SQ FL or TL

[combo52]

Traditional TL Washer vs a Front Load Washer

Speed Of A FL Washer vs A TL machine.

 

My SQ FLer is the older small door model built in 2005 and it does the maximum cycle in just 30 minutes unless I select boosted hot wash which adds 15-30 minutes to the initial wash time depending on load size. So actually my FL washer is the fastest AW washer I have and the one I use if I an in a hurry, My LKM Gas combo and my GE combo [ both 1966 ] also complete the complete WRS cycle in just 30 minutes.

 

Cycle time does not have much to do with a machine loads from the front or top, and the new FL machines that do take up to two hours to complete a full cycle do a much better overall job than a traditional TL washer could ever dream of doing, let alone the fact that you save a lot of time drying the load afterwords.

 

 

 

[frocco]

Wanted to post an update on my buying decision.
I cancelled the Maytag purchase and ordered the Speed Queen 542 and SQ Dryer.

I wanted all those bells and whistles, but decided that the 1000.00 cost difference was not worth it.
If I had purchased the Maytags, my wife wanted the pedestals and that pushed it over our budget limit.

So my SQ's should be here next week.

Ironically, I purchased a SQ measuring glass last week from ebay.

Regards,

Frank

 

[frigilux]

Frank-- Be sure to raise the water level. It's very simple. Here's the demonstration video I watched. My dealer made the adjustment for me, as doing it yourself technically voids the warranty. Be sure to unplug the washer when you open the console. My dealer didn't do that, even though he said, "Better be careful not to electrocute myself." Don't know if you want to defeat the lid switch so you can watch it work, but that's simple to do, as well. I did that one myself, as the dealer refused to; understandably so.

Meant to ask earlier and forgot: What was the brand and format (TL or FL) of your previous washer?

I like the AWN542, though I've only washed 5 loads so far. I still prefer my front-loader for a lengthy list of reasons, but if you're going to have a top-loader, the SQ is the way to go!

 

[frocco]

Frigilux

Thanks for the info.
Wish I could afford to have both.

My last washer was an Amana TL

 

[washman]

Congrats frocco

Be sure to keep us posted.

 

[frocco]

Thanks Washman

Hope I won't be disappointed.

 

[ozarkdude]

Brave new world

Top loader vs front loader? Is that like caveman beat clothes on rocks vs man inventing the wheel?

Beats me. But front load washers have been THE choice of commercial use longer than Ive been alive, and I'm 55 years old. And SQ does seem to have the market share in commercial FL washers.

Are the laundromats buying machines based more on energy use and water consumption, and less of quality washing capability? Possibly. Probably. But how many complain their clothes didn't come clean at the laundromat? So if the clothes come out clean, AND you save energy, isn't that a win win? You save on your electric bill, both in the electrical consumption the washer uses, as well as the drying time in the dryer. You save water, which for people like me, on a well, is the difference between having water for a shower or not, and, you use less soap.

I read a lot of the complaints about front loaders. Smell, mold, mildew, vibration. But dig deeper. These machines use 1/10th the wash water of a TL, yet people put in as much detergent as they put in their TL. They park the machines on light flexible floors, even though the OM specifically says to place them on firm foundations. You cant do everything wrong and then complain when the machine doesn't work right.

I took this LG FL apart (bad bearings). The soap drawer was gooey as was the fabric softener drawer. Did they use too much? The drum had heavy residue all around the front and back, and the support spider was clogged with soap scummy grunge. But no corrosion.

I don't know how it will work out, but I'm committed to the technology. Were going to use powdered soap and zero fabric softener in the machine, and cut the soap quantity back to about 1/10th (or less) the amount per wash we used in the TL, and see how it works. And regardless how this LG works out, Ive got my eye out for a commercial grade SQ front loader and dryer. My goal is to have a vertical stack in the wash room.

 

[neptunebob]

Maybe a way to market the front loader

Is to say that it is the last washer one may ever buy. Try to appeal to those customers and SQ may well sell a lot of front loaders. If I had a family I might well want one of those even with the high price, knowing it might outlast at least 2 duets.

Oh, wait just read above and Combo, you do recommend the FL.

My question is, why doesn't Consumer Reports like it? If it is a matter of not cleaning heavily soiled clothes, it the FL still a good choice if maybe you work in a office and your clothes are not as dirty?

 

[rll70sman]

New Speed Queens

Well, I finally gave in to all the conversation on here lately about Speed Queen washers and dryers. Today I did the unthinkable and drove on down to Bathrick's Appliances here in Hastings and ordered my Speed Queen top-load washer and electric dryer. They are set to be delivered on Wednesday or sooner if the delivery guys have a cancellation.

