[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Washing machines. (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/5/2013 5:31:35 AM EDT
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Time for a new washer. Front loader or top loader? I've always had a top loader, but is one better than the other? A repair guy once told me simpler is better with appliances, and I'm inclined to go with that. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Just moved into a house with a front loader. It seems like the capacity is small, and all washes take a minimum of 45 min-1 hr.
Once the door locks, it fills slowly, a little water, turns, a little more water...and so on. Then it flops the clothes around for a little while intermittently, and then spins. It's pretty annoying, there's no simple, fill....rinse...spin. All while saving me on my already-cheapest-of-utilities....water. Stupid as shit, get a top loader. |
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I had a front loader at my old place, I didn't have any issues with it except it took a little longer.
BUT - A good friend of mine who owns an appliance repair shop says to avoid the top loaders like the plague. As soon as you have an issue (and you will) it is super expensive to repair. |
| I love our new front loaders (Whirlpool, if you care). Capacity is much larger than our old (70's - 80's era) top loaders, much more efficient, and more/better features. I didn't bother looking at any new top loaders, though, so not sure how they would compare to those. |
I have bought the Samsung toploader HE. It is the best washer I have ever bought. For a family of 5 I only do laudry once a week. The compactiy is amazing. I think it's 4.6 cubic feet. Washes take longer than a normal washer but it uses less of everything and washes the same. Shop around for good prices. I bought mine at Best buy for 799 for the washer and 799 for the dryer. They are the metallic gray color. The white ones are always cheaper but that gray but that gray color is so much cooler looking . It was a fluke that I got it at that price though.
Front loaders have too many problems and they can get real bad mold and smell. Also if you don't get the pedistals your washer is about knee level. The pedistals are a extra 200-250$. Also get the extended protection plan. My parents have the LG top loader and had to get the washer replaced after 3 years. |
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We don't have the space for a top load as our washer and dryer are set up in a closet. I just got done doing a major repair on my Whirlpool duet front loading washer. Had to replace the drum. The stainless steel drum is held up by what they call a spider arm. It is just a three pronged aluminum alloy support that connects the drum to the shaft. This is a planned obsolescence part. They corrode and crack and the manufacturer knows it is going to go in 5-8 years. The part is covered under warranty but any repair guy is going to hit you for 4-600 bucks to do the job so most people opt for buying new. Fortunately I have a good local repair guy willing to order me the part no charge under warranty as part of the drum and I did the work myself. It is not hard but there are a lot of parts to take off and reassemble. I would also mention while brand names change they are all very similar and many are EXACTLY the same just reskinned and rebranded. If you are ever looking for parts you will see that almost all of them use the same parts.
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top loader without agitator thing... just got the Whirlpool Cabrio...kind of expensive, but large enough to wash king size comforters so no laundry mat This. I threaten to throw my kids in there. It's huge. 
I can't believe there is a light when you open the door. I actually found myself watching it work through the clear door. Also, the fact they lowered the water amount needed makes that thing damn efficient. |
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I just went through this and ended up going with an LG top loader. I would have purchased a newer front loader if I had found the right deal. The older front loaders had mold issues. Also, I discovered that Samsung and LG have the best reputations.
f you live anywhere near a city, you can pick up Like-New units for about half what new ones cost. I ended up paying $850 for a top of the line set that was approximately 3 months old. Smart phone + craigs list app = good deals on just about anything 
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Front loaders are high maintenance but conserve a lot of water. Top loader without the agitator is how we roll. High maintenance? I have owned my front loader LG washer for almost 8 years. I have had to replace a Hall Ring Effect Sensor one time. Other than that I keep the door open when not in use and wipe it down once a month. In 10 years my Sears Kenmoore (rebranded Whirlpool) needed to have the control panel replaced and the drive motor replaced once. I would have to say it's a wash.
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Parts prices....................watch out !!!!!!!!
Whirlpool front loader, circuit board $ 650.00 Call your local appliance repair guy, ask them "what would you buy" Call your local used appliance guy, ask them "what would you buy" . Whirlpool bought back my Duet washer & dryer, due to so many failures. FYI: check to see if any one has COMPANY repair teams ( not subbed out to the lowest bidder )...during my Duet issues, whirlpool had no service people on the payroll |
I had a front loader washer and a top loader dryer both plugged into the same power strip with a surge protector. Lightning hit down the street and FRIED the washer but the dryer was fine. The repair man said that the electronics suck in the front loaders and since it screwed up the mother board in the washer it was cheaper to buy a new washer. The dryer on the same power strip that was 2 plugs closer to the wall didn't get hurt at all. I now have Stainless Steel top loader washer. I will never have one of those high priced pieces of shit again. Also that HE shit is expensive as hell to put in them!!  
