New Washing Machine...Whoopee!!

[WAYNO]

Product Alert...

Two months ago we bought a Maytag Bravos top loader, with no agitator. The latest :roll: state of the art high efficiency machine. All high efficiency means is it doesn't use much water. It also doesn't clean or rinse the clothes. The laundry level is always higher than the water level, no matter what setting it's on. Much of the laundry level that's above water never gets recirculated into the water below. And when it's done washing, there's no water sprayed onto the clothes while they're spinning. Bottom line, the clothes do not get washed or rinsed very well.

In good faith we experimented and tried different tricks to make this washer work. Finally gave up. Called the appliance store and said come get it. They only charged me a 100-dollar restocking fee, as they said they'll now have to sell it as used. I'd have thought they'd just return it to Maytag as junk and give me a full refund.

:mrgreen: So today I received a brand new Speed Queen washer with a conventional agitator. It fills up. It drowns the laundry. It washes the laundry very well. And it sprays water on the spinning laundry to completely rinse out the soap.

Life is again good.



WAYNO.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Call Whirlpool and tell them about your lousy washer.

 

[WAYNO]

Call Whirlpool and tell them about your lousy washer.

On my agenda.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I know exactly what you are talking about.
We went through the same thing.
New washers suck.
We now have a Speed Queen.

I kind of miss the old wringer washers myself.

 

[Glasstream15]

Front load, high efficiency. The load gets seriously tumbled in the horizontal drum and rinsed thoroughly. We're on our second in 20 years, last about 15. Wouldn't have anything else.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Good move Wayno. No agitator is a poor theory, based on the less water, etc theory. Comes from whacko greenie, designer. Should be whipped.

 

[WAYNO]

Good move Wayno. No agitator is a poor theory, based on the less water, etc theory. Comes from whacko greenie, designer. Should be whipped.

I think there's two things going on with the HE machines. First, the government told them to make them, and they've not yet figured out the technology. Also, since they cost less than a conventional top loader, I would guess they're easier and cheaper to make. A win for the manufacturer.

And I keep hearing folks say they love their front loaders. I looked into them, and I've discovered the newer high efficiency models also use not enough water, and the clothes tumble around in dirty water, followed by an incomplete rinse.

WAYNO.

 

[george preston]

Our 5 year old GE washer crapped out a few years ago (along with the GE refrigerator and the GE dishwasher). We ended up getting a Samsung "high efficiency " washer. Knowing what I know now, I'd buy a speed queen if I could have a do overt

 

[Jim Puke]

We have a new, no agitator machine that works great....

I thought they all worked well...I guess not.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Good move Wayno. No agitator is a poor theory, based on the less water, etc theory. Comes from whacko greenie, designer. Should be whipped.

I think there's two things going on with the HE machines. First, the government told them to make them, and they've not yet figured out the technology. Also, since they cost less than a conventional top loader, I would guess they're easier and cheaper to make. A win for the manufacturer.

And I keep hearing folks say they love their front loaders. I looked into them, and I've discovered the newer high efficiency models also use not enough water, and the clothes tumble around in dirty water, followed by an incomplete rinse.
WAYNO.

Won't buy a front loader either. As you say, not enough water to take care of all the clothes. Have to use more expensive detergent as well.

 

[WAYNO]

We have a new, no agitator machine that works great....

I thought they all worked well...I guess not.

Does yours have a glass top? Ours did, which I never wanted. Now I'm glad it did so I was able to see the pathetic agitation. I suspect some folks that have a solid top would never know what's truly going on inside their washer. My sister has a HE washer, the only one I'd previously used. I only assumed it worked like it was s'posed to, but now that we've done a lot of research on HE washers, sounds like hers was rated very low. I'll bet most folks that really know what's going on inside their washer, wouldn't like them so much.

I think too, some of the manufacturers are devising ways to overcome the bugs of the HE washers. One we've seen has a constant re-circ of water dumping on the top of the clothes to keep them sunk in the water. Another one has a control where you can physically add more water. Another one we've seen since we've been trying to overcome this fiasco had a glass strainer under the lid, where the wash water is re-circulated across a strainer, where it traps dirt, lint, fiber, or other debris, allowing it to manually be removed after the washer is done with a load. Quick fixes to hide some major shortcomings of the HE washers.

WAYNO.

 

[Jim Puke]

We have a new, no agitator machine that works great....

I thought they all worked well...I guess not.

