Videos: 2013 Frigidaire Immersion Care Washer

[mrb627]

Centrifuge Wash

Unlike most of the competitors, I like that the centrifugal wash action does not coast to a stop before changing directions. Just goes ahead and reverses from high speed CW to high speed CCW! That is cool.

I also like that the machine never sits idle for any length of time. It is always in motion.

I do wonder why during agitation, it seems to pause and the resume the same action. Do you think it is trying to sense something about the load?

All in all, a very nice machine indeed. Is there a basket clean cycle?

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

MALCOLM: You'll notice that the first movement after the pause really winds up a lot counterclockwise, then thrusts in the other direction to help the items in the load shift position. There is no "Clean" cycle, probably because it uses more water in the wash cycle than most other impeller machines.

 

[georgect]

Temps...

Eugene, can you tell us what temps your getting for hot, warm & cold washes?

Does this washer have a internal heater to hold temps?

 

[golittlesport]

Thanks for the videos!

Like you, Eugene, I am a fan of front-load machines, but this machine is very interesting. I especially like the few fast, spin-like strokes it takes with water in the tub. I bet those really surge the sudsy water through the load. Although this machine does not look to create as much movement of the clothes as other impeller machines, it still seems to do a good job of cleaning. Since previous impeller top loaders have been dinged for tangling and wear on clothing, maybe this action of moving water through clothing is better.

How much water does it use when you set the water level on "auto"?

 

[frontloaderfan]

Thoroughly enjoying the videos of your new toy! Very entertaining to watch and listen to! Like you, I think this is a nice diversion but I think I would still prefer my Frigidaire FL as a daily driver.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I don't see the impeller doing anything. It looks to me like the wash action comes from the tub itself, no?

 

[frigilux]

Here's about one-third of the very heavily-stained load of kitchen whites, shown before it went into the machine. Most of the other items had some stains, but not quite this spectacular. All the usual suspects are here: Ketchup; mustard; spaghetti sauce; barbecue sauce; Worcestershire sauce; picante sauce; A-1 steak sauce; coffee; blueberries; chocolate cake batter; chocolate frosting; Hershey's chocolate syrup; strawberry syrup (the kind for snow cones and Italian sodas, not pancakes); and finally just some plain old dirt.

This collection of horrors started Wednesday, so most of them were dried into the fabric.

I started with the Presoak cycle and a full scoop of powdered Tide With Bleach HE. The cycle is about 25 minutes long. Selecting warm water and auto-sensing, it filled to the maximum level, then did some long whirls in each direction followed by a 5-minute soak. This process is repeated several more times. It drains but does not spin. The manual says to add some more detergent and continue on to the next cycle. I decided to go with the Drain & Spin cycle. I pulled the load out and looked it over; most stains were still very visible.

[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-22:04]

 

[frigilux]

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I added yet another full scoop of Tide, plus one-half cup of liquid chlorine bleach and selected the Heavy Duty cycle with these options: Heavy soil, max fill, max spin speed, and an extra spray rinse. Since the iPad can only record about 49 minutes at a time, I divided the video into two parts so you can view the entire cycle.

Here's part one, which shows the fill and wash agitation. [this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-18:48]

 

[frigilux]

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Here's part two, showing the drain, five spray rinses, and the final spin. I don't think the final spin is 800 rpm; more like standard-issue 625 rpm.[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-18:45]

 

[frigilux]

When the cycle was complete, I pulled each item out one at a time and inspected it. Only four items had stains remaining: A chef's apron (barbecue sauce); a bar mop (strawberry syrup); and two poly-blend dinner napkins (both spaghetti sauce). Only one napkin is seen here because the stain on the other one was so light the camera wasn't picking it up.

These will go into the front-loader, later.

[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-18:39]

 

[frigilux]

Per request of Launderess, I threw the clean load (minus the four items that flunked the test) into the front-loader on the Sanitize cycle to see if and how much detergent was left behind by the Immersion Care. This photo was taken about 45 minutes into the wash period, so the water was really hot.

Yup! There is a little detergent left behind. Not much, but enough to show at the bottom of the glass. I stopped the cycle, spun the load, and chose Rinse & Spin. Only a few bubbles.

To be fair, I used two full-to-the-top scoops of Tide for that load, and there was no rinse between the Presoak and the main cycle. That's a hell of a lot of detergent, so I still have no complaints about the machine's rinsing ability.[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-18:47]

 

[combo52]

New FD TL Washers

Eugene, thanks so much for making and posting these videos and all your test comments. This is the reason that I enjoy this site so much as even though I work with appliances everyday and dispense information to thousands of our customers every year it is always good to get this type of information from people on this site.