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Be a good citizen and get a never-clean high, efficiency, front loading, small batch water, soap-less with extra light rinse and low speed energy saving spin cycle! You'll stink like a goat but you will be doing your part to save the shit hole planet! God I love the new America!
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Be a good citizen and get a never-clean high, efficiency, front loading, small batch water, soap-less with extra light rinse and low speed energy saving spin cycle! You'll stink like a goat but you will be doing your part to save the shit hole planet! God I love the new America! It would be funny if it wasn't so Goddamn true 
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Front loaders are bullshit. That'd be why the rest or the world swears by them then The rest of the world pretty much sucks, that's why I don't want to move there. I really think they swear AT them. I know I do. Heavy duty top loader is the way to go. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Be a good citizen and get a never-clean high, efficiency, front loading, small batch water, soap-less with extra light rinse and low speed energy saving spin cycle! You'll stink like a goat but you will be doing your part to save the shit hole planet! God I love the new America! It would be funny if it wasn't so Goddamn true I think this attitude is what you get when you put a superior product in the hands of dolts who cant simply understand that these are not what their used to and need to be used differently. We have had out Bosch FL W&D for 8 years with no issues. OK, we did have the one time where we left the door shut for 4-5 days and it stunk inside, but how often do you need to learn that lesson? And as far as simplicity goes, their is a Stepper motor, a belt, a drum, circuit board and a waste water pump. |
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Most modern washers are built cheaply and use electronics. The exception is Speed Queen. Speed Queen top loaders are built like a tank. 1/2HP motor , metal transmission gears, and NO electronics.
These are like a Maytag from the 70"s. Don't know thier front loaders but if they use the same care and thought in design I would bet it would be fine |
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Front loaders are high maintenance but conserve a lot of water. Top loader without the agitator is how we roll. High maintenance? I have owned my front loader LG washer for almost 8 years. I have had to replace a Hall Ring Effect Sensor one time. Other than that I keep the door open when not in use and wipe it down once a month. In 10 years my Sears Kenmoore (rebranded Whirlpool) needed to have the control panel replaced and the drive motor replaced once. I would have to say it's a wash.
We've got one with less than a year on it and it needs a new door seal/gasket. It's still under warranty but has taken over a week just for our dealer to get the new part in, (it's possible he may have dropped the ball on ordering the part). |
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I have bought the Samsung toploader HE. It is the best washer I have ever bought. For a family of 5 I only do laudry once a week. The compactiy is amazing. I think it's 4.6 cubic feet. Washes take longer than a normal washer but it uses less of everything and washes the same. Shop around for good prices. I bought mine at Best buy for 799 for the washer and 799 for the dryer. They are the metallic gray color. The white ones are always cheaper but that gray but that gray color is so much cooler looking . It was a fluke that I got it at that price though.
Front loaders have too many problems and they can get real bad mold and smell. Also if you don't get the pedistals your washer is about knee level. The pedistals are a extra 200-250$. Also get the extended protection plan. My parents have the LG top loader and had to get the washer replaced after 3 years. I have the same washer and love it. That said, when I was in Europe I had small front loaders (much smaller that what's sold here) and never had a problem with them. |
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Simple is indeed the way to go.
I bought a washer about 6 months ago after mine died a noble death. Sales dude was upset when I asked for the most basic unit they had. All I wanted to do was wash my clothes. No steam, wrinkle remover, delicate wash BS, just wash the clothes. Saved me about 500 bucks from what I saw. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Front loaders are high maintenance but conserve a lot of water. Top loader without the agitator is how we roll. High maintenance? I have owned my front loader LG washer for almost 8 years. I have had to replace a Hall Ring Effect Sensor one time. Other than that I keep the door open when not in use and wipe it down once a month. In 10 years my Sears Kenmoore (rebranded Whirlpool) needed to have the control panel replaced and the drive motor replaced once. I would have to say it's a wash. Love our front loaders. Between mine and my In-law's machines I replaced a mainboard (ended up replacing the whole front panel) in mine and a motor just recently in the inlaws. Parts were less than 400 combined and about 15 minutes of work to replace both. Troubleshooting took a bit of time. They are all going on 8-9 years. |
| Wifey has had both the washer and drier from LG TROMM for 7-8 years. Front loading. Your arms get tired stuffing the washer because it holds so much. Stuff comes out clean. Drier does a great job. Wouldn't go back to a top loader. They are tough on your clothes and not nearly as efficient. |
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Sounds like a fap-o-matic when its running...
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