Thread Number: 52626
Speed Queen AWN412 vs AWN542 |
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Post# 748920 , Reply# 1   4/9/2014 at 17:00 (3,641 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 748926 , Reply# 3   4/9/2014 at 17:35 (3,641 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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Post# 748969 , Reply# 5   4/9/2014 at 19:31 (3,641 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Carly, the tub on a Speed Queen will seem downright cavernous compared to the little one on your Maytag. Considering this, the maximum fill level won't seem skimpy to you.
I'm not a Maytag expert, but I suspect that even if your 106 can be fixed, it would be an involved process that would perhaps require hunting down parts, and it sounds like you can't afford to be without a washer for very long.
Unlike your Maytag, Speed Queens can wear out their belts. That's probably the only repair you would have to anticipate over the life of the machine, and if you or someone you know is handy, it's supposedly a DIY repair.
I vote for the extra rinse option. The Speed Queen does a short spray rinse early in the spin cycle -- not nearly as long as the spray rinse your Maytag provides. You may end up wishing you had the extra rinse option. It's strange that your dealer doesn't carry the 432, which offers the extra rinse. Could they order one for you?
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Post# 749018 , Reply# 8   4/10/2014 at 00:39 (3,641 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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The Extra Rinse feature on the Speed Queen provides a second deep rinse, so the tub would fill with water again. Using the Extra Rinse option will add another 21 gallons of water use to a cycle.
A regular cycle does this: Wash, Spin, Deep Rinse, Final Spin. (Just like your Maytag) A regular cycle plus an Extra Rinse does this: Wash, Spin, Deep Rinse, Spin, Deep Rinse, Final Spin. The Extra Rinse feature is nice to have if you ever feel like a load needs a 2nd deep rinse, but a regular cycle washes and rinses clothes just like your Maytag did. As you noted, if you never needed to add an extra rinse with your Maytag, you won't need to with the Speed Queen. I bought the AWN542 for the flexibility of agitation/spin speeds. I don't recall ever using the Extra Rinse option. |
Post# 749021 , Reply# 9   4/10/2014 at 01:18 (3,641 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Eugene, with all due respect, I must disagree with the statement that "a regular cycle washes and rinses clothes just like your Maytag did." Generally speaking it does, but . . .
The spray rinse on the SQ is much shorter than the one on the Maytag. A deep rinse is a deep rinse, but IMO that short spray on the SQ isn't enough to extract as much detergent residue as the longer Maytag spray. In addition, the SQ spray rinse can often begin before the tub is at full spin speed, so its effect is diminished. The Maytag allows more time for the tub to reach full speed and really force the spray through the load.
We owned an Amana for several years. It was a Speed Queen clone. After we replaced it with a Duet, we had overly sudsy loads due to the detergent residue still in the clothes that had been processed through the Amana, even though I very often used the extra rinse option with that machine. After seeing a modern day SQ in action, it doesn't appear that anything has changed with the spray rinse.
My advice to Carly would be to use less detergent in order to possibly get away with just a single deep rinse if the septic system is a concern. Also, the SQ tub is much larger, so full loads are going to use a lot more water than the Maytag did. Even with a single rinse you're going to be using more water per cycle than you did with the Maytag, but you should be doing fewer loads as a result of having the extra capacity, so overall your septic system could end up processing less, and an occasional extra rinse wouldn't tax it. |
Post# 749058 , Reply# 11   4/10/2014 at 05:04 (3,641 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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What is everybody's problem with the spin spray rinse?
Whirlpool all but did away with the spin spray on their machines years ago. When I switched from a traditional top loader to a front loader, I never had any residual sudsing from detergent left behind by my old washer's alleged poor rinsing. Malcolm |
Post# 749098 , Reply# 12   4/10/2014 at 09:04 (3,641 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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The spray rinse is sort of moot when you have a deep rinse in most any TL machine. |
Post# 749101 , Reply# 13   4/10/2014 at 09:31 (3,641 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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detergents from the 70/80's were high sudssing and left a lot of residue...extra rinsing always seemed a must for loads like towels...
