Thread Number: 59376  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Electrolux EIFLS20QSW 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 819718   4/17/2015 at 11:41 (3,289 days old) by Practigal ()        

I have been unable to find reviews of the Electrolux EIFLS20QSW so I thought I would post one.

I recently bought a floor model or a returned machine. For those of you who like old TV shows you might remember the show Only Fools and Horses...

I believe that the machine is operating correctly but I do know that it had cosmetic dents on both sides and a concave dent on the back panel (which dent did not extend to the back of the machine thankfully) the dent in the back panel created a knocking sound which required me to remove the back panel and pound out the dent. The machine runs smoothly with its now convex back panel. Even with the back panel corrected there is the kind of rhythmic sound during the cycle but I believe that is the sound of the clothing falling off the baffle and back into the bottom of the washer.

I have been using a 1983 Maytag A510 for the last 25 years. It has never needed a repair and is still running strong. I really love that machine but that machine and its matching slightly newer dryer are taking up a huge amount of space in my kitchen and I really, really, really want that space, particularly, the countertop. This is my first front load machine. My understanding is that this machine is new to the US market but has been available in Europe for several years, so I am purchasing it with the belief that dumb design kinks have already been worked out.

I arrived at the decision to buy a smaller frontloader by first buying a scale (like the kind you use to weigh luggage) and weighing loads of laundry over several weeks and determining that my heaviest load is about 7 pounds. I certainly do not need some of the enormous capacity machines that are available these days as they are not really intended to run this type of smaller load and users of almost every front loader regardless of brand seem to report a lot out of balance problems with small loads. My impression is that this machine's working capacity is only slightly less than that of my old Maytag.

Initially, the machine had a strong odor, actually two odors, One was a moldy smell and the other was the hot oily smell that you get in a machine shop after you've been running a lot of power tools for hours. Using the sanitizing cycle, wiping all the way around the gasket (strangely water collected the most at the top of the gasket and not at the bottom), removing the soap dispenser and thoroughly draining it and wiping out the inside of the machine where the dispenser resides, particularly the top of that dispenser area and then leaving the dispenser out and the drum open overnight seems to have removed both odors. I normally leave the washing machine open for several hours after running a load and I expect to do so on this machine too. The door can be left open in two positions one fully open (which I would do immediately after the load is done) and the other almost shut (which I intend to leave it in most of the time when it is not in use).

I like the inside of the drum. I was unable to find any pictures of it before seeing it in person so I have included one in this post.

I chose to run a load of dirty rags on the first cycle, using the normal setting and the recommended amount of dry Persil (the kind that Walmart has just started selling). Sudsorama! Way too much soap OR this machine had soap left in it from its prior life. I had to run the spin rinse cycle again to make any headway on reducing the suds. On the normal setting, the rags did not get clean. In looking at the manual (after-the-fact) I note that it says this type of item should have been soaking in a bucket with enzymes first. To be fair, with my Maytag I would have let them presoak with hot water and enzymes for about half an hour, so I do not hold it against the machine that the normal cycle didn't do much in this instance.

For my next load, this time white socks and white towels, I reduced the amount of soap significantly and used the whites setting. There were very few suds, leading me to believe it highly likely that the machine had been sold and returned by someone who must have been very unhappy about all the soap in their clothes. Everything came out beautiful and white.

I then tried the casual setting and everything came out fine on it. I have not yet experimented with all of the temperature and soil settings.

The machine wastes very little time balancing the loads. On the first load I did not have the machine properly leveled and there was quite a bit of vibration getting to full spin, very little vibration at full spin. The machine is just heavy enough that I needed to have a friend come over and help me get it level. (Yes, it was delivered but the delivery guys could only make sure that the shipping bolts had been removed, after that they didn't know what to do-except leave in order to avoid the traffic.) The machine is quieter than the old Maytag, at full spin, it vibrates about the same.

Everything is significantly drier coming out of this machine than out of the old Maytag. Everything is also more wrinkled, but if you promptly remove the garments and and give them one quick shake as you do, it's about the same. The garments are almost dry enough to not require using the dryer (at least in Los Angeles where it is exceptionally dry), in just hanging things out both thick towels and heavy jeans were dry within a few hours.

The machine has an end of cycle chime that reminds me of a very quiet microwave chime. I think the chime can be turned on or off but that the volume cannot be increased/decreased.