I should've did this last year and forgone the Whirlpool top loader I have now. It's got the stupid automatic temperature control and lid lock. The dumb thing gets unbalanced at least once a week and takes forever to finish a normal load of wash.

I'll update everyone on my new toys later this week.

Rob

 

[frigilux]

I purchased a Speed Queen AWN542 top-loading washer a couple of weeks ago and like it a lot. If you are looking for the classic top-load experience, you made the right choice.

Just make sure to tell the installers you want the water level raised to the top row of holes in the tub. SQ lowered the water level to meet water-use mandates, but customer service has given dealers permission to raise the water level back to the top of the tub if the customers requests it.

 

[washman]

rll70sman be sure to keep us posted.

I am keenly interested to know how you like your machines. I trust they will deliver the goods with clean laundry and peace of mind knowing that you bought old school, proven designs not destined for the rubbish bin after the warranty runs out.

 

[brucelucenta]

Amazing that so many have so much to say reguarding what washing machine to buy. All I can say is that if you are judging by performance that there is no comparison in top loaders vs. front loaders. Clearly the front load washers of today out perform any top loaders and are far more efficient with water. They also produce a load of laundry virtually lint free with no redeposition of sediment, something even the best top loader cannot do. On a purely personal taste of washers, I prefer a top loader. But that is not because they perform or wash your clothes better, just because I happen to like them.

 

[frigilux]

I am a proponent of modern front-loaders. A Frigidaire 4174 is my daily driver. Purchased the Speed Queen because it's the last of the truly classic top-loaders, and I wanted one for posterity. And the spin-drain is fun to watch. The Frigidaire out-performs the SQ in several areas.

Some people just don't want a front-loader. A Speed Queen is probably the machine they're looking for.

 

[spinmon]

I like the 30 minute normal wash cycle of our AWN 542,the spin drain,water fills tub quickly,and my favorite;normal wash speed makes great 'slosh' sounds along with a slight 'woo-woo',depending on proximities to the machine.

 

[washman]

This too is my 1st

experience with spin drain. I find it fascinating and I marvel at how the stout 1/2 HP motor brings the works up to speed, water and all.

 

[rll70sman]

Excellent, excellent machines!

I washed and dried two colored loads--one with mixed fabrics and one with jeans and towels--in my new AWN412 top-load washer and ADE3LR electric dryer delivered last evening. Wow! They are fast, quiet, no-nonsense machines (think vintage Maytags)! No stupid lid locks, balancing acts, 10-minute fill times, dumbed-down water temperatures, and wind-down spin cycles! In fact, I've yet to time how long it took the tub to fill with warm wash and cold rinse water, but it certainly didn't take longer than three minutes or so. Love the spin-drain and a spray rinse after the wash cycle instead of the rinse.

Rob

 

[washman]

Glad to hear rll70sman

I hope you find these machines as inspiring as I do for their simplicity, quality, and ease of use.

 

[frigilux]

Rob-- My AWN542 fills with warm water in about 3-3/4 minutes; cold in about 4-1/2; hot in about 5 minutes. Mine may take a bit longer as the water level has been adjusted to the top row of holes, in essence filling the tub full.

It is a very time-efficient machine. It took my 2013 Frigidaire Immersion Care (impeller-based) top-loader 25 minutes to complete a Rinse & Spin cycle. It's about 12 minutes in the Speed Queen. To be fair, the Frigidaire had a final spin time of 11 minutes, which extracted more water.

The very short final spin time of the SQ is probably my only grumble about the machine. Loads emerge with a lot of excess moisture. I timed the dry cycle of two identical loads of bath linens, one spun in my Frigidaire front-loader (1300 rpm) and one in the SQ. The load from the front-loader spent 54 minutes in the dryer; the load from the SQ spent 92 minutes in the dryer. That's a huge difference.

 

[jeffg]

Eugene, that's the first complaint I've heard that final spin times are too short on these washers. Although I've heard the opposite complaint more than once, claiming the cycles are too long. Once the water stops running out of your clothes during a spin, usually after just a few minutes, further water extraction comes at the expense of wrinkles. So it's always a tradeoff between extraction performance and final condition of the clothes, along with noise/vibration.

At least in our house we use the slower spin speed on or SQ TL as often or more often than the faster 710rpm, but it would be nice to have a 1000+rpm option for towels and other loads where wrinkling isn't a problem. But the upside is that better clothes (dress shirts etc) come out ready to wear with slower spin speeds.