Your Opinions Please: About To Purchase Maytag Or Samsung Laundry Pair

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They would have arrived tomorrow (Tuesday), but with the Labor Day holiday they will most likely Wednesday or Thursday. Hoping they're installed Friday or Saturday. That time frame goes out the window if there's a backorder situation. I'm praying that doesn't occur, as the family I donated the Frigidaires to are coming to get them tomorrow night. Wouldn't it be funny if I had to make a trip to the laundromat for the first time since 1986?

A friend is coming over Wednesday evening to help remove the double cupboard mounted on the wall above the laundry pair. The Maytags have pedestals and won't fit under the cupboard.

Upside: My back and knees are cheering for the pedestals. It was so easy to reach into both the Maytag 7100's on pedestals on the showroom floor.  

Downsides: I'm used to turning off the faucets after the last load of the day, but they will be blocked by the taller machines. Thousands of people don't turn off their water faucets and never experience a problem; hoping I'm one of them, LOL! I'll also have to adjust to hauling laundry upstairs to fold on the dining room table. I've always used the tops of the machines as a folding area. That's not really a problem; the clothes have to go back upstairs one way or another. I'll simply have to adjust to altering a 30-year routine.
 
My Duets are on pedastals

I use the top of my machines to fold the clothes......But the pedestals aren't nearly as big then as the ones they make now..

mark_wpduet++9-8-2015-04-36-42.jpg
 
Nice-looking Duets, Mark. The pedestals for the Maytag are 15" high (I didn't catch the typo above 'til it was too late to edit the post. They are not 17" tall.) I still think it would be uncomfortably high for me to try to fold laundry on them.

If I move a metal shelf out of its current spot and leave a 10" gap between the washer and dryer, I'd still have access to the faucets. Maytag sells a nice cart designed to be placed between the pair. That may be the solution to my faucet-access dilemma. I really don't want to leave them on all the time.

Storage on the cart and in pedestal drawers would make up for losing the metal shelving.

frigilux++9-8-2015-06-02-13.jpg.png
 
I have that cart above, Eugene. I love it! I put it in between my washer and dryer. I keep my laundry products on the top and then other cleaning items (cleaners, rags, etc) on the lower shelves. I really like it! I got mine at Lowe's for like $30.
 
My machines, Maytags, are on 15" pedestals. But the pedestals are setting on a concrete slab in the basement approximately four inches high. This actually makes the controls at eye level for a short guy like me. The loading and unloading is perfect height, but using the the top to fold is out of the question; I have to get a step ladder to wipe down the tops of the washer & dryer.

iheartmaytag-2015090809081603660_1.jpg
 
Very handsome looking Maytags.
I'm looking at a pair of Maximas later in the year. Look forward to hearing about their performance over time.
It's either those or I'm eyeing the US-made GE's.
 
It will be interesting

to see how much water these use....Be sure to let me know how much the allergen cycle uses - because if I'm not mistaken, that cycle uses more water I think..maybe even more than bulky. I think that's part of the point of that cycle is using more water to flush allergens away along with higher temps...I think someone mentioned this on here a while back.

I wish my Duet had a cycle other than delicate or soak that used more water, but they all use the SAME from what I can tell.....sanitary, normal, heavy duty, whitest whites...
 
Joe--- They want $68 plus shipping for the same cart at Maytag's site. Found it on Amazon where I get free 2-day shipping. Thanks for the heads-up. Looks like a nice, sturdy cart---and I'll still have access to the faucets feeding the washer.

alr2903--- I think the lens in the window is smoked; most seem to be these days. Glad the 8100 has an interior light, at any rate.

Harley--- That's a sharp set. You really don't have to reach downward at all to move laundry between machines, LOL.

John--- I like my GE dishwasher and had initially planned on getting the GE pair with the built-in risers. However, I decided not to purchase anything GE until we find out which corporation purchases the appliance division, what their intentions are, and how long parts for pre-acquisition appliances will be available. Since Maytag is well established at Whirlpool, I figured Maytag would be my best bet.

Mark--- The manual says the Allergen cycle uses more water. I'll have to see if any others use more, as well. Every cycle used the same amount in the Frigidaire. I have Saturday off (fingers crossed) so I plan to park myself in front of the Maytag and learn about the various cycles.

Installation is slated for Thursday morning. Unfortunately, I won't have a moment to play with them Thursday or Friday. Getting excited for my first non-Frigidaire front-loaders![this post was last edited: 9/8/2015-16:26]
 
GE Appliances...