Does yours have a glass top? Ours did, which I never wanted. Now I'm glad it did so I was able to see the pathetic agitation. I suspect some folks that have a solid top would never know what's truly going on inside their washer. My sister has a HE washer, the only one I'd previously used. I only assumed it worked like it was s'posed to, but now that we've done a lot of research on HE washers, sounds like hers was rated very low. I'll bet most folks that really know what's going on inside their washer, wouldn't like them so much.

I think too, some of the manufacturers are devising ways to overcome the bugs of the HE washers. One we've seen has a constant re-circ of water dumping on the top of the clothes to keep them sunk in the water. Another one has a control where you can physically add more water. Another one we've seen since we've been trying to overcome this fiasco had a glass strainer under the lid, where the wash water is re-circulated across a strainer, where it traps dirt, lint, fiber, or other debris, allowing it to manually be removed after the washer is done with a load. Quick fixes to hide some major shortcomings of the HE washers.

WAYNO.

Yes

We did a little research about them and my friend owns the appliance store and I bought the model of his recommendation. It has done an excellent job, except for that fact that it is noisy and takes longer. But, as long as the clothes are clean, that is all we ask.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Having been an appliance repairman most of my life I can tell you that new is not always better. My wife and I bought a Kenmore washer/dryer pair about six years ago, old style top load washer with timers and buttons and knobs. The washer even has a second rinse feature which I like, to get all the soap out of the cloths. Does water really cost that much? Maybe I should stop watering the lawn?

With Sears I can get parts if needed and replace them myself.

 

[Cholo]

I guess I'm the lucky one with a front loading LG. It will be 6 years old in June and I've never had cleaner clothes, or a single problem.

Good on the new washer, WAYNO. You're on a roll so it's time for a new refrigerator and stove. Guns are sooo overrated... :mrgreen:

 

[bogus bill]

Trivia: My claim to fame is my uncle, Herb Werch was the general manager of the Speed Queen plants. Uncle Herb started working there when he came home from world war two. He was there close to 50 years. His son Bill was the factory rep for the western states and Alaska. At one time or another I had four uncles and my dad that worked there.

 

[32shooter]

We also had bought a high efficiency washer. Wife did not like it - clothes not being cleaned. Sold it and bought a Speed Queen. Now she is happy and if she is happy all is good!!

 

[gramps]

I have never heard of Speed Queen. I have a Whirl pool in the trailer, that is close to thirty years old. Washes great.
gramps

 

[Colonialgirl]

When we needed a washer for our "new" home back in 2007, I spotted a "damaged" GE "Super Capacity" top loader at home depot; Got it for about 2/3's the price, so the side is dented, it doesn't show and the washer works GREAT. Same thing with the Drier, A MAYTAG large capacity electric drier, it too had a dented side and it too sold to me for 2/3's the price. The DENTS face each other and the sides are hidden. Great savings, great appliances STILL going after 8 years.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I have never heard of Speed Queen. I have a Whirl pool in the trailer, that is close to thirty years old. Washes great.
gramps

Hey gramps, is that one with the WRINGER ROLLERS on the top that you hand feed?

I had a Maytag washer we bought NEW in 1978, it got moved to Maryland in 1980 and then down to Orlando FL in 1986; it finally gave up the ghost in 1999.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I have never heard of Speed Queen. I have a Whirl pool in the trailer, that is close to thirty years old.

Hi,

Check out any laundromat, gramps, and chances are you'll see a bunch of Speed Queens. They've owned the lion's share of the commercial market for decades. And you can buy pretty much the same machine for home use, without the quarter collector! Pricey, yes, but $800 and some for a machine they claim is built to last 25 yrs is cheaper than a brick of .22 ammo a year at today's prices.

Cholo mentioned washer, fridge and stove. I wonder if he was looking at my house? A Speed Queen's the first item of that trio on the list here. Followed closely by a new refrigerator... harumph!

Rick C

 

[bogus bill]

I have a scared misshaped left forearm. When I was 6 years old I was playing machine gun with ma`s old wringer washing machine. If you partially engaged the wringer it would chatter. The wringer could swing a arc just like a machine gun. My fingers got caught in it. Fortunately I kept my fingers straight. It was just after world war two and my dad was laid up and couldn't get off the bed. Mom was there and ran over and hit a release lever. It squeezed all the meat or muscle up my arm. My folks were poor at that time and had no insurance. They took me to a Buster Brown shoe store that had one of those ex ray machines to check your shoe fit, had me lay down on the floor and stick my arm in it. Now my arm glows in the dark. They outlawed those machines many years ago.

