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Thread Number: 58240
/ Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Need advice for new washer purchase |
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| Post# 807488 2/3/2015 at 15:10 (3,368 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
Here's the situation: my 86 yr old mother's 27+ year old Whirlpool washer made some "horrible racket" whilst in it's spin cycle. Last summer I replaced the inlet valve on this machine so it's starting to have issues, small wonder. I live 3500 miles away 8 months of the year and my family and I visit 4 months of the year.
She has the money for whatever machine I suggest and will only accept a new, not used, washer. At one extreme the cheap bastard in me says buy a pair of BOL Kenmore's or Whirlpools on sale and be done with it for around $900 delivered and installed. My now passed Dad no doubt did the same thing when he replaced the still working Frigidaire machines I remember from childhood with these Whirlpools probably bought at what now is called Costco.. "Too cheap not to." Or shoot the works and grab a pair of last year's SQ Imperials on sale. AN51F(?) I think was the model number for $1800 delivered with tax. Tell me what you think, my mother needs easy to use and I need it to be trouble free being to far away most of the time to deal with issues. Also give me ideas for something between the two extremes I laid out if you have any, I am all ears.. | ||
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| Post# 807495 , Reply# 1 2/3/2015 at 15:27 (3,368 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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I should clarify..
That $1800 was for the washer only. I didn't price a pair of SQ's. Because she lives in San Diego and often air drys so we could just replace the washer for now.
So with the Imperial we pay basically twice as much for half the package as getting a pair of Kenmore BOL machines. That said if i found a similar deal on a matching SQ dryer that would probably be the way to go for her last washer and dryer set. | ||
| Post# 807504 , Reply# 3 2/3/2015 at 16:34 (3,368 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
TL to FL? | ||
| Post# 807511 , Reply# 4 2/3/2015 at 17:21 (3,368 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Malcolm,
you are so right about "change". However she has managed a new dishwasher (to Bosch from leaky but working Maytag) and refrigerator (to Samsung 3 door from worn out but working Hotpoint side by side) in the past year. TL to FL will have to be explored before attempted as she likes what she knows.
Being here in NYC the Whirlpool is starting to feel too used up, as besides the inlet valve replaced last summer i also repaired a leaky hose on the washer that had flooded the washroom while my wife first used the machine on our last visit over the holidays. Both wash and dryer are also rusty. Not to the point of being an issue for operation but they are not mint "keepers" by any means. We will be moving in with her in the next one or two years. DigAPony that is a thought. Is the 5 year warranty only on the newly released machines or any new Speed Queens? | ||
| Post# 807514 , Reply# 5 2/3/2015 at 18:06 (3,368 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
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Electronic Models | ||
| Post# 807517 , Reply# 6 2/3/2015 at 18:18 (3,368 days old) by washman (o) | ||
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Speed Queen. Hands down. | ||
Post# 807527 , Reply# 7 2/3/2015 at 19:36 (3,368 days old) by rp2813  (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 807548 , Reply# 8 2/3/2015 at 22:27 (3,368 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Okay for FL SQ's
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The new touch SQ's (AFNE9BSP113TW01 and ADEE9BGS173TW01) have the much better bumper to bumper 5 yrs vs 3 yrs for the older Imperial model (ANF51F and ADE41F). The new washers have a larger capacity: 3.42 vs 2.78. So far i have found the new pair are also slightly cheaper in white; under $2888 vs $3060 for the older pair, but they are stainless Steel. I'm guessing these are simple enough for my mother. She drives, volunteers at a hospital, and was programing her VCR until not that long ago. | ||
| Post# 807559 , Reply# 9 2/3/2015 at 23:26 (3,368 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
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Imperial | ||
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Post# 807567 , Reply# 10 2/4/2015 at 00:24 (3,368 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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My vote goes to a Speed Queen top-loader, as well. I wouldn't be as concerned about her mastering the electronic controls as much as her ability to bend over and reach into a front-loader to unload, when small, damp items like wash rags and hand towels inevitably get stuck to the back of the tub. It's more challenging than unloading a dryer. At 86, she isn't going to get more limber.
A front-loading pair on a pedestal would solve that problem, but pedestals are not available for Speed Queens. | ||
| Post# 807607 , Reply# 12 2/4/2015 at 09:29 (3,367 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada) | ||
well one thing i remember when my grandmother had to replace her washer she went that was before she moved to a nursing home with a whirlpool topload direct drive and she is 91 year old now so even if at the time her daughter my aunt would of bough her a frontload the way her laundry room was made a front load washer would not of fit its strange but me i think see pic even do i prefer a top load washer myself i think i am like my grandmother on that side that a frontload would of fit see picture for proof but if you think a topload would be better for your mom i say then go for it even better if you can find a used refurbish model vintage era that depends on how many load your mother do would help as new sets cost alot of $.
but i would say go with a speed queen they are the best choice if you went new.