todays detergents are all heading for HE, and can be used in conventional machines, the added benefit is low to no suds, making rinsing a lot easier for any machine.... almost any septic service company will insist on getting that washer piped somewhere else rather than dumping it into the tank, not everyone can do this, but gray water tanks are common for this type of output, and some just let it go onto the ground... I am puzzled why gray water tanks aren't a standard with a septic system.....the exact guys who installed and service ours, insisted we get the washer off of that line....you would think that both tanks are put into place at the same time..... a gray water tank is nothing more than a 50 to 100 gallon tank, surrounded by a lot of stone, along the same lines as the regular septic....nothing that can't be done on your own.... |
Post# 749111 , Reply# 14   4/10/2014 at 11:03 (3,640 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Hi Carly, the very best SQ washer choice you can make is the SQ Front Load machine, especially if you are concerned about total water usage on your septic system. Not only will the SQ FL washer do a far better job of washing-rinsing-spinning your laundry that either your old MT or even a new SQ TL washer.
That said the SQ FL washer is very expensive however it will easily pay for itself several times over compared to the cost of running another regular TL washer [ the life expediency of a SQ FL washer is approximately twice the expected life of their TL washers, you are going from 20-25 years, to close to 50 years with the FL machine. If purchasing the SQ TL washer I would just get the AWN-412, as a SQ dealer we sell the 412 almost 10 to 1 compared to the 542. The speed selector switch on the 542s is a weak spot and the extra rinse feature is just plain wasteful, and in addition to all the extra water and electricity it wastes it causes the washer about 50% more wear every time you do a load and use this setting. |
Post# 749130 , Reply# 16   4/10/2014 at 13:05 (3,640 days old) by mtn1584 (USA)   |   | |
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I don't understand your logic that the fabric selector/speed switch is a weak spot. Mike |
Post# 749132 , Reply# 17   4/10/2014 at 13:18 (3,640 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Our intentions are always so good...but I sometimes wonder if our attention to detail leaves drop-by's like Carly more confused than when they arrived.
And on top of that, Carly, we'd love for you to drop by this thread and let us know which machine you wind up purchasing. Hope we've helped more than we've obfuscated, LOL! :-) |
Post# 749139 , Reply# 18   4/10/2014 at 14:26 (3,640 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)   |   | |
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The fact of SQ front loader washing, rinsing and spinning better than a top loader is relative, you may have people saying just the opposite...at least for what concerns washing and rinsing.
My suggestion will be simple, just go for what has more features, there always will be those times when they'll become handy, but whenever to wait or not, this is up to you...just think about the features and potential use you may do of them, sure if you are corcened about rinsing, better having a machine that does double rinses...then you may even easily be happy with the regular rinse only, but more features sooner or later always pays off during time, at least, so is for me... |
Post# 749216 , Reply# 20   4/10/2014 at 20:47 (3,640 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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The 2nd deep rinse is a very wasteful feature, few if any TL washers had this feature 50 yaers ago and the lack of it is one of many reasons the Carlas MT A106 lasted this long.
The speed switch can be a weak point on the AWN542s because the full sustained motor current travels through this Chinese made switch, we see these switches fail on SQ and WP DD washers as well, and depending on how it fails it can take an expensive motor along with it. The overall performance advantages of new FL washers are well documented, so I will not attempt to address that at this time [ check out the thread, what do you like about your Hi Efficiency washer ]. To everyone, when I offer advice on appliance related issues I do so with experience learned from dozens if not hundreds of real customers that I have met face to face and discussed these issues with. A single persons experience holds little or no statistical significance and I do not to quote these limited experiences when writing about appliance issues. |
Post# 749250 , Reply# 22   4/11/2014 at 02:16 (3,640 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)   |   | |
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Look, I do not want to start controversies or arguments, and if I reply is only because I consider you a good member and really I care about clearing things up with you, if it wasn't so I'd just ignore and abstain from replying further like I do with people I don't consider much in here, so please don't consider this as bitching or personal, I start with saying that of course everyone is free to share their opinions and findings and of course always trying to be helpful doing so, you found FL to be better and so you of course are going to suggest them, but I think it's wise trying not to talk as an absolute fact since, as we all know, not everyone is of this opinion and may strongly disagree, moreover suggesting to read a thread called....., "what do you like about your Hi Efficiency washer ]" you only give one part of the story...
