Thread Number: 78752  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Why so much hate for Maytag Centennials?
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Post# 1027390   3/18/2019 at 08:56 (2,089 days old) by DE409 (Maryland)        

Got a MVWC425BW Centennial washer at Home Depot for $399 with a $100 rebate from the electric company when we moved in 2014. It has been a great unit.

When I search it, I see a lot of angry 1 star reviews. Heck, it is at 2 stars on Amazon, even though it is NLA.

What is the beef with these HE washers? I must admit I kind of love mine.





Post# 1027392 , Reply# 1   3/18/2019 at 10:12 (2,089 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
Well I love my Maytag Cenntenial too. I bought an MVWC415EW from Lowe’s in Dec. 2016 and have done at least 4 to 5 loads a week, every week since without any problem or disappointment. This washer is one of the best I’ve ever owned since 1972. Its not wasteful with water, but always uses an adequate amount of water to get every load thoroughly clean and rinsed. I primarlily use the Power Wash and Deep Wash cycles. I get tap hot water on these cycles, and use hot for most loads. Every load is done in 50-60 mins, and this washer never goes out of balance either.

I think that most of the people that don’t like these washers either have never used one, or haven’t read the owners manual to understand how to properly use the machine. Also, many people can’t get past not being able to watch the wash action due to the locking lid. While I’d like to watch it in action, I’m not going to take the lid latch off to do so. As long as it does what its supposed to do, I’ll trust that there is enough action under the lid making it happen.

Hope that you’ll continue to like Centennial too.

Eddie




This post was last edited 03/18/2019 at 14:14
Post# 1027400 , Reply# 2   3/18/2019 at 12:04 (2,089 days old) by DE409 (Maryland)        

Only thing I am having trouble with is finding my model number! Apparently the MVWC425BW could be a BW0 or BW1 and I can't find that info anywhere. Would like to stock up on some spare parts but don't want to order wrong. Even Maytag couldn't help when I called them.

Post# 1027401 , Reply# 3   3/18/2019 at 12:18 (2,089 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
On my machine the model number and serial number are on a sticker located on the edge of the tub opening right under the bottom edge of the lid.

Eddie


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Post# 1027405 , Reply# 4   3/18/2019 at 13:18 (2,089 days old) by DE409 (Maryland)        

Thanks will check for this when I get home

Post# 1027410 , Reply# 5   3/18/2019 at 13:41 (2,089 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
The last digit of the model number is the engineering change.  0 is a "first edition," successive numbers indicate some sort of design or component change.  It can be significant for obtaining correct replacement parts.

The serial number is coded for the year and week of factory production, if you want to cite that to get a more accurate birthdate.


Post# 1027417 , Reply# 6   3/18/2019 at 15:11 (2,089 days old) by imperial70 (MA USA)        

People don't read instructions. There is nothing wrong with your washer. You probably are using it correctly and that's why you are pleased with it.

Post# 1027418 , Reply# 7   3/18/2019 at 15:12 (2,089 days old) by DE409 (Maryland)        

I can't find either and even the factory Energystar papers etc. only reference the BW. I know I sent in the paperwork to Maytag for warranty but they claim there's no way to search for that in their system unless I've had a warranty call (???)

Post# 1027430 , Reply# 8   3/18/2019 at 17:42 (2,089 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
There's no tag at the location per Reply #3?


Post# 1027439 , Reply# 9   3/18/2019 at 19:27 (2,089 days old) by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Whirlpool built VMW washers

combo52's profile picture

Whirlpool switched to this design in 2010 for all their stand alone top load washers, they build more than 5000 a day.

 

I think they jumped the gun with this machine many people are dissatisfied with thim even though many do like them.

 

People first of all don’t like the fact that the lid locks and you have to wait over a minute to open the machine when you press pause if it happens to be spinning.

 

People don’t like how Slowly they fill, I can Pee faster, LOL. Many users report tangling and damage to their clothing, you certainly can’t load them as heavily as you could the earlier direct drive machines and get things uniformly clean without damage.

 

They do spin faster that’s about the only thing good I can say about them so they do save some energy in that respect.

 

They’ve had a lot of repair problems with these machines mode shifters, computers, lid locks, plastic main drive pulleys and splushes and worst of all the main bearing and seal fail on them and that’s not economically repairable it costs more than you paid for the machine.

 

John


Post# 1027443 , Reply# 10   3/18/2019 at 21:30 (2,089 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        
Slow Fill

chetlaham's profile picture
Whats the reasoning behind the slow filling?

Post# 1027445 , Reply# 11   3/18/2019 at 21:54 (2,089 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
My Centennial only fills slowly when using cold water, which I never wash in. So the rinse fill is fairly slow. But the fill for a hot wash is pretty quick, and warm fill is very fast, as fast as any washer I’ve ever owned. Makes no sense conservation wise, because you’re still going to use the same amount of water, regardless of how long it takes to fill.

