Top Load Vs. Front Load HE Washer?

[slag]

I wouldn't touch a front load. My wife loves our LG top loads, my brother has the same ones and he loves them also.

If you want a washer that won't fail and are willing to do without all of the bells and whistles, get a Speed Queen. I couldn't convince my wife to get one despite their excellent reputation. They have smaller loads but faster cycles. She wanted bigger capacity so she could do big loads without having to switch all of the time. We'll see how that turns out.

We have a whirlpool duet front load. It's been great. We had a wiring harness issue that a $9.00 part from ebay fixed (it was a bad connection that was in the wire). We've had it for about 8 years or so and really haven't had any issues that weren't self inflicted. You have to be up to date on cleaning out the junk bucket, we find all kinds of money, rubber bands, everything a kid will put in his pockets.

 

[JoeBleed]

All of this talk about leaving the door open on front load washers, i could have sworn the ones i looked at had a catch on them to make this easily accomplished so the door isn't just swinging open in the way of a walk way or something. Is this not the case for most?

I don't have one. needed to save money at the time so i went cheap top load washer.

 

[CPA]

I was going to say the same thing. Our low end Frigidaire set, after 8 years of use with the last 2.5 years being fairly heavy use (>10 loads/week) never suffered from that dreaded cracking of the drum seal.

Then again, the same thing could be said of almost any rubber part in any washing machine...drain hose, etc. They all will wear out....eventually.

Overblown rhetoric, methinks.

Drain hose is a hell of a lot easier to change than the seal.

 

[Vdubchaos]

DO NOT get a front loader.

Fix your current washer. there is TONS of info on how to fix it/videos etc.......

 

[Ichinisan]

My front load is horrible. A bunch of brand-new whites came out looking filthy yesterday. I heard that's a common problem with units like mine.

I feel like it never actually gets clothes clean.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I ordered one of these 3 months ago:
http://www.us-appliance.com/awn542....4_a_7cawn542&gclid=CKXc8tDby7oCFQto7AodPGYARA

My wife was mad that I didn't just buy one from Home Depot/Lowes/Sears when our old one started leaking. It took about a week to get it delivered....all that changed after she started using it. Stainless steel tub, high quality motor, quiet operation, and heavier than average lid/parts. Well worth the money.

I'll be getting a matching gas dryer next year when I have time to run a gas line for it.

 

[alkemyst]

Yet, hardly anyone here with a front loader has regretted their decision.

Front loader for me:

1. Stacked in my master bedroom for space
2. Uses 1/3 of the water of a top loader
3. Cleaner, less damage to clothing and comes out dryer
4. Use less energy to dry

Only negative is that it takes a little longer to do a wash.

Ouch, laundry machines in a master bedroom?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Ouch, laundry machines in a master bedroom?

Why ouch? I would call it convenience. Also quiet enough that we can sleep with the dryer running.

 

[TwiceOver]

Why ouch? I would call it convenience. Also quiet enough that we can sleep with the dryer running.

Yeah, I wish ours were somewhere other than the basement.

 

[iRONic]

Why ouch? I would call it convenience. Also quiet enough that we can sleep with the dryer running.

Is it ensuite or in the actual sleeping area?

Our HE front loaders are stacked behind bi-fold doors in the bathroom of the master suite.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Is it ensuite or in the actual sleeping area?

Our HE front loaders are stacked behind bi-fold doors in the bathroom of the master suite.

In suite. They're in a closet design for a stacking washer/dryer. I installed a thick rubber matting to absorb any vibration. And have water sensors on the floor that will shut-off the water at the inlet valve.

 

[iRONic]

In suite. They're in a closet design for a stacking washer/dryer. I installed a thick rubber matting to absorb any vibration. And have water sensors on the floor that will shut-off the water at the inlet valve.

Almost the same setup I have. Second floor though so the washer sits in a pan with the overflow piped into the carport below.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Almost the same setup I have. Second floor though so the washer sits in a pan with the overflow piped into the carport below.

Oh, I should have said, that the sensors sit in the plastic pan that the washer/dryer are stacked on. No drain pipe like you have setup which is a good idea.

 

[alkemyst]

What makes home front-loads smell? Not leaving the door open when not in use like you're supposed to. The lids on top loads don't seal, because they don't need to to hold the water in, so they vent just fine. Front loads tell you to leave the doors open when not in use. Guaranteed the only people having that problem are the ones that don't.

All laundromats have front loads, and I've never seen one of theirs that smelled.

The main problem with the home units are many don't get used 8 hours+ a day like a Laundromat.

They go a week at a time and if sealed shut allow for mildew / mold to develop.

 

[lakedude]

We have both a front load HE and a top loader with an agitator.

Both are fine really, depending on your goal.

