Thread Number: 57002  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
new FL pair in the works----what would you buy?
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Post# 792899   11/9/2014 at 12:05 (3,427 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

My neighbor is between jobs and his TL Kenmore is shredding the life out of his clothing. I am going to give him my Frigidaire FL pair (Model 2140) and buy a new pair for myself. Specs are as follows:

1. Must be stackable. I have a steel/concrete bollard embedded in my garage slab, required by county code, and the clowns who built the house placed it smack in the middle of the washer space. Even on a pedestal, the bollard blocks the door of a FL (house built 1988, when 99% of washers sold here were TL). I solved the problem by stacking a pair in the dryer space and placing a table for folding and baskets in the washer space

2. Budget $2500

3. Gas dryer

I am 5'11" and the current configuration of the stack---72" high---is perfect for me. Some of the taller machines, 40" high or so, would likely be a bit too high, in terms of the dryer drum being at a comfortable chest height for me.

I am leaning toward ELectrolux. My eight year old Frig 2140 has had zero service issues. In addition, while some machines have increased capacity by being taller, Electrolux is only about 38" high, a consideration since I have to stack. I am leery of the steam options, so I think I would go with the basic 55 model. I have some king size comforters that I now have to take to a laundromat once a year to wash in a triple load machine. I doubt that any home machine would have capacity to wash them, and in any event I wouldn't buy a huge machine to accomplish a once/year task, since most of the time I'm not washing huge loads. So the 4.2-4.4 ft capacity of the Electrolux seems about right for me.

Your suggestions?





Post# 792915 , Reply# 1   11/9/2014 at 13:23 (3,427 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
New Stack FL Washer-Gas Dryer

combo52's profile picture
Speed Queen ATG50 is the ONLY one I would consider, when you stack a dryer on a regular FL washer the washer becomes unserviceable till you get the dryer out of the way.

Post# 792921 , Reply# 2   11/9/2014 at 13:39 (3,427 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

I bought a Kenmore set made by LG that is huge capacity wise. The washer and dryer are indeed big enough to wash a king size comforter. I have a down filled one that I have washed and dried about three times now. I do have to dry it for an extended amount of time, but it does well.

Post# 792922 , Reply# 3   11/9/2014 at 13:40 (3,427 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

Oh yes and they are stacked too. Very convenient for me.

Post# 793054 , Reply# 4   11/10/2014 at 08:28 (3,426 days old) by GeorgeCT (Fairfield, CT)        
I'd go with Electrolux too...

georgect's profile picture
They still seem like the best option out there.
Even though (I'm sure) Speed Queen's are built even better, they don't have the capcity and correct me if I'm wrong an on board heater.

I really really don't like anything made by LG or Samsung in regards to appliances.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and keep us posted.


Post# 793057 , Reply# 5   11/10/2014 at 08:41 (3,426 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
And the BONUS......

mrb627's profile picture
You can reverse the swing of the washer door as well as the dryer...

Malcolm


Post# 793073 , Reply# 6   11/10/2014 at 10:20 (3,426 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
door reversal

Malcolm---I'd forgotten about that, my Frigidaires have the default door hinge placement, on the left side looking at the machines, but in retrospect having a dryer that hinges on the right would be nice. If the washer door can open 180 degrees or close to it, a right hinged washer door would be nice as well.

After I bought/positioned the current pair, I bought a laundry center (three sorting bags/hanging rod/upper shelf), which I placed to the left of the machines. In the corner is the water heater, to the left of the heater is the laundry center, to the right of the heater are the machines. So the laundry center and the machines are oriented at a 90 degree andle from each other.. When the dryer door is opened, it blocks access to the hanging rod until I close the door. Given that most of my work clothes are LL Bean 100% cotton wrinkle-free fabrics, I have to hang up the shirts and trousers straight from the dryer. Not having the dryer door block the hanging rod will be a nice plus (could have done it with present dryer but never bothered).

[note: nothing will be a perfect solution. The folding table (where I place folded towels/linens/t-shirts etc and load them into baskets) is on the right of the machines. So a right-hinged dryer door will free up access to the laundry center but partly block access to the folding table. For complete ease of use I'd need a door with hinge on the top!!]

Several of the reviewers at retailer websites, such as Best Buy, mention the reversible doors as a major reason they purchased Electrolux. Most of these were new owners for whom Electrolux solved their laundry area geometry issues, and I"d like to have heard more from long time owners re: durability. Some people at automaticwasher.org own them and most of the reports here have been positive. CR, which I take with a grain of salt, gives them good reviews, but keeps them off their "recommended" list due to noise issues (only "good", not very good or excellent. Since my machines are in the garage, noise is not an issue as it would be for someone with an indoor laundry area.

When the laundry center bags are stuffed full, they fill the present washer, so they serve as a unit of measurement: when the bag is full, it's time to run a load. I sort based on washing/drying needs: one for perm press (as above), one for sheets/towels, one for non-wrinkle-free cottons (jeans, t-shirts, etc.) and it works fine for me. A new FL with bigger capacity will upset this unit of measurement, but I can adapt. If the Electrolux can wash a king comforter, fine, but I don't need a 5.0+ cu ft machine---too big for my daily needs---just to wash two king comforters, which I do once a year at a laundromat (and which I'm willing to continue doing). I also have twin and full/queen comforters which wash nicely in the current (Frig 2140) washer, so I'm sure an ELectrolux would handle them just fine.

Electrolux machines are 38" high, which will result in a stack that is 6'4" rather than 6'0", which I can handle, but I wouldn't want to stack anything taller than that. At 5'11", I could easily reach the controls, but I don't want to strain to reach an item in the back of the dryer drum, or stretch to store something (dryer sheets, etc) on top of the dryer.

I don't know how much longer the Frig pair will last, but given my neighbor's need to watch expenses, even a few years are better than nothing. They have been meticulously maintained: descaled with citric acid once a quarter, door always left open when not in use, gasket crease always wiped dry, dispenser kept dry (I invert it over a small plastic pail after last load of the day). Never used bleach or fabric softener in it, though I have used OxyClean a few times. I know opinions vary as to which additives are bad for spiders, and I've read too many posts stating that regular bleach use is bad for spiders. I would like to have x-ray vision to see what kind of shape the spider is in, but it's gone 8 1/2 years without any service problems and works the same as it did new in 2008.


Post# 793100 , Reply# 7   11/10/2014 at 13:52 (3,426 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture

I'd go for the 60 model - it has the wonderful recirculation jet which the 55 models lack.