Nevertheless, I still like my Centennial very much. And my experience is that I can get a whole bushel laundry basket full of a mixed load in, which fills it to the top dry. And these loads come out spotless, with no damage that I’m aware of. Yes, sometimes pant legs and long shirt sleeves can tangle, but I really don’t see this as a problem. Just about every washer I’ve ever used has tangled clothes from time to time.

And I can also wash king size bedspreads and comforters, and they always come out clean and well rinsed.

Eddie



Post# 1027446 , Reply# 12   3/18/2019 at 22:31 (2,089 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
Thanks, but I will keep my Maytag Fabric-Matic. Fills to the top, washes and rinses fine and after 35 years of trouble-free use, I doubt any of those models would last this long.

Post# 1027447 , Reply# 13   3/18/2019 at 22:33 (2,089 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Slow Fill On New HE Washers

combo52's profile picture

I can only guess that they are just making the cycle longer so the clothing partly soaks-clean, but to me it makes no sense I know my buddy Martin in NJ is often drilling out the restrictors in the fill valves so the machines fill faster.

 

One thing I often think about with some newer appliances that are supposed to save energy is that they don't think about having a washer full of hot water for almost an hour. The longer a wash cycle lasts whether a washer or a DW and the machine is hot the whole time the more heat it puts off into the home which results in more A/C run time to cope with the extra heat.

 

John


Post# 1027459 , Reply# 14   3/19/2019 at 00:55 (2,089 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

My Hotpoint rimflow died suddenly one day--so I went to the swap shop and found a Maytag Centennial washer with "commercial Technology" it is a VMW machine.It does work---the hot only or cold only fill takes a LONG time to fill-been tempted to help it with a bucket.When the machine starts agitating it starts with weird fast strokes(the machine has a DA agitator)So things like towels,pants,sheets get wrapped around the agitator.I defeated the dumb lid lock so I can give this machine a helping hand when it does that "wrap" agitate mode.After the weird agitate part of the wash cycle I have to pause the machine to untwine the agitator.Then let it continue.Sometimes it has trouble balancing so I have to help or it tries filling with cold-taking its time then tries agitating again with the wrap mode-so you have to unwrap the agitator before spinning.Once the machine gets to spin its fine.The tub is HUGE figure that's another reason why it takes a long time to fill.At least with the hot cycle the fill is REALLY hot water-use the max fill level.I don't want my things paddled around on the low water saving modes.This machine will work when helped-will select a DD one when this machine dies.Like the sort of click-clack sound when the mode shifter goes from agitate to spin.

Post# 1027474 , Reply# 15   3/19/2019 at 07:17 (2,088 days old) by DE409 (Maryland)        

Found my model, it's a BW1. Don't know how I missed it before. Was going to order some spare parts but dang, it's $1500 to get one of everything I want and the washer only cost $299 after the rebate LOL. I'll just keep the dryer going forever and swap out washers as they fail.

Post# 1027766 , Reply# 16   3/22/2019 at 23:44 (2,085 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

"Why so much hate for the Maytag Centennials?"


This.







Post# 1027774 , Reply# 17   3/23/2019 at 00:57 (2,085 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
I guess a lot of people didn’t like them since they had controls that were unfamiliar, and I remember most of the machines that were on the floor at Sears were KM DD top loaders, and maybe some Whirlpool models, but most people were used to the mechanical controls, and having a timer that most people were familiar with. Another reason why is they probably didn’t use enough water, and some of the Maytag Centennial washers left detergent/soap stains on their clothes, and that really got people fired up to not like the Centennial washers. WP may have worked the bugs out in the Maytag Centennial washers that were sold in 2014 and 2015, but I guess they had already got a bad reputation at that point.

Post# 1027783 , Reply# 18   3/23/2019 at 06:20 (2,084 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        
just my toughs but wanted to share

pierreandreply4's profile picture
these are just my toughs but just wanted to share i think in my own toughs that some are more old fashion use to the old fashion direct drive machine or old fashion agitator washers like these pic posted as a reference sometime it takes time to get use to newer technologies took me at least a good 2 to 3 years or more in my case to get use to the duet washer that my mom and i own going on there 15 year this summer lol but just wanted to share my toughs

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Post# 1027796 , Reply# 19   3/23/2019 at 10:54 (2,084 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Those low-fill impeller machines typically do a reasonable job if they're simply left alone to do what they're designed to do.  Many (not all) of the dissatisfied/angry users are babysitting the machines too much.  Continually pausing/restarting the cycle to check what it's doing.  Starting them first and tossing-in the clothes after some water is already filled, which may throw the sensing process off-kilter.  Trying to get them to operate "like my old washer."  They are not "your old washer" and are not designed/intended to operate as such.