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| Post# 807673 , Reply# 13 2/4/2015 at 20:34 (3,367 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Another possible choice..
Would be between the basic TL Speed Queen, going with electronic controls for the 5 year warranty. I found the pair for about $1700 total delivered.
Or for that same price we could instead opt for the "highly reviewed" Electrolux 4.2 Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer with IQ-Touch Controls and the equally as touted matching dryer. That price would also include delivery and 4 years of Squaretrade waranty extension to match the Speed Queens. The site i found review Speed Queens was openly hostile to their very existence. That no doubt is a can of worms right there. The same thing goes on with the vacuum enthustiast crowd over certain beloved brands that score/rank poorly year in and year out while far "lesser" machines continuely rule the roost. My question is about wash performance. The Speed Queens are less daunting to think about post warranty period no doubt, but will they clean/dry as well as the Luxes? Part of why my mothers machines have lasted so long is she doesn't use them too often or for very large loads; "take that comforter to the laundromat your going to burn out my machines." An average of three loads a week is only 150 a year. It would take nearly 7 years to get to 1000 loads. So the longevity of Alliance machines might be extreme over kill. And also which washer would be quieter the TL SQ or the FL lux? Or even dryer for that matter, her Whirlpool is far louder than i like considering we share the first floor with the laundry room on our visits. And the washer...furgedaboutit!
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| Post# 807682 , Reply# 14 2/4/2015 at 21:46 (3,367 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada) | ||
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well when washing a front load is quiet when it comes to washing clothes but is a bit noisy when it go into spinning and since front loaders even do i prefer a top load washer i can say that when spining a front load washer can extract alot of water and if this can help you here is a video of a speed queen washer in action that was posted by a fellow member of the site
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Post# 807686 , Reply# 15 2/4/2015 at 22:31 (3,367 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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FL washers are the opposite of TL types with regard to noise. FL's are very quiet during the wash cycle, and make more noise during drain (electric pump) and spin.
Dryers are all about the same IMO. It seems like any of them made since the '80s produce a low whistling tone that can be heard indoors and out. I loved my HOH DG806 Maytag. It was quiet as a mouse, and quick too. | ||
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Post# 807722 , Reply# 16 2/5/2015 at 07:07 (3,367 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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New W&D For Mom If the price is not an object I would diffidently get the SQ Front Load Pair, even though she is unlikely to wear them out the investment will benefit someone not to mention it benefiting all of us by treating the environment better.
SQ does sell pedestals for their FL W&Ds, they are available in Black or White. | ||
| Post# 807726 , Reply# 17 2/5/2015 at 07:39 (3,367 days old) by joeypete (Concord, NH) | ||
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Post# 807742 , Reply# 18 2/5/2015 at 09:01 (3,366 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland ) |
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I would stick with a new belt drive washer. This design is going on almost 8 years and I'm just now starting to service them regularly. The machine is not "cheap", just efficient use of materials. | ||
| Post# 807767 , Reply# 19 2/5/2015 at 12:22 (3,366 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Combo52,
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i was almost ready to buy a pair of TL SQ's with knobs but you got me thinking. And a decision has been made, the submit button was pressed... Place your bets and take your chances, the discussion here, on the phone with salesman...ahem, Franco, and of course a chat with my mother got me over the hump and pulled the trigger. | ||
| Post# 807772 , Reply# 20 2/5/2015 at 13:09 (3,366 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada) | ||
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| Post# 807782 , Reply# 21 2/5/2015 at 14:42 (3,366 days old) by DigAPony () | ||
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treating the environment better. PFFT.. there is 18 inches on snow on the ground, wind chills in the single digits and we are freezing our asses off here in N.J. again this winter. | ||
| Post# 807796 , Reply# 23 2/5/2015 at 16:41 (3,366 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Well..