 





Post# 793142 , Reply# 8   11/10/2014 at 19:12 (3,425 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

Ahh, I noticed a bout 3 minutes before the end of the video, I was watching a Frigidaire Affinity and not an Elux 60.   Some things my Duet does better and some things this machine does better. 


Post# 793151 , Reply# 9   11/10/2014 at 20:37 (3,425 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Don't be leery of steam options. I use it frequently on my Frigidaire.
Glad you're gifting your set to someone who needs it. Pay it forward.


Post# 793165 , Reply# 10   11/10/2014 at 22:12 (3,425 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

We got a new whirlpool duet, and we are really happy with it to be honest. Never expected it to be this good. You can't really see any water during the mainwash, exept during the deep rinse where it feels to the bottom edge of the door. Yet still everything comes out clean, better then our old top loader surpsingly. It did our king size comforter as well on the Heavy Duty cycle. However, on the U.S site it lists the washer at 4.2CF but on the CA site it is listed at 4.8CF.

Washer: www.whirlpool.com/-%5BWFW72HEDW%5...

Dryer: www.whirlpool.com/-%5BWGD71HEDW%5...


Post# 793272 , Reply# 11   11/11/2014 at 16:00 (3,425 days old) by gusherb (Chicago/NWI)        
washerdude

I'm curious about the new Duet's, our 2006 Samsung (rebadged as Maytag) needs replacing and one thing that bothers me is the lack of water the newer machines use, and the dumbed down temperatures. How many rinses does your Duet do and are they all "deep water" rinses? and does the heavy duty cycle use non dumbed down temps?
These seemingly simple questions I have don't seem to be obtainable via searching online anywhere.


Post# 793298 , Reply# 12   11/11/2014 at 19:47 (3,424 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

Our duet does 2 rinses default on ALL cycles. And yes it does dumb down the temp of the water on certain cycles such as normal and delicates (Makes sense for delicates).Cycles that are not dumbed down are the Heavy duty, Eco sanitize with Oxi and quick wash. Heres one thing that won't make sense, during the first rinse bleach is dispensed, not sure why. And during the first rinse it will fill a little more then the main wash, then it drains and this time when it fills you will see that water in the bottom of the boot rising. Once when we did a load towels it filled up with water touching the bottom of the door. It does only 1 deep rinse but if you select extra rinse, you get 2 deep rinses (1 cycle rinse and 1 extra rinse) with the same amount of water. I will try to get a picture of the deep rinse later on.

Post# 793306 , Reply# 13   11/11/2014 at 20:27 (3,424 days old) by Gusherb (Chicago/NWI)        

Does the Heavy Duty cycle's main wash use an adequate amount / more water then the normal wash as well? And what is the shortest cycle time in the Heavy Duty setting?
So far it sounds like the Duet will give me what I want, the only other thing I'd consider is a SQ top loader, I don't like that their front loader doesn't include a heater nor many customizable settings and is also bit out of my price range.


Post# 793309 , Reply# 14   11/11/2014 at 20:34 (3,424 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

Yes it does use more water, I've noticed that sometimes during heavy loads it will almost fill 3 times throught the main wash on heavy duty. The lowest time would be 1h and 7mins on light soils.

Post# 793313 , Reply# 15   11/11/2014 at 20:45 (3,424 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

Should also add, when we washed our king size comforter, we saw 0 water in it which was a little scary. But when we opened the door the entire comforter was soaking wet.

Post# 793317 , Reply# 16   11/11/2014 at 21:16 (3,424 days old) by Gusherb (Chicago/NWI)        

That's great. Thanks for answering my questions. I think I will like the Duet based on your observations. The only thing I will miss is the warm/warm cycle on our current machine. I don't understand why the Eco nazis had to do away with that on front loaders, our machine for instance only adds maybe a gallon or two of hot on the final rinse to raise the temp to 85! I can't possibly imagine a gallon of heated water being the end of the world...

Post# 793323 , Reply# 17   11/11/2014 at 21:50 (3,424 days old) by washer111 ()        
ATC

And thus it seems those who conclude that ATC is only used on TL machines because they "waste too much water" are wrong. Its used in equally draconian quantities on the FL brethren...

Instead, we've got ourselves a race to the bottom, punishing users in terms of personal choice and select-ability for wash temperatures that barely meet their designators, if at all.
At least there are cycles that override this problem, and heaters to assist for a better washing environment


Post# 793326 , Reply# 18   11/11/2014 at 22:28 (3,424 days old) by Cam2s (Nebraska)        
Maytag Maxima XL

I have had the duets twin the Maxima for almost a year now. Normal wash has the lowest water level (barely any), sanitize, allergen, and powerwash have the highest water level and the rest of the cycles split the difference. Mine has the steam/heater option, which actually works quite well. Using the steam for stains will cause the machine to do a steaming period at the end of the wash cycle, but it also will kick on the heater during the wash to maintain or boost the temp. Sanitize of course will get you 150-160 degree water and allergen will actually boost the temperature without having to use the steam option (you can only use hot or extra hot though). Default is two rinses, extra rinse is 3. It also employs a bleach rinse instead of dumping the bleach in the wash. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is so the bleach won't interfere with the detergent and to limit exposure to the harshness of the bleach. All in all a very capable machine as long as you know how to manipulate the settings. A unique feature to these is the fresh hold. It uses a small fan to circulate air through the drum after the load ends. I thought this was going to be frivolous when I got this washer, but it actually works really well. If you aren't around the unload the wash right away it will hold it up to twelve hours and everything will stay fresh. My only beef with the new duets and its various twins is that you can't easily access the pump trap. Older duets had a kick plate on the bottom that came off but now you have to take the top and front off to get to it. It's not terribly hard just obnoxious.

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Post# 793381 , Reply# 19   11/12/2014 at 05:58 (3,424 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
John is right on..

A Speed Queen is , in my opinion, the ONLY choice, I have looked at them and talked to service men, it just all comes down to better quality.

Post# 793415 , Reply# 20   11/12/2014 at 09:57 (3,424 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
Frigidaire 60 models

I went ahead and ordered the Electrolux 60 pair. FYI there are (in my area) $360 in rebates available:

1. Gas company $75 rebate

2. Water district $85 rebate

3. NMG (National Marketing Group, a buying consortium of which my local retailer is a member): $200 rebate.

I believe #1 and #2 are paid by check. The NMG rebate comes as a prepaid VISA card. I already applied online for the water district rebate. The gas and NMG rebates require submission of receipts and, in the case of NMG, the serial numbers of the machines. Gas company also requires a copy of a gas bill. These two can be done by fax or snail mail. FYI the NMG rebate did not allow mix-and-matching, i.e. if you bought the 50 washer you had to buy the 50 dryer. You could not for example buy a 50 washer and a 60 dryer. You had to buy a pair of the same model level.