....is going to Electrolux.
Not my favorite choice, but way better than going to Haier or some other Asian firm. At least E-lux makes good appliances and has a US & global presence.
I just PRAYYYYYY they don't let the GE dishwashers go to the Frigidaire platform.
YUK!
 
>If I move a metal shelf out of its current spot and leave a 10" gap between the washer and dryer, I'd still have access to the faucets. Maytag sells a nice cart designed to be placed between the pair. That may be the solution to my faucet-access dilemma. I really don't want to leave them on all the time.

I think it's a good idea turning the taps off. Certainly, the idea of them being on and hidden behind the machine makes me cringe. But I've had two bad experiences. One involving a hose that sprang a leak, and in less than an hour or two created a horrific mess. And, many years ago, the intake valve on my mother's Kenmore broke in such a way it stayed open. Making matters fun on that occasion, the tap (which probably hadn't been turned off since the machine's last repair 10+ years before) broke its handle.
 
If water runs to it or through it, I have a flood-related horror story about it. This is why I would lose sleep if I didn't have access to the faucets.

On the other hand, the pair looks better installed close together rather than a foot apart with a cart between them.

I don't have the bank to re-route the pipes, so for now I'm going with security over style. The story of my life, LOL.
 
I can't really comment on the Maytag as we do not get Maytag in South Africa, but regarding your post about the availability of spares of the Samsungs, I think I have figured them out, they were never disigned to be repaired, instead you can just throw them away at the first hint of problems, so I think you will have difficulty in obtaining the parts for a repair.

Well anyway enjoy your new machines.

Regards
 
Well for one thing, the new Maytag washer will not come with hoses so you can pretty much buy what you want. I wonder if those AquaStop hoses would work for you. It would give peace of mind where it would kill the leak at the source. Or use braided stainless steel hoses, there are so many options you could do.
 
Mike-- Thanks for the input on hoses. I seem to recall a discussion about the Aqua Stop hoses, but don't remember if they received a thumbs-up from commenters. Various types of hoses are available at the Maytag site, but I haven't looked closely. I'll give the dealer a call to see what he has in stock.

He'll also need a longer cord for the dryer if it gets moved to the right to leave room for faucet access and the cart.

With installation scheduled for tomorrow morning, I'd best get my ducks in a row. Work is crazy and I have night gigs both tomorrow and Friday, so probably won't get a chance to run a load 'til Saturday. That's so wrong!

UPDATE: The Maytags and pedestals have arrived at the dealership! Tomorrow by this time they'll be in their new home. Should a rational adult be this excited about a washer and dryer, LOL?[this post was last edited: 9/9/2015-13:05]
 
Installation

Definitely make sure they install the pair properly - you know, like don't let them remove the shipping bolts right on the street etc. Have heard too many stories about careless employees messing things up.
 
The owner of the dealership and his assistant deliver and install the appliances. I'm confident he will be careful. Both small dealerships in this village provide excellent service. They can't afford the loss of even a few sales to bad word-of-mouth.

I hope I didn't jinx the delivery.
 
Aqua Stop Hoses

Never use these, for one thing they can not possibly prevent a flood unless someone cuts the hoses with a malachite. They will not stop water flow reliably with leaks of more than 4 gallons per minute.

 

BUT worst of all they often do shut down at random and then the washer will either not get hot or cold water, and often the user does not realize what is wrong and call for service and have to pay for a service call which would NEVER be covered by the warranty or even a service contract.

 

We have made THOUSANDS of dollars because of these stupid useless hoses that have probably never stopped a single flood.

 

John L.
 
There may be some confusion here regarding hoses.

I think the hoses that John despises are the FloodSafe style that has an internal check valve that is supposed to close off upon high flow, theoretically ending a big leak. Of course a small leak will do nothing but cause a slower flood. You need an end to blow off for the check valve to close. The other issue is if the flow rate of the check valve is too slow and they close during normal machine operation.

The AquaStop hose appears to be an entirely different animal sold under the Bosch name. These have an outer hose that surrounds the inner pressure holding hose. Should the primary hose fail, pressure will build in the outer hose shutting off flow (in theory). Note I am only going by Internet info here, perhaps these are as optimistic as the FloodSafe hoses and have caused known issues too.