 

While I had posted about this machine before after I saw it in operation at a trade show early last fall it is good to see it in the hands of a member here. And while your videos have not changed my opinion of this washer at least I can report to potential buyers what to expect. I believe the majority of users will be fairly happy with this washer just as most people have been happy other less than great washers, one tends to get used to a machine and use it accordingly, look how many people bought MTs over the last 50 years and after the initial disappointments they got used to the limitations in performance and it usually went on to be a long happy marriage.

 

This new Frigidaire TL washer certainly is not large in capacity frugal with water usage and it sure doesn't look like it will clean my standard test load of at least 8 pairs of very dirty blue jeans. Unfortunately IMEO their has been only three good US designed and built Hi Efficiency TL washers, the Calypso, the MT Neptune TL and the longest built and only surviving Staber TL tumbler washer.

 

[mickeyd]

MANY THANKS, EUGENE

Not just for the wonderful commentary and vids, but for the new friend I made today at Lowe's, the Appliance Guy at the desk, two years out of college, very interested in washers. When he told me that Lowe's doesn't carry Frigidaire, he looked up the Affinity Immersion on his computer to direct me, and Holy Toledo, there was your thread from Aworg, and I said, Hey, that's my friend in the club I was telling you about. Not busy, he chatted me up for almost half an hour.

You are now famous. I wonder if Frigidaire is paying attention. Speaking of whom: someone over there must know and love the former glory of Frigidaire, and want to return the washer to at least some semblance of its past grandeur. Your new machine is meshing with the old on many levels: Gentleness, Water Economy, Unusual Agitation, Squirting Jets, Novel rinsing.

You made me laugh, Re: "Wait till you see the shirts cycle." I LOVED it, much more than the heavy towels cycle. The wash-spins were so exciting and satisfying with the water hurling back in, the relentless, abrupt shifts, and water jets ahoy, (Yes, they should be stronger). Also, in complete agreement with you that the spray rinses are more effective than the deep rinse. Leave it to the new unknown Frigidaire Engineer to crack that nut: thorough rinsing with minimal water.

Brandon found your new baby at the on-line store called Goedeker's for $495--there are four in stock-- and he's coming over to see my machines next week. Thank you, again!

 

[frigilux]

Here are the same items after being washed on the Sanitary cycle with Persil Bio (UK) and some Tri-Zyme (Amway's oxygen bleach) in the front-loader. Clean, clean, and clean! I knew it would have no problem tackling those leftover stains.

 

[frigilux]

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you'd have told me six months ago there would soon be an impeller washer in my laundry room, I'd have scoffed. Perhaps I should have gone with one of CR's recommended models from LG, Maytag, or Whirlpool. They all appear to be smarter and more stylish. But I have a soft spot for Electrolux/Frigidaire and that's all there is to it. I will not be a bit surprised when CR tests the Immersion Care and kicks it straight down to the bottom of the ratings. There are a number of things working against it, and since I have no other impeller machine to compare it to, I can't rave about its cleaning power. I think LG, Maytag, etc., have more effective, powerful wash systems. The Immersion Care does its best work when using as much water as a traditional top-loader.

Here's what I like about the Immersion Care:
> User-selectable water level (a big plus in my book)
> Lid unlocks immediately when cycle is interrupted and tub comes to a halt
> Handles load balancing very well/ very stable suspension
> Timed fabric softener dispenser
> Easy to defeat lid switch (Thanks, Martin/Yogitunes!!)
> Cleans well under ideal conditions

Here's where it comes up lacking:
> No detergent or timed bleach dispensers
> No internal heater
> Modest capacity
> Plastic instead of stainless steel tub
> Relatively slow maximum spin speed
> Wash system interesting, but not very brawny

Despite getting surprisingly good results the past few days, I'd still recommend that someone interested in a new washer get a Frigidaire front-loader. Having said that, I could live with the Immersion Care being my only washer if I had to. I couldn't say that about its 2006 agitator-based predecessor.



[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-20:38]

 

[frigilux]

George: I haven't taken the water temps with an instant-read thermometer yet, but I will soon, then let you know. I'd be surprised if warm is over 85 degrees, and the hot water is, unfortunately, dumbed-down. I could hear it alternating between warm and hot during the fill for the load of whites. Haven't used the cool setting yet. Temp-controlled cold is probably 60-65. In other words, all the temps are cooler than I'd prefer them to be.

Rich: It fills to what I consider an acceptable level with heavier fabrics like bath towels, etc. I feel it under-fills for lightweight fabrics, like loads of dress shirts. I'm so glad Frigidaire permits the choice of letting the machine decide or letting the user decide how much water should be in the tub.

