TL vs FL washer

[qualin]

Without beating this thread to death...

My 2004-vintage GE toploader consumed 180 litres of water per cycle. 90 litres every single time the tub filled. If a second rinse was selected, it would consume 270 litres of water.

Comparing that to my Huebsch, it normally consumes about 83 Litres of water per cycle. About 90 litres if I select an extra rinse.

So, therre is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the operating costs of a front loader are certainly lower than that of a traditional Non-HE top loading machine.

What I can't understand is why there isn't more traditional top loading machines which have spin cycles which match that of front loaders. (Not counting the old Fridgidaire machines) The LG and Samsung HE top loaders will reach what, 1200 RPM on a high speed spin?

Another thing I thought I should mention is that ever since I switched to using a front loader, my clothing isn't getting ripped or torn anymore. My GE top load machine seemed to hate my comforter slips (Maybe this was just user error) and occasionally would rip one of my shirts, despite the short stroke agitation.

The debate on FL vs TL has been going on a while in this forum and it is a hot topic which has been discussed numerous times. On this forum, it could almost be considered a "religious" matter.

Realistically? IMHO I'm glad I switched to using a front loader. My biggest beef about it is that when loading it, clothes tend to fall out until I lightly pack them in. Ideally, my perfect washer would be a European style top loading H-Axis washer. (Think of a front loader, but with the door being on the top.)

It is a shame they don't sell them in Canada.. and I've heard lots of negative things about Staber washers, so in some ways I'm glad I didn't buy one.

 

[appnut]

My electric consumption went down.  Shorter drying times.  Lowered my water heater temp to 120 since washer & dishwasher heat their water during cycles. 

 

[frigilux]

Front-loader, for all the reasons listed by previous posters: Less water and energy consumption, excellent cleaning, super-fast spin speeds, gentle on fabrics.

 

[washerdude]

Heres another thing about front loaders

When we got our new duet, we could tell a difference in how dry the clothing was right away. Further more, this resulted in clothes being dryed in just 30 minutes. With our old washer they toke about 50-40 minutes. I also notice how i dont need to split drying towels in a different load because of how wet they are. Now, everything in the washer goes right into the dryer without splitting. This is just another reasons why i think front loaders are far better.

 

[foraloysius]

Ah yes, Staber!

http://www.staber.com/washingmachines

They don't get mentioned much here. Anyone bought one lately?

 

[henene4]

@qualin

Give me 20 years and if everything works out like I'd like, you'll have them

Just today on the way home I thought: Why not a Westinghouse FL style cabinet with a drum simmilar to a EU TL? Would seriously be quite an innovation...

 

[lordkenmore]

>What I can't understand is why there isn't more traditional top loading machines which have spin cycles which match that of front loaders.

My assumption is that washers with higher spin speeds end up being more expensive to make. At one time, energy was cheap and seemingly endless, and so reducing drying time was probably considered of little importance. When energy costs did go up for the first time, companies were stuck with older washer designs, and re-engineering was probably expensive. There may have been the mentality of "spend as little to address energy savings as possible." A cold water rinse as standard is easier/cheaper than a revised transmission...

 

[mark_wpduet]

Good point.

Are SQ's made as well now as they were 30 years ago? Who knows. But I'm sure they are still better made than the others.

Now, I know back in 2005, when I bought my Duet and started acct on this forum and another forum, (back then) - and people were talking about everything being "JUNK" today (back in 2005) and not made like it used to be, so that hasn't changed ten years later. I would have never believed after years of hearing spiders failing, control boards, explosions from spinning, etc, that my washer would still be working great. It would be interesting to know whether they have cheapened the washers even more than in 2005, because on my Duet, I was sure the handle would break because it's a very cheap handle, but I've always been careful with it.

Could it be just luck? Or my washing habits? Who knows...

 

[ea56]

Thanks Joe! I have to tell you watching that GE leave the house was sad, I really liked that machine. In fact, its the only time I have ever been really sad to see a washer go. But I am very happy with the LG and I know that I'm now doing everything that I can to conserve our precious water. Sounds like from your posts here that you made a good choice with your new Kenmore HE TL.

 

[passatdoc]

My Frigidaire 2140, purchased March 2006, gave me eight years of perfect service. I gave it and the matching dryer to my neighbor last year, it's still working fine more than nine years after purchase (I bought a new Electrolux set when the neighbor's washer gave out, then handed the Frigidaire set over to him).