This brings the total cost of the pair, with tax, to about $1872. The 50 series, while lower priced, had a smaller NMG rebate ($50 or so), so that after rebates the price difference between the 50 and 60 models was about $70.

My neighbor's brother wants my neighbor's old GE gas dryer* (formerly mine; I handed it over to my neighbor---to replace an electric dryer that worked but was expensive to run) and will haul away the old Kenmore washer. The retailer's crew will remove my current washer/dryer and move it as far as the curb (but not over to the neighbor's home) and then install the new pair. The neighbor and his brother will then move the Frig set to his garage.

As a "welcome to FL washing" gift, I am giving him a box of HE powder detergent and a coffee measure, since from this point on he'll be using 15-30 ml or 1-2 tbsp of powder per load.

*I purchased it in 1997, never has had any servicing. In terms of features, though, it's pretty basic. No moisture sensor. There is a perm press cycle but I suspect it only runs on a timer. It never got perm press loads particularly dry and I think the timer was shutting it off while the load was still damp. My work wardrobe is nearly all 100% cotton with wrinkle-free finish (LL Bean) and the concept never really worked for me until I bought the present Frig dryer (2006) and for the first time used a dryer with a moisture sensor. Now everything comes out looking like I sent it to the cleaners.

The Frig set has had one service call, ever: I heard a thumping noise in the dryer, and inspected the belts to find they were ok. Cause: a button lodged between drum and interior. I always leave the washer door ajar, I descale quarterly with citric acid, and always dry out the dispenser and gasket crease at the end of the wash day.


Post# 793417 , Reply# 21   11/12/2014 at 10:10 (3,424 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
one thing I noticed

The MSRP price gap between electric and gas Electrolux dryers has grown to $100. Historically it was always $30-40 more for gas vs electric, and in some models I noticed a price creep to $60, but this is the first time I"ve seen the price gap grow to $100. My guess is that customers in areas with natural gas service know that they will likely save a lot of money* using a gas money and will cough up $100 more in order to save in the long term.

*if local electricity is cheap, this may not hold true, but in SoCal it costs 2-4 times as much to dry electrically vs. with gas, unless you have solar panels of course ;)


Post# 793467 , Reply# 22   11/12/2014 at 14:59 (3,424 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Don't Be Afraid Of Not Seeing Water

launderess's profile picture
In "Normal" wash cycles.

When first started using my OKO/AEG Lavamat was worried about what seemed a puny amount of water. However as stated up thread the water is there just inside the wash. The idea is more forcing highly concentrated detergent/water solution through laundry rather than tumbling it about in lots of water.


Post# 793489 , Reply# 23   11/12/2014 at 17:29 (3,423 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
I wonder if Electrolux washers still work like two years ago. Normal cycle with Max Fill option:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO logixx's LINK


Post# 793586 , Reply# 24   11/13/2014 at 05:43 (3,423 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
Glad to hear

mark_wpduet's profile picture
The Duet's and Maxima's use decent amounts of water.

My 10 year old duet uses the exact same amount of water for washing and rinsing, and water does not touch the boot EVER unless you choose delicate, soak, or use the hidden clean washer cycle. It has been a GREAT washer and it's still going strong (KNOCK ON WOOD)


Post# 793715 , Reply# 25   11/13/2014 at 17:39 (3,422 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

Its funny how the new duets use even more water for the deep rinse then the older ones. Always touches the boot for mine on deep rinse.

Post# 793723 , Reply# 26   11/13/2014 at 18:26 (3,422 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        
Here Is What We Have Been Waiting To See...

Here it is, the deeprinse! Actully Lied, it almost touches the bottom of the glass door.



Post# 793728 , Reply# 27   11/13/2014 at 18:53 (3,422 days old) by Gusherb (Chicago/NWI)        

Wow that's excellent! What cycle did you use for the load in the photo?
I realized something about the Duet and most new FL's out there is they won't fit in our washer closet! Our current FL is 30" deep and is almost too tight and the Duet is 33" when I checked the specs. Such a shame....or not, because a SQ (front or toploader) is only 28"! So it looks like SQ will get some more consideration.


Post# 793738 , Reply# 28   11/13/2014 at 19:37 (3,422 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

This is the normal cycle deep rinse. If its a tight fit i think you should probably go for the speed queen.

Post# 793755 , Reply# 29   11/13/2014 at 21:10 (3,422 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        
Nice design,nice features,great capacity

laundromat's profile picture
I check weekly at Home Depot on sales. They have major reductions now going on. The two matching units I highly recommend are not only attractive but do lots of laundry and have been among the most popular models made by L.G.

I know there are some supposedly negative thoughts and stories here and out about how many people hate them only because they're not made in America. To them I say the facts. Most of the brands name tags with the model and serial numbers on them say "Assembled in America" what they can't and don't say is MADE in America. That's because even though they're assembled here, their parts are made overseas. China,Hong Kong,North Korea, Japan,Italy,Indonesia. So,I use my own judgement from mg own experiences and the LGs are by far my personal favorite. I can have anywhere from a 22minute to a 2hr30minute cycle. They're exrrely quiet,hold lots of laundry, spin extreamly fast and are nice to watch

The Home Depot has the huge 30" set on sale $999/washer,$1099 dryer but you say that's too big so these two:

WM4270HWA @$799
And
DLGX4271 @$899

Are IMHO are the best. I'd get them with the five year extended service contract because it's better to have and not need it then it is to need and not have it. Aloha!

Chuck


Post# 793799 , Reply# 30   11/14/2014 at 07:15 (3,422 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
5 Year Extended Contract

combo52's profile picture
You will need it, only problem is consumers who purchase extended service contracts are usually far less satisfied with with service and generally do not keep the appliance as long before it is scraped. Probably the only good thing about a SC is after many failed repair attempts and a weeks worth of pay lost from taking off for incompetent repair attempts you can can usually get them to give you a new appliance, and then you can start all over again, LOL

An American built and backed machine almost always makes more since in the first place.

This week all of us went through refresher training for appliance repair and out of a class of about 35 guys when the subject of LG or Samsung appliances came up almost everyone in the room said they do not touch them, they are all still echoing stores about parts problems, flimsy cheap construction, poor technical support, and if you do actually succeed in fixing them they do not want to pay the service company. This is what we heard over ten years ago and it seems to have not gotten any better. I did not hear one person echo any support for any SS or LG appliance.

Refrigerator, ice-maker and dishwashers were the ones that had the largest # of complaints, the washers and dryers do seem in most cases to actually work for some # years, although I have never seen such thin metal in dryers and refrigerators as you see on these Korean appliances.

