I have a 12 year old pair of Speed Queen Washer AWN412SP111TWO and Speed Queen Dryer ADE3LRGS171TW01 that I bought brand new. Earlier this month the washer started experiencing issues with the hot fill just dribbling water into tub. The cold water flows correctly with no issues. I started to just fill the washer with hot water from a hose hooked to laundry tub. It works fine other then the fill issues. I also experienced in the same week issues with the dryer not heating anymore. It is an electric dryer and I have not had one problem with the dryer until just recently. I contacted the independent Speed Queen appliance store I bought them from to make arrangements to have them serviced. I thought the issue was the heating element in dryer needs replaced and the washer needs a new hot fill inlet. I also thought that since they were here they could do a tuneup for both machines and replacing belts, etc while here. I checked into parts, labor charges and service charge to come to house. It will be between $500 - $1,000 to fix them based on what is wrong with them. I was also told that they were super busy and they wouldn’t be able to come to repair them until mid to late January 2025. I decided to price a new Speed Queen top loader and dryer. The top load washer I looked at was the top of the line Model TR7003WR at a sale price of $1,429.95. Also looked at dryer DR7004WE at the same price of $1,429.95. My question is should I repair my old set or buy a new set. If I am going to spend 1K in repairs does it make more sense to buy new with a 7 year warranty. I like my existing set…basic model with a mechanical timer and very easy to use. I am at a loss what to do…I love older appliances but not sure how much useful life I can get out of my older pair with no warranty. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
Speed Queen Washer and Dryer
- Thread starter easyspin
- Start date
12-year-old Speed Queen pair fix or replace
Hi Bob, unless the machines have had an extreme amount of use, these machines should have a lot of life left in them, to replace an inlet valve on the washer. You should be looking at around $200 including everything to replace a heating element on the dryer another 100-150 while they're there.
How many loads a week have been done with these machines over the years unless you've been doing more than 15 to 20 loads or more a week they shouldn't be anywhere near worn out.
These machines are super simple to work on. I would try to find somebody else you don't even have to get an authorized dealer if somebody can't work on these machines they can't work on anything. Try to find a good independent repair person in your area, you should be able to have both of these fixed within the next week.
John
Hi Bob, unless the machines have had an extreme amount of use, these machines should have a lot of life left in them, to replace an inlet valve on the washer. You should be looking at around $200 including everything to replace a heating element on the dryer another 100-150 while they're there.
How many loads a week have been done with these machines over the years unless you've been doing more than 15 to 20 loads or more a week they shouldn't be anywhere near worn out.
These machines are super simple to work on. I would try to find somebody else you don't even have to get an authorized dealer if somebody can't work on these machines they can't work on anything. Try to find a good independent repair person in your area, you should be able to have both of these fixed within the next week.
John
Deja Vu!
I have a 12 year old Speed Queen AWN412SP and a few days ago literally the exact same thing started happening to me where the water valve drips water into the tub even though the machine is turned off. My plan is to replace the valves (myself) with a 285805 valve. 285805 is an exact physical fit to the existing valves and unlike the original it should let more water through.
https://www.whirlpoolparts.com/PartDetail/Water-Inlet-Valve/285805/868761
I'm not to surprised the OEM valves are giving out, they are not built like the rest of your Speed Queen. They are not the vintage take-apart-valves of the past which lasted 30 years. If you feel bold, you could try mounting these to the bracket:
https://www.whirlpoolparts.com/PartDetail/Water-Inlet-Valve/358277/3231
Unless they've changed the 358277 valves are 50/50 mix and have no flow restriction allowing a real 10 gallon a minute fill.
Considering that I run two loads a day on average (only because I like doing laundry) and I somewhat abuse my Queen I'm going to venture a guess that your washer will last 6-12 more years making the price of new pair of water valves worth it. If you're going to buy new, I'd go with the TC series and avoid the TR series.
Regarding the dryer, and this is just my honest, candid opinion, I'd just by a New Whirlpool top filter dryer. I don't see Speed Queen dryers being worth the money. While they are tougher and more durable, I don't see a significant increase in longevity as you're discovered and they certainly don't dry or perform any better. In fact Speed Queen dryers a worse- they get hot and don't dry quickly. Top filter mount Whirlpool dryers on the other hand dry the fastest and last the longest for the money. At half the price they last twice as long as a Speed Queen dryer. My current dryer is a Maytag MEDC300XW0 being a year older than the Speed Queen it has not had a single repair. Idlers and rollers still sound like new. It does not get hot on medium heat yet dries a very large load of towels in only 80 minutes. Other loads take between 60 and 40 minutes. Excellent lint removal.
