Anyone see the latest offering from GE in their hydrowave line?? The newest machines now offer the option of a spray rinse only, similar to Fisher & Paykel. You also have the option to do a deep rinse (for those die hard softener users!!) as well as a second rinse. Not sure what the water consumption difference is, but the machines are on the floor in Lowes now. Whirlpool did this a few years back, without much success on the market, if I remember correctly. But how else can manufacturers justify continuing to make top loaders with the water efficiency regulations imposed on them?

The latest Oasis and/or Cabrio revision does shower/spray rinsing by default. Dunno if it's only the HE models, agitator models, or both.

Well, I suppose they can continue to lower the maximum water level until the machine's 3 cu.ft. tub will hold only as much clothing as a Suzy Homemaker washer.

And according to the features list, the TOL Hydro-Wave® washer has a remarkable 41 cycles!

Whirlpool's Resource Saver washer was a recirculating system, like the Catalyst pre-treating cycle on TOL models. It uses a diverter valve and the machine's pump to recirculate water through the clothes while spinning slowly. The reports I heard were pretty good but the machine was a bit ahead of it's time.

DADoeS, I have the agitator model of the Kenmore Oasis. It does a brief spray-rinsing phase before the first spin. Other then that it only does a deep rinse. Also, is this the washer you are talking about AndrewInOrlando?

No, that machine is the Harmony with the HydroWash wash system. It has a wash plate, not an agitator. GE's HydroWave has an agitator that makes a 360 degree arc, and is driven directly by the motor, without a transmission. They have 3.5 cu ft tubs.

Could you link to it on GE's website?

This is a HydroWave machine.

Also, That machine is not the GE Harmony. The GE Harmony has the curved profile control panel and has a large LCD display. It does have the HydroView Glass Lid and The HydroWash system as well. It also has the HydroHeater water heater. If you want more information on the GE Harmony washer and dryer ask Unimatic1140. He owns the set. That machine is just the "GE Profile High-Efficiency Top-Loader". I think it is the GE version of the Haier Genesis washer. Here is a link to the Haier Genesis Washer and a Picture of the Genesis washer.

Foraloysius, I think that machine has been out for a while. I also heard hey are kind of crap. Yes Whirlpool did do that a few years back. It was the Calypso washer. It washed great and it rinsed... not so great.

That machine is indeed the GEHarmony without the touchscreen control panel.

Whirlpool's version was called the Resource Saver and it had a traditional DA Agitator. It was out just prior to the Calypso, if memory serves.

MRB

Well, Let's see about that:

Here is the list of the HE Top-Loader washer from GE's website:

$999 Est. Retail Price
Current Rebate

ENERGY STAR® Qualification — Provides less energy waste and lower utility bills

4.0 Cu. Ft. King-Size Stainless Steel Basket — Makes room for more items which means less time doing laundry. Plus, it allows easy access, without a pedestal.

HydroWash™ System with Infusor™ — Achieves frontload wash performance with topload convenience. Saves up to 14 gallons of water per average load and up to 90% energy.

HydroView™ glass lid — Allows you to view clothes during the cleaning process, without opening the lid or stopping the wash cycle

Direct-drive motor with adaptive spin speed combinations — Runs at just the right speed for optimal cleaning results

1010-RPM Spin Speed — Removes more water during the spin cycle to minimize drying time.

And here is the machine's specifications:

APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS (HxDxW)
43 in x 28 1/4 in x 27 in
CAPACITY
Capacity King-size
Total Capacity (cubic feet) 4.00 cu ft
FEATURES
Control Type Electronic
Drive System HydroWash™
Energy Star® Qualified Yes
HydroView™ Glass Lid Yes
Wash Mechanism Infusor™
Washable Wools Yes
Custom Cycles 9
Cycle Countdown LED
Cycle Status Lights LED
Number of Cycles Multiple
Style Top-Load High-Efficiency
Wash Basket Type Stainless Steel
Wash/Rinse Temperatures 5
Wash/Spin Speed Combinations Multiple
Water Levels Automatic
Water Temp System RighTemp™
Active Wear Cycle Yes
Adaptive Capabilities Adaptive Fill
Specialty Cycles Yes - My Cycle
Whites Yes
Colors Yes
Comforter Cycle Yes
Handwash Yes
Heavy Duty Cycle Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Heavy Soil Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Light Soil Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Normal Soil Yes
Delicates Cycle Yes
2nd Rinse Yes
Delay Start Yes
Fabric Softener Dispenser Yes
Rinse and Spin (Quick Rinse) Yes
Soak Cycle Yes
Speed Wash Yes
Bleach Dispenser Yes
End-of-Cycle Signal Variable
ArmorGuard™ Protection Yes
AutoBalance™ Suspension System Yes
Lid Opening Top-Loading
Maximum Spin Speed 1010 RPM
ECONOMICAL / QUIET
Quiet Insulation Package Supreme
APPEARANCE
Color Appearance White
Color Appearance Code WW
Other Colors Available MG
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
Overall Depth 28 1/4 in
Overall Height 43 in
Overall Width 27 in
Approximate Shipping Weight 155.00 lb
Net Weight (lbs.) 135.00 lb
WARRANTY
Parts Warranty Limited 1-year entire appliance
Limited 5-year suspension rod/spring assembly/main electronic control board/washer lid/cover
Limited 10-year outer tub/transmission
Limited lifetime of product basket

