New washer recs please
Bumping this thread because my reliable appliance repair guy tells me that my washer needs a new motor to the tune of $400-500. He says it's a great machine and if it was his he would go ahead and repair it but he acknowledged that it might be time for a new one. (It's about 20 years old, but it IS a great machine - high capacity, top-loading Kenmore - I'm pretty sure they don't make them like they used to.) I really don't think I want a front-loader ... all that bending down OR I have to reconfigure the shelves above my machines to make room. And I hear a lot of complaints about them (?)
Do they still make old-fashioned washers with agitators or is that completely out of date?
Any brand/model recommendations?
How much am I going to be spending?
Mine died at the ripe old age of 14 - top loading Whirlpool - hubby even replaced the transmission at some point - but in the end, it rusted out. After much research, went with a top loader HE from LG. Have had it 4 years and it works. didn't want a front loader due to reviews about smells and the door not being snug enough after a while. Model is 4 years old - so I don't think it's still an option.
I went with a Speed Queen a few years ago, and it's going strong. I think it's the last of the old-fashioned washers (not HE). I bought an HE first (I think from GE?) and it tied my clothes in knots. So I promptly sold it at a loss (to save my clothes), then bought the Speed Queen.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2814448/getting-ready-to-buy-speed-queens
Mine just died. Sounds like there is a washing machine virus going around. I replaced it with the same Maytag that I already had. I think it is called the Centennial The newer model is even better, is one of the less expensive machines and is carried by Home Depot. Had it delivered a couple of weeks ago and happily using it.
We bought a Speed Queen several years ago. My husband did a LOT of research before our purchase. I like it a lot - I decide how much soap, water, etc. to use. The clothes are clean. No bells or whistles to break.
The "old school" type (like Speed Queen apparently) does appeal. Interestingly, Consumer Reports isn't that positive about it. One thing I'm wondering about is capacity. I'm trying to find out the capacity in cubic feet of my current machine to compare, but I haven't succeeded in that effort. It says "High Capacity" but that isn't very definitive.
We bought a new Cabrio Whirlpool top loader HE about two months ago. It gets the clothes clean but sounds like a 747 taking off! If we had it to do over again we would opt for a different machine. We went to Carl's over in West Orange. They were terrific.
We have an LG front-loading and have been very happy. If you leave the door open to dry for a bit, no odor.
I really don't want a front-loader, if only because I don't have space to put it on a pedestal and I don't want to have to lean over to load and unload it. I also don't like the way they lock the machine during the cycle so you can't add or rearrange contents (or forgotten bleach or whatever.) I guess I'm an old fogey but I'm really leaning toward the old style machines with an agitator and knobs rather than electronic touchpad.
Current episode of the saga is that I decided that it would be good to know the capacity of my current machine for comparison purposes. Surprisingly, Sears has the record of my purchase, linked to my name and phone number with the right model number, but so far I'm still on hold waiting for them to find a spec sheet or similar that would answer this question. (No problem if I want to order parts for it ... that says something. Maybe I SHOULD let my repair guy fix it after all?)
sac said:
I really don't want a front-loader, if only because I don't have space to put it on a pedestal and I don't want to have to lean over to load and unload it. I also don't like the way they lock the machine during the cycle so you can't add or rearrange contents (or forgotten bleach or whatever.) I guess I'm an old fogey but I'm really leaning toward the old style machines with an agitator and knobs rather than electronic touchpad.
Current episode of the saga is that I decided that it would be good to know the capacity of my current machine for comparison purposes. Surprisingly, Sears has the record of my purchase, linked to my name and phone number with the right model number, but so far I'm still on hold waiting for them to find a spec sheet or similar that would answer this question. (No problem if I want to order parts for it ... that says something. Maybe I SHOULD let my repair guy fix it after all?)
I called Sears repair to get an estimate for my machine. It turns out that the cost of the repair was almost as much as the new machine and I blew money on the visit. This was the 2nd time this happened to me, but I felt I wanted to see if there was a cheap fix and didn't want to be cavalier about tossing it out.
I'm stubbornly stalling on replacing my dishwasher.
Today I had a central air repair so I'm feeling as if I'm living in some kind of appliance Bermuda Triangle.
The cost to repair could buy me a low-end machine, although I would probably buy a somewhat better one. But if the repair could give me a few more years with the machine I like, it might be worth it. I finally found a probable answer for the capacity of my current machine - 4.3 cu feet. That's considerably more than the Speed Queens ... hmmmmm!
I heard from my trusty repair guy today that the part is available and the cost is at the low end of what he had guesstimated. His visit charge from yesterday will apply as a credit and he can do it on Tuesday. So I'm going to go ahead and get my old machine repaired. I took my dirty clothes to the laundromat on Valley Street a little while ago and now I'm starting up with putting the loads through my dryer. But I will continue to try to get educated on this because I probably can't count on too many more years. In the process of talking to Sears to learn the capacity, I did find out that we bought it in 1994. (The dryer is even older - purchased in 1991!) Some would say not worth repairing, but another reason this makes some sense now is that we are starting to plan for a kitchen/laundry/bathroom reno in the next year or so and that might be a better time to consider new appliance purchases. (I wouldn't want a new purchase now to lock us into a particular configuration although that may be less an issue with washing machines than some other appliances.)
A lot of these machines can be repaired by yourself if you are reasonably good at mechanical things. There are tons of videos. I've replaced all sorts of things, including the washing machine control board, door gasket, and rehabbed the dryer, including removing the drum and replacing the rollers and belts.
Bad news ... repair made and then another, more severe problem found. So I DO have to replace the machine. Back to the drawing board. Additional suggestions welcome!
we have been very happy with LG, after I spent years repairing our Frigidaire set.
FilmCarp said:
we have been very happy with LG, after I spent years repairing our Frigidaire set.
Top or front-loader?
Ours are front, on pedestals. I know that's not your preference but I like the build quality.
I tore out our laundry sink years ago and have never gotten around replacing it. I alse need a new washer and dryer in a year or two. This machine with a BUILT IN SINK made my jaw drop!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/samsung-active-wash-laundry/pcmcat748301862174.c?id=pcmcat748301862174
kmk said:
I tore out our laundry sink years ago and have never gotten around replacing it. I alse need a new washer and dryer in a year or two. This machine with a BUILT IN SINK made my jaw drop!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/samsung-active-wash-laundry/pcmcat748301862174.c?id=pcmcat748301862174
I worry about reliability when they start getting really feature-rich like that but it is intriguing.
However, I can't remember whether it was here or on Facebook, but I had several people warn against Samsung for laundry appliances.
I'm really leaning toward basic and I'm going to look at Speed Queens at Paul's in Newark shortly.
I bought the Speed Queen - the basic one with knobs rather than an electronic touch pad. It will be delivered tomorrow.
how is the capacity? Will it hold what you need? My washer is only 3.3 cu I think.
shh said:
how is the capacity? Will it hold what you need? My washer is only 3.3 cu I think.
It is somewhat smaller than my old one, but not tiny. I think it's 3.3 cu ft. I was initially worried about that and I guess time will tell, but it is less of an issue for us now that the kids are gone.
Further comment re capacity. I was never given the definitive confirmation of the capacity of my old machine, but I now think that the new one handles just as much laundry as the old one. The agitator is smaller and clothes do not get as twisted as sometimes happened before. All in all, I'm pretty happy so far.
Our washing machine has bit the dust. It had a good 16 year run - was a front loading he. Want to stay with an HE and am happy to go with another front loader, but have heard good things about the top-loading HEs. Anyone have a brand to recommend? And a place that will deliver immediately, like, tomorrow? Thanks in advance.