Samsung and LG only concern is to get this junk into your home after that good luck.


Post# 793844 , Reply# 31   11/14/2014 at 10:20 (3,422 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
delivery/install tomorrow

The Electrolux 60 pair arrive tomorrow. The delivery guys will disassemble the Frigidaire stack and move it as far as the sidewalk (not into my neighbor's home but at least to the sidewalk---we will take it from there---he will use them side by side not stacked), then install the new pair.

These have reversible doors and evidently the crew will attach the doors on-site based on customer preference. Anyone have a checklist of things I"m supposed to do?

1. If I recall, I should have a level handy and make sure the machine tops are level front to back side to side and diagonally. Correct?

2. I believe I'm supposed to run a short cycle or at least fill the machine and then hit Drain to be sure it fills and drains ok, before they leave.

The package came with a new vent (duh), new braided hoses, and a stacking kit. My existing Frig stacking kit won't be needed by my neighbor and evidently won't fit the new machines.

Please advise if there are any items on the checklist I overlooked.


Post# 793903 , Reply# 32   11/14/2014 at 17:53 (3,421 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
You forgot to include a celebratory beverage, Jim! Looking forward to a full report of your new Electrolux set. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Post# 793907 , Reply# 33   11/14/2014 at 18:00 (3,421 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

logixx's profile picture
Download and read the installation instructions and make sure the guys follow them. There is a dedicated Install Cycle on the washer.

Post# 793996 , Reply# 34   11/15/2014 at 08:38 (3,421 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
I really think SQ is probably the best

mark_wpduet's profile picture
but I wouldn't want a TL washer since it doesn't have a heater. Not all FL washers are bad. My Duet has been pretty awesome and the heater gets the water really hot! I LOVE the looks of some of the LG's but I'm afraid of them for the reasons the person above mentioned, so I doubt I would ever get an LG or Samsung. For me it would be Whirlpool/Maytag or SQ front loader *IF* it has a heater.

Post# 794012 , Reply# 35   11/15/2014 at 09:43 (3,421 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
thanks for the heads up

I had downloaded and read the owner's manuals for both machines, to familiarize myself with cycle selection and maintenance, but hadn't looked at the installation guides (assuming they contained only specs for electric connections and built-in installation measurements. Will be sure they run the Install cycle.

Good idea to run a Clean Washer cycle before first use?

At the store, they didn't ask me to select door hinge placement, my guess is I tell them when they deliver and they hinge the doors based on my choices.

Per the washer install guide, there is also a separate guide for the stacking kit, but I can't find the kit in the Accessories section of Electrolux.


Post# 794024 , Reply# 36   11/15/2014 at 10:09 (3,421 days old) by golittlesport (California)        
Good luck!

golittlesport's profile picture
Best wishes on your new machines! Hope they give you good service like your last set and that those you give your neighbors serve them well. Very nice gesture on your part.

Our eight year old FL Frigidaire set is going strong. Just one repair last year -- door lock on washer. Not bad.

The FL washer of the Frigidaire set I previously owned and gave to my son in 2006 finally gave it up after 13 years with no repairs. He bought another small door "Frig-more" at a Sears Outlet that was new old stock. Basically the same machine that matches the 13 year old dryer.

Can you post a photo of your new set?


Post# 794026 , Reply# 37   11/15/2014 at 10:23 (3,421 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

@golittlesport: not here yet but will post when able.

There is a page for the stacking kit

www.electroluxappliances.com/P_N_...

but the link to the manual is non-operative. :(

Interesting news about your original small door FL that you gave to your son. 13 years is quite impressive. My neighbor is single and runs maybe three loads a week. It'll be interesting to see how long these last for him. Between the pair the only repair ever was to remove a button lodged in the dryer that was making a thumping noise.


Post# 794038 , Reply# 38   11/15/2014 at 11:57 (3,421 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
Here she is.....

....they are still working on the ducting/water supply.

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Post# 794042 , Reply# 39   11/15/2014 at 12:02 (3,421 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        



  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 794080 , Reply# 40   11/15/2014 at 15:40 (3,421 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
First two loads

1. Perm press (100% cotton). My laundry sorter bags equaled one full load in the Frig 2140. I held back doing laundry this week so I'd have extra to stuff in the new Electrolux. It held 1 1/2 sorter bags loosely piled---not stuffed. Ran it on Casual with a prewash. I noted some underarm stains (patterned shirts---you can't really see it except on the white background of plaids and stripes) disappeared. The dryer got them dry in 38 minutes on Casual (starts warm/hot and cools down to room temp)

2. Sanitize: just to try her out, I washed a full load of bed linens on Sanitize, though normally I'd use a normal cycle on Hot. On this machine, the heater engages to heat the water to 156 F and indeed it was that hot when I put my hand in during a Pause. I didn't use a thermometer but the water was clearly hotter than my hot water line temp (140 F).

So far very delighted with this baby. Next up I may wash a comforter to see how it does.


Post# 794220 , Reply# 41   11/16/2014 at 08:13 (3,420 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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If the opportunity arises, I'm curious about the Steam option. On my Frigidaire, there is no dedicated steam producer as there is on a Whirlpool or LG. Mine "adds steam" in one of two ways:

1) Adding the Steam option to a cycle gives you a 20-minute first rinse in very warm (around 115-120 degrees) water. The 2nd rinse is in warm water. I've never seen so much as a single wisp of steam in the tub. Cleaning is improved by the longer tumble, and the warm rinse produces a nice warm load at the end of the cycle. Try it on bed and bath linens.

2) Selecting the Allergen option (available only on the Heavy cycle) plus the Steam option: Allergen extends the wash portion of the cycle by about 20 minutes, heating the water to around 130 degrees. "Adding Steam" appears on the screen for about 15 minutes during the wash cycle. Again, have never seen steam. Cleaning is improved by extending and heating the wash water. The first rinse is not extended and the second rinse is in cold water. I see the Electrolux has a dedicated Allergen cycle, rather than providing it as an option to add to other cycles.

Wondering what the protocol is on your Electrolux. Try adding only the steam option to the Normal or Whitest Whites cycle for a load and let me know what the procedure is on your machine. I always use it for loads of sheets and bath towels, providing one the sensory pleasure of pulling out steamy-warm items at the end of the cycle.

Glad you're liking the results from your Electrolux!


Post# 794227 , Reply# 42   11/16/2014 at 08:51 (3,420 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
ok, but first have to accumulate some addition item loads...