Labor Warranty Limited 1-year entire appliance
Warranty Notes For models produced on or after January 1, 2006
See written warranty for full details

I already posted a pic of the white one. So here is the "Titanium" colored one.

Here is the features list for the GE Harmony washer:

HydroView™ glass lid — Allows you to view clothes during the cleaning process, without opening the lid or stopping the wash cycle

HydroHeater™ — Increases wash temperature to reduce bacteria and provide better cleaning for the really tough stains

ENERGY STAR® Qualification — Means less energy waste and lower utility bills

LCD touchscreen with English/Spanish option — Users can select English or Spanish-language option as they select dry clothes

Direct-drive motor with adaptive spin speed combinations — Runs at just the right speed for optimal cleaning results

HydroWash™ system with Infusor™ — Clean clothes thoroughly and gently, without agitation

Here is the machine's specifications:

APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS (HxDxW)
43.10 in x 28.20 in x 27 in
CAPACITY
Capacity King-size
Total Capacity (cubic feet) 4.00 cu ft
FEATURES
Control Type LCD - Touch
Display Option English/Spanish Option
Energy Star® Qualified Yes
HydroView™ Glass Lid Yes
Custom Cycles Yes
Cycle Countdown with LCD Indicators
Cycle Status Lights Display Time
Number of Cycles Multiple
Style Top-Loading
Wash Basket Type Stainless Steel
Wash/Spin Speed Combinations Variable
Water Levels Automatic
Water Temp System RighTemp™
HydroHeater™ Yes
Specialty Cycles Yes - Multiple
Whites Yes
Colors Yes
Dark Colors Yes
Easy Care Yes
Handwash Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Extra Heavy Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Extra Light Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Heavy Soil Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Light Soil Yes
Optional Soil Levels - Medium Yes
2nd Rinse Yes
Delay Start Yes
Extended Spin Yes
Fabric Softener Dispenser Yes
Power Rinse™ Yes
PreSoak Yes
PreSoak/Extended Spin Yes
Quick Rinse (PreWash) Yes
Second Rinse Extended Spin Yes
Speed Wash Yes
Spin Only Yes
Stain Wash Stain Inspector™
Bleach Dispenser Yes
End-of-Cycle Signal Variable
ArmorGuard™ Protection Yes
AutoBalance™ Suspension System Yes
Color Lid Instructions Display
Color Stain Guide / Instructions Stain Guide
Front Serviceable Yes
Lid Opening Top-Loading
Automatic Temperature Control Yes
ECONOMICAL / QUIET
Quiet Insulation Package Supreme
APPEARANCE
Color Appearance Dark Platinum
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
Overall Depth 28.20 in
Overall Height 43.10 in
Overall Width 27 in
Approximate Shipping Weight 155.00 lb
Net Weight (lbs.) 135.00 lb
WARRANTY
Parts Warranty Limited 1-year entire appliance
Limited 5-year suspension rod/spring assembly/main electronic control board/washer lid/cover
Limited lifetime of product basket
Limited 10 year outer tub

Labor Warranty Limited 1-year entire appliance
Warranty Notes For models produced on or after January 1, 2006
See written warranty for full details

Finally here is a picture of the black machine. As you can tell by all this, I highly doubt the two machines are both Harmonies.

About that "Whirlpool Resource Saver" washer, Is this it? This washer is known as the "Whirlpool Catalyst Gold" washer by the guy that posted these videos. This machine debuted the "Catalyst Cleaning Action" and it did come before the Calypso.

