load washer?

 

[danmantn]

45 minutes for a good wash. As short as 24 in quick wash. With options and up to four rinses, soak, heavy soil, and pre wash, it can go up to 2 hours.

 

[mrb627]

up to four rinses

Options to 5 rinses. 7 if the suds routine kicks in.

Malcolm

 

[laundromat]

My LGs all have quick 18 minute programs. An 8 minute wash in hot, warm or cold, two three minute rinses and a three minute final spin from 0 to 1400 rpms with a final 1minute fluff tumble. It also gives you abilities to increase the wash time and add rinses. I personally prefer the long cycles. My clothes get so clean the neighbors we know now all have LGs. They see and smell the hanging laundry asking why they are so nice smelling. I showed them the Gain I use and the original scent. When they saw my laundry area and all the LGs in red ,blue, white and stainless running in unison,they freaked out. Of course, the WM8000s were the most intriguing set to them. Two of them bought them at Home Depot and love the HUGE 5.5cu ft capacity in the washers. They tell me their children stare at them during use and keep the interior lights turned on. Sounds familiar. The SQs don't show any button catcher door opening. That in itself to me is a red flag. If I'm spending over $500 for ANY front loader brand new,it better have a hot,hot wash available and an accessible button catcher/lint trap. Why pay any service company to come clean out YOUR lint filter when you can be able to do it yourself free?

 

[mrb627]

Two Screws

And the lower panel of the SQ comes off for easy cleaning AND service.
Malcolm

 

[henene4]

2 screws are still way more work then 1 little clipped panel. If our FL pump gets blocked (rare, but with baby socks possible), it's up and running again, without any tools, in about 5 minutes.
Though, draining isn't a matter here due to the floor drain next to the machine.

Oh, and I'm realy confused by the 4 TL = 1 FL price statement. AFAIK the TLs range from 700-1000$, the FLs 1600-2000$. The prices for the TL should be right, so the FL would have to cost more then 2500$.

My opinion:
Especialy with the matter of baby related stains, I think you'd be way better of with the not-SQ train. Get something FL with a heater, for a reasonable price.
You see, either TL or FL by SQ can not do a true profile main wash. They can do pre-washes and pre-soaks, but not heat the wash water step by step.
Especially, with protein based stains, this ability could save a lot of pretreating.
Profile wash means the washer starts out at warm, turns on the heater and goes on to the selected temperature. This allows all laundry additives to work best (enzymes while warm, bleach and surfactants at hot). Combine that with a prewash and&#92or a super hot wash (aka Sanitize) and nothing should survive that treatment.

 

[bourbonbarrel]

I measured the temperature of my water at the faucet with a thermapen and it is 139F. (I would also note that the dryer will run on electricity)

I'm not opposed to a brand other than speed queen. It gets quite a bit of discussion here. I would welcome any suggestions as I am not sure what outside of speed queen is good (Electrolux, LG, Bosch, Miele?). (laundromat in Hawaii seems to love his LG's).

 

[henene4]

Miele's quality overall is great, but you'd only get compact machines. If you have a baby, that might get tight. If you want to go full size, you'd be up with 4000$ and more.
Same for Bosch, though the quality is less there.

Electrolux, well, if your willing to spend that much, you can go SpeedQueen as well

The LGs give some value. Not to expensive, features are ok, durability is ok.

I'd go with something like this:
http://www.lg.com/us/washers/lg-WM4270HWA-front-load-washer

That should last through the main laundry trouble time, offers TurboWash (recirculation system, cuts of some time and rinses; both can be readjusted), has a heater, some usefull cycles for you. And not to expensive.

 

[Brandon]

Congrats on the little one on the way! Now not to presume but if your wife is like mine you'll be amazed how quickly baby clothes seemed to multiply. Overnight even! Lol.
On the other hand my wife being budget conscious didn't want to run around & replace a new washer every five years and liked the idea of something lasting (like her parents & mine washer machine lasted 30 years). As a couple we don't like to look back on money we spent with a question mark. We buy brands with reputation for longevity & durability be it Toyota (330k miles) or kitchen items to watches. Spend well & move on. Speed Queen is smart money.
What's that saying "The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten".

 

[laundromat]

Yes, I do love,my LGs. So does Consumer Reports. They are not only highly rated but they are the most reliable brand. Eight years in a row now. Washers AND dryers. They're direct,not belt,driven and will spin clockwise OR counter, clockwise. No other brand does that. The tilted tub,fuzzy logic, twenty year motor warranty,lifetime drum warranty,and user friendly controls along with seeing the strongest seal Ive ever seen on mother board to eliminate the moisture from ruining it are a few reasons I highly recomend LG . The main reason is they get my clothes real clean and spin fast enough to truly wash and wear my clotges.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
I see 10 years on the motor on this LG at least, but I'm sure everything else you say is true, just not the only thing I have checked ;-]

LG WM3050CW: Large Front Load Washer with ColdWash Technology | LG USA

Get information on the 4.0 cu. ft. ultra large capacity front load washer with coldwash™ technology. Find pictures, reviews, technical specifications, and features for this LG WM3050CW: 4.0 cu. ft. Ul

www.lg.com

 

[DADoES]

 
1) Those longer warranty terms typically are applied to parts that don't have a high failure rate.

2) Will the part be available 20 years after the purchase date?

 

[kb0nes]

I was just at the local full-service appliance store this past weekend (as an aside purchased a 432 SQ TL machine for my girlfriends parents). When I was there I saw an LG front load machine and they had the control module laying on top the machine to show it off. The entire main board was set into a plastic tray and there was about 3/8" of conformal potting compound encasing the entire PC board.

While this may seem to be a good idea to protect the board from moisture (something that isn't really important), what it does do a great job of is insuring that the board has zero serviceability. Even the fuse on the board was potted and impossible to replace. As a pro-electronics type person this really bothered me. Boo to LG

 

[combo52]

New Speed Queen Washer

Differently get the FL washer if you can, It is less than twice the cost of the great TL washer but it should easily last twice as long all while doing a far better job cleaning your clothing and with less wear and damage.

 

The front load washer will also save you at least $100 per year in energy and water cost to operate. The SQ FL washer could actually save you over $5000 dollars in operating costs in its over forty year possible life span, and you may be a grand parent by that time.

 

I almost hate to announce this now because I know you need a washer now, but by April this year the cost to SQ dealers on the FL washers is dropping by around $500 dollars so they will cost only a little more that the old fashioned crude [ hard to repair ] TL washers.

 

John L.