Going to buy a new front loading washer, recommendations?

[DAM]

Well, I'm currently shopping for a new washer and I'm looking for help, preferably people who've bought one recently.

Thanks,

dam(wasH)

 

[DnetMHZ]

Budget?

 

[DAM]

Around 1K, but I would like to get the best bang for the buck if possible.


dam()

 

[TStep]

I do not own one, but my buddy got a Maytag several years ago and b1tched it to high heaven. The problem was that it did not drain all of the water when finished. This in turn cause a mold buildup during periods of non-use. Otherwise he had good things to say about it. I have got to believe the design has been fixed by now, but worth looking into anyway.

 

[LordSnailz]

Got a Bosch washer not too long ago... sucker is super quiet and it works well!

 

[TStep]

Did you get the dryer with it? If so, does the time it takes for drying matchup well with each washed load? I hate it when the washed loads stack up and the dryer falls way behind.

 

[dxkj]

1k +, they are all going to be pretty darn good, we looked at several and couldn't justify the price over a $250 kenmore

 

[Tifababy]

Last year I bought from sears: Item number 02684042000 (dryer) and 02644102000 (washer). They are both front loading and all the controls are on the front, so if you wanted to put a countertop over them, you could do that (still in the future plans for me). I believe when I got them they were on sale for $599 and $399, so right at your $1k mark. They are both really quiet (I couldn't even tell the washer was on the first time I ran it, I thought it was broken). I haven't had a complaint yet. Although now that my wife does all the laundry, I haven't touched them in a few months.

Edit: Just reread your post and you're looking to spend $1k on the washer. At that price, almost all front loading washers will be nice, although for $1500 you can pick up a kenmore elite which are very nice.

 

[Daaavo]

Just bought the Kenmore HE4T last week and so far I'm completely satisfied with it. The whites are noticeable whiter, and my son's grass/mud stained pants get remarkably cleaner than when washed in our previous, circa 1990, washer.

Even the largest loads come out barely damp after the spin cycle, which translates into a very brief dryer time.

 

[tw1164]

I have a kenmore (fridgidare sp?) Its great, but its a pain to find HE detergent on sale :\

 

[DAM]

Well, I have a drier already, and honestly the less I spend the better, however I would like to have this washer for a long time if possible. What is this HE detergent you speak of?


dam(e)

 

[DAM]

Damn you ppl are fast at bringing down the topics.


dam(e33)

 

[CFster]

I have a Kenmore.

Can't hear the thing when it's on.

 

[dirtboy]

I think I have the top-o-the-line Whirpool Duet's... or at least whatever their best was 16 months ago. No problems. Fantastic machines. Wouldn't want to wash my clothes in a non front load again.

 

[Farbio]

we got a ge profile harmony top loader a few weeks ago....its not a front loader, but it has all the benefits of a front loader w/ the added capacity of the top loader. doesn't have an agitator which means it holds more...put my big ass king comforter in it no probs...never had a washer i could do that with prior. it uses the small amounts of water like the front loaders though, so that's a good thing, and best of all, its direct drive, so no belts to wear out!
got it at home depot for 1k retail, they had 10% off that weekend w/ coupon, then rebate for buying more than 1 profile appliance for 100, then 50 from the local energy co for buying an energy star appliance, so for 750 final cost, couldn't say no!

 

[tw1164]

Originally posted by: DAM

What is this HE detergent you speak of?

dam(e)

If you use a front loading washer, you have to use high efficiency detergent. It produces less suds then "normal" detergent. You can buy it everywhere, but ppl don't have it on sale as often as "normal? detergent.

 

[AndrewR]

We looked at front loaders, but the extra cost of the stands really annoyed me (for about $150 each -- f-you!). We wound up buying a Maytag set (Atlantis III) that is fantastic. They are fairly quiet -- with the door closed on our laundry room, we can barely hear them. The washer is monstrous (bigger than some of the front loaders), and the dryer has a light inside, which is a first for us but something we won't overlook in the future. We paid under $700 for the pair, and I'm glad we bought them.

 

[RossMAN]

I've read some not so flattering reviews of the Maytag Neptune.

Our local CostCo was offering up to $250 off and a free pedastool on Whirlpool front loading washer/dryer combo.

 

[Bryophyte]

We have the Whirlpool Duet set. Love them.

 

[IBuyUFO]

How about the washers from LG? If I were to buy one today that's what I would get.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Anything but a Neptune.

 

[Daaavo]

FWIW.

 

[glenn1]

I just bought the 3.5 cf Fridgidaire model which they sell in Home Depot, Lowes, etc. for about $600 and am completely satisfied. It costs a couple hundred more bucks to move up to the 3.8 cf size model, and I didn't feel it was worth it. They run extemely quiet (at least in the rinse/wash cycles, they are louder during spin), when my parents came down my father insisted looking through the door to see the wash spinning because he didn't believe the washer was actually running. I can also confirm they do get clothes very dry in the spin cycle. I'm very happy with my purchase and am glad I spent the extra money rather than getting a top-loader.

 

[OffTopic1]

My 8 month old set of Kenmore front loader W/D works great and it cost $1400 CAD ($1150 USD).

Pro:
It is very quiet when running, and sound a bit like a small jet engine in spin cycle.
Clothing come out very clean.
Use less water & soap than conventional top loader.

Con:
Minor problem, cycle warning buzz have an option of off, quiet, and loud doesn't work (all mode on loud only).

Overall, I'm happy with it because it works great and is very quiet.

 

[bernse]

The Kenmore/Frigidare/GE triplets are a very mature set and have aged very well. They have just this past year released a makeover of them and bumped the capacity up a tad, but the core machine is still the same. Quite easily the best bang/buck right now. I have a fair amount of experience with them (I even pioneered a bearing replacement for them that has made the rounds on some forums). But regardless, they are a bargin.

Stay away from the Neptune. Period. Some people love them, but more hate them than any of the others.

LG makes some nice units, but they haven't been out in North America for long enough to give longevity reports.

The Whirlpool based units (Duet, H3et, etc) have most of their teething pains worked out and are now regarded as solid units.

Personally, I'd choose between the triplets GE/Kenmore/Frigidaire(Electrolux) for value or a Whirlpool for bling-bling.