...having washed just about everything that needed washing yesterday!! Did a load of bed linens, perm press, and a quick wash load (two lightly soiled trousers and one pair short) just to see what it would do.

The dryer has a Y-connector to the faucet and thus has its own water supply. I do have a basket of folded launder that's been sitting in a basket for 2-3 weeks, I suppose I could run it through the dryer on steam to see what happens.

I need to consult the user manual for steam wash options and will copy/paste/report back to you. There are a LOT of cycles on these machines and I certainly didn't master all of them in a day! ;)

PS at the moment am washing a queen size synthetic comforter to see how well it handles this kind of a load. There is a Comforters cycle on the dryer but not on the washer.


Post# 794230 , Reply# 43   11/16/2014 at 09:02 (3,420 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
"Add steam" option

ADD STEAM

Select this option to add approximately 20 minutes

of tumbling in steam during the wash cycle.

It is recommended for heavily soiled loads to help

enhance the release of tough stains from fabrics

after initial agitation.

NOTE

• Steam may not necessarily be visible inside

drum during a steam wash cycle.

• Steam may not be present during entire steam

wash cycle.

IMPORTANT

• If steam is selected, rinse temperatures will be

elevated.

• If washer is paused during a steam wash

cycle, the door will remain locked due to higher

temperature in drum. DO NOT force open - it

will unlock upon cooling.

• During a steam cycle you may notice steam

exiting from the rear vent of the washer - this is

normal and not cause for alarm.

 

There is also a "Fast Steam" (I would imagine in lieu of the +20 minutes added by the Add Steam option above). It is a specialty cycle rather than an add-on option:

FAST STEAM

The fast steam cycle adds the perfect amount of

steam into the clothing to refresh fabrics, remove

 

odors, and release wrinkles, reducing ironing.

 

So far have not tried any of the steam options. 


Post# 794232 , Reply# 44   11/16/2014 at 09:13 (3,420 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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"there is no dedicated steam producer as there is on a Whirlpool or LG"

 

Like there was - neither Whirlpool, nor LG use them any longer. Steam is made by the heater underneath the tub.

 

Eugene, for the "steam rinse" - are clothes actually wet or just tumbling damp in some steam (and thus not being rinsed)? And what about the Stain Treat option? It fills with cold and heats the water up? How's that supposed to work given the relatively weak heater?

 

Here's LG's steam option: it fills with some water and tumbles the clothes - without really adding detergent due to the ultra-low steam water level.

 





Post# 794248 , Reply# 45   11/16/2014 at 09:43 (3,420 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
@logixx

Stain treat uses the integrated heater to heat the water to an unspecified higher temperature. From the instructions below, it appears to use cold water fill and the heater is used to heat the water European-style to take advantage of both enzyme and non-enzyme ingredients in the detergent, but it doesn't specify the temperature attained by the water. Of course, since we are playing with only 120V, the heating process has to take longer than it would in Europe. 

 

 I used it once yesterday, along with a pre-wash. I noted that the pre-wash could be done with cold or warm water. I forgot to pay attention (I was working on other projects around the house) as to which cycle happens first: pre-wash or stain treat, though it would make more sense to start with stain treat.

 

Also, the washer gives a time estimate based on cycles/options selected. I just went over to the washer and pretended to set up a Normal cycle with Stain Treat option. The estimated time without Stain Treat was 0:57 minutes; with Stain Treat, 1:07. The default heat setting for Normal was Hot. I tried changing wash temp to Warm and also to Cold, and Stain Treat still adds 10 minutes regardless of wash temp. So it must take 10 minutes to go from water line cold to whatever temperature Electrolux has selected for Stain Treat. Then I assume it drains and then refills for the main cycle at whatever temperature the user has selected. 

 

 The only high temperature precisely specified by the manual is for Sanitize cycle, 152 F/67 C. However, that cycle uses Hot incoming water and the heater--assuming one's incoming water is 140 F/60 C, doesn't have to raise the temperature very much. Na, aber deutliche Betriebsanleitungen sind leider von Amis (und Schwedischen...) nicht zu erwarten----unwie die Kunden in Deutschland, die Persil kaufen, wir wissen nicht, was wir haben... ;)

 

Below is a cut and paste from the owner's manual. Both selections are options that can be added to some of the standard cycles: 

 

STAIN TREAT

 

Stain treat uses a special 10 minute soak/pretreat

 

agitation before the main wash. It fi lls initially with

 

detergent and cold water to prevent protein stains

 

from setting, then the internal heater is activated to

 

heat the wash water to remove non-protein based

 

stains. Can be used with prewash for the toughest

 

stains.

 

 

 

PREWASH

 

Select this option to add a short initial wash period

 

to a cycle. Heavily soiled and stained loads will

 

prewash for approximately 5 minutes. The water

 

will drain and the load will automatically advance

 

to the regular wash cycle.

 

See step 5 in “Operating Your Washer” section in this

 

guide for details on adding detergent to the dispenser.




This post was last edited 11/16/2014 at 10:05
Post# 794249 , Reply# 46   11/16/2014 at 09:43 (3,420 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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Hi Alexander-- The "steam rinse" uses the same amount of water as a regular 1st rinse. I didn't realize brands with dedicated steam producers had abandoned the format. Thanks for the information.

I found the Stain Treat option ineffective. I used it on a couple of loads of stained kitchen whites and was not impressed with the results. As you said, the water never really heats up to a hot temperature unless you use the Heavy cycle and add the Allergen option. To remove stains from colors, I add the Steam option to a cycle.

I experience excellent stain removal using the Sanitize cycle or the Heavy cycle coupled with the Allergen option.


Post# 794251 , Reply# 47   11/16/2014 at 09:48 (3,420 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Jim, I was surprised there wasn't a bulky items cycle.  So studying the chart, what's closest to Bulky Items on my Duet, I'd use delicate with fresh rinse and max water.  That's closest to my bulky items cycle.   


Post# 794254 , Reply# 48   11/16/2014 at 09:56 (3,420 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

My first load yesterday was a huge accumulation of 100% cotton shirts and trousers with wrinkle-free finish (LL Bean is my idea of high fashion...). None were white, but there were striped Oxford cloth shirts on a white background. Some of the older shirts had dark deodorant stains (appear as a faint reddish-pink) that, because of the pattern, barely show.

Just to play with the various cycles, I selected Stain Treat AND Pre-wash. I did not play with the Add More Water option, nor did I experiment with Steam. The stains, while not gone, were reduced by 50%. I overrode the factory-set warm setting of the Casual cycle and upped the temperature to Hot, as all of the clothing is color-fast (though hot water may shorten the life of the wrinkle-free finish, I don't really know; I have shirts bought in 2006 that have not lost their finish however).