FunGuy, the Calypso, Catalyst, and Resource Saver are three different machines. The Resource Saver was introduced in 1996 and ran a standard agitator-action wash, but did a series of spin-spray rinses. Quoted from the service supplement:

The Resource Saver Spray Rinse washer is designed to successfully wash clothes with approximately 35% to 47% less water by using a series of "spray rinses" rather than a "deep rinse" with commonly used in other conventional washers.

As water is sprayed on the spinning clothes, they become saturated. The rinse water is then extracted from the spinning clothes and diverted from the basket where it is recirculated and once again, sprayed back on the spinning clothes. Each spray rinse cycle recirculates the rinse water for thirty seconds, after which the detergent laden water is drained from the basket. This occurs six times. Each spray rinse cycle uses approximately one (1) to two (2) gallons of water.

In addition, these models are equipped with an Automatic Temperature Control system to minimize the amount of hot water used throughout the wash and rinse cycles.

The spray rinse cycle is accomplished through the use of a unique recirculating system, dual vacuum break, a diverter valve, a second pressure switch and an extra pressure dome mounted to the inside back panel of the washer.

They look to be the same machine with different control panels to me. Same capacity. Same max spin speed.

What makes you think they are different?

MRB

You know, I think you are right. They might both be Harmonies but with different control panels. Also DADoeS, do you have more info on the Whirlpool Resource Saver washer or know where I can get more?

Found this info....

The Harmony has been re-designed. That is the new unit - a little less radical design, similar to the rear control LG.

The Calypso rinses completely differently than the Whirlpool Resource Saver or the GE, and it rinses very well because it combines nutation of the wash plate as part of the rinse. The Resource Saver or the GE can't do that. All they can do is fill with water and agitate, defeating the who water saving feature. The Calypso is a simple fresh water spray while draining followed by two recirc water rinses, so softener users can still do what they always do. Simple test to see how well a washer rinses...dunk a freshly washed towel in water....any soap?

Calypsos do several different kinds of rinsing actions, in various combinations or sequences depending on the selected cycle. There may be as many as seven water changes (fills or flushes). Remember the famous Whirlpool Seven Rinses!

There may be a brief drain and a bleach flush refill as a pseudo-rinse to start it off .. depending on the cycle selected. The 2nd rinse fill typically also flushes the bleach dispenser.

Fresh water spray of a couple minutes duration with the pump in drain mode while the basket rotates at 60 RPM.

Fill while the pump recirculates and the basket rotates at 60 RPM ... which segues into nutation.

Fill accompanied by recirculation and nutation. Nutation may continue for a programmed period after fill is complete, or it may be a very brief rinse with the machine going into drain after a few seconds.

The final filled rinse during which the softener dispenser flush occurs has the highest water level of any cycle phase.

The final spin may have a fresh water spray at 400 or 500 RPM.

Lotsa rinsing!

That's great detail Glen...I've been ignoring my Calypso for too long now and letting it do its thing all by itself in the laundry room. To get an idea of how well it does rinse, add one tablespoon of fabric softener to a load of towels. At the end of the cycle, you'll find the scent of the softener evenly distributed among all of the towels, top to bottom.

Nobody on this site has been able to answer my questions as to why GE washers, when their tubs are shaken from side to side (i do this in the stores) makes awful metallic grinding and sqeaking noises.
That cannot be a good sound, and poor sign of quality.
Do these HydroWave machines (which seem quite expensive) have the same shit suspension?

Have been top hung for 25 years.

The noises that the suspension makes is different and if you do swing it to hard by hand, you can get a bang when it hits the cabinet.

Normally though, there are some different suspension noises with top hung machines, but nothing I'd call grinding, possibley some squeak type noises.

Are they bad noises, or just different to what you're used to?

I think some of the confusion about the Harmony machine is that we associate the name Harmony to the wash plate 4.0 cu. ft. machine. It was named so because the washer & dryer are connected via a cable to communicate and therefore work in "harmony". So the new machine posted above has the same wash system as the Harmony but is not one.

Ed

Are you new here? Welcome to the Discuss-O-Mat. And I've known for this whole thread that the other machine was not the GE Harmony. I think it is a GE-Branded version of the Haier Genesis washer.

I think any noise in any machine that makes metallic squeaking/grinding noises gives off a BAD perception of quality.

