Whirlpool Duet WFW97HEDBD

[a440]

Was out looking at washers / dryers this morning and found this new Duet that I have not seen on the sales floor until now.  What a great looking machine in person! 

 

Was wondering if anyone had any experience with this new Duet?  I asked the sales person a few questions but of course he did not have any training on this Duet.  (as of yet)

 

I noticed to the right of the water inlet (on the left top of the gasket) there is a new spray inlet .  The previous Duet's had two "nipples" in the top of the gasket that I could not figure out what were for.  Now I realize it was there are for upgrades on later machines.  Anyone know what type of inlet this is?  Is it a recirculation inlet?  Spray rinse inlet?  The manual does not say anything about it.

 

The new wash tubs on the Duets have me scratching my head.  It now has raised bubbles around the tub with less holes in the wash tub.  I don't see how reducing the holes in the tub gives better cleaning.  If you notice in the picture of the tub there are no holes in the back of the tub.  The metal also seems to be very thin. 

 

It also seems that Whirlpool has also added either bearings or some sort of gel in the front of the tub for the balance system. 

 

I attached a few pictures I saw online of the tub and gasket.  You can see the nipples that now house the mysterious inlet. 

 

 

 

[washerdude]

Correct me if i'm wrong

I think that's Whirlpool's TOL front loader. One of the holes are for a drum light while the other one is for the recirculation spray/pump. On my WFW72HEDW, those ports are closed being that it is the BOL model (LOL). In terms of cleaning, It is amazing. Everything comes out clean the first time around. Litterly no stains at the end of pretty much any (including Normal) cycle. Infact I was blown away when I found it cleans better then our old water guzzling top loader. Whirlpool did add 2 balancing rings to the front and back of the tub which makes a huge difference in balancing. We haven't had any bad smells yet and the washer is approaching almost a year. We run clean washer with affresh at the start of each new month. Once a cycle is complete we leave the dispenser and door open to let it dry out. This washer has been nothing but good luck for us.

 

[mrb627]

Cabinet Finish

Is that a 'CARBON FIBRE' finish on that cabinet or does the picture look funny to me?

Less holes in the tub might be to strengthen the durability of the drum during high speed spins. The reverse dimples offer a wash board effect, I suspect.

Malcolm

 

[tomturbomatic]

I wonder if the dimples serve a purpose similar to Miele's Honeycomb drum. Is the tub still tilted?

 

[mrb627]

Well...

If this is the TOL model, the heat pump dryer doesn't come in the same color as above. WTH?

Malcolm

 

[henene4]

The heatpump dryer is actually only considered MOL due to it's limited cycle choices.

And that washer should only be next-to TOL. They still have the one with the graphical display, don't they?
Would be cool though if they added a recirc.
Everything's better with a recirc, at least over here.

 

[mark_wpduet]

They sure seem

to have made a lot of improvements over the years since my German made Duet from 2005. I wonder if these new Duet's are actually better than my machine? I hope so, cuz my next FL washer purchase will either be a Duet or Maytag...It pisses me off that I can't use the same pedestal from my current Duets on the new ones though. Big surprise there.

 

[logixx]

The blue nozzle sprays water and liquid detergent from the cartridge over the clothes at the beginning of the cycle. Not sure if it also comes on during the rinse.


As for the drum: almost all manufacturers have some copy of Miele's Honeycomb drum now - just like everyone's putting cutlery drawers in their dishwashers.

 

[a440]

The finish is the Carbon Fibre  finish.  It is very impressive looking in person.  Also the controls are very nice.

 

Thanks for posting the video of the Maytag with the "injection" type dispense of the wash liquid.  Interesting but I was wishful that this was some type of recirculation / spray rinse nozzle.  From the demo of the video it is not.  Darn.

 

I am not totally sure if it is still a tilted tub.  It did not seem as though it was tilted.  I could be wrong....I have looked at so many different washer designs lately and they are all starting to run into each other.

 

 

[appnut]

One Maytag and maybe two WP models have the recirculating spray feature. 

 

[gansky1]

Are you in the market for a new washer, Brent? How is your original Duet/KM holding up? You've put that machine through it's paces and taken good care of it over the years, no major repairs?

The WP Duet no longer has a tilted drum, that was ended when production of the full-sized Duets began in the U.S. a few years back. I haven't opened one of the WP/Maytag machines in quite a while, perhaps they've returned to the angled drum again though.

 

[pulsator]

These Duets do not have a pump driven recirculation spray, the blue nozzle is for the Load and Go bulk dispensing feature. The direct drive US made Duets do have a tilted drum.

 

[a440]

I have been itching and looking for a new set.  I am going to stack the 15 year old HE3T set and keep using them along with a new set.  This set has been fantastic!  The washer is a true work horse!  The only repairs that I have done with the washer has been a new drive belt, drain pump, and front door gasket.  All very easy fixes. 

 

Love seeing all of the videos online of the new washers out there.  I am in love with the super sized new front loaders and dryers.  I want so bad to fall in love with the Duet set....but when you compare price to features.  I am actually worried about WP as far as the selling market goes.  Huge box stores are not carrying all of their products.  The Duet that I listed above is being sold in one big box store that I know of in the greater Atlanta area.  The lower priced Duet's are sitting along with the LG's and Samsung's many models.  I go into the stores pretending that I know nothing about washers and try to see it from a regular consumers eye.  When you compare the lower priced Duets to the LG's top of the line model.  See the features of the LG's and realize the LG's top of the line models of same size is still cheaper than the lower featured Duet....guess what the customer is going to buy?  Not to mention all of the posters about LG being the #1 consumer rated washer, most energy efficient etc. 

 

So yes I am thinking about something new.  Really headed towards the LG WM4270 4.5 Cu. Ft. Washer and matching dryer.  Was offered the set right at $1,300! (before tax)  And this is with a Gas Dryer!  Insane....

 

[a440]

BTW Greg

Are you enjoying having  a Duet set again?  I have not seen any post of you talking about it.

Love the color of your set!