On the next colored perm press load, I will run Casual with Steam and see what happens.


Post# 794255 , Reply# 49   11/16/2014 at 10:00 (3,420 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Bob, I opened the PDF file for the washer again and searched for "bulky" and/or for "comforter". No cycle mentions either type of item.

FYI the comforter mentioned above is now drying using the Comforter cycle. After about 12 minutes the comforter is nearly dry to touch. This is a MUCH faster drying time than with the old comforter, and I suspect much of the improvement is due to the comforter emerging from the washer MUCH drier than it did from the Frig 2140.


Post# 794256 , Reply# 50   11/16/2014 at 10:01 (3,420 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Personally, I think "Steam" was a dumb idea someone came up with to still attain high temperatures without having to heat a tub full of 3 or 4 gallons of water to 153 degrees.  I'd rather just have the profile heating of from cool to sanitize like the original stain treat on HE3t and HE4t Kenmores.  I only use deepclean with steam option to heat the water gradually form warm to hot or sanitize for very heavily stained fabrics. 


Post# 794272 , Reply# 51   11/16/2014 at 11:25 (3,420 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

I think the comforter cycle would translate into heavy duty. We used heavy duty for our king size comforter and it came out just like it would in a laundromat. However the spin cycle on the heavy duty was a little odd. During its ramp up stage I noticed it would stay at a slower rpm longer, 1-2mins, then ramp up to medium spin and stay just as long as before, then it would go for its top speed (1200rpm). It didn't do this for any of the other cycles. Also noted how it sometimes was ramping up and in the middle of the spin it would ramp back down to its sensing phase and then speed back up if there was nothing wrong. Just like you said it comes out alot dryer and it was dry in our maytag dryer in 30 minutes.

Post# 794273 , Reply# 52   11/16/2014 at 11:26 (3,420 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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When these models were first released, the service manual listed these temps:

 

Sanitize - 152°F
Hot - 131°F
Eco Hot - 113°F
Warm - 84°F
Eco Warm - 81°F
Warm Rinse - 75°F
Cold - 59°F

 

Since that was some time ago, I am guessing the current temps could be more something like this

 

Sanitize - 152°F

Allergen - 131°F

Hot - 113°F

Warm - 75°F

...


Post# 794327 , Reply# 53   11/16/2014 at 18:07 (3,419 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Danke für die hilfreiche Informationen. :)

 

Jetzt bei Electrolux gibt es nur "Heiss" "Warm" "Kalt", sowie "Eco Kalt". Ich glaube, dass Heiss Warm und Kalt werden von Auto Temp Control kontrolliert. 

 


Post# 794337 , Reply# 54   11/16/2014 at 19:16 (3,419 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
Comforter update

I've washed two medium-fill full/queen IKEA synthetic comforters. Both came out great, and the dryer handled the drying (Comforter cycle) in 20 mins. I removed the comforter after ten minutes to turn it inside out but otherwise the dryer was on autopilot.

Compared to my old Frig 2140, this washer does a far better job of saturating the comforter with water so that it occupies less space during washing.

I am now washing comforter #3, a king size light-fill IKEA comforter. It fit snugly (not a lot of spare room) in the drum. However, now that it's saturated with water, it occupies less than half the drum volume. I am using Normal Cycle on Hot with Add Steam option (cycle goes from 1:13 to 1:33 in duration if Add Steam is selected). I'm sure the dryer can handle this lightweight comforter.

The challenge will be its partner, a medium-fill king size comforter. The pair were (and still are) sold as an alternative heavy/warm comforter. The pair snap together to make one very thick comforter, but what I find is that the combined comforter is simply too thick to insert easily into a duvet cover. Instead, I give each comforter its own cover and use them singly or one on top of the other, as temperature requires. The medium fill king will take some cramming to get the door closed, but once the water is added it will shrink down to manageable size. The 8.0 cu ft dryer looks as if it could handled two full size comforters at once, so it should have no problem with the medium-fill king.

FYI for those of you wondering what "Fresh Rinse" is----when this was introduced by Electrolux/Frigidaire, it didn't quite make sense since obviously the rinse would be done with new, out of the pipe water and not used/"unfresh" water. I learned from the retailer that Fresh Rinse routes rinse water directly into the drum, bypassing the detergent dispenser. I guess the theory is that traces of detergent or other agents that remain behind in the dispenser could be siphoned into the drum for rinses. Normally, fill water (e.g. at the start of a washer cycle) flows through the dispense to carry the soap to the drum.

Assuming that I can get the medium-fill king to fit/wash, I'll be saving $10 per comforter, or $80/year, since I generally washed each comforter at the laundromat at the start and the end of its "season" (i.e. late spring and late fall). I had to use the triple load machines at the laundromat ($5-6) and lots of dryer time. Not to mention savings of time by cleaning them at my convenience rather than having to make time to go to the laundromat.


Post# 794486 , Reply# 55   11/17/2014 at 13:38 (3,419 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Jim, you'll enjoy being able to wash comforters at home in your own machine. I wash mine about every six weeks and it's so much more convenient than taking a trip to the laundromat, using a washer that has had god-knows-what in it.

It's also nice to have a large capacity machine for the occasional huge load---bath linens, in my case.





Post# 794625 , Reply# 56   11/18/2014 at 03:10 (3,418 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

This post has been removed by the member who posted it.



Post# 794626 , Reply# 57   11/18/2014 at 03:13 (3,418 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

The lighter weight king comforter fit with room to spare. The heavier-filled king comforter fit as well, but just barely without cramming it. Once the comforter absorbed the water, there was some spare room in the tub, but not much. The comforter came out nice and clean, and the dryer got it nice and fluffy dry in about half an hour. I did have to remove and reverse the comforters once while drying.

I was washing comforters at the laundromat twice a year, so about $80/year in coins. If the dryer lasts ten years, that's $800 saved, vs an after-rebate purchase cost of about $1000


Post# 795236 , Reply# 58   11/21/2014 at 10:06 (3,415 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
steam update and time savings

One thing I"m learning quickly as owner of new, large capacity laundry machines: the update reports have to wait longer because now it takes longer to accumulate enough laundry for a test load!

Two nights ago ran a load on "Casual" (perm press), which for me are my work clothes: khaki trousers and dress shirts from LL Bean, 100% cotton with wrinkle free finish. After washing, I placed the load in the dryer and the drying was completed in 33 minutes. I deliberately left the load in the dryer overnight, rather than immediately removing them (usual modus operandi), so I could test the Steam Refresh (or whatever it's called) cycle. THis is intended for clothing left in the dryer, or stuff that's been sitting in a laundry basket for weeks without being put away. The cycle takes 15 minutes and extended tumble (wrinkle guard) can be added on the end for a no-heat tumble to prevent wrinkles, if you cannot remove clothing at the exact end of cycle.