I think it's normal that in a thread called "HE, ECO, Low water and Enerrgy let's hear your positive experiences" or " what you liike of your HE" you have people sharing their POSITIVE experiences and not ones having bad experiences to tell, since these threads calls out for people having good experiences, this does not mean that there are not many others that had negative experiences though! Of course I don't talk based on my own experiences only either, but of the ones of many other people I had occasion to talk with directly or read their thoughts in various venues and occasions... I think no-one can determine whatever has to be taken as an absolute inconceivable fact.... I cannot absolutely deny as you say that there are many people actually being happy with their FL, HE etc....but cannot deny the same way there're many others for which it's just the opposite.... This post was last edited 04/11/2014 at 03:01 |
Post# 749322 , Reply# 24   4/11/2014 at 14:34 (3,639 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 749330 , Reply# 25   4/11/2014 at 14:54 (3,639 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Post# 749354 , Reply# 26   4/11/2014 at 16:23 (3,639 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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On my choice of the 542: The 412 is a 2-speed machine, but you can only get slow agitation on the Delicate cycle, which utilizes an intermittent agitation/soak protocol. The 542 is the only SQ in which you can opt for continuous slow agitation using either the Regular or Perm Press cycles. I use the slow agitation/fast spin speed on those cycles quite often.
This may not be an important feature to others, but it's one I appreciate having. This post was last edited 04/11/2014 at 16:54 |
Post# 749374 , Reply# 28   4/11/2014 at 17:55 (3,639 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 749473 , Reply# 29   4/12/2014 at 08:08 (3,639 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 749599 , Reply# 30   4/12/2014 at 19:23 (3,638 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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I did not say not to change speeds when the machine is running, and I dough that it will make much difference if you do, often when we have seen these switches fail the customer reports that they never change this switches setting at all. I suppose that if you sat there and flipped the switch from setting to setting constantly it might shorten its life, but even if it is never changed a lot of current is going through the contacts and terminals of this switch and it could fail anyway.
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Post# 749665 , Reply# 33   4/13/2014 at 05:33 (3,638 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)   |   | |
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I never and say never use LCB, but as for bleach and detergent I can fully see how it can be useful to a better deeper rinse, moreover it is not even matter of high or low sudsing detergent for me, I can tell you from an european point of view that really spray rinse makes a substantial difference with any detergent!
Even by using european (automatic low sudsing) detergents you get froth! and especially in low water settings,, and believe it or not in the filter flo I also get suds locks in large loads of towels and so on that spray rinse immediately dissolve, but it is not even a matter of froth, spray rinse really gives a first rinsing to clothes in order to be perfectly rinsed in the deep rinse, while playing with my machines I used to try to skip the spray rinse going directly to final spin and run the rinse, and could clearly see that water in the deep rinse was not as clear as if spray rinse was used, so had to repeat a second rinse....also, I could even experience that there was still so much detergent behind in the first rinse that additioned to the softener resulted in muck and scum....something that never happens when spray rinse is used as it take off a great part of detergent and makes a second rinse not needed most of the time for me... Even by using low sudsing detergents I see the spray rinse a very good feature that gives a substantial improvement to the rinsing, would never want a machine without it! This post was last edited 04/13/2014 at 07:03 |
Post# 749668 , Reply# 34   4/13/2014 at 06:04 (3,638 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)   |   | |
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Post# 749683 , Reply# 35   4/13/2014 at 08:17 (3,638 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Fred....
your filterflo should offer both a regular cycle, and an extra cleaning regular with double rinse... oddly enough I have one that offers both, extra cleaning with double rinse, and a regular cyle, with an optional switch for an extra rinse too...don't understand why both? the only advantage to the extra cleaning cycle, double rinses, AND double spin sprays...according to the book, you are supposed to double the amount of detergent as well for great stain removal.... |
Post# 749696 , Reply# 36   4/13/2014 at 10:05 (3,637 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.)   |   | |
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You're right Yogi, but thought the extra cleaning wash time was longer than the regular?