When you select a cycle, a time appears. The times appear to be quite accurate. Here are the cycle times:
Normal 43
Deep clean sanitize 1.42
Heavy duty 52
Casual 37
Delicates 30
Rinse and spin 15
Steam refresh 16
Normal with steam 1.08
Casual with steam 57
Fast wash 22
Whites 50
Wool 29
Jeans 57
Clean washer 47

Cosmetically, I think it is an attractive machine. You should realize that it is not quite a true white machine, nor is it so dark as to be bisque. The top of the machine is actually a wood panel (which probably helps with the noise) not metal, the machine is really designed to be stacked or put under a countertop as you would not want to rest wet items on its top.

When I removed the back panel to pound out the dent I noticed that there are a lot of plastic parts on the insides, including the outside drum. I don't expect this machine to last the incredible number of years that my old Maytag has lasted (especially given that I did not buy a brand-new machine in pristine condition) but I do think it will work for quite a while.

Hope this helps.


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Post# 819722 , Reply# 1   4/17/2015 at 12:05 (3,289 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Life expectancy

 These are based on an design first launched in Europe. They have been around since 2010 or 2011 I think, but a slightly different design was launched under the Privileg brand here in Germany just before Quelle (the then owner of that brand) went bankrupt. So far, there don't seem to be a lot of failures. Bearings have improoved as well as the overall rinse performance.
For rags, I would recomend either the Normal with steam or Sanitize on high temperature settings, both combined with a short pre-wash or a pre-rinse. Suds when washing rags often occur if some cleaning agent (for example dish soap is prone) remains in them and is mixed with the detergent. Just like using hand wash dish soap in a DW.

Post# 819737 , Reply# 2   4/17/2015 at 13:22 (3,289 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Oh.. .. ..

 mrb627's profile picture
Would love to see some pics of your machine(s)... practigal!

Malcolm

Post# 819860 , Reply# 3   4/18/2015 at 10:06 (3,288 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)        

This sounds interesting especially because it is a model with smaller capacity. Yes please post more pictures! Some of the front, and the control panel.

Post# 819869 , Reply# 4   4/18/2015 at 11:08 (3,288 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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Post# 819916 , Reply# 5   4/18/2015 at 17:32 (3,288 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)        

Nice review, don't care about the dryer but really like that washer.

Post# 820013 , Reply# 6   4/19/2015 at 10:51 (3,287 days old) by Practigal ()        
An update

 Henene4 thank you for the tip. I just re-washed the cleaning rags in normal with steam, bleach and a prerinse and all but one of the rags came out in pristine white condition (good news considering they were really awful to begin with).
I know understand what is meant by a "learning curve" in relation to new front loaders -- the new user must learn to select the correct cycle for the task at hand.
I tried to take some shots of the washing machine; however the lighting situation in the room is such that they did not turn out too well. I have attached a picture of the control panel and a second picture in which I have placed a Styrofoam cup on top of the washer. The second picture shows you the dispenser drawer, the wooden top with plastic edging and gives you an idea of what I mean by not quite white.
The machine continues to function very well. I have done about a dozen loads so far.
I did not get the matching condenser dryer as I understand that condenser dryers put more heat into the surrounding room then do conventional gas dryers. I also understand that the larger size of the standard gas dryer allows the clothing to dry both faster and with fewer wrinkles.
The washing machine manual recommends that the pump filter be cleaned monthly. It also has this intriguing statement: "you may have to add about 2 L of water through the main wash detergent compartment to re-prime the drain pump." It doesn't say how or when I will know that I have to reprime the pump/add the water (i.e. is there some kind of a symbol that pops up on the control panel?), It doesn't tell me how I will know when I have added enough water, and it doesn't tell me how I add the water through the main wash detergent compartment...I guess I will email Electrolux and see if they have any real instructions.


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Post# 820019 , Reply# 7   4/19/2015 at 11:22 (3,287 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

That priming is a thing.
These washer have a so called Eco-valve. It's basicly a plastic ball somewhere within the drain system. Whenever the machine fills, this ball floats against a sealing surface and seals the tub from the pump. This way, no detergent is wasted.
Now, whenever you open the pump filter, all the water left in the pump has to be drained out. This makes - by construction - that Eco-valve inactive. So, you are supposed to add these 2 liters of water to re-activate the valve. This allows you to test if you tightend the filter completly again as well.
You can basicly substitude the priming by running a rinse and spin after you cleaned the pump. Does the same.
One thing I wanted to ask: have you recognized if this washer has a recirculation spray?