The FloodChek hoses are just a standard hose (no safety valves) and they appear to be of high quality. They aren't crazy overpriced either really. The ends appear to be machined rather then just rolled which is something I always look for in a good garden hose. These may well be some of the best hoses out there. At a minimum they are made by a company that is proud enough of them to put their name on them. "China" isn't a company name, but it is what we see on a lot of items today...

The Stainless braid vs rubber jacketed hose debate is silly. The stainless braid sure looks pretty, and it could provide a little extra abrasion resistance, but it really does nothing to improve the strength of the hose. The cloth braid molded into the rubber is plenty tough. Perhaps the best thing the Stainless braid does serve is to hide an inferior quality hose (See above mentioned China brand). Failures are most common at the ends anyhow so attention to detail on the connectors and the assembly work are paramount.

My suggestion would be to A. Buy a quality hose B. Install it properly C. Inspect it often for signs of stress, bulging ends etc. D. Replace them every 10 years or so. If your laundry isn't in a basement with a floor drain, shut off the supply taps for the peace of mind if that helps.

It would be nifty to have a solenoid controlled supply valve setup that has floor mounted moisture sensors. If they detect moisture they clamp off the supply. That could buy some peace of mind, especially with a laundry area on an upstairs floor of a home!
 
Yes, the AquaStop (Bosch) or WaterProof (Miele) hoses work together with the appliance and won't fit on the Maytag. They have one or two electric valves in them that open when the machine calls for water. Should the inner hose break, water be detected in the base of the appliance or an overflow condition occur, the valve(s) will prevent water from leaking onto the floor. This is usually backed up by a lifetime warrenty.
 
I'm getting standard hoses for the Maytags. I'll have access to the faucets to shut them off whenever the machine isn't in use. Best insurance against a hose or water valve failure.

Interesting: Was talking to a musician-slash-farmer friend today whose top-of-the-line GE (with the mega-capacity detergent dispenser in the pedestal drawer) had an interesting fail: A chunk of the concrete counter-weight (or whatever it's called) broke off, causing all sorts of noisy commotion. Not a full-on explosion, but close enough for rock-n-roll. What did he replace it with? One of Samsung behemoths (not the normal-sized 6300 I was eyeing). They love it--two kids in the house, so lots of laundry--but it's only about six months old; too early to gauge reliability and parts availability.

ovrphil-- I am not familiar with the discontinued 8000 series, so can't tell you about similarities/differences with the 8100. Sorry!

Phil L: Thanks for the tip on the heavy-duty surge protector. Haven't really had problems with power surges, but I agree that $30 is cheap insurance for a spendy, electronics-laden washer. Will invest in one soon.

I so wish I could have some time to play with the new washer before Saturday!  Am interested to find out how long the various cycles run at each soil level setting since the User's Guide provides no clues.  PowerWash cycle claims to provide a 'deep rinse' and a different wash action.  

 

Anyone know the maximum spin speed of the 8100?  Can't seem to find that information online or in the manual.  The TOL Whirlpool spins at 1400, but don't know if that goes for the 'Tag, as well.  Time for bed. Have to be up at 4:00 a.m.  Yikes!
 
The hoses on my Duet

are light gray with red for hot blue for cold writing and saying replace after 5 years. They are now 10.5 yrs old. I don't turn my water off behind them either but I'm going to try to start doing that. I'm mostly here all time but even if you're sleeping, can you imagine how much damage can be done with pouring water just in a matter of minutes? I can get behind my washer and dryer because they aren't pushed all the way so I'm going to try to start doing this. I just now went and turned them off and checked the hoses. No drips or weird looking spots on the hoses.........

LOL @ the comment - should a rational adult be this excited about a washer/dryer
 
I didn't used to turn my water off

I had braided stainless steel hoses for the washer, but when they installed the pair, they used a standard rubber hose to the steam dryer. That hose is the one that failed on Christmas Eve last year. Thank God and all that is good I was home at the time and heard the pop and water rush and was able to shut off the water with only about five gallons to clean up.

I now have braided stainless steel hoses on all applications, and turn the water off when I am finished washing. I can't imagine what a mess I would have had in that basement if that had happened while I was gone.
 
I just ran home for lunch and the dealer was installing the Maytags. I saw braided stainless hoses hanging from the faucets. The dryer was already in place; I'm assuming he used the same for the hose to it.

Man, those machines seem like giants compared to the Frigidaires.

The washer was still covered and in the garage. As I was leaving, he said "I'll leave the shipping bolts in the pedestal drawer after I take them out." Sigh of relief. He's doing it all correctly.
 

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