Thread Number: 76960  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
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Post# 1008741   9/27/2018 at 07:28 (2,036 days old) by roscoe62 (Canada)        

I may be in the market for a new washer soon, my LG is 5 years old and the mother board is going wonky, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. To make it easier should I avoid any one particular brand when the time arrives?

Any advise would be appreciated.

Tks




Post# 1009257 , Reply# 1   10/1/2018 at 08:04 (2,032 days old) by wishwash (Indiana)        

I've always found LG to be a nice compromise between price and performance. However if you want something that will last Whirlpool is probably the simplest.

Post# 1009262 , Reply# 2   10/1/2018 at 09:28 (2,032 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
LG board reset

 LGs were probably the first machines that had their brain of their own. Once they introduced 6 motion and their hyper accurate load sensing, there was going to be issues.
PCs go wrong, especially in challeging enviroments.
But as usual, turning off and on again often helps (keep in mind your washer might not have had a power disconnect for the entirety of its life).

So, maybe start by unplugging it for a nigth and then monitoring the next few cycles.

If it still misbehaves, try something like this:




If this still dosen't help, just posting your model number or googeling could reveal a service manual for your specific model.
That could contain testing procedures or hints as to what might be going wrong.

Any troubleshooting advice beyond this is just impossible without a description of what "wonky" means and what makes you think that it is the PCB.

These machines sometimes have rotor position sensor (RPS) glitches causing really strange behaviour.
Or the connection to the water level switch is just getting lost for ever so short once in a while causing the machine to panic.
These kinds of erratic behaviours often are just caused by some connection getting slowly but steadily more questionable.
They often don't trigger error codes, so when exaimed by a technician they can't make a certain diagnosis, say there is nothing wrong at all or quote parts just by guessing ("Well, it might be the PCB, the MCU, the RPS or the water level switch. If I'd order all these parts I'd have to charge you all them and that would be far more expensive, so there is nothing I can do. Here's my bill for no help at all!").

What I'm trying to say with that:
Having to make a purchase decission suddenly and without warning and time to prepare can lead to REALLY BAD choices that do not suit you in the least bit and were a huge loss of money.
Maybe it really is just a small issue like a faulty RPS sensor, the part would be anyhwere from 10 to 50 dollars. The repair is incredibly easy, and it might give you a few months to save up some money, wait for the machines to drop to either get the newest thing or the old stock cheaper or such.

So, maybe just spending a Saturday afternoon with your washer and trying to figure out what's going on would make you a much happier person after you got a new decission.




So, now, to suggestions.

There were great experiences with basicly any brand. There were nightmares as well.

For example, people here praise the SpeedQueen frontloader washers.
They do come with 5 years of warranty from the factory and are a widely spread model in commercial areas, so parts avaibility is close to perfect for probably quite some time.
However, spending like 1500$ on a washer alone might not appeal to some folks, especially as it is rather small and has no heater. That last thing is really a drawback as it's stainless steel outer drum just absorbs more heat than a glass fibre reinforced plastic outer tub.
And there have been questions with SQ as well. We had a member who willingly spend hos money and thought he would be happy. His washer faild 3 times IIRC, every time the same constellation of issues (not cheap parts), and with the 3rd time, he wanted to give up and wanted SQ to just replace his washer entirely. But SQ dosen't do that.
They might replace all of the washer as parts and spend 3 washers worth in labour cost on it, but once that machine enters your house, SQ will not take it out of it, no matter how long your downtime is.

LGs are generally quite good performers.
The new TurboWash washers are quite smart with using their recirculation system and spin spray rinsing abilities.
They are often on sale as well, or you can get a really huge bargain out of the scratch and dent isle (if the washer is half the price of the step down model on sale, just not NIB, does it really matter if it lasts a year less?).
At full price however, their spotty service reputation, questionable parts availibility and certanly limited life time are turn offs for sure.
But since you had one already, guess you'd be even happier with a newer one.

Samsung washers are really the only thing - quite honestly - I never heared an amazing story about that was in the slightest positive.
The Maytag Neptune FLs made by Samsung had horribly long cycle times and after a few years wouldn't spin any load what so ever.
The first generation of Samsungs had motor and balancing issues or mass.
And after that they became the washers which do not offer anything close to warm on any cycle that is suitable for everyday mixed loads.
So, yeah, unless they are an almost literall steal, I'd pass on them, especially as they ofter are priced in the realm of the LGs.

