Front-Load Washers/Dryers

[DanceMan]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Don't get all gaga over front loaders yet. They tend to have less capacity then their top loading counterparts---forget washing large blankets or comforters. Also, if something happens to them in mid-cycle (my mom was a victim of this), you have to open the door and water pours everywhere.

I guess that depends on the age/type of front loaders. New front-loaders are as large or larger than their top-loading counterparts. As a matter of fact, they advertise that they can wash a king-size comforter without problems. And without an agitator, you can usually fit in more clothes anyway.

As for the water issue, that's not a problem for a couple of reasons. One is that in the newer front loaders, it uses so little water that the water does not even come up to the level of the door. There's even a 'pause' button on my LG that will allow you to add-remove clothes.

Second, if there is something that happens mid-cycle, like power loss, the first thing that my LG does is drain all of the water out on power-up. I guess the pump could fail, but on the LG there's a manual drain you could use to drain the water out before you had to open the door.

 

[jteef]

I live in europe and have some relatively fancy LG front loaders. No idea the model number. My opinion of them is that they are terrible at washing and drying clothes. I have a large model (for europe anyway) rated at 7kg. Biggest gripe is that the normal cotton / permanant press cold cycle takes 1h55m on the wash and 2h10m on the dry, compared to about 25m/55m for my top loaders. It's obviously longer for hotter water. Further, it doesn't really clean as well as I remember my top loaders from the states working. When i wash a king size down comforter it comes out pretty much the same as it went in. same with robes etc. I find that i can put maybe 10-12 articles of clothing inside to get them fairly clean whereas i could put 20+ into a top loader with the same results. Again, this could be the stupid ultra energy efficient models they sell in europe, but i'm not happy with mine at all.

 

[DrPizza]

I'm left wondering about the reduced amount of water. One of the solutions to pollution is dilution. I'd think you'd want dirt, etc. as diluted as possible with your clothes. With less water, it seems the dirty water would be more concentrated. Oh well, as long as people say they get the clothes just as clean...


Also, #2:
How hard are they to repair if/when they DO break? I just replaced the agitator dogs on our washing machine ($4 & 5 minute repair), and I've replaced the linkage once or twice on ours & have replaced the linkage on other relative's washers. $15 part, and roughly 10 minutes of work. Are the front loaders as easy to repair? Easier? Harder?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Engineer
My wife and I purchased a Whirlpool Duet Sport (smaller) set about 3 months ago to use in an upstairs laundry room. No matter how much leveling that I did on the unit (and even screwed an additional 3/4" piece of plywood to the subfloor), the unit sounded like a freight train. Replaced it with another Duet and the same thing. Talked to Lowes and replaced it with the Samsung model (ball bearning technology to balance the load) and couldn't be happier. It cost more, but it was definitely worth it.

If you have a concrete subfloor or the unit is in a basement, it might not matter much but if you're in an upstairs situation (or even on a first floor that isn't a slab), you might consider something else other than the Whirlpool.

I'm not biased as I owned a Whirlpool top loader for nearly 15 years and had little issue with it. Just didn't like the front load models because of noise and vibration.

This is the Samsung washer that we purchased.. We did stack the dryer on top of the washer because of our smaller laundry room and am completely happy with the extra room. The stacking kit's cost about $20 for most front load sets if you wish to stack them.

Good luck!!!

Heh. The wife and I purchase the same set for our new house. They've been great noise-wise, with the exception of sometimes unbaanced loads...but I don't blame the washer for that. We got them from Costco so if they ever just fall apart, it's not a problem.

 

[Rubycon]

I don't spend much time in the laundry room (thank goodness!) but we have the big ones like this:

washer

They call this one stegosaurus. Nobody tells me the reason behind dino names but that looks (and sounds) like a triceratops to me! :laugh:

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: spacejamz
Picked up a samsung set for $899 at Frys (Black Saturday - reg price for the pair was around $1600) and they were delivered yesterday...decided to get the 5 year warranty for $240 (only $60 more than the 3 year warranty)...

Wash times do take a bit longer, but the dryer times are alot shorter...the washing machine is very quiet...

Text

Yeah, this weekend was the time for Front-Load Washers/Dryers. I saw a Samsung set and my LG set on sale for $999. Kenmore and Amana(I believe) had sets for $699.

 

[WarhammerUC]

the only thing u need to worry about is the front load washer.. it gets this mildew issue, but if you leave the door open and let it dry out.. it'll be fine.. or do the wash clean cycle once a while..

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: Jessica69

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats


Kenmore and Frigidaire are just rebadges. I have Frigidaires that are Maytag rebadges.

I sincerely doubt you have a single Frigidaire that's a Maytag anything.

Frigidaire is a completely separate company, and always has been, from Maytag.

Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux and has been since 1986....before that, between 1919 and 1980, it was an independent company within General Motors, and between 1980 and 1986, part of White Industries, which also owns Westinghouse.

Maytag has always been an independent company, too, until their buyout in 2005/6 by Westinghouse, and the company was then essentially dissolved while the name continues to be used by Westinghouse as a brand only.

Before Maytag was bought out by Westinghouse, Maytag had acquired many names over the years, including Amana, Hoover, Admiral, Magic Chef, Jenn-Air, among others.....but at no time was responsible for building Frigidaire appliances.


But you're correct that Kenmore is just a brand name stuck on other manufacturer's products.....much like PC Power & Cooling power supplies are just Seasonic/Win-tact power supplies built for the PCP&C company with their name slapped on them.

jebus, jessica - why do you know all of this?

Wikipedia?

 

[zinfamous]

for the most part, I think front loaders are way superior.

The only negative experience I've had was while living in Switzerland, my host had a front load dryer. After 3 hours of "efficient" drying, my half-load was sopping wet. 2 more hours...nothing. Didn't stop Swiss dude from spouting on about how their technology was so superior to what we have in America...

 

[QurazyQuisp]

My parents bought the top of the line Bosch front loading washer and dryer. They both do a fantastic job. The washer gets pretty much everything out, where as my stupid washer in my apartment has trouble with the easiest of messes. The dryer is also pretty awesome, however, I think all dryers are front loading.

They've had both for 2-3 years, and they both work perfectly. Not to mention they're pretty silent.

 

[herrjimbo]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
for the most part, I think front loaders are way superior.

The only negative experience I've had was while living in Switzerland, my host had a front load dryer. After 3 hours of "efficient" drying, my half-load was sopping wet. 2 more hours...nothing. Didn't stop Swiss dude from spouting on about how their technology was so superior to what we have in America...

not to thread crap, but aren't ALL dryers front load?

crap. missed it by that much.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: herrjimbo

Originally posted by: zinfamous
for the most part, I think front loaders are way superior.

The only negative experience I've had was while living in Switzerland, my host had a front load dryer. After 3 hours of "efficient" drying, my half-load was sopping wet. 2 more hours...nothing. Didn't stop Swiss dude from spouting on about how their technology was so superior to what we have in America...

not to thread crap, but aren't ALL dryers front load?

crap. missed it by that much.

hehe, yeah..forgot about that. I forgot to mention though that it was one of those single unit washer/dryers.

...a bit more relevant to the crappiness factor (though I've heard some of those work really well...)