FunGuy, you always seem to know so much about everything!! Good for you! Here again, though, you're wrong. The Haier Genesis and the GE pictured are not even remotely the same machine, nor is it sourced by Haier for GE. The GE pictured is a re-deisgned Harmony-type machine, without the connector to the dryer (or the Harmony name). It is built by LG, as is the original Harmony. The Harmony-type dryer is being paired with this machine as a set, without the communication cable to the washer (or the Harmony name), so you can set your own cycle. But it is basically the Harmony washer, wash system, matching dryer, with all the features of the Harmony washer (except the two way communications from the washer to the dryer). It is nothing at all like the Haier Genesis washer, which has a max spin speed of 750 and a completely different type of wash system, and only a 3.5 cu ft capacity, not 4.0 like the Harmony.

There is a shipping rod that holds the tub still during shipping. Maybe on a display model they haven't removed the rod?? Look at the left or right side of the washer near the floor to see if it is installed. It has a yellow flag attached, reminding you to remove it before operating the washer.

Hydro-Wash seems to be the wash plate machine.

Hydro-Wave is the agitator machine hybrid to replace the short, fast stroke transmission that replaced the classic Filter-Flo. This is a belt drive machine, not direct drive.

Peter, you're correct.

The Hydrowave is belt driven directly from the motor to the agitator shaft. Wash and spin action is controlled by solenoids and wash action occurs via a 360 degree agitator stroke, as opposed to the old style 160 degree fast stroke washers that drove through a transmission.

HydroWash machines are the wash plate, Harmony-style washers.

So that machine is the HydroWash. Could you post pictures of the HydroWave so I can see it? The GE Appliances website does not seem to list it yet.

This is the Hydrowave washer, not to be confused with the Hydrowash washer, which is the Harmony-style machine pictured above. The Hydrowave has been listed on GE's website for over a year now.

Oh! That's it! I heard those machines are crap. Loud, shaky spins, transmission and motor problems, the list goes on and on.

Since these machines don't have transmissions, I'd be curious to know how they have transmission problems?

I own the machine in the link above. The Hydrowave washer replaced the ones with transmissions. The tub and suspension of the machine are the same, but the drive system is totally different. The hydrowave machines use a electronic inverter control board that reverse's the motor back and forth to create the agitation. It is EXTREMELY quiet. To me, it sounds like a battery operated baby swing. The agitation stroke is 270 degrees, I believe. There is one belt from the motor to the drive shaft, but NO transmission. Spin is obtained when a solenoid engages to lock the tub to the same drive mechanism, and the whole assembly spins then. GE still uses the same electric drain pump, which is fairly noisy. As far as suspension noises mentioned by one writer, I don't experience that on my machine, and I also have a 2 year old GE with a transmission, and neither of them 'squeak' or 'grind' when the tub is moved around by hand. I'd say if your machine does that, it needs those parts that hold it up replaced, because they are worn out. GE does still sell an entry level machine with a transmission, but mid line up to top of the line are all hydrowash systems that have been out for a little over a year now.

Estesguy - GE claims a full 360 degree agitator stroke on the hydrowave machines. You had mentioned 270 degrees...doesn't yours give you the full 360? Maybe it's just hard to see when it's washing?

I have a feeling on some of these machines where people experience suspension "noises", or walking washer syndrome, one or more of the shipping bolts were never removed that hold the tub in place. These do have 'em. And apparently, from talking to GE techs, the machines balance themselves very well during a spin...using the same type of balance ring many other top load machines use (including the Calypso...which I have still never seen go off balance in 7 years...even washing a single pillow.) GE techs claim these machines are very reliable, with few service issues for a new model. The older (late 90's/early 2000) model GE washers with plastic tubs and plastic geared transmissions did not hold up well. These are NOT the same machine in any way, shape or form.

Yes Andrew, you are correct. If you notice I said "I believe" as I wasn't sure of that particular fact. But all other facts I have stated are correct. The electronic inverter board is mounted on top of the motor and protected with a plastic hood. The machine has no mechanical braking system anymore, so the tub coasts down to a stop, unless the lid is lifted before it stops. If that happens, the motor is energized in the opposite direction of the tub rotation to immediately stop the tub. Spin speed is 630 RPM per GE. These machines are in no way related mechanically to the Harmony series washers. Apples and oranges there my friends.

Well, I'm glad GE seems to have a winner with these machines. Less complexity for sure! Would be great if they would introduce a high speed spin to them like they had before with the 850 rpm spin of the previous TOL Profile line.