Post# 820024 , Reply# 8   4/19/2015 at 12:19 (3,287 days old) by Practigal ()        
Recirculation spray?

 What would that look like/ when would that occur?
It seems to me there is not a "spray." Instead there is more of a stream of water, when it says "filling" you can clearly see the water streaming in...but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't happening....just that I don't know what to look for.

Post# 820025 , Reply# 9   4/19/2015 at 12:27 (3,287 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

During wash and rinse periods, some of the Electrolux machines use a pump to spray water onto the load. Some have it, some don't.
If it had one, you would see a stream of water out of a nozzle somewhere arround the door seal that sprays water onto the load. In addition, there would be a slight humm from a pump.
If it would be there, you'd have probably noticed it already ;)

Post# 820030 , Reply# 10   4/19/2015 at 13:06 (3,287 days old) by Practigal ()        

Interesting, a number of third-party websites refer to this model as having a "jet wash" system but Electrolux's website does not say that, it describes this model as having a "perfect steam" system...attached is a picture showing from where I believe the water is coming from on the gasket.

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Post# 820036 , Reply# 11   4/19/2015 at 14:55 (3,287 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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It certainly looks like there should be a jet connected to this nozzle... like in this video





Post# 820041 , Reply# 12   4/19/2015 at 15:17 (3,287 days old) by Practigal ()        
Yes....

 That is how it looks when it is in action, I would call that a stream of water not a spray.

Post# 820042 , Reply# 13   4/19/2015 at 15:23 (3,287 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Its original form was called JetSystem, now its called something like DirectSpray, Jet wash, or just recirculation system in general.
Because if it has this recirculation, as far as I know the design, the Eco-valve is either not build in or simply bypassed by the pump that recirculates the water. So, if you prime the system or not will probably make even less difference.

Post# 820053 , Reply# 14   4/19/2015 at 16:14 (3,287 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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The washer's worktop is very durable, by the way. Many people just place a dryer straight on it without a stacking kit. It certainly can support weights of 100 lbs. and more.

Post# 821198 , Reply# 15   4/27/2015 at 18:57 (3,279 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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Post# 821652 , Reply# 16   5/1/2015 at 09:22 (3,275 days old) by Practigal ()        
Moving onto the dryer...customer service?

 Does anybody know how to find out the temperatures the dryer is operating at?
According to the laundryreviewed.com review "Cycles routinely peaked between 165-188°F, with Heavy Duty just breaking 200°F. That’s really hot, and will wear out your fabrics more quickly than the average machine." to me those are really high temperatures, well into the range of burn your hand on metal buttons and such. It made me wonder what the low temperature was. I contacted Electrolux about this Electrolux dryer EIED200QSW and I received the following response: "I will be more than happy to provide you with the temperature range for your dryer. Here at Frigidaire we strive for excellence and outstanding customer service. The temperature range is 125 F to 135 F across these cycles. Regrettably I am unable to provide you with the exact temperature of each cycle." In fact this is the exact same response I received in response to an inquiry about the three different temperature levels advertised on the Frigidaire combo washer dryer when I inquired about it about a year ago. I did not buy that machine at that time as I could not understand why it said it had three temperature levels but that the company was telling me there was really only a 10 degree range. Clearly there is a serious discrepancy between what customer service is saying and what the reviewing company says, other than buying the machine is there way to find out?

Post# 821660 , Reply# 17   5/1/2015 at 10:36 (3,275 days old) by Practigal ()        
Electrolux's revised response

 Electrolux decided to change their answer, here is their new answer:
"After speaking with one of our factory specialist I was presented with the temperature settings below for your model:

For a low setting 90 degrees -110 degrees
For a medium setting 110 degrees -130 degrees
For a high setting 130 degrees -160 degrees"

Post# 821664 , Reply# 18   5/1/2015 at 11:32 (3,275 days old) by logixx (Germany)        

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I'm guessing Reviewed got such high temps on Heavy Duty because they stuffed a comforter in there and basically restricted the airflow to the point of the dryer basically overheating.
Post# 821674 , Reply# 19   5/1/2015 at 13:06 (3,275 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        


mrb627's profile picture
I'd like to have a set of these to play with for about 3 months.

Malcolm


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