Clothes did not feel warm to touch and seemed to be room temperature. No wrinkles that I could see, they had the same appearance--in terms of wrinkles--as if I had removed them immediately from the dryer at the end of drying the day before. With the old Frig dryer, clothing like this not removed promptly from Perm Press cycle would show wrinkles---the solution was that dryer's Touch Up cycle on Low or Med heat---that dryer used heat in lieu of steam.

One thing I'm beginning to see about having a larger capacity washer---of course, it let's you wash larger objects (comforters) that previously had to go to the laundromat. However, now I'm beginning to see/appreciate the convenience of simply not having to run loads as often. With the Frig 2140 (former machine) I typically had to run a perm press load every four days. With the Electrolux, it can handle close to a week's worth of perm press, so I'll likely accumulate a full load every 6-7 days. Hence one load of this type a week instead of nearly two. Laundry is one of the few household tasks I actually don't mind doing, so running four loads a week total in the old days was not onerous to me, but it looks like I"ll only need to run 2-3 loads a week now instead of 3-5 like in the past. For families with kids, I can see now the attraction of the larger capacity machines, you can wash 50-70% more in the same amount of time.

Oddly, there is one feature I thought I'd be giving heavy use but which hasn't been used yet: delay wash. The 2140 had very simple delay wash: 8 hours delay or none. If I came home from work at 9 pm and wanted to go to bed soon, I'd set up a load to run at 5 am so it was ready to dry when I woke up at 6 am. The Electrolux allows delay wash up to 12 hours (on the low end it's 2 or 4 hours, can't remember), which normally would have resulted in my using Delay Wash more frequently. However, with laundry now becoming a once or twice a week activity, I may wind up using Delay Wash less often than I did in the old days. That's progress I suppose.


Post# 795255 , Reply# 59   11/21/2014 at 12:54 (3,415 days old) by Nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)        

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I have been looking at these Electrolux machines for some time now since I want to replace the stacked Frigidaire built GE's that I have. I want bigger capacity and better wash performance not to mention a bigger dryer. The front loader is relatively new and that will slide in the place of my SQ top loader aka the water hog. That machine I am going to put on Craigslist soon. It's going need another belt soon and the spin bearings are starting to get a bit noticeable.
Anyways I am glad that your liking them! It's either the Electrolux ones or LG Turbowash for me.


Post# 795356 , Reply# 60   11/22/2014 at 02:30 (3,414 days old) by imperial70 (MA USA)        

I like the GE line of Front load machines. I actually purchased a discontinued "China" model (PFWS4600LL) with steam assist. I think it does a great job with stain removal and spins beautifully (using the Adaptive Vibration Control settings).

The newer machines made here appear somewhat more solid when you look at the service manuals.

I love the overnight dry setting if for anything to keep the clothes moving if I can't be in the laundry room straight after the cycle completes.

The PFWS4600 is no longer produced and I got it on clearence for about 50% off at home depot. I thought it would be fun to give it a try. So far I haven't fired up the speed queen top loader. :-) (Although I better do that to keep the seals fresh.)

Anyway, try the GE. I also liked my Frigidaire front loader and from what I can tell have only gotten better.


Post# 795426 , Reply# 61   11/22/2014 at 10:44 (3,414 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

One limiting factor in my selection was the fact that I have to stack my machines. Although they're in a garage and depth is not an issue, there is a city-required bollard (concrete-filled steel pipe, embedded in the slab) to protect the water heater/dryer/washer/furnace (three gas lines....) from a direct hit from a car. House was built 1988 when the FL market here was nearly nonexistent, so they placed the bollard smack in the middle of the washer space, on the assumption that there would always be a TL machine behind it. Pipe is 36" tall and blocks the door of every front loader sold, even atop a pedestal. Cutting down the pipe could cause building inspection issues if I ever tried to sell the house.

I decided instead to stack the machines in the unobstructed dryer space. This places an effective cap on the cabinet height, since I am of average height and the largest machines sold would produce a stack nearly 6'9" (208 cm). A bit too high to see/reach the dryer display and controls. My old Frig 2140 pair was perfect, the cabinets were 36" high with a 6'0" stack. I knew moving up in capacity would entail some give on the height issue, and for me Electrolux was a good compromise, affording a major increase in capacity for only 2" each in height. I chose to keep the doors---each of which are reversible---in the factory configuration, which worked best for my needs. I've read some reviews written by customers who could not fit any other make into their laundry space, thanks to the door reversibility, but as it turned out, I didn't need to re-hinge the doors.

All that said, I am delighted with the performance and features. My old Frig 2140 set still works great, never a service issue ever, and it's 8 1/2 years old. Hopefully my neighbor will give some good years from it. The Frig's track record offered some assurance that the Electrolux, from the same parent company, will prove just as reliable. Time will tell. In the meantime, performance is great.

Not sure where your laundry area is, but evidently Electrolux offers a "second floor guarantee" against vibration/noise, which I interpret to mean that they will buy back the machine if it doesn't work on a second story. I have friends with a century-old Victorian home with laundry on a first floor wooden floor (crawl space below it) who need a new laundry pair but were reticent to try a FL because of vibration issues. I learned about the guarantee after I bought my pair (a non issue for me with machines on a concrete garage floor) and they are seriously considering a new Electrolux pair, assuming that the second story guarantee is valid on a first story wooden floor.


Post# 795450 , Reply# 62   11/22/2014 at 12:40 (3,414 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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Unfortunately, Electrolux and Frigidaire machines all rate only a 'Good' for resistance to vibration at Consumer Reports. They recommend choosing only machines with ratings of 'Very Good' or 'Excellent' for installation on anything other than concrete.

My 2010 Frigdaire is on concrete, so as with your Electrolux, Jim, vibration is not an issue in the least.

Hope the company lives up to its guarantee if your friend chooses an Electrolux and experiences vibration issues.


Post# 795453 , Reply# 63   11/22/2014 at 13:20 (3,414 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

I am noticing WAY less vibration, and less noise, than on the Frig 2140. I'm aware that reviewers don't constitute a statistically valid sample, but several reviews I read were written by customers who chose Electrolux in part because of the second story guarantee...and all reported no noise/vibration issues at all. (i.e. they didn't choose Electrolux because it scored highest on CR, but because if vibration proved to be an issue, they could get a refund, which no other manufacturer offers...perhaps the CR reviews forced the company to do this to reassure people).