The way if worked out is as follows. I feel the product review sites and publications are
probably right about the cleaning results an average user would have with a machine like the Electrolux I mentioned above. The tests aren't perfect, but are equally administered one would presume. There is a lot of sentimentality for something we are comfortable with, like we grew up with, etc. Of course newer isn't always better but sometimes it is. The warranty period that really matters is the first year and then after 5 years IMO. So that was less a consideration. I looked up the water and electricity usage of TL vs FL and realized that over time it is consequential. My mother lives in San Diego, a dessert by the sea that has been in draught conditions for years. Also less gas for hot water and less detergent is used. Rebates are available for electric and water bills for buying new qualified machines. Also turns out some of the nice prices I found for Speed Queens were from small online only websites located in an office suite in Vegas in one case! Likely not an authorized seller. I'm going to post this and move to from my phone...cutting to the chase coming up! | ||
| Post# 807800 , Reply# 24 2/5/2015 at 17:01 (3,366 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Hah!
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Make that drought conditions in San Diego.. Okay back to my rationalizing. It should be clear by now what i opted for and convinced my mother was for the best. Being that i live in NYC when not in San Diego i couldn't run out and find the machines under consideration. Even the time i spent online was causing some disruption around our little household. I had to decide based on what i read and past experience When i was in San Diego last summer tracking down a new inlet valve i stopped at Sears and checked out possible replacements if the valve didn't fix the old Whirlpool. At that time i settled on an LG. The valve saved the day so the LG stayed at Sears. Guess yet? Should be plain as day by now: think big, think, plastic, think computer chimes, think more plastic, think Consumer Reports, think disposable consumer goods... Okay stop thinking you have the picture in mind, i had no choice i had to go for the.. | ||
| Post# 807803 , Reply# 25 2/5/2015 at 17:43 (3,366 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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SPEED QUEEN..
Specifically the new FL machine with knobs. And last years 4 cycle dryer with, you guessed it, knobs. Both machines rear mount controls in tragically boring white paint. What i didn't mention in all the build up, all of which is truly my position...nonetheless it's not all my position, and the machine is not even for me any way. The LG i saw last summer was the front control TL machine...looks very nice in person btw. I gravitated to it because all the FL machines at Sears that day left me cold. Amongst all the thoughtlessly designed ugly cookie cutter plastic machines the 'headless' LG stood out. And the metal machines seemed chinsy. Did i mention i love commercial vacuums? i own probably a dozen by now. Stored elsewhere of course, as NYC apartments are notoriously small. The SQ is clearly has the commercial pedigree over any of the competitors i was looking at. The thought of going through all this again in 6 years, the thought of computer chimes to signal the load was done, the thought of all that ugly plastic.. uughhhh! As mentioned i was all set to go with the SQ TL but i realized that under the circumstances the FL was the better, and more fun choice. I like knobs my mom likes knobs, but lets change up a bit and try something different, enter the rear control FL SQ. It keeps my mother in her comfort zone yet still brings a new wrinkle to the situation. Got to run, it will be weeks before the machines arrive in San Diego and months before i get there and set them up...oh yeah the Whirlpool came back to life and ran a load of towels like a champ! So my mom is good for now and she has a friend who can set up one or both of the Queens if the need shall arise before i get there this summer. And i should mention she has lots of room to store them the new machines in the mean time. I feel much better and look forward to getting out there all the more.. And as a last word, i have learned well from collecting vacuums, the irrational should trump the rational. So for good reason, but more to the point, for no good reason, the Speed Queen puts a smile on my face, hopefully it will do the same for my mother. | ||
| Post# 807806 , Reply# 26 2/5/2015 at 18:39 (3,366 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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And for visual the learners...
two pertinent pics culled from the web. The washer in question and the control panel of the dryer.
I see lots of typos above and other errors. At the sister site, vacuumland.org i have an upgraded membership that allows me to edit my hasty peckings. Here i am unfortunately unable to do so, c'est la vie...
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| Post# 807807 , Reply# 27 2/5/2015 at 18:42 (3,366 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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One more try... | ||
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Post# 807816 , Reply# 28 2/5/2015 at 19:16 (3,366 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay) |
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Post# 807820 , Reply# 29 2/5/2015 at 19:38 (3,366 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 814262 , Reply# 30 3/16/2015 at 16:33 (3,327 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Update..
just got word the new SQ machines were delivered today. I'll be out to California this summer and hook them up then.
