I've always been a TL owner and really wouldn't mind owning a Maytag Neptune TL washer with matching dryer, but the price really discourages me (It'll be about $1600 for both).

I was at Lowe's the other day and came across these Frigidaire FL machines. I really liked them. They kind of had this retro/cute look to them.

Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about them? The prices weren't too bad for both the washer and the dryer.

I love mine!

veg

This is the Sears variant of the same set. (all built by Electrolux) After five months, the machines are working fine and I am satisfied. The thing that all my researching failed to make me aware of though is that it is totally computer controlled. That big knob is not a timer in the usual washing machine sense. It is a selector by which you choose the wash program you want (Normal, Perm Press, Bulky, etc.), press the start button and stand back. Once it is running you can't affect anything about the cycle any more. Once I got used to this, and to using the option modifiers, I was fine with it. They do look cool, and both the washer and the dryer count down the remaining cycle time in their red display windows. Sears doesn't sell these models anymore which is too bad as they had worthwhile sales and other promotions which made the total price less than other stores such as Lowe's.

I love my fl

I agree about the look of this machine. The turn dial has an old fashioned 50's look to it. Capacity is really good at 3.5. Before making the purchase you might ask to find out if they have done anything about improving the bearings in this machine. I had the smaller Frigidaire front loader for 6 years before the bearings went out.

I agree that this machine is great looking. Only other thing you may wish to consider is waiting a couple of weeks until the new GE fl hit the showrooms. Before this "king sized" frigidaire was a pretty good value at $800 for a machine with a lot of cycles and 3.5 cubic feet. The new GE will have a ton more cycles, an internal heater and a capacity of 3.7 cubic feet. The new GE could be a dog or the Frigidaire could be a dog too. Either way it probably would be a good investment to shell out the $80 for the four year extended warranty.

Good luck!

I've had great luck with the Frigidaire FL'ers I've owned. In fact, my first-issue 1996 set is servicing a three apartment building with no problem. Go for it!!

I noticed that Sears has the Kenmore 44092 on clearance - this looks like the twin to the newest Frigidaire 2940. Are they making room for the new GE's???

I think Sears may be replacing the 3.5 cf Electrolux built 44092 with the new 3.3 cf HE2 series...a smaller scale version of the Kenmore HE3 and HE4 and Whirlpool Duet.

Word on THS is that Sears will be discontiuning the Electrolux and stocking the new Whirlpool HE2 series. Very odd since the 44092 is barely a year old, but guess Sears and Whirlpool have had a meeting of the minds.

The new GE front loaders will be larger than the HE2 series. Whirlpool is launching this line as they currently do not have a small front loader in their line up, only the huge Duet series and their cousins. Previously Whirlpool had been selling rebadged Servis washers and dryers, but now have their own product coming out of Mexico. IIRC those units are being made in a Whirlpool plant and are not rebadged units.

Everyone is jumping on the "me too" bandwagon with front loaders. Very little is coming in the way of new ideas or designs. Quality seems to be getting lower and instead of four or five simple cycles, we have 25 cycles which are nothing more than slight variations of each other.

Launderess

Only majro complaint about the previous incarnations of these units was bearing failure after about 4-5 years. Since the tub and rear bearing assembly were one unit, repair was a major project costing equal to or more than a new unit. Do not know if the new units have had the bearing problem addressed.

What was sort of strange, it was only the Frigidaire units which owners reported bearing problems. Though Electrolux built the same units (with slight variations)for Kenmore and General Electric, the latter two had far fewer reports of bearing/repair problems than the former. In fact CR rated GE front loaders at the time, as having the least repairs, with Frigidaire the most. Go figure.

Launderess

My Frigidaire dealer said the bearing problem was addressed. I've only had my new pair for just under three years, so time will tell. My old set, class of '96, is still going strong and washing clothes for three apartments. No bearing problems.

Does anyone have a link to the HE2 machines? I'm curious about their dimensions and features. I've seen the advance postings on the Kenmore Oasis and big GE FL - anything similar for the HE2's?

IIRC information is over on THS in the appliance forum, am pretty sure someone started a thread thread. Also *think* there might be a post somewhere here as well. You might wish to check Sear's and Whirlpool's website.

Launderess

I own the Frigidaire FL. Nice washer bought it in may I think an not one problem at all. The only thing I hate about it is that the window on the washer is a dark tint. You can't see in the washer that good. Have thought about makeing a hole in the outer plastic window.

I have the Frigidaire 3.5CF TOL 2940 since march. One was delivered DOA. The second one is great. Never has a problem spinning up. I forget who advised me to keep sheets and towels in separate loads. That advise worked great! Very easy to use. My water usage has been cut in 1/2 (that's with an extra rinse enabled too). Very quiet. Never a sorry wash.

This may be a silly, but here it goes anyways.

Do FL machines have enough capacity to handle a large, think comforter like a TL machine?

I ask because I don't have a ton of experience with FL machines and they always seem to be a bit smaller inside than the TL. Maybe it's just the angle.

The Frigidaire you have the link for is what I have. It will hold a king size comforter. An a lot more cloths then a top loader. I wash all my bath rugs about 4 large ones an area rugs an one load. I love it.

The only downside I've seen is the issue of water in the door boot. There are drain holes, but only in the first fold of rubber (closest to the tub). Any water that gets into the other couple of folds is going to stay there until you wipe it out.
Any comments on this from existing owners???

Oh it does hold water. But I leave the door open an never wipe out the water in the boot. I use the washer about twice a week so no problems with mold. I have left it with water an the door closed for about two weeks an it just dryed up an no mold at all.