In final spin, I am noticing a muted degree of "jet engine whine", as I've heard on friends' machines in Europe (but louder in Europe), but virtually no vibration at all.


Post# 795607 , Reply# 64   11/23/2014 at 13:24 (3,413 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)        

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My laundry is in the basement so it sits on concrete...no vibration issues at all here. I did notice that at Home Depot that the Electrolux washer didnt have the larger blue wash vanes, they were rather like bumps. Height though is an issue for me since I can go up to 76 inches comfortably and a few more inches before it touches the floor joists. I too am average height at 5'10'' and I was looking at a GE stacked set, I could barely touch the back of the drum so to me if I got the GE's they would have to be side by side...and this was the 8 cuft dryer. I always open the dryer and see if I can touch the back because small items like socks and wash cloths tend to lodge there. The Maytag Neptunes that I had that were built by Samsung...rotten machines if you ask me...anyways I had to climb into the dryer to get the last bit of wash load out of the dryer...and it wasnt stacked.
To me the Electroluxes are the right combo of capacity and height. The LG's on the other hand, sweet jeezus they are tall. I do like the Turbowash feature and many have reported that linting is non existant. Thats an issue with me since we have 4 cats and I line dry in the spring and summer. I think as good sales are coming I am going to buy a new set soon.


Post# 795647 , Reply# 65   11/23/2014 at 16:43 (3,413 days old) by washerdude (Canada )        

Our laundry room is on the second floor. It sits on tile and the vibrations are barly there. Sometimes if the load is perfect there are 0 vibrations.

Post# 795670 , Reply# 66   11/23/2014 at 18:41 (3,412 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
@nmassman44, washerdude

Now that I"ve done eight or so loads, I have noticed I really have to crouch and stretch to reach a small item (sock, underwear) that winds up in the far rear of the drum. This is a consequence of the machine now being 31" deep, rather than 27" deep, with arms the same length as before!! Not Electrolux's fault at all, though it makes me wonder someone shorter---with shorter arms---removes small items from the rear, whether the things are stacked, on pedestals, or right on the floor side by side. It's easier to remove things from the dryer, since the door is basically at chest height.

With the old Frig 2140, I could rotate the drum by hand and items would take a half turn and then fall from the top of the drum, sometimes landing closer to me. Haven't tried this yet with the Electrolux, but it might make those rear small items easier to snatch. For me, no other configuration is possible, since the bollard in front of what should be the washer space is tall enough to block the door of a FL machine, even if on a pedestal.

One option in the future might be to cut the bollard low enough to permit a door to swing atop a pedestal, without removing it entirely. The pedestals ($300 a piece...) are 15" high, and the distance from the bottom of the washer to the bottom of the door is 12", so if the 32" pipe were cut down by 6", say down to 26" high, it might still be tall enough to serve its purpose (protect the machines from a runaway car) while being tall enough that a future building inspector wouldn't notice the loss of height. I didn't consider this possibility because the pair after rebates cost roughly $1962, which was fine, but I wasn't in the mood to tack on another $600 to the price, as my budget was "under $2000". Note that this "solution" would not allow access to the contents of the washer pedestal's drawer, since it still would be unable to open due to the bollard----it would have to serve as a pedestal only.

Another issue, though solvable, is that I mounted a small white utility cabinet from Lowes

 

www.lowes.com/pd_348194-444-ESW24...

above the empty washer space; it would have to be remounted. I use it to store laundry supplies. Right now, the only thing beneath it is a table I use to fold laundry and support a laundry basket.

With a washer/pedestal beneath it, there is not enough clearance and it would have to be rehung four inches higher, at which point the highest shelf would become difficult to reach. This is why I like the stacked configuration, since it lets me use vertical space that otherwise would go unused, and lets me use the washer space behind the bollard (folding table below; add-on cabinet above) for storage/utility purposes. The cabinet affords storage space in lieu of pedestal drawer storage.

And there's another thing I don't get about pedestals: if the idea is to avoid stooping, don't you still have to stoop to remove or place items in the drawers? And assuming you store detergent and other supplies in them, you'd have to stoop to access them every time you run a load.


Post# 795723 , Reply# 67   11/23/2014 at 23:51 (3,412 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

Interesting reading, thanks for posting your experiences.  One thought, how about picking up a set of those grabbers some disabled folks use to pick stuff up off the floor for those odd moments when you have to reach too far into the dryer?  Easier and much cheaper than trying to redo your set-up...


Post# 795842 , Reply# 68   11/24/2014 at 20:34 (3,411 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Matt, I have a pair of those---used for my 100 gallon saltwater aquarium when reef rocks fall over, to keep my hands dry---and they may find service in the laundry area as well! Have to be careful because any laundry residue would not be good for them. Maybe buy a second pair for laundry only.

Post# 796470 , Reply# 69   11/29/2014 at 13:15 (3,407 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        
Washer update

There are three options for extra stain removal in this machine. One is Prewash. The second is Stain Removal. One of them involves starting with cool water and heating it to warm/hot; can't remember if that's prewash or stain removal. Anyway, third option is Add Steam. I"ve tried all three on my work clothing (100% cotton/no wrinkle fabrics from LL Bean) and find that the Add Steam option works best. The only issue I have wherein this washer (and the Frig 2140 that preceded it) are underarm stains. Most of the time not an issue because I wear white shirts only for dressy occasions. At work either a solid pastel or darker shirt, or else tattersall or university stripe where you can't see the stains due to the pattern.

Anyway, I opted for Add Steam as part of the Normal cycle. It adds about 15 minutes to the cycle. It does the best job of the three options, plus it likely uses less water because it's steam rather than a prewash. I am starting to avoid prewash for another reason. I tend to add several tbsps of borax to my wash detergent to aid in rinsing. Last time I used prewash, I found that some of the borax caked in the dispenser and wasn't carried down into the wash drum. My guess is that the prewash water must have moistened the powder in the main wash compartment, to where the water running through the dispenser couldn't move the powder out of the dispenser. So I think I'll be moving more in the direction of Add Steam when there are tough stains, rather than prewash (unless it's something you know has to be soaked in cold water, such as blood stains).


Post# 796483 , Reply# 70   11/29/2014 at 15:08 (3,407 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Thanks for the update, Jim. Sounds like you're very satisfied with the Electrolux pair. Many trouble-free loads to you!

I use the steam option quite often for bath linens and sheets.


Post# 796509 , Reply# 71   11/29/2014 at 19:06 (3,406 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)        

Given the drought conditions we are facing here, I think steam is the way to go, rather than a pre-wash.


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