Posted on 01/26/2011 4:13:47 PM PST by Vision
I need to buy a new washer/dryer set. Which is better? Top or front load?
Thanks
Oh, sorry, that is what you were really asking.
We are on a well/septic at that property, so I sorta worry about water usage. I can do a load of laundry on about 10 gallons of water, instead of 45 gallons. I can also put ten-twelve bath towels in for the full load. It only takes about 20 minutes to dry the clothes.
So from start to finish about 45 minutes to wash and dry.
We bought a set at Sears on sale for $660.
Agree with you about the cabrio and all new HE top loaders...too new and unproven.
Top loaders get the clothes cleaner; front loaders are a passing fad.
My Wife wanted a Front Load, I wish I hadn’t.
The thing needs service constantly. The gaskets on it get ripped up all the time.
Bought a Maytag Bravo top-load a few years ago. Just like a high-speed front load only from the top :)
Does great. However, the drain pump likes to break. Twice now in the span of three years. Each repair is $250.00. Next time one of two things is going to happen:
1. By the pump (around $70) and try to fix it myself.
2. By a new plain-jane washer that costs $250. And so on, and so on. If each repair sets me back the cost of a new washer, I’ll buy a new washer.
The clothes come out very clean, and the spin cycle really wrings them out.
If it's unproven technology, well, it won't be for long.
They've gotten a lot cheaper too.
Front loader, Samsung from Sears, get the pedestals too.
Make sure it’s leveled by the installer and it won’t shimmy during spin cycle. Also, when completed, leave the front door open and wipe out the excess water off the door seal to prevent the musty odor that will show up if you don’t....
If you were to spend a grand on a new set, what would it be?
We bought a front load GE. Worst machine ever. Does not clean grime or grease or stains, shakes and rattles itself right out in to the hallway or bangs against the back wall. Light loads are fine, but big load of jeans or towels or blankets, and it just can’t seem to balance out the load. Smells if you don’t keep it open to dry out, squirts water out so fast it spews back up out of the drain. New jeans won’t soften up in the front load, they just wrinkle stiff. Drain catch has to be checked every load or will leak all over the place. Towels smell bad and are stiff. We gave up after a year and and a half and put in a plane jane Maytag topload.
His recommendation - Top loading only. The front loaders put too much weight on the bearing that spins them and you will be repairing it sooner than a top loader. The seal gets wet and unless you take special care to keep it dry, it will mildew and smell awful.
Buy a name brand such as Whirlpool, etc. DO NOT buy LG. He buys broken appliances to repair and resale, says he will not touch a broken LG. You cannot get parts or the parts are so expensive it's ridiculous. Hope this helps :)
Three months ago me and the missus went shoping at Home Depot for a new washer and dryer.
She was ready to spend a couple of thou on a pair of front loaders.
I said “F that”
I’m looking at their cheapest brand, an Admiral, that looked exactly like the much more expensive Whirlpool and Maytag models sitting next to them.
Exact looking parts, same looking everything but the decals.
I said “We are buyng the Admirals”.
I get home and find out that Admiral IS whirlpool, the same washer and dryer for hundreds of dollars less.
Anyways i saved 1200 bucks, Don’t need to impress anybody with my expensive front loaders that nobody will ever see and the Admiral top loading washer and dryer work just fine.
I’m very happy with my choice.
Oh yea, Don’t even consider buying GE!
One of life’s enduring dilemnas.
It is if you are the one washing the clothes! :-)
Not familiar with household brands...
Front load design is used in all industrial (100- 800lb etc.) washers because it is inherently more effiient.
Agitation is accomplished by the drop of the clothing instead of by reversing the drive.
But overloading causes a severe drop in efficiency. The clothing must drop and not just roll.
And the washer needs a good foundation.
Our front loader makes a LOT of noise. I’m considering going back to a top loader for that reason alone.
There are basically three washing machine choices:
Old-fashioned top loader with an agitator.
Front loader.
Hi tech top loader with no agitator.
The first kind uses the most water and energy, but they are cheap to buy, last almost forever, and use any detergent.
The other two types generally have larger capacity, are more expensive to buy and fix, use less water and energy, and MUST use HE detergent or else they will quickly have problems. They are reputed to be easier on clothing than the agitator-based machines.
We chose a Maytag Bravos with a glass top (hi tech top loader), and we are happy with it. Our laundry room is located between our bedrooms, and it is nice to have a quiet machine.
The other thing I recommend is a gas, not electric, dryer. At current energy prices it’s much cheaper to run.
You can put huge comforters and blankets in a front loader too, and they come out great
I had to take mine to a laundromat before, so this was the deciding factor for me. I got the biggest one I could find and do laundry half as often and use a lot less soap.
Just don’t buy GE! You are supporting CEO Immelt, Obummer’s buddy.
I just had a Samsung front loader delivered 2 days ago. Very quiet-no belts. Too early for me to assess, just wanted to speak out against all things GE.
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