I have a 12 year old Speed Queen AWN412SP and a few days ago literally the exact same thing started happening to me where the water valve drips water into the tub even though the machine is turned off. My plan is to replace the valves (myself) with a 285805 valve. 285805 is an exact physical fit to the existing valves and unlike the original it should let more water through.
https://www.whirlpoolparts.com/PartDetail/Water-Inlet-Valve/285805/868761
I'm not to surprised the OEM valves are giving out, they are not built like the rest of your Speed Queen. They are not the vintage take-apart-valves of the past which lasted 30 years. If you feel bold, you could try mounting these to the bracket:
https://www.whirlpoolparts.com/PartDetail/Water-Inlet-Valve/358277/3231
Unless they've changed the 358277 valves are 50/50 mix and have no flow restriction allowing a real 10 gallon a minute fill.
Considering that I run two loads a day on average (only because I like doing laundry) and I somewhat abuse my Queen I'm going to venture a guess that your washer will last 6-12 more years making the price of new pair of water valves worth it. If you're going to buy new, I'd go with the TC series and avoid the TR series.
Regarding the dryer, and this is just my honest, candid opinion, I'd just by a New Whirlpool top filter dryer. I don't see Speed Queen dryers being worth the money. While they are tougher and more durable, I don't see a significant increase in longevity as you're discovered and they certainly don't dry or perform any better. In fact Speed Queen dryers a worse- they get hot and don't dry quickly. Top filter mount Whirlpool dryers on the other hand dry the fastest and last the longest for the money. At half the price they last twice as long as a Speed Queen dryer. My current dryer is a Maytag MEDC300XW0 being a year older than the Speed Queen it has not had a single repair. Idlers and rollers still sound like new. It does not get hot on medium heat yet dries a very large load of towels in only 80 minutes. Other loads take between 60 and 40 minutes. Excellent lint removal.
Just toss a new water valve on the washer and keep using it if the screens in the hose (if applicable) and water valve are clean. Those pre 2018 models are worth gold. It's a pure analog machine with full control of cycle times and water levels, no control board to go out on the washer. The TR7 washer (and all TR washers) have very anemic washing performance.
The problem with the dryer could be something really easy like a burned wire somewhere on the heating element plate. They're very notorious for that. Remove the front cover and shine a flashlight in the lower left hand corner looking at the wire connectors. Testing and replacing components on the heating element plate and the heating element itself is quite easy on these.
The problem with the dryer could be something really easy like a burned wire somewhere on the heating element plate. They're very notorious for that. Remove the front cover and shine a flashlight in the lower left hand corner looking at the wire connectors. Testing and replacing components on the heating element plate and the heating element itself is quite easy on these.
Dan, agree, but I'd avoid using those Speed Queen OEM valves. Clearly they belong in a GE model T longevity wise (actually I think the model Ts had slightly better valves), and with that bloated flow restricter and 70/30 mix they're also TR sympathizers. I'd use Whirlpool / Kenmore TL valves.
Speed Queen inlet valves are just fine
They use the same valves as whirlpool and many other machines all automatic washers from the 50s on have had trouble with inlet valves, you are correct that the inlet valve is not as good as the rest of the machine, but that was also true of May tags, the inlet valves are never as well made as most of the machine that Maytag made or the machine that Speed Queen made they have to rely on big suppliers For parts like this.
The other week points on your Speed Queen's are the timers on both the washer and the dryer again Speed Queen doesn't make their own timers and they had to rely on commercially available timers.
They use the same valves as whirlpool and many other machines all automatic washers from the 50s on have had trouble with inlet valves, you are correct that the inlet valve is not as good as the rest of the machine, but that was also true of May tags, the inlet valves are never as well made as most of the machine that Maytag made or the machine that Speed Queen made they have to rely on big suppliers For parts like this.
The other week points on your Speed Queen's are the timers on both the washer and the dryer again Speed Queen doesn't make their own timers and they had to rely on commercially available timers.