My parents' 81yo neighbor replaced her 20yo WP DD with a Bravos impeller machine last year.  She had a discussion with me on the ins-outs of them vs. an agitator (deep-fill VMW-style) vs. finding another (used) DD, and also chatted with the salesguy.  She opted for the impeller.  I haven't had an in-depth discussion with her after the purchase but she did say that she likes it just fine "after I learned to use it."






Post# 1027803 , Reply# 20   3/23/2019 at 13:00 (2,084 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)        
I have to say....

ozzie908's profile picture
I am just impressed Grandma can video her unhelpful washer and put it on youtube :)



Post# 1027958 , Reply# 21   3/25/2019 at 10:21 (2,082 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
This is a pair of old yard-work socks out of my AquaSmart.

Large load on the designated "Whites" cycle (like the previous whites video), which runs a full-hot Eco Active fill, hot HE-level fill, then a COLD deep-fill topoff.

4 tablespoons of Persil PowerPearls, 2 tablespoons STPP, 1/3 cup chlorine bleach (in the timed dispenser).

Perhaps could have gotten a little better results with Biz and the 2-hr soak option.


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Post# 1027960 , Reply# 22   3/25/2019 at 11:00 (2,082 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Dirty White Socks

combo52's profile picture
Your Calypso would do much better on whitest-whites cycle, that's what we use for socks that look like that and they come out looking almost new, and probably use less water.

John


Post# 1027962 , Reply# 23   3/25/2019 at 11:11 (2,082 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Yes, John, I agree.  Just an example that the AS can do a reasonable job.  I haven't yet tried that sort of soil level on the HE regular or heavy cycle ... but regular HE works nicely on the shirts as above (incl a bit of mustard and greasy stains).  The AS in deep-fill mode does use considerably more water than the Calypso.  Probably also comparatively more in HE mode since there's a minimum level required to float the basket.


Post# 1027963 , Reply# 24   3/25/2019 at 11:19 (2,082 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
Re: Post# 1027766, Reply# 16:

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Hey, I know “Granny” is ‘Suthun’, but I wish for somewhat better grammar, in that I only disliked everything ending in In’, as opposed to Ing...

Other than that, everything was articulate and well presented, but I just think the Rural Speech dialect in her verb tenses (I know, I use in’ but try to alternate with an ing, as I don’t like to use more than one ing, per sentence, but I think speaking publicly is different!) was too unnecessary excessive...



— Dave


Post# 1028083 , Reply# 25   3/27/2019 at 06:45 (2,080 days old) by PinkPower4 (USA)        
My Thoughts..

I have the Maytag mvwp575gw made in 2018 when even more regulations took effect. I can wash any a load in 30 minutes (Normal) half tub wash/spray rinse to 45 minutes (Bulky, Delicates, Mixed, or Powerwash) full tub wash / full tub rinse. There is plenty of water and wash action to get the clothes clean, so I was able to get two out of three by choosing this model. However, there is no hot tap only wash! Fortunately, there is a way to fix that in the model I have. Hot tap only water washes are needed. For other times, I am happy to save money and be kinder to our environment using cold rinses and cooler temps when possible. These energy-saving features should be options and not mandatory settings that cripple a washer's performance.

These new models also are primarily virtual modular washers. This can be an advantage as many similar models will share the same parts making it easier to fix and find parts for. They can be a disadvantage because in the beginning, some of the parts were not holding up including the actuator (mode shifter), splutch, and belt. I noticed many of the parts have had revisions to them. Hopefully, they have been improved and will last longer now. Fortunately, they are less expensive parts that most consumers can replace themselves. On my old-style Whirlpool set, I only replaced a less than $2 package of dogs in the fifteen years I had it. It looks like the new washers will require a new belt, actuator, splutch, and other small parts in this same time period.

The commercial LWN432 (which is hard to find) has mechanical controls, a transmission, and good motor and is the closest one can find to the older style and durable washers that lasted for years. However, I think this washer and the Maytag mvwp575gw will last about ten to fifteen years without needing any major repairs including bearings, transmissions/gearboxes, motors, etc. I am not sure I would be able to find parts for the Speed Queen one since only one model is made with those parts now (and at some point in the near future could be discontinued). It is more likely I can find parts for my VMW in the future, but will it be cost effective to repair at that point?

Mine has one control board that I know of. If it goes out, it would be about $300 to $400 to replace.

The new regulations were passed with the intentions of saving energy and water, but in real-life they do not. People are using more water (repeated washes/rinses) and more time (extended cycles or to rewash/rerinse) to get clothes as clean as they were in the previous older models that most of us older on this board had and can appreciate. They also wind up in the landfills in only five to ten years (or to the curb sooner for poor performance) since they are not made with the same quality parts and are expensive to repair. It is my understanding the control board almost had to be added to regulate the new features, and it is over half to almost the entire cost of the washer to replace. How does any of these save our resources and/or environment? The DOE needs to rethink this one.

I am careful not to overload my washer. I also think this is key to being happier with the new models and them meeting expectations. :-)

I appreciate all the great information on this board and YouTube.



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