 

[SamV]

Well I have a front loader that is about 12 years old and seems to clean great. We probably run about 8-10 loads a week through it. I do use a second rinse most of the time. We feel it cleans much better than our old traditional style washer. Repairs have been two water valves in that time. But I also had to replace water valves regularly on the old washers (hard water). Same for the dishwashers. I also like that it is much more gentle on the clothes.
Now ask me about dishwashers. GRRRR. Our current model that replaced the same brand as before doesn't clean as well. The old one was already very efficient, the new model apparently only uses ambient humidity to wash dishes. Basically, you pre scrub with a brush using 30 gallons of water so that your dishwasher can use a gallon to wash and rinse. Really efficient!!

 

[armabill]

2 years ago I bought a top loader HE washer and a side loader dryer. The washer was not cleaning and rinsing the clothes properly. It would sit there for half an hour sometimes just in sensing mode- I kid you not.

I called the repair guy and he insisted that we didn't know how to work/use a washer. He was pissing me off the more that he talked. I couldn't wait till he left.

The dryer was worse, it wouldn't dry the clothes. I even installed an inline blower to move the air to the outside faster. The dryer tried to dry the clothes mostly by using air with a little heat. Didn't work.

Removed the 2 units and got the older style ones that actually work- agitator for the washer and heat for the dryer.

Wife is now happy and so am I.

 

[BucolicBuffalo]

We still have our old set in the basement for rugs and stuff. The new front loaders are a few years old now in the utility room we built. I have had the panels off the washer so I could put ferrite cores on all the lines and scrape paint off the panels where the screws are for a good ground. These front loaders produce strong radio frequency interference. As a ham radio op I hear that noise. So I do the laundry when I am not on the air. I can hear one of the neighbors washers. The electronic garbage built today should be reason enough to put some of these manufacturers in prison with our politicians.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

In Alaska the building suppliers had to carry everything. We carried everything from roofing, to appliances, insulation, sheet rock, lumber, engineered wood, steel studs etc. Your customers would call you for what ever they need. The guys up on the (arctic) slope, that had people staying there for the 2 weeks then rotate out. They would wash their carharts in these washers, which as really a load. I sent various kinds of them up (commercial variety) but the most popular ones were the Speed Queens who had the least amount of choices but were the toughest.

 

[vortecMax]

After a Maytag and whirlpool both died. We bought a speed queen things are good now.

 

[toysoldier]

We bought the appliances with this house, 15 years ago. The fridge gave out first, replaced with a Sears unit. It works, but the runaround I got on the rebate soured me on that source. Two years ago, the stove had to be replaced. The circuit board went crazy, locking up the oven and starting the autoclean cycle :shock: . Replacement board would be $200. I ordered the simplest electric stove available, an Amana unit that has five dials and two indicator lights. No timer, preset autostart, etc. The washer and dryer are Maytag, last of the good ones. I hope they keep working.

 

[tinman]

I have a scared misshaped left forearm. When I was 6 years old I was playing machine gun with ma`s old wringer washing machine. If you partially engaged the wringer it would chatter. The wringer could swing a arc just like a machine gun. My fingers got caught in it. Fortunately I kept my fingers straight. It was just after world war two and my dad was laid up and couldn't get off the bed. Mom was there and ran over and hit a release lever. It squeezed all the meat or muscle up my arm. My folks were poor at that time and had no insurance. They took me to a Buster Brown shoe store that had one of those ex ray machines to check your shoe fit, had me lay down on the floor and stick my arm in it. Now my arm glows in the dark. They outlawed those machines many years ago.

Did the same thing when I was 7-8 years old. Mom was near enough to hit the release bar and prevent any real damage to my arm..........however.......my butt was not as fortunate. :roll:

 

[tinman]

Ex wife has a new fangled glass door front loader and hates it. Next door neighbor has the same thing and hates hers. Me? I bought a Kenmore washer/gas dryer pair in 1989. If I remember correctly they were the Series 70. The washer finally died in 2000 at which time I found its twin at a used appliance shop for $100, that one lasted until 2015. I was unable to locate another of the Series 70 which wasn't beat all to pieces so I bought a new Kenmore top loader which does a pretty good job.......we just have to see how long it lasts.
My original (gas) dryer is still kickin having only needed a couple of drive belts and one thermostat ? since new......
I always buy the models with the fewest buttons and features. Seems to work for me...... :idea:

 

[blume357]

Yep, you could not beat those old kenmores... we had one for over 20 years too. Our 90's one gave up the ghost last year and I could not figure out what was wrong and did not feel like paying $100 to find out and on top of that my wife wanted a new front loader that used less water... I paid the low end price for one... think it was around 600 dollars... a frigidare.... it does 'okay' will wash regular clothes okay... but sometimes my soot incrusted clothes need a second run. Usually I don't worry about it....