If you watch, the distance from heavy to normal soil checks in the extra cleaning chart is greater than the one of the regular... Always thought it to be longer even though I've never timed it...but it was the most logical explanation, even because as you said there are models with a 2nd rinse switch for regular cycles also... I usually manually skip the second rinse in the extra cleaning cycle....... Even though sometimes I decide to run a second rinse, especially when I use grated soap flakes or when I try detergents that result to be crappy ( badly formulated) and of which I need to put really great quantities....also, they often are crappy because are all about soda and fillers, pretty difficult to rinse.... Anyways.. I think putting a switch to select 1 or two rinses and giving one chart with different wash times/soil levels is smarter than this... This post was last edited 04/13/2014 at 10:20 |
Post# 749705 , Reply# 37   4/13/2014 at 10:41 (3,637 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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thats the only bad thing when they cram so many cycles into one timer....for some it seems like overkill....
they could get away with a Regular, with option for second rinse, a Short cycle, and an Automatic Soak....with seperate speed selections, water temps and levels....that alone still would make these machines with endless combinations and variations...from Gentle to Perm Press, and MiniQuick to boot and yet with something like the Hotpoints with only two cycles, it seems to wash forever... |
Post# 750503 , Reply# 38   4/16/2014 at 11:07 (3,634 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)   |   | |
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I think a spray rinse *can* make a huge difference in the rinse performance of a toploader.
Anyone in doubt of its effectiveness just wash a large load in really hot water, then stop the washer after the first spin with the spray rinse and check how much the clothes have cooled down. If the water of the spray would only bounce off the clothes instead of going through them, there wouldn`t be much cooling effect. However personally I don`t like modern HE toploaders which only rely on spray rinses. I would be in constant fear of missing spots. Also I never understood why Whirlpool switched to a spray rinse after the deep rinse instead of before. Thought detergent and fabric softener don`t mix well. This post was last edited 04/16/2014 at 12:41 |
Post# 766992 , Reply# 42   6/30/2014 at 16:19 (3,559 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))   |   | |
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... yourself and you love to SQs into your last statement ;) |
Post# 767000 , Reply# 43   6/30/2014 at 16:31 (3,559 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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Life without passion is like cake without icing. :) Since SQ does precious little advertising or marketing, figured I might as well carry the flag. |
Post# 767220 , Reply# 46   7/1/2014 at 10:54 (3,558 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Per the images of the controls on Speed Queen's web site, seems to me that the 542 and 432 Prewash is a lead-in to the Regular cycle ... functions similarly to Whirlpool's Super Wash. Brief agitation, drain/spin, continue into Regular. The user guides available online describe the soak cycle as a brief agitation, 12 mins of soak, drain/spin and off. Likely is the same on all models. Difference between 542 and 432 having a separate automatic Prewash against 412 not having it is that 542 and 432 allow a prewash without the soak time. 412 has prewash as part/parcel of the soak. A manual prewash can be done by starting any cycle at the Rinse indicator. |
Post# 767227 , Reply# 47   7/1/2014 at 11:30 (3,558 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Post# 767239 , Reply# 48   7/1/2014 at 12:20 (3,558 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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with all the information and opinions given on this thread. |
Post# 767240 , Reply# 49   7/1/2014 at 12:27 (3,558 days old) by denverdog ()   |   | |
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You explaination is exactly how I think it works. It helps me decide what model to get. |
Post# 767250 , Reply# 50   7/1/2014 at 14:00 (3,558 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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I'd like to see the option of a soak in the middle of the wash portion of the cycle---without using the extra 20+ gallons of water. I ran a load of stained kitchen whites through the AWN542 a couple of days ago and noticed better results when letting the wash cycle agitate for 4-5 minutes, then stopping it for 30 minutes. I restarted the machine and let it finish the cycle---great results without the added fabric wear of adding agitation time.
Would be very convenient if the washer did this automatically---and it wouldn't add energy or water use to the cycle. Win-Win! |
Post# 767300 , Reply# 51   7/1/2014 at 17:57 (3,558 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Imo, I think speed Queen could better the cycle timing for the soaks and prewash. The thing I like about mine is that after a 4 minute prewash it will automatically soak then drain the machine.
Just of note, the AWN 432 and AWN 542 have 3 minute timer increments instead of 2. If I remember right the pre wash has no soak period on the pre wash. |
Post# 767301 , Reply# 52   7/1/2014 at 17:59 (3,558 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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If your curious here is the tech sheet to my AWN412:
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