The HE is the clear choice for saving hot water and therefore energy. The HE units should pay for themselves in energy savings. Our HE tries a little too hard to save water on default settings so we hit a button that adds bit of extra water. We leave the thing open so it does not get all nasty. It is a little annoying to have the washer door hanging out into the hallway.

The top loader is fine but a bit of a dinosaur by comparison. One big advantage of the top loader is the ability to soak. Can't soak with a front loader. We used the top loader to soak cat urine stained clothing in special cleaner. Cloth diapers can be soaked in a top loader as well.

Consumer Reports has a nice writeup about saving money by skipping more expensive models with extra cycles and skipping the steam if you don't need it.

Our front load HE washer has an awesome direct drive inverter controlled motor with a 10 year warranty instead of a belt drive. I like that a lot.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/washing-machines/buying-guide.htm

 

[tortillasoup]

Front loaders should have the option of pre-soaking clothes but usually it's only for a limited duration though I think turning off the machine works if you want to soak for longer. Might want to read that owners manual as there should be the option to pre-soak.

 

[WackyDan]

I just bought a new washer... Almost bought a front load Samsung, but they wouldn't honor a pricing error.

Almost bought a top loading LG - and I've read nothing but great reports on the newer LG top loaders...

But I bought a top loading old school whirlpool with an agitator. My clothes do tend to get heavily soiled and I figure if I buy an old style again, by time I need a new one, the HE models will be sorted out and working their best.

Just remember, your new washer won't last you 25 years. My old whirlpool lasted 10.5 with only one repair (normal wear) of the agitator dogs that I did myself in 1/2 hour and $12 in parts. This last potential repair was going to add up to about $250 in parts and just made sense to buy a new one.

 

[lakedude]

Front loaders should have the option of pre-soaking clothes but usually it's only for a limited duration though I think turning off the machine works if you want to soak for longer. Might want to read that owners manual as there should be the option to pre-soak.

There is a pre-wash option but no pre-soak that I can find.

The washer never gets enough water in it to soak anything. The water does not come up on the glass door at all except for a little splashing during the cycle.

Maybe a non-HE front loader can soak?

I guess it could be a non-issue if the OP does not need to soak anything.

See for yourself:

http://www.lg.com/us/support-product/lg-WM3050CW#

 

[mikeford]

www.consumersearch.com is a good place to start shopping for appliances, its a meta site with links to several review sites.

Front load can have issues, but its ultimately better for two reasons;

Less wear and tear on clothes due to less rubbing.
Higher speed spin means more water is extracted, equals more efficient washing (less dirty water left in clothes per cycle), and less time in the drier since clothes go in with water content and that means again less wear on the clothes.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

We spent around $900.00 on a front loader GE a few years back... Worst P.O.S. I've ever owned.

It got smelly/moldy around the seal and every month or two I was taking it apart because it wouldn't drain properly.

Got rid of that pile of crap and went back to a top loader but this one we have now is an HE so no agitator, but couldn't be happier with it.

Top loader all the way, I'll never stray again. Oh yeah, new one is an LG

 

[NetWareHead]

One big advantage of the top loader is the ability to soak. Can't soak with a front loader. We used the top loader to soak cat urine stained clothing in special cleaner. Cloth diapers can be soaked in a top loader as well.

Consumer Reports has a nice writeup about saving money by skipping more expensive models with extra cycles and skipping the steam if you don't need it.

Our front load HE washer has an awesome direct drive inverter controlled motor with a 10 year warranty instead of a belt drive. I like that a lot.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/washing-machines/buying-guide.htm

I soak in my front loader. I understand how the front loader uses water and doesn't fill up the tub like a top loader. But the clothes are wet and there is a few inches of water under them. The clothes are not swimming in the water like a top loader.

I think what matters is that if the clothes are wet with soapy water and you turn off the front loader, that qualifies as a soak. I've soaked in a front loader with good results and hard stains have come out.

 

[poofyhairguy]

You leave the doors open when not in use and put vinegar in the fabric softener spot to get rid of the smell on a sideload washing machine.

 

[Ichinisan]

Got rid of that pile of crap and went back to a top loader but this one we have now is an HE so no agitator, but couldn't be happier with it.

I guess I haven't personally looked at an HE top-loader because I don't think I've ever noticed a top loader with no agitator. How does it work without that?

 

[alkemyst]

I guess I haven't personally looked at an HE top-loader because I don't think I've ever noticed a top loader with no agitator. How does it work without that?

They work as well as those with agitators. Some say clothes are more prone to tangle, but I haven't had issues.

 

[slag]

The main problem with the home units are many don't get used 8 hours+ a day like a Laundromat.

They go a week at a time and if sealed shut allow for mildew / mold to develop.

Ours is used daily, at least two loads. It's just second nature to leave the door open a few inches when no loads are in it, and, every month, run a disinfecting cycle through it.