Electroluxes current wash system is one of most advanced ones out there. Using up to 3 pumps (yes, more parts to break, but those are easy to change cheap parts that seldomly fail before anything else) and allowing for a wide variety of cylce combinations and alterations, everything from a daily load to the most nieche soiling on a white sythetic item, they will tackle and handle well.
ELux machines are in the less faulty range, but are also more expensive.
Reviewed.com always loved both the washers and dryers for their efficency, results and gentleness.

Whirlpool/Maytag has a more down to earth wash system with no recirculation using more traditional methods.
There have been several accounts of weired behaviour after some years though. But they never were called anything but pretty much alround good performers if you use the right.
If you often have particulary large or bulky loads or need them quick and hate waiting at least 45min for a ligtly soiled load, you might want to reconsider.
There are leads however that will launch drasticly redesigned FL machines before the end of the year, so wheather you like the currecnt machines or want to wait for the new ones, just waiting would be a good bet here.



In general, there are several things you should look at in a washer:
- size (depending on situation, a cheaper but smaller machine might suit you just as well)
- it should have a heater (so it a least won't mold up with no hope or help against that)
- you should check that there are cycles to suit you (for most washers, it is verry good idea to have a normal cycle replacement like a casualy cycle, a towels cycle or a whitest whites cycle and then on top of that the amount and type of cycles and customisation you could actually get use from)
- you should think about which washing technologys you'd prefer or want (maybe you often wash large bulky items that are hard to rinse and saturate, so you'd like a recirculation system for sure; maybe you hate dosing detergent, so automatic dosing would really improve your life)
- and, last but not least, you should think wheather a future proof washer makes sense to you; maybe you don't know if you might have kids in a few years and have to move to a house where your wash might not even fit. investing in an expensive longlived unit dosen't necessarily make sense if your life is probabale to change several times during it's lifetime.

Oh, yeah, and what every you buy, ever, just do me the favour, download the manual BEFORE you make the purchse and spend the 15 minutes reading through the operation and cycle/option section.
Red reviews on WP dryers with electronic controlls complaing you can't change the temperature on sensor cycles. Not that that is verry obvious from the manual...

Post# 1009348 , Reply# 3   10/2/2018 at 08:39 (2,031 days old) by roscoe62 (Canada)        

What I meant by wonky is what I saw in the video the machine just seems to die, no power when you touch the power switch, so by doing what I saw in the video it'll reset the machine, I hope.
Thank You

Post# 1010100 , Reply# 4   10/8/2018 at 11:05 (2,025 days old) by moon1234 (Wisconsin)        

@roscoe62

We have been a Miele household for quite some time. While they only offer 24" (smaller) washers in the USA now outside of their Professional (commercial) line, I think you would be very happy with one depending on your family size.

Ours have been reliable. The only downside really is cost.

Post# 1010196 , Reply# 5   10/9/2018 at 09:39 (2,024 days old) by calebnator01 (Missouri )        
Recommendation

With personal experience I highly recommend whirlpool front-loaders and stay far away from samsung machines in general. Had a samsung set go bad after 6 months and went to a whirlpool set which barely has any issues with it. I don't hate samsungs but their reliability could be much better!

Post# 1010303 , Reply# 6   10/10/2018 at 14:20 (2,023 days old) by whitetub (Montreal, Canada)        

I have a Samsung set, for the last 7 years. Not one problem.
Not the fanciest model,no water heater in the washer. So you never know.
You can get a lemon in any brands. But for me, so far so good. knock on wood.

Post# 1010539 , Reply# 7   10/12/2018 at 13:42 (2,021 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains )        

volsboy1's profile picture
When It comes to Front loaders ,I prefer Miele washers they hold up the best.
I can't always afford them but I have had good luck with the smaller euro size ones
2.2 cubic feet . The Bosch 2.2 classic German made machines hold up much better than there American large size. Its a 1000 bucks which is not bad when you compare it to Miele.
Every one of the 4 larger American size monsters I have owned has died a terrible death with me.
Its small but you would be impressed how much it can wash no problems..


Post# 1010620 , Reply# 8   10/13/2018 at 06:22 (2,020 days old) by roscoe62 (Canada)        
Miele / Bosch

 I've seen these and yes they are a bit pricey but also small, I haven't seen one on display, but would a 2.6 cu ft do a double / full size comforter?

Post# 1010623 , Reply# 9   10/13/2018 at 07:09 (2,020 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
Samsungs

 I'd be cautious of those. Too many problems of self-destruction in several ways.

Recently, I was reading about UK Samsung owners' 2-3 year old machines - and the motor fell off!

As per usual, Samsung appears to attempt weasel its way out of any responsibility, blaming the owners.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Rolls_rapide's LINK
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