The boxes looked fine, meaning no apparent damage, and the "free curbside delivery" did allow for placing them in the sizable garage at my mother's house. The order was delayed as the new model FL washer was back ordered. We also got last years now discontinued 4 cycle dryer. Both are the versions with knobs if you missed my earlier posts. A sliver lining to the wait was that the outfit that sold us the machines had a price matching policy, which I utilized. We saved $330 in the process and the money has already been credited back to my card account. Something I didn't mention is that the laundry area is designed for standard TL sized machines. By going with the SQ's I saved worrying over if they would fit happily. Will be back here posting pics around July 4th weekend time frame. Speed Queen should sponsor this site because it's been extremely instrumental in our choice of their product. Of course that and the love affair with computers and plastic many of the other manufacturers are in the throws of. | ||
| Post# 831429 , Reply# 31 7/8/2015 at 18:05 (3,213 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Soon.. | ||
| Post# 837386 , Reply# 32 8/19/2015 at 20:05 (3,171 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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The day has arrived..
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After sitting in the garage since March, with some cursing to move things along, the new machines finally made their way inside the house; where there sat another 2-3 weeks until i had the time to switch out the old with the new. The process was straight forward enough, but like rotating your own tires with only a scissor jack, stupid energy intensive...it was well worth it in the end. Neither machine required adjustment to level, and the washer only walked less than an inch during its first load. Sounds bad but consider i have yet to install the rubber feet (oops!), and the machine is sitting on very slick ceramic tile. And man is it a quiet washer, the old Whirlpool woke the dead by comparison. Also if you like to see a lot of water splashing around you are going to have to adjust the water level, factory settings make the water hard to detect during the wash. You see wet cloths but thats about it. The dryer just finished it's first load, the only difference there, besides the working buzzer, seems to be the quality of the air exhausted into our garage is very fresh smelling compared with the old machine. Reversing the door was a snap except I would recommend pre-tapping the new mounting holes before re-installing the newly reversed door to the machine. Also it should be noted I wiped out both machines with baby wipes and found nary a speck of metal, machine grease, or really anything as others have aparently have. Luck of the Irish I guess. My back is toast so i'll install those rubber feet tomorrow, adios for now. This post was last edited 08/19/2015 at 21:24 | ||
| Post# 837504 , Reply# 33 8/20/2015 at 18:45 (3,170 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
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Looking Good | ||
| Post# 837513 , Reply# 34 8/20/2015 at 20:18 (3,170 days old) by Stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Weeeeeell Malcolm...
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thanks for asking. After one load of laundry washed and dried i'd have to say, two thumbs up! These machines are actually somewhat simpler than the ones they replaced, which is hard to imagine. This is a good thing however for my mother who likes/needs simple. If it was me i would have probably have opted for the electronic version, and the front control electronic models in SS really look snazzy, plus 2 more years of warranty. That said i do like the rear control version(s) because they creat a lower, better, work surface height. I have to imagine the front control model simply fills the space created by it's higher work surface with empty cabinet, sorta odd thing to do but perhaps there is a reason. The Washer seems positively huge coming from our O'l Mr Whirly TL. So I in no way pine for one of those mega capacity machines. This 2015 SQ FL machine, if anything is larger than we need. And if you'll notice in the pics, there is not a lot of space in our laundry "room". On the other side of the wall however is a 3 car garage with 15' ceilings! The new dryer is faster than its predecessor and smells much fresher. I gave the old one a decent cleaning last year; but clearly a full tear down is the only way to exercise almost 30 years of accumulation. Both of the SQ's are solid..nothing flimsy...basically built to the level of the machines they replaced, which is very important to me. In general i hate using stuff that feels cheaply made. The only way to do significantly better with new equipment would be to go full high end commercial. That would give the super solid tactile quality i love. These are the next best thing. Wrangling these machines out of the garage, around the house to the large rear slidding door...unbox, wrangle the old ones into the garage; hook everything up, reverse the dryer door, remove shipping bolts dispose of the cardboard, redo a few things done incorrectly the first time around...phew! Makes me tired just thinking about it. Add to that all the time in selection, ushering the purchase to completion, and eventual delivery... well, i am ready to not do this again for a long time. And i don't think i'll have to... and that feels really good to me right now. This post was last edited 08/20/2015 at 23:18 | ||
| Post# 840157 , Reply# 35 9/8/2015 at 01:01 (3,152 days old) by stricklybojack (South Hams Devon UK) | ||
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Also Malcolm..
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I might add, as you mentioned it earlier, the dryer is sorta tricky to set using the automatic dry setting. Really wants to cook the cloths, so we can get away with about the lowest automatic setting, which is not so easy to dial in. I'm sure i'll get better over time. No doubt the electronic SQ models are better in this area given their superior sensing system. I think Mom had to have dials to make the jump from the old TL whirlpools though, or at least to do so happily. | ||
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