Also there is a vent on the back of the washer to let air in when the door is shut. I just leave it open becuse every washer we ever owned we left the led up. I took the top off the washer the vent lets air into the drew an the tub boot.

I have a question that I haven't been able to get an answer to. I had the small Frigidaire fl from 98 until four months ago. I really liked the machine. It did, however, have a loud electronic hum during regular tumbling actions. In recent months I had the new samsung Neptune and then the KitchenAid front loader. Both of them have no electronic hum during the tumbling actions.

I was curious, do the new Frigidaire fl have the electronic hum during tumbling actions?

I never thought to reply before now. I have the Kenmore 44092 as seen earlier in this thread. It makes no sound at any time which can be described as a hum.

Hum: On some older Electrolux-based FL'ers, the door lock would loosen. When tumbling, clothes would push outward on the door and cause an electronic buzz or humming sound related to the locking mechanism. Have you tried pushing in on the door while it's operating to see if the hum goes away?

Hi Frigilux,

I am pretty certain that the hum was not related to the door in any way. The hum was constant, even when the drum was not moving. Listening to the sound, it was easily identifed as a motor hum. Compared to a top loader, it was a really quite machine. Comparing it the new generation of front loaders, it was very loud.

I am just curious as I have never been able to confirm with any other Frigidaire front load owner whether their machine had this hum or not. If anyone out there own(ed) the smaller Frigidaire (or Kenmore branded), please let me know if it had a motor hum.

Regarding the boot on the Frigidaire, I agree that the design could have been better. The rubber itself is formed in such a way that it creates an inner ring that will trap, but not release water. If you want to see how the boot can be constructed to avoid this, just look at the Whirlpool, Kenmore or Kitchenaid front loaders. The rubber itself doesn't have any internal trap areas. There is a trap area where the boot unions with the rim of the door way, but a series of weep holes take care of that area.

Tom /Nurdinger-


TUCSON? Are we gonna see you at the TUSCSON wash-in?
Hi BTW. LOL,

-Steve

Eugene? you coming to Arizona?

No pressure or anything.
LOL

Hi Toggle--- No, unfortunately I can't come to Arizona for the wash-in because the itty-bitty planet which is my personal life revolves around the ruthless, big, bad, sun which is my work life...

I had a question about the new Kenmore, Frigidaire sets.

I'm thinking about selling my HE3 set. One of the main reasons is because my Laundry room is small 6x7 and a set like this would fit much better. Second reason is although I have been very happy with them, I want something that rinses more than 2 times. I had the older FriGEmore set in 2000 and they went with the old condo I had--I LOVED THEM. So if the new set does more than 2 rinses then these would definately be something I'd would consider. I've seen them at sears, and at lowes, but I am a rinse fanatic. Yes I can set my HE3 for and additional 3 rinse, but my old FriGEmore set did 3 plus a spray rinse with and Optional/extra 4th. So if some one can tell me how many the new Frigidaire set does I would very much appreciate it--Thanks

I don't have the newest Frigidaires, but if I recall correctly from reading the owner's manual online, I'm quite sure the normal cycles still have three rinses. Someone on this forum actually owns one, but I don't recall who that is...

not the Owner's Manual that describes the machine cycles. The link below is for my machine, Kenmore 44092. This is the 3.5cft Electrolux-built FrigMore with the big glass window, the round retro control knob, and the LED time-remaining display.

ftp//ftp.electrolux-na.com/ProdInfo_PDF/webster/134524000esb.pdf

The URL posting means insists on prefixing with http:, so the ftp link won't work in the normal spot.

If there is any interest I can post how to find other manuals on the Electrolux site.

I left out the colon. The link should be:

ftp://ftp.electrolux-na.com/ProdInfo_PDF/webster/134524000esb.pdf

nurdlinger:

Thank you so much for that information. That is exactly what I wanted and need to know--I'm now sold--just have to sell the HE3 set--any takers????

My reservation about the Electrolux/Frigidaire FL is that it still lacks an internal water heater.

For about the same price, you can get the new GE fl, which has:

- horizontal drum

- internal water heater

- even more capacity (3.7 cu ft IEC)

- presoak, sanitize, delay, favorite features

- bigger door

I was all set to get the new GEs, but discovered they are too big for my laundry room. They are over 40" tall! My washer and dryer (Kenmore f/l set) are under a counter and are 36" tall.

Home depot has the GE washer for $999. Sears has the Electrolux 44092 on clearance for $699, but I can get the Frigidaire version for $675 at Best Buy. That seems a pretty good deal and I think the Frigidaire has the features I'm looking for...and it is the right size. (Plus, the Frigidaire script logo matches my 1955 Frigidaire Unimatic. Ha!)

It will only be used for two people. My son is getting his own apartment and I'm giving him our current pair.

The GE is a great buy for the features it has. A heater would be nice, but something I won't miss. The GE cannot set a warm rinse and warm/warm was a feature I wanted.

Rich, I was wondering about your countertop and the GEs, I didn't think they would fit unless you moved that countertop again. I am sorry you couldn't get the GEs, I wanted your thorough input and testing.

Hi Bobbie
Yeah, I didn't feel like doing a major remodel of the laundry room right now. The more I read about the Frigidaire, the more I liked it. The Frigidaire owners manual is great...it spells out exactly what the machine will do for each cycle and option selected and how many minutes, etc. Other manufacturers' manuals are vague and do not give you specific information about what the machine will do for a selected cycle. I'll let you know how I like it when I get it in a few weeks. Happy New Year!!!!