Frontloaderfan: The impeller at the bottom of the tub is actually bolted/screwed to the tub. The impeller doesn't move separately from the tub, as with other impeller machines I've seen. In short, the answer is yes: the spinning tub is creating the agitation.

John: Unless you have the waist and inseam of a 10-year old, I don't think eight pairs of jeans will even fit in the machine, LOL. My front-loader, however, says "Bring it on!"

Mickeyd: Glad you found a new friend who is also a washer-head! Did he already know about AW? This site the holy grail for appliance-lovers. I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos. It's been fun to play with this machine because it's very different from any washer I've had. There are so many different agitation strokes and other little surprises that keep it interesting.[this post was last edited: 1/13/2013-21:42]

 

[passatdoc]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you also own a late model Frigidaire FL (4473 or 4474?). Assuming I'm right, how does that machine and this new one compare in terms of cleaning ability, cycle time, etc.

 

[frigilux]

Hi Jim--- I have a 2010 Frigidaire front-loader; it was the first of the larger capacity redesigned models. I believe it's the 4474. It is far superior to the Immersion Care in a number of ways, including cleaning ability.
The cycle times for Frigidaire's front-loaders were recently increased.

The Normal cycle on my 4474 is 40 minutes, which is way too short for a machine of its capacity. The newest one, tested by Consumer Reports, has a Normal cycle time of 80 minutes, which brings it in line with LG, Maytag/Whirlpool, and Samsung. Not surprisingly, the Frigidaire raced to the upper reaches of the ratings because the cleaning score improved. You can probably get an 8-lb. load clean in 40 minutes, but not a maximum capacity load, and CR tests for both.

I get excellent cleaning results for large loads by using the steam option (additional 20 minutes of tumbling in the form of a hot first rinse) or the allergy option (again, about 20 minutes of additional tumbling, but in the wash period). I use the Sanitize cycle for my very heavily-stained loads of kitchen whites, which gradually heats the water to 155 degrees. That cycle is 1 hour 36 minutes, or 1 hour and 47 if you add an extra rinse, which I do since I use liquid chlorine bleach. The wash tumble time is 70 minutes if you select the heaviest soil level option. It has never, ever failed to remove any stain of any kind. It's a long cycle, but definitely worth the wait.

 

[yogitunes]

thanks for all the wonderful full length videos...

this is the first proto type, and of course there are gonna be a few changes....ones I would like, or actually see them doing.....

1. larger fins on the impellor
2. a more forceful waterfall, and maybe lasting thruout the cycle like the Calypso or Catalyst Pre-Soak Cleaning
3. ribs built into the tub itself.....but have noticed them missing on the single unit, but they are there in the stacked set...wonder why?

 

[frigilux]

I've taken the temperature of all the water temp settings using an instant-read thermometer. Temps were taken after one minute of agitation.

Hot: 115 degrees
Warm: 90 degrees
Cool: 70 degrees
Temp-Controlled Cold: 50 degrees

HATE THE DUMBED-DOWN HOT SETTING!! 115 degrees is not hot water. You can safely proof yeast at that temperature for God's sake. I was hoping for tap-hot water in the Whites cycle, but no. Note to manufacturers: Washers without internal heaters should get tap-hot water.

50 degrees is too cold for detergents to work to their potential. Most washer manuals tell you that detergents will not clean effectively at temperatures below 65 degrees. Guess I'll be using the hot setting for everything but black loads, which will get cool water.

Washed a load consisting of two bulky (1000-thread count) queen-sized sheets, two king-size pillowcases and four standard pillowcases on the Bedding cycle (not to be confused with the Comforter cycle). Machine handled it with aplomb. No tangling, although the top sheet did rope a bit.

John/Combo 52: Eight pairs of my x-large jeans wouldn't fit in the tub. It handled six pairs, but I'd only do that if they were lightly soiled. If they are really grimy, I'd go with only four pairs. Eight pairs of heavily-soiled jeans is a tough, tough test. Which top-loaders have you found pass that test?

Martin: The tub of my 1986 Frigidaire top-loader had those vertical ribs, if I recall correctly. The tub in the Immersion Care is exactly the same as my 2006 top-loader. It's a series of vertical slats, which I was told help to channel more water to the tub holes during spins.[this post was last edited: 1/14/2013-17:08]

 

[yogitunes]

of course I can't find it on YouTube right now...but they had video of a lady using a Haier portable, and how to wash a blanket....and wonder if this would help in one of these machines.......

she would first lay the blanket flat, and then fold it in a "Z" formation lengthwise, and starting at one end, roll it up into a so-called barrel, and placed it in the machine to wash....with the right water level she had great results....just a thought

still, all in all, an interesting machine....