Washer Recommendation

[khrios]

The old Whirlpool finally bit the dust. I would appreciate your washer recommendations. These are our needs:
1. We have a large family, and do about 13 loads per week.

2. Simplicity of operation is important. My elderly mother is not very comfortable with touchpads and electronics.

3. Water efficiency. Water is expensive in No. California.

4. It should handle heavy loads, such as jeans and bedding.

5. It should clean the clothes. We have a son with very sensitive skin, and detergent residue would be a problem.

6. Finally, it should be reliable, and built to last.

 

[mtn1584]

SPEED QUEEN

SPEED QUEEN TOP LOADER WITHOUT A DOUBT!
LONGEST WARRANTY IN THE INDUSTRY
BUILT LIKE A TANK
BUILT TO LAST
HEAVY DUTY.....CAN HANDLE A FULL/QUEEN COMFORTER 3.3 CU FT CAP
QUIET OPERATION
DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF WASHING
700 RPM SPIN
MUCH BETTER BUILT THAN ANYTHING OUT THERE TODAY...AND THE COMPANY STANDS BHIND THEIR MACHINES
BUILT IN AMERICA
BUILT IN AMERICA
BUILT IN AMERICA
GOOD LUCK MIKE,
BY THE WAY I OWN THE AWN 542 AND SO DO MANY OTHER MEMBERS ON THE SITE GO TO SPEEDQUEEN.COM FOR MORE INFO

 

[supremewhirlpol]

"SPEED QUEEN"-> If you have speed queen money, they ain't cheap!!

MOL or BOL Whirlpool/Kenmore TL will probably work. Looks like most FL machines are out of the question. khrios, how much money you looking to spend?

 

[mtn1584]

I KNOW THEY AINT CHEAP BUT..................................

YOU REALLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!!!
$649-700 FOR THE SQ AWN 542 ONCE IN WHAT SQ ESTIMATES IN AT LEAST 20 YEARS OR THOUSANDS ON A PLASTIC LADEN FL WASHER WHICH WILL ONLY LAST 5-7 YEARS. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD A SQ I WOULD STICK WITH A TRADITIONAL WP FAMILY TOP LOADER, MAYBE AMANA.

 

[khrios]

I have 2k to spend. That better be enough! I thought I would just go to Sears and buy a Whirlpool or a Kenmore. Then, I started reading, and found they are not built like they used to be. They are falling apart! So, I would rather pay more up front. I do not want a "disposable" machine.

I thought of buying an old machine, but I need water efficiency. 13 loads x 40 gallons = 520 gallons of water per week. Water here is expensive!! My water bill is obscene.

The Speed Queen sounds like it might be a good fit. How much water does the TL use?

Is a FL machine out of the question? Does Speed Queen make one? Any good?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

khrios, In that case, NOTHING is built like it used to be. A SQ TL is still considered a "disposable" machine. If you got 2K to spend, get a used commercial FL. It will last much longer than that SQ TL, and is totally rebuildable.

 

[khrios]

I want to spend enough to satisfy the requirements above, not a dime more.

If there are less expensive options, I would love to hear them.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Well...do your research, I'm sure you will find something.
Good Luck!

 

[khrios]

I saw that the Speed Queen makes a FL machine. Do you recommend those as well? Thanks,

 

[qsd-dan]

Speed Queen makes a well designed FL machine.

 

[khrios]

Well designed is good. I assume it has the same warranty as the TL. Would it be able to handle 13 loads a week, heavy loads, such as bedding, and still clean my clothes?

I hope, I hope the answer is yes...

 

[danmantn]

From SpeedQueen.com concerning FL (same commercial unit they install in laundromats, etc.)

"The Energy Star qualified Speed Queen Horizon washers help you conserve water by averaging just 13.9 gallons per cycle. Its green story continues with a super-high 300 G-force final spin, which removes more water from loads to greatly reduce drying time. And at just 44 minutes per cycle, Speed Queen's Horizon washer delivers quality wash results faster than many competing models." FORTY FOUR MINUTES, not hours.

Speed Queen brings to you the industry’s best warranty on all of our washers and dryers.
3 years on parts and labor. 5 years on the motor.*
5 years on the cabinet.* 5 years on bearings and seal assembly.*
Lifetime on all stainless steel wash baskets and outer tubs.*
* Limited. See Speed Queen warranty bond for details.

I have the 542 TL, others will have to comment on the load size for the FL. Judging from the ones at the laundromat, I would guess the capacity is similar to a topload washer--meaning that a full size fluffy comforter is probably about as big of a load as you would want to run in it. The topload has water reduced to what you would be similar to a med-high setting on older washers (to meet requirements). You will either have to manually add water (hold down 'reset' on water level switch) to select washes to get to the traditional XL water level, do more loads, or adjust the water level in the control panel - if you are handy in that way.

Hope that helps.

Dan

 

[yogitunes]

An inexpensive option would be Frigidaires Gallery Series, the one with the small round port hole, some may argue, but this version seemed to hold up the best for me, I still have it as a backup, I paid $1000.00 for the set in 1997, now their around $600.00 to $800.00 for both....at this price you could have 2 sets STACKED, and get twice as much done in half the time....before I got several machines hooked up, I was running this set by itself, with 6 kids, from 2 to 4 loads a day!....one of the few machines I have that has never needed a repair, I have the Kenmore version......if you have a Sears Outlet near you check them out...or check the link for OnLine....their starting around $350.00...with original warranty

http://www.searsoutlet.com/HE-3-1-c...t_md&cid=508&pn=2&ps=10&pid=5438&mode=buyUsed

 

[mrb627]

Speed Queen FL

I seem to recall reading that the Speed Queen FL has a duty cycle of 20 loads per day. I think it can handle your needs.

Malcolm

 

[combo52]

SQ FRONT LOAD WASHER

Is the best choice for HD use. This is exactly the same as thier commercial machines and you should be able to get one for around $1500.00 dollars, they also have the longest warranty in the industry. No SQ laundry products are considered disposable, the quality control on these are better than at any time in history. SQ laundry appliances should have a serviceable life of 20-30 years, a longer life than any home machines in history. Even the porcelain outer tubs of the TL models have a lifetime free replacement warranty against leaks, no other washer manufacturer ever did this on all thier machines not even WP or MT.

 

[combo52]

SQ WASHERS

I neglected to address your concern about water use, The SQ top load machines are good except they are conventional top loaders and they are not very water efficient. The lack of a dual action agitator really cuts down on the amount of clothes you can put in a load and get good results. But they are a good choice for some.

 

[khrios]

From what you are saying for durability and reliability, and water efficiency, I should go with the SQ FL.

My one concern is that Consumer Reports gave the Speed Queen TL bad marks for cleaning clothes. Also, the sales person at the local appliance store said the Speed Queen front load will not clean well, because of the short cycles.

Have you found this to be the case? What is your opinion?

 

[khrios]

I forgot to mention in the post above that the salesman was trying to sell me a Miele....

 

[khrios]

Oh, and someone else mentioned the Speed Queen front load has vibration issues. I really wouldn't want the machine dancing all over the laundry room every time I wash sheets, or jeans or other heavy items.

Is this a valid concern?

 

[pulsator]

Videos

Here are some videos of a Speed Queen front load washer running. This is the Imperial version, the outer-case is stainless, the internals and cycles are the same though. They belong to our very own mrb627!

http://www.youtube.com/user/mrb627#p/u/8/KKxTK1aXvCk